Rice Dressing (Baked) aka Dirty Rice

4 servings Prep: 10 m Cook: 1 h Total: 1 h 10 m Beginner
Rice Dressing (Baked) aka Dirty Rice
Also known as Louisiana Dirty Rice, this dish is a true Cajun classic with ground meat, rice, bell pepper, and rich beef and chicken soups baked into one comforting casserole. There are many ways to make this dish, and this is one easy baked version from a friend of mine.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground meat, browned
  • 1 cup raw rice
  • 1 (10 oz) can cream of chicken soup
  • 1 can (10 oz) beef stock soup with onion (French Onion Soup)
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 cups of water

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Brown the ground meat in a skillet over medium-high heat and drain any excess fat.
  2. Mix all the ingredients together (browned meat, rice, both soups, bell pepper, and water) and pour into a greased 8x8 inch casserole dish.
  3. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour. Do not remove the foil while baking - this seals in the heat and moisture, allowing the rice to cook properly.
  4. Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Common Problems and Solutions

Q: Why is my rice still crunchy after baking?

A: Make sure the foil is sealed tightly - the steam is what cooks the rice. Also verify your oven temperature is accurate. If still undercooked, add 2 tablespoons of water, re-cover, and bake another 10-15 minutes.

Q: Can I peek under the foil to check on it?

A: Resist the urge! Removing the foil releases the steam that's cooking the rice. Trust the timing and wait until the full hour is up.

Tips and Techniques

For extra flavor, use a mixture of ground beef and pork sausage instead of all beef. You can also add Cajun seasoning to the meat while browning for more authentic flavor.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • ground beef: ground pork, ground turkey, or crumbled breakfast sausage
  • cream of chicken soup: cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup
  • white rice: brown rice with extra liquid

Equipment Needed

  • 8x8 inch casserole dish
  • aluminum foil
  • skillet for browning meat

Historical Context

Dirty rice is a Louisiana classic that traditionally uses chicken giblets and liver to give the rice its distinctive color and flavor. This baked casserole version became popular as a weeknight shortcut that delivers similar comfort with ingredients most families have on hand.