This classic Cajun rice recipe features ground beef, veggies, and lots of vibrant spices. It's a one-pot dish that's deliciously bold, comforting, and great to serve as a main or side!
Set a large 6 quart saucepot over medium heat. Add the butter, chopped onions, celery, bell peppers, and minced garlic to the pot. Stir and sauté for 5 minutes, until the onions are soft.
Stir in the ground beef, Cajun seasoning, and thyme. Use a wooden spoon to break the ground beef into small pieces as it cooks. Brown the meat for another 5 minutes. *If you are sensitive to spice, use only 3 teaspoons of Cajun seasoning. If you like to spice things up use 4-5 teaspoons!
Once the meat has cooked through and is broken into very small pieces, stir in the rice. Mix well to coat all the grains of rice in beef juices. Then pour the beef broth over the top.
Cover the pot and bring to a simmer. Once boiling, stir well, then cover the pot again. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes.
Then remove the pot from the heat and leave it to steam another 5 minutes.
Fluff the rice and stir in the parsley. Taste, then add additional Cajun seasoning (or salt) if needed.
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Notes
We like to use classic lean ground beef, but you can also try it with ground chicken, pork sausage, or vegan “ground beef”.This Cajun fried rice recipe is wonderful to make ahead. All of the bold, spicy flavors get more intense as the ingredients sit together! Let the rice cool and transfer to an airtight container, and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. Reheat on the stovetop with a splash of water added. Or microwave and stir in short bursts until heated throughout.