Popeye’s Cajun Rice Recipe (Copycat Dirty Rice)
This Popeye’s Cajun Rice copycat recipe recreates the classic Southern dirty rice made with seasoned ground beef, chicken gizzards, fluffy long-grain rice, and bold Cajun spices. Perfect as a side dish for fried chicken, grilled meats, or meal prep.
Ingredients
- 2 cups long grain rice rinsed
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth or beef broth for deeper flavor
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ pound ground beef 85/15 for flavor
- ½ cup chicken gizzards finely minced (or ground in food processor)
- ½ medium yellow onion diced
- ½ green bell pepper diced
- ½ cup celery diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper adjust to taste
- ½ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- Salt to taste
- ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- In a medium pot, combine rinsed rice, broth, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 18–20 minutes or until rice is tender. Remove bay leaves, fluff with a fork, and set aside.2 cups long grain rice, 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth, 2 bay leaves
- While rice cooks, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add ground beef and minced gizzards, breaking up the meat, and cook 6–8 minutes until browned. Add onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic; sauté another 3–4 minutes until softened.1 tablespoon vegetable oil, ½ pound ground beef, ½ cup chicken gizzards, ½ medium yellow onion, ½ green bell pepper, ½ cup celery, 3 cloves garlic
- Stir in Creole seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne, and black pepper. Taste and adjust salt. Fold in the cooked rice, mixing until evenly coated with seasoning and meat.1 teaspoon Creole seasoning, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper, Salt
- Remove from heat, stir in fresh parsley, and serve warm as a side dish.¼ cup fresh parsley
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