If you’ve ever been to Bojangles, you know that their “fixins” are just as important as the chicken. While the biscuits get a lot of love, the true star of the show for many of us is the Bojangles Dirty Rice.
It’s savory, perfectly spiced, and has that signature meaty texture that pairs perfectly with a fried chicken drumstick. Today, I’m sharing an easy copycat Bojangles Dirty Rice recipe that you can make at home in just one pot!
If you love everything Bojangles, try my recipe for Bojangles Fried Chicken Recipe, Bojangles Chicken Tenders, Bojangles Bo Sauce, Easy Bojangles Honey Mustard Recipe, or Bojangles French Fry Seasoning Recipe.
What is Bojangles Dirty Rice?
Dirty rice is a classic Cajun-style dish. It’s called “dirty” because it’s cooked with minced meat (usually ground beef and sausage) and spices, which give the white rice a dark, “dirty” appearance. The Bojangles version is famous for being incredibly flavorful without being overwhelmingly spicy, making it a favorite for kids and adults alike.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- One-Pot Wonder: Minimal cleanup for a busy weeknight.
- Budget-Friendly: Uses simple ingredients like ground beef and long-grain rice.
- Authentic Flavor: We’ve nailed the spice blend to match that iconic North Carolina taste.
- Versatile: Serve it as a side or a main dish!
Bojangles Dirty Rice Ingredients
- Ground Beef: Use lean ground beef (80/20) for the best flavor.
- Breakfast Sausage: This is the “secret” to the depth of flavor.
- Long-Grain White Rice: Cooked and cooled (or cooked in the pot with the meat).
- Yellow Onion: Finely diced.
- Green Bell Pepper: Finely diced.
- Garlic: Minced.
- Beef Broth: Adds more richness than water.
- The Spice Blend
How to Make Copycat Bojangles Dirty Rice
Step One: In a large skillet or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef and breakfast sausage together over medium-high heat. Break the meat into very small crumbles—the smaller the better for that authentic “dirty” look.
Step Two: Once the meat is browned, do not drain all the grease (leave about 1 tablespoon for flavor). Add the diced onion, green pepper, and garlic. Sauté until the vegetables are soft and translucent.
Step Three: Stir in your spices (chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper). Add the uncooked rice and beef broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18–20 minutes until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
Step Four: Turn off the heat and let the rice sit covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork to distribute the meat and veggies evenly.
Easy Bojangles Dirty Rice Recipe Tips
- The Meat Texture: Bojangles rice has very fine bits of meat. Use a potato masher while browning your beef and sausage to get that fine, uniform texture.
- The Rice Type: Use long-grain white rice. Short-grain rice or jasmine rice can become too sticky or mushy for this specific dish.
- Make it “Dirty”: If you want a deeper color, add a teaspoon of Kitchen Bouquet or Worcestershire sauce to the broth.
Easy Bojangles Dirty Rice Recipe Faqs
Can I make this in a Rice Cooker? Yes! Brown the meat and veggies in a pan first, then add everything (including the raw rice and broth) into your rice cooker and set it to the “White Rice” cycle.
Is Bojangles Dirty Rice spicy? It has a mild kick from the chili powder and sausage, but it isn’t “hot.” If you want it spicy, increase the cayenne pepper or add some red pepper flakes.
How do I store leftovers? Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. This rice freezes beautifully! Just thaw and reheat with a splash of water to keep it moist.
More Copycat Bojangles Recipes You’ll Love
Bojangles Fried Chicken Recipe {Copycat}
Air Fryer Copycat Bojangles Chicken Tenders
Bojangles French Fry Seasoning Recipe
Easy Bojangles Honey Mustard Recipe
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Easy Bojangles Dirty Rice Recipe
Description
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef, 80/20 for the best flavor.
- 1/2 lb Breakfast Sausage
- 3 cups Long-Grain White Rice, Cooked and cooled
- 1 small Yellow Onion, Finely diced.
- 1 Green Bell Pepper, Finely diced.
- 2 cloves Garlic, Minced.
- 2 cups Beef Broth
- 1 tablespoon Chili Powder
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne, (optional for heat)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- In a large skillet or Dutch oven, brown the 1 lb Ground Beef and1/2 lb Breakfast Sausage together over medium-high heat. Break the meat into very small crumbles—the smaller the better for that authentic "dirty" look.
- Once the meat is browned, do not drain all the grease (leave about 1 tablespoon for flavor). Add the diced 1 small Yellow Onion, 1 Green Bell Pepper, and 2 cloves Garlic. Sauté until the vegetables are soft and translucent.
- Stir in your spices (1 tablespoon Chili Powder, 1 teaspoon Cumin, 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder, 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne1 teaspoon Salt, and 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper). Add the uncooked r3 cups Long-Grain White Rice and 2 cups Beef Broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18–20 minutes until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
- Turn off the heat and let the rice sit covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork to distribute the meat and veggies evenly.
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Ladle
Nutrition
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