Kenny’s East Texas Cajun Dirty Rice

One-Pot Cajun Rice with Sausage, Peppers & Kenny’s East Texas Cajun

Using Milford Spice Company Kenny’s East Texas Cajun

This is a perfect one-pot Cajun-style dish. It is warm, slightly spicy, and has a little something for everyone. Made with sausage, bell peppers, onion, celery, garlic, rice, chicken broth, and Milford Spice Company Kenny’s East Texas Cajun, it is the kind of hearty dinner that gets eaten up fast.

This recipe is also easy to adapt. Make it pescatarian with shrimp, vegan with extra peppers, or lower-carb by using cauliflower rice instead of long-grain white rice. Milford Spice Company Kenny’s East Texas Cajun is salt free and sugar free.

Ingredients

• 2 tsp olive oil

• 1 pound ground pork, beef, or turkey sausage

• 12–14 ounces andouille sausage, diced

• 2 small bell peppers, diced

• 1 medium yellow onion, diced

• 2 large celery ribs, diced

• 3 large cloves garlic, minced or grated

• 2 ½ tsp Milford Spice Company Kenny’s East Texas Cajun

• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper

• Kosher salt & ground black pepper

• 2 cups uncooked long-grain white rice, about 13 oz, or cauliflower rice

• 4 cups unsalted chicken broth

• 1 bay leaf

• Optional for garnish: sliced fresh green onions & parsley

Instructions

Step 1: Brown the Ground Sausage

1. In a Dutch oven or high-sided large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat.

2. Add the sausage and cook, using a wooden spoon to stir and break the sausage up into large crumbles.

3. Cook until browned.

4. Using a large slotted spoon, remove the sausage to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.

Step 2: Brown the Andouille

1. Add the diced andouille sausage to the pan.

2. Cook, undisturbed, for 2 minutes.

3. Stir and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the andouille is well caramelized, about 2 additional minutes.

4. Use a large slotted spoon to remove the andouille sausage to a separate paper towel-lined plate and set aside.

Step 3: Cook the Vegetables and Seasoning

1. Reduce the heat to medium and add the bell peppers, onion, and celery.

2. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 6–8 minutes.

3. Add the garlic, Milford Spice Company Kenny’s East Texas Cajun , and cayenne.

4. Season with ½ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of pepper.

5. Cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Step 4: Add Rice and Broth

1. Return the sausage to the pan.

2. Add the rice, broth, and bay leaf.

3. Stir everything together, using the back of your spoon to gently scrape up any brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pan.

Step 5: Simmer

1. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.

2. Immediately reduce the heat to maintain a simmer.

3. Cover the pan and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked and tender.

Step 6: Rest, Finish and Serve

1. Remove the pan from the heat and let sit covered for 5 minutes.

2. Remove the cover.

3. Remove and discard the bay leaf.

4. Fluff the rice with a fork and stir in the andouille.

5. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

6. Garnish with green onions and parsley if you like.

Why This Recipe Works

This one-pot Cajun rice works because it builds flavor in layers. The ground sausage creates a savory base, the andouille adds smoky richness, the bell peppers, onion, and celery bring classic Cajun-style aromatics, and Milford Spice Company Kenny’s East Texas Cajun adds bold, savory heat without added salt or sugar.

Make It Your Way

• For a pescatarian version: use shrimp instead of sausage.

• For a vegan version: use extra peppers and vegetable broth.

• For a lower-carb version: use cauliflower rice instead of long-grain white rice.

• For more heat: increase the cayenne pepper slightly.

• For a milder version: reduce or omit the cayenne and use a mild sausage.

What to Serve with Kenny’s East Texas Cajun Dirty Rice

This Cajun-style rice dish works well on its own as a hearty one-pot dinner, but it also pairs nicely with a simple green salad, roasted vegetables, cornbread, grilled shrimp, blackened fish, or a fresh cucumber tomato salad.

More Ways to Use Milford Kenny’s East Texas Cajun

Milford Spice Company Kenny’s East Texas Cajun is useful beyond this rice dish. Try it with gumbo, fish, pork, chicken, roasted vegetables, shrimp, soups, stews, potatoes, or Cajun-style skillet meals.

• Use it to season chicken, pork, fish, or shrimp.

• Stir it into gumbo, soup, stew, or dirty rice.

• Sprinkle it over roasted potatoes or vegetables.

• Mix it into olive oil for a quick Cajun-style marinade.

Allergen-Friendly Swaps

• Gluten-free: check the sausage, andouille, broth, and all packaged ingredients to make sure they are certified gluten-free.

• Lower sodium option: use unsalted chicken broth, reduce added salt, and choose lower-sodium sausage if available.

• Rice-free option: use cauliflower rice instead of long-grain white rice.

• Pork-free option: use beef, turkey, chicken sausage, or shrimp.

More Easy One-Pot Dinner Ideas

Looking for more easy one-pot dinners or Cajun-style meals with big flavor? Pair this recipe with other skillet dinners, rice bowls, sausage recipes, chicken dinners, and Milford Spice Company blends that make weeknight cooking easier.