This Viral Dirty Rice is made with basmati rice, seasoned ground beef, peppers, onions, French onion soup and beef consommé baked together for an easy, flavorful dinner.
From the recipe collection of Tara Ippolito
If you’ve seen this viral dirty rice floating around social media, this is your sign to make it! It’s one of those ridiculously easy recipes where everything goes into one baking dish and the oven does most of the work. I made this for a party and my family went crazy over it.
The best part is that you don’t stir anything before baking. The rice goes on the bottom, the seasoned beef and vegetables are layered over it, then the soups and butter go right on top. Cover it tightly, bake, and everything comes together into the most savory, buttery rice.
Why You'll Love It
- Super easy to make with very little prep.
- Everything finishes in one baking dish for easy cleanup.
- Packed with savory flavor from the beef, onions, peppers and consommé.
- Perfect for busy weeknights because the oven does most of the work.
Ingredients
Here is everything you'll need to make this delicious rice. You can find the full ingredients list along with measurements and instructions on the recipe card below.
- Basmati rice – Use uncooked basmati rice and spread it evenly across the bottom of the baking dish.
- Ground beef – Adds heartiness and lots of savory flavor.
- Red bell pepper – Adds a little sweetness and color.
- Onion – Diced and sautéed with the beef and peppers.
- Salt – Enhances all the flavors.
- Black pepper – Adds a little seasoning and warmth.
- Garlic powder – Seasons the ground beef mixture.
- Garlic – Fresh minced garlic adds even more flavor.
- French onion soup – Adds rich onion flavor and moisture for cooking the rice.
- Beef consommé – Creates a deeply savory flavor while providing the liquid the rice needs to cook.
- Butter – Cut into pats and placed over the top before baking.
How to Make It
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Add the ground beef, diced red bell pepper and diced onion to a large skillet. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder and sauté until the beef is browned and the peppers and onions have softened. Drain any excess grease from the skillet if necessary. Add the minced garlic and sauté for another minute. Add the uncooked basmati rice to a lightly greased 9 x 13" baking dish and spread it into a nice, even layer. Spoon the beef, pepper and onion mixture evenly over the uncooked rice. Do not stir the layers together.
- Pour the French onion soup and beef consommé evenly over everything. Again, do not stir. Distribute the butter evenly over the top. Cover the baking dish very tightly with aluminum foil. Place it into the center rack of the oven for 1 hour. Remove the baking dish from the oven and let it rest, still covered, for 5–10 minutes. Remove the foil and gently fluff the rice, mixing everything together as you go. Serve warm and enjoy!
Pro Tips
- Do not stir before baking. Layer everything exactly as directed and leave it alone.
- Spread the uncooked rice into an even layer so it cooks consistently.
- Spread the ground beef mixture evenly over the rice for the same reason.
- Cover the baking dish very tightly. Trapping the steam is essential for properly cooking the rice.
- Drain the ground beef if there is a lot of grease in the pan.
- Let the dirty rice rest covered for 5–10 minutes after it comes out of the oven before fluffing.
- If the rice still seems a little firm after an hour, add a small splash of hot beef broth, cover tightly again and return it to the oven for another 10 minutes.
Variations
- Ground sausage: Replace half of the ground beef with ground sausage for even more flavor.
- Different peppers: Green, yellow or orange bell peppers can all be used instead of red.
- Spicy: Add cayenne pepper, Cajun seasoning or diced jalapeños for some heat.
- Extra vegetables: Mushrooms or celery would work well sautéed with the beef mixture.
- Cheesy: Sprinkle shredded cheddar over the finished rice and let it melt before serving.
What to Serve With It
This is hearty enough to serve all on its own, but it would also be great with a simple side salad, roasted broccoli, green beans or honey roasted carrots.
Can I Use A Different Rice?
I recommend sticking with basmati rice because that’s what this recipe’s liquid amount and cooking time are based on. Different varieties can require different amounts of liquid and cooking times.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
To reheat, microwave individual portions until warmed through. I like adding a tiny splash of beef broth before reheating to put some moisture back into the rice.
You can also reheat larger portions covered in the oven at 350°F until warmed through.
Other Easy Rice Recipes
I've rounded up all my Best Rice Recipes so you can find them easily in one place. I highly recommend this Easy Garlic Butter Rice. Its always a huge hit in my house.
Viral Dirty Rice Recipe
Equipment
- 9" x 13" baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Ground Beef
- 1 Medium Red Bell Pepper, diced
- 1 Medium Onion, diced
- 3 Cloves Garlic, minced
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 2 Cups Basmati Rice, uncooked
- 10.5 Oz French Onion Soup
- 21 Oz (2 cans) Beef Consommé
- 1 Stick Butter, cut into pats
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Add the ground beef, diced red bell pepper and diced onion to a large skillet. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder and sauté until the beef is browned and the peppers and onions have softened. Drain any excess grease from the skillet if necessary. Add the minced garlic and sauté for another minute.
- Add the uncooked basmati rice to a lightly greased 9 x 13" baking dish and spread it into a nice, even layer. This is important so the rice cooks evenly.
- Spoon the beef, pepper and onion mixture evenly over the uncooked rice. Do not stir the layers together. Pour the French onion soup and beef consommé evenly over everything. Again, do not stir.
- Cut the stick of butter into pats and distribute them evenly over the top. Cover the baking dish very tightly with aluminum foil. You want to trap all that steam inside because it’s what cooks the rice.
- Place it into the center rack of the oven for 1 hour. Remove the baking dish from the oven and let it rest, still covered, for 5–10 minutes. Remove the foil and gently fluff the rice, mixing everything together as you go. Serve warm and enjoy!
Al Dente Diva says
Hello
Thank you so much. I would just use some beef broth and seasoning it with a little bit of onion powder.
Diane Parent says
Hi ! What can we use instead of the canned Onion Soup ...we dont have that here ??
Love your recipes and videos
Thank you
Melody says
Have not made it, but I know it will be great. There are a variety of recipes with the same "base." I've made one over and over that has pork chops atop the rice with bell pepper and onion over them. Delicious. There are shrimp variations, too...like a shrimp jambalaya....I live in the deep south. Can't wait to do this one. Might also try it with breakfast sausage and scrambled eggs, kind of like breakfast fried rice. Or,,,leave the eggs out and stuff it inside a folded omelet. Possibilities are endless. Anxious to do it.
Sharon says
I would definitely add some heat because dirty needs this. Otherwise, it’s very good.