As an Amazon Associate, Eat Wine Blog earns from qualifying purchases. We get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Once beloved and now discontinued, Popeyes’ take on the delicious Cajun delicacy that is Dirty Rice is no longer available to buy in their restaurants as of a few years ago. However – don’t despair!
There are many savvy chefs on the Internet who have successfully produced some delicious copycat recipes; after all, it’s not like Popeyes invented the dish!
They just happened to make a really good, popular version of it.
A staple in downhome Southern cooking, combining rice with meat, veggies and spices is one way to whip up a tasty side dish – but as you’ll find in the list, there are quite a few variations out there to try.
This drool-inducing recipe from the folks over at The Spruce Eats utilizes chicken gizzards, ground pork and bacon drippings to give the rice its smoky flavor and “dirty” look.
They recommend you serve it up with some hot sauce, a refreshing salad or some collard greens for potluck perfection.
Double the dirtiness and twice as delicious, this recipe started with the chef’s love of Popeye’s and resulted in them discovering that adding more of the liver and pork that makes it so dirty only enhances how amazing the dish is.
Trying to stay as true as possible to the dish and its Southern roots, the Southern Discourse recipe for dirty rice demonstrates just how versatile it is.
Use it as a dressing or stuffing for meat and peppers, or serve it up as your main course with some black-eyed peas.
From their recipe book of the same name comes Pinch of Nom’s take on the dirty rice craze.
They refer to it as a “new and improved, slimming friendly version” of the original they featured, so if you’re looking to eat a little healthier then this is absolutely the variant to go for.
Promising to help your liver-loathing dinner guests learn to love it (and not even realize!), Went Here 8 This proffer a take on dirty rice that is accompanied with step-by-step pictures.
Even the most amateur of cooks should be able to whip it up with ease.
Sticking to the simple, traditional flavors of a classic Creole dirty rice, Spend With Pennies does just what their blog title suggests and shows you how to make a delectable dinner with very little cash.
By using specifically lean beef, you can cut costs and still enjoy a filling, tasty meal.
Sick of dishes piling up as you cook, and then having to wash them after you already cooked for everybody?
Try this one pot dirty rice, which No Spoon Necessary promises will be ready in less than thirty minutes, using just eight simple yet highly effective ingredients.
Using the “Holy Trinity” of Creole cooking – that’s onions, peppers and celery for those who aren’t in the know – as their flavor foundation, Gousto’s version of dirty rice is likely to offer similar levels of deliciousness to the rest of the meals they offer in their home delivery service.
Providing an incredibly simple yet filling and effective dinner, this dirty rice recipe is highly recommended for those on a diet who are sick of bland and boring meals.
Promising to be an authentic recipe straight from the heart of New Orleans,
given to Swanky Recipes by a local, this dirty rice uses the very same andouille sausage you’d find in the French Quarter. Can’t get to Louisiana? This is the next best thing.
Bojangles is also a Cajun fast food joint that helped popularize dirty rice, so it’s no surprise that their take on the sumptuous side dish also has plenty of copycat recipes available on the net.
It’s up to you whether you want to spice it up or keep it mild and family friendly, but either way, it’s sure to be tasty.
For those lucky enough to possess an Instant Pot who also happen to love a bit of dirty rice, you’ll be thrilled to know that there’s a recipe for your favorite easy cooking vessel.
They even offer a recipe for your very own Cajun spice blend, if you’d prefer not to opt for store bought.
As the lovely folks of Holy Cow! prove, living a plant-based, dairy-free lifestyle does not mean you have to give up eating things you love – just find alternatives!
Here’s one for dirty rice that utilizes vegan sausage, so you can still enjoy some good old-fashioned Creole cooking.
The Food Network’s Patrick and Gina Neely have their own take on dirty rice, which makes use of smoked pork sausage to give the dish a little extra zing.
Spice fans would definitely enjoy the kick, which is complemented by the addition of some cayenne pepper.
For those looking to lose a few pounds or simply eat a little healthier, with less fats, salts and sugars, Slimming World offers a fantastic alternative to the usual dirty rice combination, allowing you to enjoy all of the flavors of your favorite dish and still stay on target!
Another way to enjoy dirty rice with just one pan to wash afterwards, Immaculate Bites offers a scrumptious sounding recipe that has vegan, pescatarian and instant pot variants, as well as instructions for if you’re planning to make it ahead or store any leftovers afterwards.
Inspired by the original Creole meat dish, this version instead includes kidney beans and lentils – it’s just as flavorful and exciting, whilst being simultaneously veggie, vegan, freezer friendly and gluten free. Not an easy nut to crack!
Meatless and allergy-free, yet still chock full of Southern comfort and that traditional “dirty” rice color, just because you have dietary restrictions does not mean you have to stick to disappointing dinners.
Sounding a little saucier than its original counterpart, Susan Spicer’s recipe for the Cajun favorite makes use of wild rice to reinvent and add even more unique umami flavor – it’s a great twist if you’re looking for a fun way to mix up your side dishes.
Last but absolutely not least is Sugar Pink Food’s healthful alternative to dirty rice, containing pork instead of chicken or sausage but still packed with powerful, punchy Creole flavor. Not to be missed!
