Cajun Dirty Orzo

What happens when you want to make Cajun Dirty Rice but there’s no rice in the pantry? Make Cajun Dirty Orzo instead!

This is definitely a “fusion” recipe (read – total mish-mash) that combines the addictive smoky flavor of Cajun seasoning with beef and orzo pasta. (See also: reader favorite Cajun Chicken Orzo) 🙂

Sort of homemade Hamburger Helper with Cajun spices, kind of Louisiana Dirty Rice minus the rice and DEFINITELY all kinds of delicious! Everything cooks together in one pan so the yumminess is off the charts – seriously, everyone will come back for seconds.

Cajun Dirty Orzo Ingredients

You gotta love a recipe that comes together in one pot and doesn’t break the bank. A deep non-stick pan would work best here as orzo tends to stick. Here’s what you will need:

• Butter and olive oil
• Shallots or white onion
• Green bell peppers (or you can use red and green)
• Plenty of garlic
• Cajun seasoning, celery salt, garlic and herb seasoning, dried parsley
• Ground beef (mince) – I used lean beef mince.
• Tomato purée / concentrated tomato paste
• Orzo pasta
• Beef broth  / or beef stock made with two stock cubes
• Cheese – I used Red Leicester but Cheddar would also work
• Jalapeno sliced, to serve
• Fresh thyme, to serve

How to Make Dirty Cajun Orzo

↓ For the full ingredients and detailed method, jump to the recipe card.

1. Heat the butter and oil in a pan and add the shallots, chopped pepper. Sauté over medium-low heat for five minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and seasonings.

1. Turn up the heat slightly and add the ground beef, breaking it up with the back of a wooden spoon so that it starts to brown.

1. Add the orzo and continue to stir until the beef is nicely browned and the orzo is a bit toasted and coated in the spices and seasoning.

1. Stir in the tomato paste and finally the beef broth/ stock. Bring to a rolling boil then lower the heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is cooked, about 15-20 minutes. If the pan gets too dry (the orzo soaks up liquid like a sponge) then stir in some extra water.
2. Turn the heat off and stir in the grated cheese so that it melts into the dish. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Garnish with fresh thyme.

1. Serve with sliced jalapeño or red chili flakes for an extra bit of heat plus more cheese (can you ever have enough?). SUPER YUM!

Recipe Tips

• Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to three days. Stir in some water when reheating to loosen up the orzo. This recipe is not suitable for freezing.
• This recipe is very child-friendly provided your Cajun seasoning is on the mild side. If you are using a spicy blend then add one teaspoon to start with then add more, to taste.
• Use low sodium beef broth / stock cubes as the seasoning contains salt.
• You can replace the lean ground beef with any type of ground beef as well as ground turkey or crumbled sausage if preferred.
• Want to make this recipe with rice instead? You can! Use easy cook long grain rice in the same way as the orzo.
• Authentic dirty rice contains gizzards or chicken livers instead or in addition to the ground beef. Not many people love using either of these ingredients, but if you do you can certainly add some. Weird to report that my mum’s Greek turkey stuffing contains both beef and chicken livers and looks very much like dirty rice.

Check Out These Awesome Recipes!

• Cajun Chicken Orzo
• Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta
• One-Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta
• Cajun Shrimp and Rice

If you like orzo cooked right in the pan, my One Pot Chicken Scarpariello Orzo is the Italian-American version – crispy chicken thighs, Italian sausage and tangy drop peppers.

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