Are you planning a southern-style dinner and wondering what to serve with dirty rice? Dirty rice is the perfect side dish for any Creole meal. It is smoky, spicy, a little sweet, and a beautiful red color.
Now, we just have to figure out what to pair with this amazing side dish!
Dirty rice is bold and flavorful. Since it is a side dish, it is often paired with meats.
Creole-inspired chicken, grilled fish, or spicy chicken wings are all classic combinations with dirty rice.
Foods that have strong, spicy flavors are also good with dirty rice. Look for dishes made with tabasco, Cajun seasoning, or Louisiana hot sauce. The spicier, the better!
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Dirty Rice Sides: Amazing Recipes You’ll Enjoy
We have searched and scoured the internet for the best foods to serve with dirty rice. We tried to keep those classic cajun spices in mind, ensuring that each dish matches in flavor and culinary style.
One-pot meals like gumbo and jambalaya are definitely perfect with dirty rice. You can make tender, dirty rice while your gumbo cooks!
Grilled meats are perfect for serving with dirty rice. The charred flavor from the grill goes well with the spicy pepper rice.
Take a look at all the amazing dishes we found that will pair well with your dirty rice recipe. One look at this list, and you will never wonder what to serve with dirty rice ever again!
1. Roasted Asparagus
Our Simple Green Moms asparagus recipe is easy and incredible.
Our roasted asparagus recipe starts with fresh asparagus spears. Trim the ends of the asparagus and then spread them on a rimmed baking sheet.
Toss the asparagus in a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. A little lime juice helps give the veggie a tart taste that goes well with cajun rice.
2. Grilled Sausage
Chicken sausage is one of the most delicious sides to pair with dirty rice. You can also serve pork sausage with your favorite dirty rice recipe and have a perfect main dish.
Use this recipe from Spend With Pennies to make the best dirty rice and sausage dinner out there!
You want the chicken or pork sausage to get a nice char as it cooks. That earthy, grilled flavor goes so well with the creole seasoning.
Slice the pork sausage into bite-sized pieces and place it right on top of the dirty rice. You can also leave the sausage whole and serve it on a plate with the cooked dirty rice.
3. Chicken Livers
Crispy fried chicken livers are one of the most authentic southern foods. If you are looking to make true, Cajun dish cuisine, then dirty rice and chicken livers are exactly what you should cook.
This recipe from Savor and Savvy is really amazing. The chicken liver is tossed in flour and cornstarch then coated with egg and milk.
Cook the chicken livers in an air fryer to make them a little healthier than the classic deep-fried chicken livers.
Place the hot chicken livers on top of a plate of dirty rice, and you will have an incredible, easy meal.
4. Creole Shrimp
One bite of this creole shrimp from Tastes Better From Scratch will have you thinking you are in the heart of Louisiana. The authentic flavor comes from the blend of spices.
Black pepper, cayenne pepper, and some hot pepper sauce help crank up the spicy taste!
Make dirty rice using this recipe as well. The shrimp, bell peppers, and dirty rice can all cook together in one pot. The holy trinity of veggies is in there as well!
We love easy, tasty dishes like this!
5. Fruit Salad
Dirty rice has an almost overpowering taste. It is so spicy and flavorful that you may need a simple, sweet side dish to go with your dirty rice.
Serve dirty rice with this tasty fruit salad from Cooking Classy on the side. The fruit is nice and sweet, thanks to the honey dressing with a little tangy taste from the lime juice.
Add a little lime juice to your white rice, dressing it up even more! It will be even more flavorful with the combination of spice and sour lime.
6. Cornbread Muffins
A tender, sweet cornbread is a delicious side dish to serve with your favorite dirty rice recipe. This recipe from Once Upon a Chef will help you make the most perfect cornbread muffins you have ever had.
Yellow cornmeal, butter, and honey are the main flavors in this recipe. It is a very nice contrast to the spice of the dirty rice.
Add some simple, seasoned ground beef, ground pork, or ground turkey, and you will have a delicious meal full of complex flavors.
7. Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole
A meaty, cheesy casserole is one of the best side dishes for serving with dirty rice. It is a fantastic main dish that only gets better when dirty rice is also on the plate.
Give this recipe from the Salty Marshmallow a try. It is made with ground beef, shredded hash browns, condensed cheddar cheese soup, and condensed cream of chicken soup.
Make your dirty rice recipe using chicken broth to make it richer, matching it perfectly with this scrumptious casserole.
8. Baked Beans
Baked beans may just be one of the best side dishes to serve with dirty rice ever. It is a true, classic combination that we find very hard to resist.
These baked kidney beans from The Chunky Chef are among the best side dishes we have tried.
The recipe starts with canned pork and beans. Lots of garlic, bacon, bell peppers, and seasonings are added to increase the flavor.
Scoop the baked beans and their sauce right on top of the cajun rice. The spicy cooked rice will absorb all that great sauce from the bean.
9. Fried Apples
All that spicy dirty rice needs a sweet side dish to balance out the flavor. Fried apples are one of the best side dishes we have ever tried. This recipe from Small Town Woman will really make your dirty rice meal complete.
Use tart apples like granny smith to get a nice sweet and sour taste. A little cinnamon and sugar make the butter-coated apple even better.
10. Pork Loin Roast
A tasty, southern-style pork roast is a wonderful, complete meal when paired with dirty rice. Try this recipe from Cafe Delites that is fairly simple yet full of flavor.
The honey butter garlic sauce is what makes this pork loin roast perfect. Cook the pork in a slow cooker over medium heat. Cooking the pork slowly makes it tender and juicy.
Make dirty rice. Add some extra bell peppers and a slice of garlic bread to create the perfect meal. You may need an extra big bowl!
11. Fried Chicken Thighs
Use your air fryer to make this fried chicken thighs recipe from The Kitchen Magpie. Frying the chicken in the air fryer allows you to use less oil and make a healthier dish.
The chicken thighs cook pretty quickly. Make your cajun rice side dish while the chicken is frying.
Consider sprinkling the chicken with some cajun seasoning to make the flavor match the dirty rice even more.
12. Simple Green Salad
This Simple Green Mom spinach salad goes well with just about everything. It can definitely pair with your main dish of dirty rice.
The sweet taste of the strawberries is delicious with the green onions, green pepper, and creole spices in the dirty rice. The goat cheese adds a nice creamy, salty taste that is also delicious with the spicy white rice side dish. You can’t go wrong with a healthy salad!
13. Beef Jerky
Homemade beef jerky is a very interesting and tasty dish to accompany dirty rice. Use this recipe from A Spicy Perspective to help you make beef jerky that is rich in flavor and spice.
The beef jerky is made with Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and spices. Garlic, ancho chili powder, and smoked paprika all make this jerky amazing.
Use the same spices and fresh herbs that you add to your best dirty rice to season the beef jerky. A jerky made with kosher salt and some cajun seasoning sound like a perfect side dish!
14. Cajun Beef Tacos
You may not automatically think of tacos when you think about Cajun food, but you will after one bite of these Cajun beef tacos from Cooked by Julie! Serve dirty rice and Cajun tacos together, and you will have a winning, rich flavor meal.
Cook the beef for the tacos in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic, tomato sauce, and Cajun seasoning to make the browned meat even more flavorful.
Roughly chop the meat and then add rice, Cajun beef, and some steamed veggies to a soft tortilla. Top with a sprinkle of green onions and enjoy a perfect Cajun meal!
15. Crab Cakes
Tender crab cakes on a bed of dirty rice sounds like a perfect meal. This tasty crab cane recipe from Natasha’s Kitchen is one of the best side dishes to serve with dirty rice.
Worcestershire sauce, old bay seasoning, and garlic salt are the main flavors in these crab cakes. A little chicken stock makes them tender and soft.
Try adding some cajun spices to make the crab cakes match your cooked white rice dish.
Sear the crab cakes in olive oil over medium-high heat and serve them while hot. Some steamed veggies make a great addition to complete the meal.
Fantastic Side Dishes to Serve with Your Favorite Dirty Rice Recipe
Give one of these incredible side dishes a try. From chicken liver to steamed veggies, we know there is something here for everyone!
Let us know your favorite side dishes to serve with dirty rice. We love to hear about your culinary adventures! Enjoy.
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