I love this Bojangles dirty rice recipe due to loads of sausage and spicy flavors. I believe this version is pretty good, and you can make it as spicy as you and your family like.
It’s a fast food chain that specializes in Cajun food if you don’t already know what it is.
Chicken and biscuits, dirty rice, and pinto beans, for example. Usually spicy and very tasty! This is a dirty rice recipe that you will love if you like comfort foods that are spicy.
Bojangles’ popular dirty rice side dish is a tasty blend of rice spices, sausage and seasonings. With its mix of flavors and textures, it’s no wonder dirty rice is a customer favorite. But with the sausage and seasoned meat, some customers wonder – does Bojangles’ dirty rice contain pork? Let’s take a closer look.
What is Bojangles Dirty Rice?
For those not familiar with Bojangles’, it’s a popular fast food chain known for its Southern-inspired menu. Fried chicken, biscuits, sweet tea – these are just some of the classics served up at Bojangles’
And a popular menu item is their dirty rice. Louisianans have made dirty rice for a long time. It is made with rice, spices, vegetables, and meat. Bojangles’ version contains rice seasoned with their signature Cajun spice blend. The rice, meat crumbles, onions, peppers, and spices give it a “dirty” look.
Bojangles dirty rice has a delicious smoky, spicy flavor It makes a hearty, filling side to pair with Bojangles’ fried chicken
Does Bojangles Use Pork in Their Dirty Rice?
The short answer – yes. Bojangles uses pork sausage in their dirty rice recipe.
In particular, the sausage crumbles in their dirty rice come from the same sausage patties that are used in their breakfast biscuits. While the exact recipe is proprietary, it’s likely a pork breakfast sausage.
So for those avoiding pork for dietary, religious, or personal reasons – Bojangles dirty rice does contain pork.
Sausage Alternatives for Homemade Versions
If you want to recreate the Bojangles dirty rice flavor profile at home without pork, there are a few possible substitutions:
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Turkey sausage: Turkey sausage makes an easy swap for pork sausage. Look for breakfast turkey sausage seasoned with sage and black pepper.
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Chicken sausage: Many brands offer chicken sausage in different flavor varieties like apple, sun-dried tomato, etc. Pick a flavor that will work with the Cajun seasoning.
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Beef sausage: Spicy Italian sausage or breakfast beef sausage patties are flavorful beef options.
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Vegetarian sausage: Soy-based and other vegetarian sausage patties replicate the texture well. Choose a spicy flavor.
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Ground turkey or chicken: Use ground turkey or chicken and season it yourself with Cajun spices instead of sausage.
Any of these will give a meaty texture while avoiding pork. When making homemade dirty rice, you can adjust flavors to suit your tastes.
Recipe Ideas for Pork-Free Dirty Rice
Here are some recipe ideas for recreating the Bojangles dirty rice flavor at home without pork:
Turkey Sausage Dirty Rice
Ingredients:
- 2 cups uncooked rice
- 1 lb ground turkey sausage
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 cups chicken broth
Chicken and Sausage Dirty Rice
Ingredients:
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, diced
- 8 oz chicken sausage, sliced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 2 cups uncooked rice
- 14 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 Tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 2 cups chicken broth
Vegetarian Dirty Rice
Ingredients:
- 1 lb vegetarian sausage, crumbled
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 2 cups uncooked rice
- 14 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1-2 Tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 2 cups vegetable broth
While Bojangles’ original dirty rice does contain pork sausage, you can easily make your own version at home without pork. Turkey sausage, chicken sausage, or vegetarian sausage are all tasty substitutes. With the right blend of vegetables, seasonings, broth, and rice, you can recreate that signature Bojangles flavor profile in a pork-free dirty rice recipe.
What is Dirty Rice?
Dirty rice is simply rice that has lots of “stuff” in it to make it flavorful. Typically with sausage, but you could also use ground beef, pork, or turkey.
Lots of spicy flavors along with bell peppers and onions make this dirty rice special.
You can use any kind of rice, but I like brown rice because it makes the dish taste better. But you can also use white rice or wild rice if you like.
You can get your rice cooking first before starting your meat if its a long-cooking rice.
The sausage, bell pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic, and paprika in this recipe give it a real, hearty, and tasty flavor.
You can serve dirty rice as a main dish with a salad or as a side dish with pinto beans and corn bread. It’s also great for potlucks.
3 cups cooked rice
1 pound ground breakfast sausage
½ large red bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 small onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (more if desired)
1 Tablespoon garlic, minced (about 3 large cloves)
1 teaspoon smoked paprika (or sweet if you want less spicy)
½ teaspoon black pepper
In a large heavy skillet, cook sausage until browned (about 10 minutes).
Remove all but about 2 Tablespoons fat.
When the pan is hot, add the oil and stir in the bell pepper, onion, garlic, cayenne, paprika, and black pepper.
Cook 10 minutes or until onions are translucent and soft.
Add cooked rice and reduce heat to low.
Stir and heat 5 more minutes (uncovered).
For a fuller flavor, I like to use brown or mixed rice, but you can use white rice for this recipe, even the quick kind. Use whatever rice you have on hand or whatever you like. It will be tasty and fabulous!.
For the sausage, use the ground sausage that you prefer. It’s up to you if you like it spicy or mild. This recipe works well for a lot of different tastes and cooking styles.
Keep in mind that the dish will be hotter with cayenne pepper and smoked paprika added to it than with just the sausage.
My sausage was fairly mild, so the cayenne took the heat up a notch. If you use spicy sausage, you may want to leave the cayenne out.
If your sausage is already spicy, you may choose to use sweet paprika instead of smoked paprika. This will depend on how spicy you want your dirty rice to be.
I hope you and your family love this copycat Bojangles Dirty Rice recipe. Dont forget to share, print, and save to your Pinterest for making soon.
You can tell me how yours turned out and what kind of sausage and rice you used below. Did you spice it up or make it mild? I want to know!.
Dirty Rice and Beans
You can add a can of drained black beans (or any other beans you like) to make this dish even heartier.
Even though Bojangles doesn’t use beans in their recipe, they are a great way to change things up when you already have a great recipe.
Everyone in my family loves dirty rice and beans as a main dish. It has meat, beans, rice, and seasonings; all it needs is bread and a green vegetable or salad on the side.
You can adapt the beans that your family prefers. That’s why I chose black beans: I thought they would make this recipe look and taste better.
However, you can certainly add pintos, kidney beans, or black eyed peas if youd like.
Let me know in the comments if you made your dirty rice with beans or without!
Copycat Bojangles Dirty Rice Recipe
FAQ
What is Bojangles dirty rice made of?
Does dirty rice contain meat?
What is in Bojangles chicken rice bowl?
Does Bojangles serve dirty rice all day?