Instant Pot Bojangles Dirty Rice–a copycat recipe of the restaurant’s flavorful rice dish with sausage, seasonings and bell pepper.
Instant Pot Bojangles Dirty Rice
Dirty rice is known for its bold flavors and is often spicy, with a slightly smoky taste (although this can be increased or decreased depending on how you like it). Dirty rice gets a lot of flavor from sausage and the spices that are added into it. It’s called dirty rice because the sausage and spices give the rice a distinctive “dirty” appearance. If you’re a fan of flavor and smokiness you’re going to love this Instant Pot version of dirty rice. Plus by making it in the Instant Pot you’ll save yourself from doing extra dishes and you’ll save time (only a 3 minute pressure cook time!).
You can serve this dirty rice as a main dish (pair it with a salad or vegetables) or you can also serve it as a side dish (alongside fried chicken, corn and beans). It’s up to you! We loved this rice and thought the flavor was spot on! Not too spicy and not bland at all.
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Ground breakfast sausage–I used Jimmy Dean brand
- Onion–fresh or frozen
- Garlic–fresh or jarred
- Chicken broth–or water and Better than Bouillon
- Converted rice–Don’t confuse converted rice (or sometimes it is called parboiled rice) with pre-cooked or minute rice. Parboiled rice has been processed in its husk by soaking, steaming, and drying. As a result, all the nutrients from the husk are absorbed into the grain before it’s removed. The starch content alters in the process, making cooked parboiled rice less sticky than regular white rice. The rice kernels aren’t clumpy and glued together instead they are more separated. I found a bag of parboiled rice at Walmart next to the normal long grain white rice. Sometimes I buy it at Winco in the bulk section. I have also found it in the orange box (Ben’s brand) next to other rices.
- Cayenne pepper
- Smoked paprika
- Black pepper
- Red pepper–or green bell pepper
Steps
Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the sausage and break it up. Add in the onions. Brown for about 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease. Add in the garlic and stir it in.
Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot.
Sprinkle in the rice, cayenne, paprika, pepper
…and finally the bell pepper. Don’t stir.
Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 3 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
Stir. Serve and enjoy!
Notes/Tips
- Can I use another type of rice? Yes you can. Use the green chart below to see cooking times as well as broth to rice ratio. If you’re using a 3 minute or less pressure cook time you can add the bell pepper in at the beginning. If you are making a rice that takes a long time (like brown rice) you will probably want to stir the bell pepper in after the pressure cooking time is over so it doesn’t get mushy.
- Variation: Try adding in a half cup of diced celery with the onions.
- If you’re a fan of heat try serving this with a few drops of hot sauce on top. You can also adjust the level of spiciness by adding more or less cayenne pepper.
- Dirty rice is commonly served as a side dish or a main course. If you’d like to serve something on the side consider corn on the cob, cornbread, fried chicken, vegetables, salad or beans (red beans or black beans are great).
- This recipe is gluten free (check your broth label).
- I used my 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in a 3 or 8 quart pot.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Other recipes you can make with converted rice are Instant Pot Sunshine Chicken and Instant Pot Spanish Rice With Beef.
More Instant Pot Rice Dishes…
Instant Pot Stick of Butter Rice
You only need 4 simple, staple ingredients to make this rice dish that everyone loves!
Instant Pot Johnny Cash Rice
An easy recipe for savory rice and mushrooms.
Instant Pot Hibachi Fried Rice
The yummiest fried rice similar to what you order at your favorite hibachi restaurant only it’s made at home in your Instant Pot!
Instant Pot Popeye’s Cajun Rice
Ground beef, green pepper and rice with Cajun seasonings. An easy copycat recipe that you can make at home in your Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Dynamite Rice
If you like sushi you’re going to love this rice! It’s inspired by a sushi roll but is seriously so fast and easy to make with no crazy ingredients.
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
Instant Pot Bojangles Dirty Rice
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes (plus 10 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
A copycat recipe of the restaurant’s flavorful rice dish with sausage, seasonings and bell pepper.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground breakfast sausage (I used Jimmy Dean)
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups converted rice
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 red or green bell pepper, cored and diced
Instructions
- Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the sausage and break it up. Add in the onions. Brown for about 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease. Add in the garlic and stir it in.
- Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot.
- Sprinkle in the rice, cayenne, paprika, pepper and finally the bell pepper. Don’t stir.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 3 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Stir. Serve and enjoy!
- Category: Sausage
- Method: Instant Pot
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
ooh, I love Bojangles! Can you do a Cajun Pintos recipe?
Yum that sounds so good! I’ll have to do that!
Does it have to be converted rice.
Can I use another type of rice? Yes you can. Use the green chart to see cooking times as well as broth to rice ratio. If you’re using a 3 minute or less pressure cook time you can add the bell pepper in at the beginning. If you are making a rice that takes a long time (like brown rice) you will probably want to stir the bell pepper in after the pressure cooking time is over so it doesn’t get mushy.
What is converted rice? Why would I like to include it in normal cooking??
Don’t confuse converted rice (or sometimes it is called parboiled rice) with pre-cooked or minute rice. Parboiled rice has been processed in its husk by soaking, steaming, and drying. As a result, all the nutrients from the husk are absorbed into the grain before it’s removed. The starch content alters in the process, making cooked parboiled rice less sticky than regular white rice. The rice kernels aren’t clumpy and glued together instead they are more separated. I found a bag of parboiled rice at Walmart next to the normal long grain white rice. Sometimes I buy it at Winco in the bulk section. I have also found it in the orange box (Ben’s brand) next to other rices.
Is converted rice “uncle Bens”?
Uncle Bens does have a box with converted rice in it. Make sure it’s just plain converted/parboiled rice and not with any seasonings or anything.
Used Uncle Bens and it was simple and delicious! Thx Karen you are always my go to!
★★★★★
Thanks Diane! So glad you liked it!
We don’t care for converted rice. Would everything be the same for jasmine rice?
yes