Best 2 Hearty Rice Dressing Recipes

# Rice Dressing: A Southern Comfort Food Staple

Rice dressing is a classic Southern comfort food dish that is often served as a side dish with roasted turkey, chicken, or ham. It is made with cooked rice, ground meat (such as sausage, ground beef, or turkey), vegetables (such as celery, onion, and bell pepper), and seasonings. Rice dressing can be baked, fried, or cooked in a slow cooker. It can be made ahead of time and reheated, making it a convenient meal option.

This article provides three different recipes for rice dressing:

1. **Classic Southern Rice Dressing**: This recipe is a traditional Southern rice dressing made with cooked rice, ground sausage, vegetables, and seasonings. It is baked in the oven until golden brown.
2. **Easy Weeknight Rice Dressing**: This recipe is a quick and easy version of rice dressing that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is made with cooked rice, ground turkey, vegetables, and seasonings. It is cooked in a skillet until heated through.
3. **Vegetarian Rice Dressing**: This recipe is a meatless version of rice dressing that is perfect for vegetarians and vegans. It is made with cooked rice, vegetables, and seasonings. It is cooked in a skillet until heated through.

No matter which recipe you choose, you are sure to enjoy this delicious and comforting dish.

Let's cook with our recipes!

DIRTY RICE DRESSING

Dirty Rice Dressing image

Provided by Food Network

Categories side-dish

Time 2h30m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

1 pound chicken livers
2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules
2 large eggplant, diced
1 pound ground beef
5 stalks celery with leaves, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 pound breakfast sausage
3/4 stick butter
1 bell pepper, chopped
Cajun seasoning mix
2 to 4 cups uncooked long grain rice
1 cup green onion tops, chopped

Steps:

Begin by putting the chicken livers into boiling water and cook until tender. Remove from the water and put in a food processor and process to a pate-like texture. Set aside.
In a separate pot, add the bouillon granules to boiling water, and then add the eggplant. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until tender, about 10 minutes.
Brown the meat in a lightly greased, heavy cast-iron pot. Pour off the excess grease. Remove the meat and melt the butter. Add the celery, onions and bell peppers and saute until tender. Add back the chicken livers, meat mixture and cooked eggplant. Add Cajun seasoning to taste. Slowly simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
Meanwhile, cook the rice according to package directions and add to the dressing a bit at a time until you achieve the balance that you like of rice to dressing mix. At the very end, add the chopped green onion tops. Simmer for a few minutes longer.

HEARTY RICE DRESSING

Hearty Rice Dressing image

At church socials and family reunions, this satisfying dressing has always been well received. It's a favorite with our family, too. I cut back on the recipe to serve a smaller group. -Ruth Hayward, Lake Charles, Louisiana

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Side Dishes

Time 1h25m

Yield 50 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

3 pounds ground beef
2 pounds ground pork
2 large onions, chopped
3 celery ribs, chopped
1 large green pepper, chopped
1 jar (4 ounces) diced pimientos, drained
5 cups water
2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
2 cans (10-1/2 ounces each) condensed French onion soup
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
2 tablespoons Creole seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 cups uncooked long grain rice

Steps:

Combine beef, pork and onions. Divide mixture evenly among several large Dutch ovens or stockpots; cook, crumbling meat, over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain., In a large bowl, combine celery, green pepper and pimientos. Add water, soups and seasonings. Stir into Dutch ovens or stockpots, dividing vegetable-soup mixture evenly among them. Bring to a boil; stir in rice., Carefully transfer mixture to three greased 13x9-in. baking dishes. Cover and bake at 350° for 30 minutes; stir. Cover and bake 30-40 minutes longer or until rice is tender.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 153 calories, Fat 6g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 26mg cholesterol, Sodium 293mg sodium, Carbohydrate 14g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 10g protein.

Tips:

Use high-quality ingredients. The better the ingredients, the better the dressing will be. Look for fresh, flavorful rice, vegetables, and herbs.
Don't overcook the rice. Overcooked rice will be mushy and not hold its shape in the dressing.
Let the dressing cool slightly before serving. This will help the flavors to meld and the dressing to thicken up.
Serve the dressing warm or at room temperature. Cold dressing will not be as flavorful.
Garnish the dressing with fresh herbs or vegetables for a pop of color and flavor.

Conclusion:

Rice dressing is a versatile and delicious side dish that can be served with a variety of main courses. It is a great way to use up leftover rice, and it is also a budget-friendly option. With so many different variations, there is sure to be a rice dressing recipe that everyone will enjoy.