Braised Bacon Carolina Rice

A hearty Southern-style rice dish featuring slab bacon and Carolina Gold rice, simmered with aromatic vegetables and spices in a flavorful chicken stock and tomato juice base. The dish is finished with fresh celery leaves and butter for richness.

6 servings

43 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•½ pound slab bacon
•1¼ cups onion
•⅔ cup celery
•2 cloves garlic
•½ teaspoon dry mustard
•¼ teaspoon cayenne
•¼ teaspoon hot smoked paprika
•4 cups chicken stock
•½ cup tomato juice
•1 cup long-grain white rice
•2 tablespoons celery leaves
•2 tablespoons unsalted butter
•½ teaspoon kosher salt

Cooking Instructions

1.
Cook bacon in a 4-quart heavy pot over low heat until some of fat is rendered, about 5 minutes. Add onion, celery, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened but not browned, 7 to 8 minutes. Stir in spices.
13 min
2.
Add stock and tomato juice and bring to a boil. Stir in rice and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until most of liquid is absorbed and rice is cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes (rice will be moist rather than fluffy and dry). Stir in celery leaves, butter, kosher salt, and pepper to taste, then remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes.
30 min

Ingredients

•½ pound slab bacon

•1¼ cups onion

•⅔ cup celery

•2 cloves garlic

•½ teaspoon dry mustard

•¼ teaspoon cayenne

•¼ teaspoon hot smoked paprika

•4 cups chicken stock

•½ cup tomato juice

•1 cup long-grain white rice

•2 tablespoons celery leaves

•2 tablespoons unsalted butter

•½ teaspoon kosher salt

Cooking Instructions

Cook bacon in a 4-quart heavy pot over low heat until some of fat is rendered, about 5 minutes. Add onion, celery, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened but not browned, 7 to 8 minutes. Stir in spices.

13 min

Add stock and tomato juice and bring to a boil. Stir in rice and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until most of liquid is absorbed and rice is cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes (rice will be moist rather than fluffy and dry). Stir in celery leaves, butter, kosher salt, and pepper to taste, then remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes.

30 min