Gather all your ingredients, dice the onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic to get everything ready.

In a large pot over medium heat, warm the olive oil until hot but not smoking.

Add the chopped onions, bell pepper, and celery. Sauté until softened and translucent.

Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.

Add the rice to the vegetable mix, stirring well. Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth, and toss in the bay leaves and Cajun seasoning.

Increase the heat to high until the mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.

Once done, remove from heat and let it sit covered for 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork. Discard the bay leaves before serving.