At a glance

What stands out: Robust and spicy, this Cajun jambalaya recipe will satisfy the meat lovers in your family with andouille sausage, tender chicken, and briny shrimp. It’s a one pan dinner so cleanup is straightforward.

How long it takes: about an hour
Equipment you’ll need: large heavy pot with lid
Servings: 6

Ever since our husband and we visited New Orleans for a speedy anniversary trip, we've been anxious to try our hand at jambalaya. We tested and tweaked, and came up with a pretty darn good recipe.

Jambalaya reminds us of a couple of recipes already on our site and we drew from our experience with those: sausage and rice with sweet peppers and Cuban chicken and rice. Be sure to try those recipes too because they are winners (and both are one pan meals!).

One Pan Jambalaya

One pan dinner. This jambalaya can be made in one pan which means you won’t spend hours cleaning up. You’ll need a good sized heavy pan with a lid. A Dutch oven is reliable.

Lots of protein! This recipe is somewhat meat-heavy with sausage, chicken, and shrimp; each serving has a whopping 27 grams of protein. You would think it’s rich but a generous two cup serving is just over 600 calories. As a point of reference, compare that to a Big Mac with 563 calories, just for a simple burger.

Our spin on a traditional recipe. We always hesitate to call a recipe authentic. There are many recipes for jambalaya and it seems like every cook likes to put their own spin on it. That’s okay and you are welcome to do the same. This recipe includes the ingredients that are typically found in jambalaya. We’ve tested it several times and like the final result. We’re sure that you will too!

Dutch Ovens

A Dutch oven is a cast iron pot with a specially designed lid. They often have an enamel coating for easier cleanup. They are reliable for slower cooking (stove or oven) because they retain the heat well. A 5 or 6 quart Dutch oven is a good size to have.

Buy on Amazon Jambalaya in serving bowl with corn muffins.

What goes in

Andouille Sausage: Look for smoked cured sausage that is fully cooked. Andouille sausage is a Cajun style sausage made with pork, garlic, and seasonings. If you can’t find andouille, good substitutes are Mexican chorizo (which may be a bit spicier than andouille), kielbasa (Polish sausage) or plain smoked sausage.
Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs: Chicken thighs hold up a little better than chicken breasts for the longer cooking time of this recipe. Chicken breasts may be substituted but they tend to become a bit dry.
Shrimp: Frozen shrimp (thawed) are fine if fresh isn’t available. We prefer smaller shrimp for jambalaya because they cook quickly and are bite-sized.
Cajun Seasoning: A mixture of spices and seasonings, Cajun seasoning can be mild or quite spicy, depending on how much cayenne is added. The base of this blend is paprika. You’ll be adding a Bay Leaf, too.
Onion, Bell Pepper, Celery: Otherwise known as the “holy trinity”, these three veggies are sautéed together and added to many dishes.
Garlic: The recipe calls for 4 cloves but the amount can be adjusted according to your palate.
Long Grain White Rice: Long grain rice works best for this recipe; short grain rice becomes too mushy and soft.
Canned Tomatoes: Crushed tomatoes have a standby texture for this dish. You don’t want to see big chunks of tomato in your jambalaya.
Okra: Although okra is more commonly used in gumbo, many cooks also add it to jambalaya. You know us, we add veggies whenever we can so it was a no-brainer for our recipe. If you prefer a more authentic experience, you may leave okra out.
Sliced Green Onions and Hot Sauce, optional garnishes

Ingredients needed including shrimp, sausage, chicken.

How it comes together

Prep your ingredients. We like to get all our ingredients lined up, the veggies and meat prepped, the cans open and so on, before we begin cooking. It can be a little stressful when you’re chopping, measuring, and sautéing all at the same time. Cooking should be fun, not stressful.

Brown the meat. Slice the sausage and cut the chicken into 1 inch pieces. First, brown the sausage in a little oil for a few minutes and remove it from the pan.

Season your chicken with a bit of the cajun seasoning and then brown the chicken in the same pan. It won’t be completely cooked; you just want to get some nice color on it.

Sauté the veggies. Now for the holy trinity: onions, peppers, and celery. Give them a nice sauté in the pan.

When the onions turn translucent (clearish), add the minced garlic and stir that for a minute.

Toast the rice. When garlic starts to smell good, throw in the uncooked rice and some Cajun seasoning.

Cook and stir the veggie/rice/seasoning mixture until the rice and spices smell toasty, just a few minutes. Your kitchen should be smelling fine by now.

Combine ingredients. Return the chicken and sausage to the pan. Add the broth, crushed tomatoes, and bay leaf.

Simmer. Give everything a good stir and bring it to a boil. Turn the heat to low, cover the pan, and let it simmer.

Don’t be tempted to take the cover off and stir. You want to keep all that hot steam inside because that helps cook the rice. If you can’t stand it, or if it smells like it’s burning or something, take the cover off once, give it a peek to reassure yourself, and then speedy cover it back up.

Check rice. When the time is up, you can check the rice. It should have absorbed most of the liquid. Fluff it up and check to see if it’s tender. If it’s not, cover the pan and cook it a few more minutes.

Add shrimp and okra. When the rice is ready, add the shrimp and okra. They don’t take long at all to cook, maybe five minutes, depending on the size of your shrimp.

Check seasoning. When the shrimp is pink and curled, your jambalaya is ready to eat. Try a spoonful and check the seasonings. You may want to add more salt, pepper, or even more Cajun seasoning. It’s up to you.

Serve. Serve the jambalaya with sliced green onions and pass the hot sauce. Steaming wedges of buttery cornbread, corn muffins, or biscuits go well with jambalaya. We like to serve a vinegary cucumber salad to balance the richness of the meat. Enjoy!

What is Jambalaya?

Jambalaya originated in Louisiana (southern United States) and is part of Creole cuisine which has French, Spanish, African, and Native American influences.
Jambalaya usually contains meat, shellfish, and okra, along with celery, bell peppers, and onions. Rice is cooked in the same pan as the other ingredients of jambalaya.

Jambalaya is somewhat similar to gumbo, which has more of a soup or stew-like consistency, thickened with filé powder and okra, and is served with rice alongside. It can also be compared to paella, which is a Spanish dish cooked in a special flat pan, and made with a short grain rice called bomba;

A Pronunciation Guide

We don’t want anyone to feel the least bit uncomfortable with unfamiliar words. Say jambalaya like this: juhm·buh·LAI·uh. The correct pronunciation of andouille is: aan·DOO·ee. While we’re at it, chorizo is one our mom always stumbles over: chr·EE·zow.

Ways to change it

Because there are many components to this recipe, it’s straightforward to mix variations. However, the more changes you make, the less authentic your jambalaya will become. That being said, you’re the cook which gives you every right to do what you like.

Eliminate one or even two of the meats. We you want a vegetarian/vegan version, substitute crispy tofu, black beans, kidney beans, or vegan sausage.
Add even more veggies. Bulk up on the onion, peppers, and celery, or add finely diced carrots or shredded cabbage. We can see myself substituting baby spinach for the okra some day.
Spice it up or spice it down. It’s up to you. If you want to add more spice, throw in a pinch or two of red pepper flakes or a couple of jalapeños.
Looking for a sheet pan dinner? This sheet pan shrimp boil has Lowcountry vibes and is straightforward to mix.

Make-Ahead Ideas

This recipe makes a pretty big batch. The good news is that jambalaya can be frozen for up to three months. Here are a few tips:

If you are planning on freezing the jambalaya, omit the shrimp and add it when you reheat the jambalaya.
Spread the cooked jambalaya out so it cools quickly.
Store it in freezer-safe containers, preferably individually sized ones (more convenient). It’s best to thaw it overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat the jambalaya in a skillet on the stove. Add the raw shrimp; it will cook quickly.

Keeping leftovers

Leftover jambalaya can be covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days. For best results, reheat in a skillet over medium high heat, stirring frequently.

Yield: 6
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
12 ounces andouille sausage, cut into ¼-inch thick rounds (package sizes vary, 12 to 14 oz. is fine)
2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (divided)
1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup diced onion (about 1 medium onion)
1 cup diced green bell pepper (about 1 pepper)
1 cup finely diced celery (about 3 stalks)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ cups uncooked long grain white rice
2 ½ cups chicken broth
1 can (15 ounce) crushed tomatoes
1 bay leaf
16 ounces raw shrimp (50-60 size), peeled and deveined, tails off (thawed if frozen)
1 cup thinly sliced okra (thawed if frozen)
sliced green onions and hot sauce for serving, optional

Method

In a large, heavy bottomed pot (a Dutch oven works great!), heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium high heat. Once hot, add the sausage and cook until browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Remove sausage from pan and place on a plate.
Add another 1 tablespoon oil to the pot. Season the chicken with 1 tablespoon of the Cajun seasoning. Add the chicken to the pot and cook until browned, 4 to 5 minutes total, stirring occasionally. It doesn't have to be cooked all the way through at this point. Remove chicken from pot and place on the plate with the sausage.
Add another 1 tablespoon oil to the pot and add the onion, bell pepper, and celery. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring, or until onions are translucent. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute or until fragrant.
Add rice and remaining 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning and cook, stirring constantly, until it smells toasted, 3 to 4 minutes.
Return chicken and sausage to pan and add broth, crushed tomatoes, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Stir once more and reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30 to 35 minutes or until rice is cooked through, keeping covered the entire time (this is important!).
Add shrimp and okra; stir to combine. Cover and cook for 5 to 6 minutes or until shrimp is cooked through (cook time will depend on size of shrimp). Discard bay leaf, taste, and season with more salt, pepper, and Cajun seasoning as desired.
Serve immediately with desired toppings.

Notes

Serving suggestions: Cornbread or muffins, biscuits, cucumber salad, sautéed corn.

Storage & reheating: Leftover jambalaya should be refrigerated promptly. It will keep for 3 to 4 days. Refer to the post for freezing instructions. Reheat jambalaya in a skillet over medium high heat, stirring frequently.