Learn how to make a classic one-pot meal from Louisiana called Jambalaya with this simple recipe. This hearty dish is made with chicken, sausage, shrimp, veggies, and rice all blended with spicy and smokey Creole and Cajun flavors. While it is perfect for Mardi Gras, it’s also an excellent weeknight meal for the whole family all year round. In this article, we will guide you on how to make this tasty recipe without compromising on the rice.
How to Make Jambalaya from scratch
Make your own Cajun seasoning
To start with, we will make a homemade Cajun seasoning from scratch. While you can buy packaged Cajun seasoning, it’s always better to make it at home as it’s effortless, and you can save it for future recipes. The ingredients are three tablespoons of paprika, two tablespoons of kosher salt, two tablespoons of garlic powder, one tablespoon of onion powder, one tablespoon of dried oregano, one tablespoon of dried thyme, one tablespoon of cayenne pepper, and one tablespoon of black pepper. This seasoning blend will not only enhance the flavor but will also simplify many recipes by eliminating the need to add the herbs later.
The holy trinity of Jambalaya
The flavor base of jambalaya, and other Louisiana favorites like gumbo, is called the holy trinity. It’s a mix of chopped veggies, similar to a French mirepoix, but instead of celery, carrot, and onion, it’s celery, bell pepper, and onion. For this recipe, you’ll need two ribs of celery, two bell peppers, and one large onion. Chop them all up and add them to a mixing bowl.
Prepare the protein
Andouille sausage is a must when it comes to the protein element of jambalaya. You’ll need 11 ounces of sausage, sliced into bite-sized rounds. Some jambalaya recipes include three proteins (sausage, chicken, and shrimp), while some include only sausage and shrimp. In this recipe, we will add chicken too. Chop a pound of chicken into bite-sized pieces, add a tablespoon of Cajun seasoning, and mix well.
Saute the chicken and sausage Add two tablespoons of olive oil to a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and saute for several minutes until it’s lightly golden and cooked through. Remove it to a plate, and add sliced sausage. Try to get the sausage in a single flat layer so that it can nicely brown on one side. Once it starts to get that nice crust, flip it over and brown the other side. Once it’s done, remove it to the same plate or bowl with the cooked chicken.
Put it all together
Now that you have your holy trinity sauteed and your proteins cooked, it’s time to put everything together. Add four cloves of minced garlic to the pot, saute for a minute, and then add the chopped veggies. Cook them until they’re tender, which should take about five minutes. Add a tablespoon of tomato paste, stir, and cook for another minute. Then add a can of diced tomatoes and a cup of uncooked long-grain white rice, followed by two cups of chicken broth. Stir everything together and bring it to a boil. Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a lid, and let it simmer for 20 minutes.
Add the Shrimp
Add one pound of peeled and deveined raw shrimp to the pot and stir everything together. Cover the pot and let it cook for another five minutes or until the shrimp is pink and cooked through.
Serve and Enjoy
Jambalaya is best served hot with chopped fresh parsley on top. It’s a hearty and delicious meal that will transport you straight to Louisiana. This recipe feeds about six people, and you can store any leftovers in the fridge for up to three days.
Print- Total Time: 60 minutes
Description
This jambalaya recipe is a classic Louisiana dish with a blend of chicken, sausage, shrimp, veggies, and rice, all brimming with spicy and smokey Creole and Cajun flavor. It’s a perfect one-pot meal for any occasion, and it’s surprisingly easy to make.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
11 ounces fully-cooked andouille sausage, sliced
2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
1 yellow onion, diced
2 green bell pepper, deseeded and diced
2 ribs of celery, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 ½ cups uncooked long grain white rice, rinsed
1 bay leaf
1 (15-ounce can) crushed tomatoes
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 pound large shrimp (in the 16–20 count range), peeled and deveined
sliced green onions and chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine paprika, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, cayenne pepper, and black pepper to make the Cajun seasoning.
- In a large Dutch oven or stockpot, heat two tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken to the pot and season with one tablespoon of the Cajun seasoning. Saute until lightly golden and cooked through. Remove from the pot and set aside.
- Add the sliced sausage to the same pot and cook until browned on both sides. Remove from the pot and set aside.
- Add the chopped celery, bell peppers, onion, and garlic to the pot. Saute for 4-5 minutes or until the veggies have softened.
- Add the remaining Cajun seasoning and stir to combine.
- Add the rice and stir to coat with the vegetable mixture.
- Add the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Add the cooked chicken and sausage back to the pot and stir to combine.
- Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and let simmer for 20 minutes.
- Add the shrimp to the pot and stir to combine. Cover the pot again and let simmer for an additional 5-10 minutes or until the shrimp is pink and cooked through.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: dinner
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 servings
- Calories: 458kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 793mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g