Chicken, shrimp and sausage jambalaya is a simple, hearty Cajun dish that is full of authentic Louisiana flavor. It's easy to make and perfect for celebrating Mardi Gras, no matter where you are in the world.
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It's cold and snowy and all February-y around here and I wish I was in New Orleans. Not some island in the tropics, not some beach in Florida, but New Orleans, Louisiana. The funnest, most inspiring place on earth as far as I'm concerned. (Do you follow Joy the Baker? Does her blog make you crazy jealous too?).
I love New Orleans any time of year, even in the sweltering heat of August, but at this time of year, it's perfect. The sun is warm, but the evenings are cool. And the festivities are endless.
I've never actually had a visit coincide with Mardi Gras, but I have been there for other festivals and holidays. It's intense and kind of ridiculous how much people there love a party.
(Sigh.)
If we can't be there in person, at least we can have jambalaya! Before I made this chicken, shrimp and sausage jambalaya, I always associated Cajun and Creole cuisines with "low-and-slow" cooking.
But this recipe could hardly be simpler or faster. You can get this on the table in a little over an hour. You basically just keep adding things to the pot until you have a gorgeous, Cajun-flavored mess!
Do I really need a dutch oven in my life?
Speaking of the pot, I like to use a dutch oven for this chicken, shrimp and sausage jambalaya recipe (and so many others). I love how evenly cast iron heats, how it can go straight from stove top to oven, and how easy it is to clean.
You could invest in a fancy Le Creuset (I hear great things!), but I've had a far more affordable one similar to this Cuisinart dutch oven for almost a decade and have had great success with it.
I use it constantly and the enamel is still in great shape. It continues to be one of my most used kitchen tools.
So if you ask me, yes, you do need a dutch oven in your life!
One of my favorites things to make in a dutch oven are soups. Here are a few of our favorites:
red pepper carrot soup with couscous,
Indian-spiced carrot ginger soup.
Let's get back to this jambalaya.
I so wish I could track down andouille sausage up here, but I have to content myself with chorizo. It's a pretty decent substitute actually.
Otherwise, the rest of the ingredients are easily found in any grocery store. Lots of different kinds of protein, a little veg, some rice and lots of spices, and it's a beautiful meal the whole family will love.
Craving the sweeter side of New Orleans cooking? These Bananas Foster Crêpes are amazing.
Sound good to you? If you make this recipe, I would be THRILLED if you would take a pic and tag me on Instagram @ourhappymess!
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Chicken Sausage and Shrimp Jambalaya
Ingredients
- ½ lb bacon diced
- 1 lb andouille sausage diced, or dried chorizo sausage
- 1 lb fresh pork sausage casings removed
- 4 boneless, chicken thighs cut into 1-inch pieces
- salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 2 yellow onions diced
- 2 bell peppers seeded and diced
- 4 celery stalks diced
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups converted long grain white rice*
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons celery salt
- 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1 lbs shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 bunch green onions chopped
Instructions
- In a large pot or dutch oven, over medium heat, render the bacon with the fresh and andouille sausages until browned.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper and add to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is browned. Remove all the meat to a bowl.
- Add the onions and cook for about 15 minutes, until beginning to caramelize. Add the bell peppers, celery and garlic to the pot and continue cooking, stirring frequently, until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the meat back to the pot.
- Stir in the rice, thyme, bay leaves, paprika, cayenne, celery salt, one tablespoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of freshly ground pepper. Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes until spices are evenly distributed.
- Turn the heat up to medium high and add the crushed tomatoes and chicken broth. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Season the shrimp with salt and pepper and stir into the rice, along with the green onions. Put the lid back on the pot, turn off the heat, and leave to sit for another 10 minutes. The heat inside the pot will cook the shrimp.
- Remove the lid, fluff with a fork, and serve
Cruz
Anonymous
Scott
Was very easy to make. Only addition is I had to add around 2 cups of water for the rice, probably because ai drained the tomatoes to get rid of the can taste. Made this in an enameled cast iron dutch oven, worked great to finish steam hydrating the rice with the stove off to soak up the remaining liquid.
Ann
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Scott! Thanks you for the feedback and tip!
Deirdre Mathias
Just finished making this lovely recipe. However it took me two hours and I am not a particularly slow cook. I prepped all the necessary ingredients beforehand. However, nowhere in the recipe instructions does it tell you when to add the meats you have cooked. I put them in and stirred it around after I had added the rice and everything else except the shrimp and green onions. Also what do you mean by ‘converted rice’. Will let you know what it tasted like.
Ann
Thanks so much for your feedback Deirdre! I have made a couple of changes to the recipe based on your comments. Added a few minutes of cook time because it bugs me too when recipe cook times are unrealistic. Also fixed the part about adding the meat back. I add it back with the rice, as you did (my only reason for taking it out in the first place is because I find the vegetables cook better if the pot isn't overcrowded). Regarding the converted rice, I added a note explaining what that is. I find it easily in my grocery store (the brand I have is Uncle Ben's) but you can definitely use regular long grain white rice here. I really hope you enjoyed it 🙂
Deirdre Mathias
We thoroughly enjoyed the jambalaya....a more authentic tasting recipe than some others. If you use long grain rice as I did, be prepared to let it cook for 45 mins instead of 15. Also I read that smoked Polish sausage is good in it if not using chorizo. Will definitely make it again. Thank you for your quick reply.
Ann
Thank YOU for taking the time to give me your thoughtful feedback! So glad you enjoyed it!
Corinna
Glad I found your blog! Can’t wait to try some of these 🙂
Ann
Thanks Corinna! Would love to hear from you if you do! 🙂
Loreto Nardelli
I love jJambalaya, the abundance of color and flavors. That little bit of heat and those amazing textures. It is an all in one dish and I am sure the chorizo worked fine. It has that bit of heat and spice which would compliment this dish so well. I could use a bowl of this right about now, even a little New Orleans Marty Gras, to kick this lingering cough out of my system!
Great recipe.
Cheers!
Lireto
Ann
I'm suffering from that lingering winter cough too! Such a pain. Spicy food does help a bit actually 😉
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking
Such an awesome, spicy dish for a cold February evening! Now you have me wishing I was in New Orleans! 😉
Ann
You and me both! 🙂
Colleen
I love Jambalaya, and yours looks so good! I'm inspired to make some this week, now. And to visit New Orleans, too!
Ann
Yay! Thanks Colleen! It's a good day when I've inspired someone to visit my favorite town 🙂
Elaine
These hot 'n spicy Southern flavours are perfect for this time of year! Love quick and easy one-pot meals like this one!
Ann
Thanks Elaine! Me too 🙂