55 minutes

One Pot Jambalaya

One Pot Jambalaya is a Cajun rice dish that’s packed with flavorful herbs and spices and loaded with tender chicken, shrimp, and sausage! Serve this dish up for dinner in under an hour!

If your mouth is watering for more Cajun seasoning flavor you’ll also want to try my Cajun Chicken Pasta or Baked Cajun Chicken Skewers! Both recipes whip up tender chunks of chicken that have that same great creole taste!

Close up photo of a pan with jambalaya in a pan with ingredients around it.


 

One Pot Jambalaya is a traditional New Orleans dish that’s filled with bold spices yet can easily be tailored to your preferred taste! This savory, hearty dish is loaded with tender chunks of chicken, flavor-packed andouille sausage, and delicious shrimp!

Serve up this Cajun rice dish with some Classic Southern Buttermilk Cornbread or Cheddar Drop Biscuits! With a hearty, flavorful meal like this, you can guarantee no one’s walking away hungry or unsatisfied!

5 Reasons Why This Recipe Works!

  • Protein Packed! Chicken, sausage, and shrimp ensure this dish is packed with a protein that everyone will enjoy!
  • Control The Heat! You can make this Jambalaya as spicy or as mild as you’d like just by simply controlling the spices!
  • Classic Cajun Flavor! Packed with the best herbs and spices to deliver a flavor that you’d find on the streets of New Orleans!
  • One pot Meal! Makes for easy cooking and quick clean up! Something we can all appreciate!
  • Choose The Meat! Only want chicken? Then simply make it a Chicken Jambalaya! Prefer Shrimp? Just skip the other two meats and make it a Shrimp Jambalaya! This recipe truly makes it super easy to make it exactly the way you like!
Overhead photo of a pan of jambalaya on a wooden table with a navy napkin and ingredients around it.

Ingredient Notes

This Easy Jambalaya Recipe is packed full of protein so we’ll start there! For this dish, you’ll need andouille sausage, chunks of boneless, skinless chicken, and peeled and deveined shrimp.

Next, you’ll add what Cajun cuisine and Louisiana Creole cuisine have dubbed the Holy Trinity. The Holy Trinity consists of onions, bell peppers, and celery.

That Holy Trinity is the base of several regional dishes such as crawfish etouffee, gumbo, and jambalaya. This is actually similar to French Cooking’s Mirepoix, which consists of carrots, celery, and onion.

Once the Cajun/Creole Holy Trinity has been sauteed in cooking oil crushed tomatoes and minced garlic cloves are then added. Afterward, the spices and herbs make their appearance, for this recipe, you’ll need:

  • Cumin
  • Oregano
  • Basil
  • Thyme
  • Ground Black Pepper
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Smoked Paprika
  • Salt

To finish it up, chicken broth and uncooked, long, or short-grain white rice are added to the Dutch oven! Lastly, when it’s finally time to serve up a bowl you can use green onion for garnish!

Ingredients to make jambalaya prepped on a marble countertop.

How To Make Homemade Jambalaya

  1. Add oil to a large Dutch oven or skillet over medium heat.
  2. Fry up the cut sausage and chicken until lightly seared.
  3. Stir in the onion, bell peppers, and celery, cooking until softened.
  4. Add in the garlic to cook.
  5. Stir in the tomatoes, paprika, salt, cumin, oregano, basil, thyme, pepper, and cayenne pepper.
  6. Pour in the chicken broth and add in the white rice.
  7. Bring this mixture to a boil before reducing the heat to medium-low and covering to simmer.
  8. Mix in the shrimp, place the lid back on the pot, and cook the shrimp until they’re done.
  9. Garnish with green onions if desired.
Step-by-step photo collage showing how to make jambalaya.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Store Leftovers?

Just place the leftovers in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days!

Can I Store Leftovers In The Freezer?

You can! When stored in the freezer these leftovers will last for up to 3 months. However, once reheated from frozen the texture of the dish may not be as pleasing.

Do I Have To Add Celery Into This Dish?

Celery can certainly be left out though it is a common Cajun Jambalaya ingredient. Either way, the dish will still be delicious!

What Can I Use Instead Of Andouille Sausage?

Mexican chorizo sausage or any smoked pork sausage would replace the andouille nicely. You could even leave the sausage out altogether since this dish will still be plenty flavorful without it.

Can I Just Use Cajun Spice In This Jambalaya Recipe?

Of course! To do so just leave out the paprika, oregano, basil, pepper, thyme, and cayenne pepper. Then add in 2 tablespoons of the Cajun spice.

Could I Use Chicken Stock Instead Of Chicken Broth?

Yes, that substitution will work just fine since the two are commonly used interchangeably. The main difference is that the broth is made from both meat and vegetables whereas stock is made with bones.

How Do I Know If The Shrimp Is Cooked?

Once the shrimp turns from its translucent appearance to opaque it’s finished cooking.

What Should I Do If The Rice Isn’t Cooked But There’s No Liquid Left For It To Absorb?

Simply just add some more broth or water! Add about 1/2 cup to a time until it reaches the right consistency.

Can I Add More Chicken Broth So That The Jambalaya Has More Liquid To It?

Yes, definitely! I’d recommend adding the additional broth near the end when you’re adding the shrimp. Just be sure the broth gets heated.

Can I Make This With Brown Rice Instead Of White Rice?

Yes, you’ll just need to make a few easy adjustments to do so. First, you’ll need more broth or water. Usually, 1 cup of brown rice needs about 3 cups of liquid.

Second, the cooking time will need to be increased to about 45 minutes or when the rice is tender.

Close up photo of jambalaya with shrimp, sausage, and chicken.

Who doesn’t love a meal that’s made in just one pot like this Shrimp, Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya?! Grab another delicious one-pot recipe to whip up for an easy dinner on those busy nights!

Let’s Connect!

If you’ve tried this recipe, please let me know how you liked it in the comments below and leave a review. I love hearing from you!

Don’t forget to tag me – @sugarandsoulco on Instagram and Pinterest with your photos or join our Sugar & Soul Show-offs Community and share them there, where you can join our recipe challenges!

Close up photo of a pan with jambalaya in a pan with ingredients around it.
5 from 10 votes

One Pot Jambalaya


Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American, Cajun
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 6 people
One Pot Jambalaya is a Cajun rice dish that's packed with flavorful herbs and spices and loaded with tender chicken, shrimp, and sausage! Serve this dish up for dinner in under an hour!

Equipment

  • Dutch Oven
  • Sharp knife
  • Measuring spoons
  • Can opener

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 8 ounces andouille sausage cut into ¼ inch slices
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 yellow onion diced
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 3 stalks celery chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 14 ounces crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 cup uncooked white rice long or short grain – do not use quick cooking rice
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 pound medium or large shrimp peeled and deveined
  • scallions for garnish

Instructions

  • Heat oil over medium heat in a large Dutch oven. Add the cut sausage and chicken to the Dutch oven and sear until lightly golden, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the onion, peppers, and celery and cook until the onion is translucent and soft, stirring frequently.
  • Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently to make sure it doesn't burn.
  • Stir in the crushed tomatoes, paprika, salt, cumin, oregano, basil, thyme, pepper, and cayenne pepper until incorporated.
  • Add the white rice and chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Then reduce the heat to medium low and cover. Allow to simmer until the rice is just cooked (about 20 minutes), stirring every few minutes.
  • Stir in the shrimp, cover again, and let simmer for another 5 minutes, or until the shrimp are cooked (about 4 to 7 minutes depending on the size of your shrimp).

Notes

  • How To Store: Just place the leftovers in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days!
  • How To Freeze: Store leftovers in the freezer for up to 3 months. However, once reheated from frozen the texture of the dish may not be as pleasing. I recommend thawing in the fridge and reheating in a skillet.
  • Do I Have To Add Celery Into This Dish? Celery can certainly be left out though it is a common Cajun Jambalaya ingredient. Either way, the dish will still be delicious!
  • What Can I Use Instead Of Andouille Sausage? Mexican chorizo sausage or any smoked pork sausage would replace the andouille nicely. You could even leave the sausage out altogether since this dish will still be plenty flavorful without it.
  • Can I Just Use Cajun Spice In This Jambalaya Recipe? Of course! To do so just leave out the paprika, oregano, basil, pepper, thyme, and cayenne pepper. Then add in 2 tablespoons of the Cajun spice.
  • Could I Use Chicken Stock Instead Of Chicken Broth? Yes, that substitution will work just fine since the two are commonly used interchangeably. The main difference is that the broth is made from both meat and vegetables whereas stock is made with bones.
  • How Do I Know If The Shrimp Is Cooked? Once the shrimp turns from its translucent appearance to opaque it’s finished cooking.
  • What Should I Do If The Rice Isn’t Cooked But There’s No Liquid Left For It To Absorb? Simply just add some more broth or water! Add about 1/2 cup to a time until it reaches the right consistency.
  • Can I Add More Chicken Broth So That The Jambalaya Has More Liquid To It? Yes, definitely! I’d recommend adding the additional broth near the end when you’re adding the shrimp. Just be sure the broth gets heated.
  • Can I Make This With Brown Rice Instead Of White Rice? Yes, you’ll just need to make a few easy adjustments to do so. First, you’ll need more broth or water. Usually, 1 cup of brown rice needs about 3 cups of liquid. Second, the cooking time will need to be increased to about 45 minutes or when the rice is tender.

Nutrition

Calories: 465kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 202mg | Sodium: 1299mg | Potassium: 1081mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1592IU | Vitamin C: 57mg | Calcium: 121mg | Iron: 3mg

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5 from 10 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




5 Comments

  1. Terry Moening says:

    5 stars
    Everyone loved it. I will prepare this again. Maybe more shrimp if you dont have a lot of time do your prep day before

  2. 5 stars
    Excellent instructions. The sausage was too spicey for me but I fried it up and left the bits in the bottom of the Dutch oven when I removed it. It added just the right spice flavor for my house. I doubled the shrimp and enjoyed it very much!

  3. Marian Winkelman says:

    My mother used to make this dish and I never learns and now I am it looks delicious

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