This is easily one of our all-time favorite NOLA dishes.
Even if it's not Mardi Gras when you're reading this, when you make this recipe, you'll feel like you're down in the French Quarter having this amazing bowl of pure goodness! It's so good and is even better the next day!
How To Make Jambalaya at Home
There are just so many things to love about this classic dish.
And don't worry, if you don't like shrimp then leave it out! Same with the sausage or chicken!
All of the components do come together to make a dish that is really authentic in taste and texture, and not hard to make at all!
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The Difference Between Cajun and Creole Jambalaya
This dish is very popular in Louisiana and you'll find different family recipes all across the state. There really are two major categories, however. Cajun vs. Creole.
Cajun typically has a smokier taste and does not usually include tomatoes. Often, the proteins are cooked first, and then on the Cajun holy trinity of vegetables: Onion, green bell pepper, and celery.
Our version includes three types of protein: Chicken, sausage, and shrimp, which is common in the Creole version. Creole also usually includes tomatoes, which our includes, as well.
It's similar to the mix of culture and tastes down Louisiana way...so vibrant and diverse and just so much flavor. The history of jambalaya is as fully textured and colorful as the dish itself. Just incredible!
EXPERT TIP: We love using uncooked Andouille sausage links for our recipe. If you can't find raw andouille sausage, you can usually find smoked sausage in most well-stocked supermarkets. The smoked sausage is already cooked so all you need to do is brown the slices in your pot. For raw, you'll need to cook the sausage first, either on the grill or in a hot skillet.
Sear the chicken, remove it, and then give the cooked sausage a quick brown in the pot. The shrimp goes in right at the end of the cooking process.
For the shrimp, we like large, extra-large, or even jumbo.
We don't recommend leaving the tails on because they can get in the way when guests dig into a serving, but that's a matter of personal taste.
If you can find gulf shrimp, go for it! Authentic and so delicious.
You'll stir in the shrimp during the final 15 minutes of cooking the jambalaya.
How To Serve and Store
This recipe will easily feed 8 to 12 people, depending on how hungry they are and what else you are serving. It's great for a Mardi Gras party, watching the big game, or a delicious Sunday night dinner.
We serve it right out of the pot with some warm crusty bread and lots of Louisiana-style hot sauce. A cold beer is certainly a nice addition, too.
EXPERT TIP: As mentioned, the dish is even better served the next day. Store in an air-tight container in the fridge and then heat it up on the stove, adding another ½ cup or so of chicken broth to loosen it up.
Other Classic Louisiana Dishes
Some of these dishes are Creole, some are Cajun, some are famous in New Orleans, but all of them are downright delicious.
- Shrimp and Okra Gumbo
- Sausage and Chicken Gumbo
- Crawfish Étouffée
- Dirty Rice
- Red Beans and Rice
- Homemade Beignets
In the meantime, aren't you craving some made-from-scratch jambalaya? Woo hoo!
Folks, you may not be able to make it down to Mardi Gras or the Big Easy anytime soon, but that doesn't mean you can't bring it home to your kitchen.
This dish is always a crowd favorite and sure to get lots of cheers of joy when you serve it to friends and family.
There is just something magical about this incredible Louisiana classic dish.
Only thing better? A little Louisiana hot sauce drizzled on top of the steaming bowl of yumminess!
Ready to make the best dish this side of the bayou? Go for it!
And when you do, be sure to take a photo of it, post it on Instagram, and tag @HowToFeedaLoon and hashtag #HowToFeedaLoon!
Authentic Jambalaya
Video
Equipment
- Large pot, such as an 8 qt Dutch oven
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb chicken thighs boneless, skinless
- Salt and pepper
- 1 lb andouille sausage fully cooked and sliced into rounds (SEE NOTES)
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 1 large green bell pepper cored, seeded and chopped
- 3 celery ribs chopped
- 1 jalapeno cored, seeded, and chopped
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce i.e., Louisiana, Tobacco, Crystals
- 2 teaspoon fresh thyme chopped (or 1 teaspoon, dried)
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 28 oz. can whole tomatoes crushed with your hands
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 1½ cups long-grain rice we use white
- 1 lb shrimp peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoon parsley fresh, chopped, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees°F.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper.
- In a large heavy pot, preferably a Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken pieces and sauté until browned, about 5 minutes. Remove from pot and cut into bite-size pieces. Set aside.
- Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in the pan over medium-high heat.
- Add the cooked sausage and cook until starting to brown, about 4 minutes.
- Add all remaining ingredients, except for the shrimp and cooked chicken. Add 2 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Stir to fully combine.
- Cover and cook in the oven until the rice is nice and tender, about 1 hour.
- Remove from oven and stir in the shrimp and cooked chicken. Return to the oven (covered) for 15 minutes. The shrimp should be nice and pink, if it doesn't look fully cooked, return to the oven for another 10 to 15 minutes.
- Stir with a wooden spoon and garnish with fresh parsley, if desired. Serve at once with additional hot sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
POST UPDATE: This recipe was originally published in February 2015, but was updated with improved tweaks to the recipe with new tips and photography and a fabulous new video in February, 2022!
Sabrina says
Do you add the rest of the tomato sauce after you drain back into recipe? I wasn’t clear on whether to do this or
Not when you put liquid reserved.
Kris Longwell says
Hi Sabrina! So so sorry for the delayed response! Add the sauce along with the crushed tomatoes. If you've made the jambalaya, we hope you enjoyed it...if you'll be making it soon...we hope you enjoy it! Keep us posted! Happy New Year! Best, Kris & Wesley
Alexandria de la Cruz says
Hi is a 3 qt Dutch oven large enough for this recipe?
Kris Longwell says
Hi there! Yes! You'll have a nice pot of jambalaya! I've made it in a 3 qt Dutch oven before, and it was great! Let us know if you make it and how it turns out!
Bobby says
Kris, Wesley,
I cannot wait to try this recipe. I'm a huge Jambalaya fan. I will let you know once I make it.
Kris Longwell says
Hi Bobby! Yes! We hope you love the jambalaya! That is one of our all-time favorites! Keep up posted! Best, Kris & Wesley
Kim says
Absolutely delicious!! The best Jambalaya dish I can recall having!! The family loved it !! It made a lot but after 2 dinners there was none left!!! Will definitely cherish this recipe!! Thanks guys!!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Kim! We are so so thrilled you made the jambalaya and had such great success with it! It does make a lot, but leftovers are so good, right? Thank you so so much for sharing and for the awesome review. That honestly means so much to us!!! xoxo Kris & Wesley
Owen says
Suggestions for sides with this dish? Making for someone special tomorrow evening!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Owen! This really is a meal all by itself. We love to start with a nice green salad and then serve the jambalaya with warm crusty bread! Let us know how it all turns out! And have FUN!!!! Kris & Wesley
Brandon says
This was amazing. I was trying to cook quickly and noticed it needed an hour. I added the rice and cooked at a simmer for 20 minutes then added shrimp for extra 5 minutes. Came out perfect. Also added 1 T of Worcestershire sauce. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. My family loved it 🙂
Kris Longwell says
Hi Brandon! Sounds like you prepared this perfectly! The addition of Worcestershire sounds fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing and for the great review. This means the world to us! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Diane says
Holy Jambalaya! This was fabulous. The flavor was excellent packed with a little heat. After some of the comments I was concerned that maybe it would take a little longer for the rice to cook. But the time was perfect for my oven. I had forgotten to get the andouille sausage. All I had was a few links of chorizo. It actually was good! This makes a huge batch of jambalaya so we will have left overs. I got the idea for this dinner on my weekly meal ideas from your premium access site. Some great inspirations there for dinners for me. I was getting tired of cooking the same things. Thank you for another great recipe! My husband is loving the Loon recipes. He just doesn’t know my secret yet LOL.
Kris Longwell says
Hi Diane!! Woo hoo for Jambalaya!! We are so so happy you had such great success with the recipe! And chorizo sounds wonderful! We'll try that next time!! Thank you so much for sharing and for the wonderful review. That means the world to us!! Kris & Wesley
Recipe Bake says
Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe. This is the best jambalaya I’ve ever had! Easy to prepare and love the flavor and heat will make this one of my favorites.
Kris Longwell says
Hi there!! This makes us SO HAPPY! We love making jambalaya and it thrills us so much when friends make this recipe and love it, too!! Thanks for letting us know and for the wonderful review. That means the world to us!!! Stay in touch! Kris & Wesley