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You won’t believe how easy it is to make Slow Cooker Jambalaya! Melt in your mouth chicken, smoky sausage and buttery shrimp mixed with a medley of tender vegetables and hot rice in a rich, spicy sauce.
This is my very favorite recipe for jambalaya – it’s so meaty! You cook it hot and fast in a slow cooker instead of the typical stovetop method, adding shrimp and rice at the end. It’s a wonderful way to feed a group (up to 10 people as a main dish) and if you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, it’s just as delicious the next day.
Table of Contents
Slow Cooker Jambalaya Ingredients
- Olive Oil: Look for extra virgin olive oil with a fresh, fruity aroma for the best quality and flavor.
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs: Look for thighs that are uniform in size for even cooking. They should have a pink, fresh appearance without any unpleasant odor.
- Andouille Sausage (or other smoked sausage): Choose sausage with a firm texture and a smoky aroma. The casing should be intact without any signs of shriveling or drying.
- Onion: Look for onions that are firm, with a shiny, smooth outer skin and no visible signs of sprouting or soft spots.
- Celery: Celery stalks should be crisp and tightly packed with fresh, green leaves. Avoid any that are limp or have yellowed leaves.
- Green Bell Pepper: Choose peppers that are bright green, firm, and heavy for their size with smooth skin and no blemishes.
- Garlic: Look for plump, firm bulbs with unbroken, dry skins. Avoid garlic that is soft, shriveled, or starting to sprout.
- Diced Tomatoes (with juice): Tomatoes should be packed in their own juice rather than heavy puree or sauce, to maintain the shape of the tomato pieces in the jambalaya.
- Creole Seasoning (or Cajun seasoning): Look for blends with a fresh aroma and vibrant color, a good sign that they haven’t lost their flavor.
- Smoked Paprika: Select a variety that has a deep, rich color and a smoky aroma for the best potency and flavor.
- Fine Sea Salt: Look for a natural, unrefined sea salt that is free from additives for a pure taste.
- Shrimp: Choose fresh or frozen shrimp with a clean smell, firm flesh, and a translucent, shiny appearance.
- Rice: Opt for long-grain rice, which holds its shape and stays separate when cooked.
- Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper: Choose sea salt or kosher salt for seasoning and whole black peppercorns to grind fresh for the best flavor.
Jambalaya and Gumbo: Roots and Distinctions
Jambalaya originated in Louisiana, often associated with New Orleans, and has roots in French, Spanish and West African cuisine. There are a couple of distinct ways to make it: Creole jambalaya (like the recipe I’m sharing), and Cajun jambalaya. Both start with the ‘holy trinity’ of onions, green peppers, and celery; the primary difference is that the Cajun version has no tomatoes.
Distinguishing jambalaya from gumbo, another Louisiana classic, is the absence of okra or filé powder in jambalaya, which otherwise shares similar vegetables, seasonings, meats, sausages, and seafoods with gumbo.
How to make Slow Cooker Jambalaya
Brown chicken and sausage in two batches, transferring each to slow cooker.
Add vegetables to skillet; cook and stir until softened. Transfer to slow cooker.
To meat and vegetable mixture in slow cooker add tomatoes, Creole seasoning, smoked paprika and salt; stir to combine. Cook on High for 4 hours. During last 15 minutes of cooking time, stir in shrimp.
Once shrimp has cooked through, stir in hot cooked rice. Season to taste with salt, pepper and hot pepper sauce (or cayenne pepper). Serve.
3 Tips for perfect jambalaya every time.
- It’s important to brown the chicken, sausage and vegetables before adding them to the slow cooker. I’ve tried to skip this step and the flavor is just not the same.
- I’ve called for ‘hot cooked rice’ instead of uncooked rice, because I prefer to cook the rice separately. It’s easy to end up with undercooked or overcooked rice when it’s added raw. Cooking rice on its own ensures a reliable texture in the final dish. The style of rice is up to you. I like to use a long grain brown rice, but white rice is also delicious.
- The spice level here is mild to medium – mostly depending on your choice of sausage and Creole seasoning (or Cajun Seasoning). But you can always kick up the spice with hot pepper sauce or cayenne pepper.
More Louisiana favorites!
- Red Beans and Rice (A 45-minute recipe that tastes like it simmered all day.)
- Muffaletta Olive Salad (A copycat version of the one from Central Grocery.)
- Shrimp Creole (An easy recipe for the Louisiana classic.)
- Blackened Shrimp (Made with my 5-minute Blackened Seasoning recipe.)
- Brabant Potatoes (Crispy potatoes in a buttery garlic sauce – need I say more?)
- Cajun Potato Salad (A must at all of our summer get-togethers. Everyone loves it!)
- Fried Green Tomatoes (Ultra crunchy outside and tender inside, these are irresistible!)
- Skillet Cornbread (My tried and true recipe – this one is a must try, I promise.)
- Crab Cakes (These are ALL about the crab.)
- Remoulade Sauce (A spicy, tangy sauce that’s perfect for dipping.)
Slow Cooker Jambalaya
Video
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs quartered and patted dry (recipe note #1)
- 12 ounces andouille sausage or other smoked sausage, cut into 1/2-inch thick rounds
- 1 large onion diced
- 3 ribs celery diced
- 1 large green bell pepper diced
- 3 cloves garlic peeled and coarsely chopped
- 14 1/2 ounce diced tomatoes with juice
- 1 tablespoon Creole seasoning or Cajun seasoning (recipe note #2)
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 pound shrimp shelled and deveined
- 5 cups hot cooked rice (recipe note #3)
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- hot pepper sauce or cayenne pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add 2 teaspoons of oil and swirl to coat. Add half of the chicken and sausage; cook and stir until browned on all sides, but not cooked through. Transfer to 6-quart slow cooker; repeat with remaining chicken and sausage. (Add more oil if needed for the second batch).
- Return skillet to stove over medium-high heat. When hot, add 2 teaspoons of oil along with garlic, onion, celery and bell pepper. Cook and stir, scraping up any browned bits until vegetables are softened. Transfer to chicken and sausage mixture in slow cooker.
- To mixture in slow cooker add tomatoes, Creole seasoning, smoked paprika, and salt. Stir mixture to combine and set slow cooker to High; cook for 4 hours.
- In the last 15 minutes of cooking, stir in shrimp. Once shrimp is cooked through stir in desired amount of hot cooked rice (add a little at a time to get the balance you're looking for). Season to taste with salt, pepper and hot pepper sauce or cayenne pepper. Serve.
Notes
- If you don’t like chicken thighs, you can substitute boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but they won’t be as juicy.
- I’ve used both Creole and Cajun seasoning blends for this and either work well. Cajun seasoning tends to be spicier and Creole seasoning more herbaceous.
- Note that you’ll want hot cooked rice ready when the meat mixture in the slow cooker is finished cooking. I like to use long grain, brown rice, but white rice is also great.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
SO easy in the slow cooker! And perfect for Mardi Gras!
Thanks so much, Liz!
Can you believe I’ve never had jambalaya?! Well that is about to change!! Love that it’s made using a slow cooker!! xo
What!? I think you need to bring your family for a visit and we’ll whip some up together! 🙂
I love some good jambalaya; there’s something special and comforting in the combo of rice, chicken, sausage, and veggies. Love the addition of shrimp in here. Delightful!
Thanks, Ben! The shrimp definitely gives the jambalaya that extra ‘something’. 🙂
I love the addition of shrimp here! You know me and my love for Southern cuisine…so of course I would be all about this one. And in the slow cooker at that! This definitely needs to appear on the menu here soon. So much delicious meat and flavor in this one!
I do know how you love Southern cuisine. I’m excited for you to try it, David!
Ohh I love Jambalaya, but I’ve never thought to make it in the slow cooker!! This is so brilliant!! And super easy!! Perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner! I can’t wait to try this!!!! Pinned!
Yay! Thank you, Cheyanne!
These ratios look completely off. There is no chicken broth or any liquid in the recipe and you are supposed to stir in 5 cups of cooked rice? Into what? There will not be enough juice to coat all that rice. Please explain.
Hi, Jennifer. I love thick, hearty jambalaya as you’ll see from the photo – less ‘saucy’ than some, but not at all dry. You’ll be surprised how much delicious liquid the tomatoes with juice, vegetables, and mixture of meats create.
Looks cool, plus I always like something green on top of the food I gladly consume… thanks!
Thanks, Codrut!
Jambalaya is one of my husband’s favorite dishes Marissa, and I’ve never made it in the slow cooker! Can’t wait to try your recipe!
That’s fantastic, Mary Ann! I’d love to hear how it goes…xo
Yum, this recipe looks incredible. I LOVE jambalaya! I worked at a Blue’s Club in Chicago in my 20’s (Buddy Guy’s club) which had a soul food menu. I ate their jambalaya on a regular basis. I miss the flavors so I like to whip up jambalaya at home on occasion. I HAVE to try your recipe, it looks fantastic!
Thanks so much, Christina! That sounds like a fun place to work AND eat jambalaya! If you give this recipe a try, I’d love to hear what you think!
We looooove jambalaya!! I love that this is done in the slow cooker, Marissa!! Amazing! This will be happening once the baby comes – I’m collecting all sorts of slow cooker recipes 🙂
I’m so excited about your new little one, Katherine! And hooray for slow cooker recipes for super busy times, I wish I could make you a batch of this myself!
You know I’ve never had jambalaya?! I mean, I’ve heard of it and have seen it being made on tv, but never actually had myself! This looks so good, Marissa and ultra hearty! Love all the flavours goin’ on here. I definitely have to get this one on the menu soon….I’ve clearly been missing out 😉
Wait, what? Okay, you need to come for a visit immediately and I’ll make you some! 😉
Jambalaya in a slow cooker? YOU’RE A GENIUS! Marissa, this is amazing. I’m just not creative with it comes to that slow cooker and wouldn’t have thought of this perfection! Have a great weekend!
aww, thank you, Kelsie!
You are talking my kind of language with this jambalaya, Marissa! I became hooked on jambalaya (and gumbo…and king cakes…and po’boys…and…) when I lived in south Louisiana, and I always get excited whenever Cajun food appears on our menu. I definitely need to give this slow cooker version a try! It sounds so delicious and easy! 🙂
You’ve listed off some of my favorite foods, David! I hope you give this recipe a try – I promise it’s SO good!
Ooh this is so perfect for the slow cooker! What a great idea Marissa. I’d love to come home to this 😀
Thank you, Lorraine! Nothing like coming home to dinner already made, right? 🙂
What a great meal to enjoy at the end of the day!
Yes! Thank you, Kevin!