Easy Jambalaya Recipe

Looking for a flavorful meal that comes together in one pot with minimal cleanup? This easy jambalaya recipe is your answer. It is packed with smoked sausage, juicy shrimp, fresh vegetables, and rice. The whole dish is seasoned with a perfect blend of spices for that classic Louisiana taste.

This simple recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner but is also special enough to serve to guests. It comes together quickly, and the leftovers taste even better the next day. Get ready to enjoy a delicious, satisfying meal that your family will ask for again and again.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• One-Pot Wonder. Everything cooks in a single pot. This means you get incredible flavor without a sink full of dishes.
• Simple and Quick. Jambalaya might sound complicated, but this recipe is very easy to follow. It is a great meal for both new and experienced cooks.
• Very Flexible. You can easily change this recipe to fit your taste. Don’t have shrimp? Add chicken instead. Prefer a different sausage? Go for it. It’s a forgiving dish that always turns out great.

What is Jambalaya?

Jambalaya is a famous dish from Louisiana, especially New Orleans. Its name means “mix up,” which perfectly describes the recipe. It is a wonderful blend of Spanish, French, and West African cooking traditions.

A typical jambalaya includes meat, seafood, rice, and vegetables. The key to its signature flavor is a mix of bold spices. The “holy trinity” of Louisiana cooking, onion, bell pepper, and celery (though we use two peppers here), forms the delicious base.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe uses simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store.

• Vegetable oil
• Smoked andouille sausage (or any sausage you like)
• Sweet onion
• Red and green bell peppers
• Basmati or long-grain rice
• Garlic
• Paprika, oregano, onion powder, thyme
• Bay leaf
• Chicken stock (low sodium recommended)
• Diced tomatoes
• Tomato paste
• Hot sauce (optional but recommended)
• Medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Fresh parsley for garnish

How to Make Jambalaya

1. Heat oil in a large heavy-bottom pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
2. Add sliced sausage, diced onion, and bell peppers. Cook until vegetables are soft, about 4-5 minutes.
3. Stir in rice, garlic, and spices (paprika, oregano, onion powder, thyme, bay leaf). Cook 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Pour in chicken stock, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and hot sauce. Bring to a boil.
5. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 15 minutes until rice is almost tender and liquid is mostly absorbed.
6. Add shrimp and season again if needed. Cover and cook 5 minutes until shrimp turn pink and rice is fully cooked.
7. Stir in fresh parsley and serve hot.

Tips for the Best Jambalaya

• Use a Heavy Pot. A Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot distributes heat evenly. This prevents the rice from sticking and burning.
• Choose Quality Stock. The stock is a key ingredient, so use a good one. A low-sodium or unsalted chicken stock is best, so you can control the saltiness of the dish.
• Don’t Skip Tomato Paste. This small ingredient adds a lot of body and richness to the jambalaya. Tomato paste in a tube is convenient because you can use just what you need.
• How to Choose Shrimp. Frozen shrimp is often your best choice for freshness, as it is usually frozen right after being caught. To thaw it quickly, place it in a colander and run cold water over it for 5 to 10 minutes.

What to Serve with Jambalaya

This one-pot meal is great on its own, but it’s even better with a side for soaking up the delicious sauce.

• Crusty bread or skillet dinner rolls
• A simple green salad
• Garlic Parmesan roasted broccoli
• Glazed carrots

FAQs

Homemade Jambalaya

This easy jambalaya recipe is a one-pot meal loaded with sausage, shrimp, fresh vegetables, and rice. It offers bold Cajun flavors, cooks quickly, and cleans up easily. Perfect for busy weeknights or casual dinners, leftovers taste even better the next day.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Servings: 6 bowls

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American, Cajun, Louisiana

Calories: 450

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Main Ingredients

• 1 ½ tablespoons vegetable oil
• 12.8 ounces smoked andouille sausage thinly sliced
• 1 small sweet onion diced
• 1 medium red bell pepper diced
• 1 medium green bell pepper diced
• 1 ½ cups basmati rice
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1 ½ teaspoons sweet paprika
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf bay leaf
• to taste kosher salt and black pepper
• 3 ½ cups chicken stock preferably low sodium
• 14.5 ounces petite diced tomatoes canned
• 1 ½ tablespoons tomato paste preferably from tube
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce optional
• 1 ½ pounds medium shrimp peeled and deveined
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped

Equipment

• Dutch oven

Method

 

1. Heat vegetable oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add sausage, onion, and bell peppers. Cook 4-5 minutes until vegetables soften.
2. Stir in rice, garlic, paprika, oregano, onion powder, thyme, and bay leaf. Cook 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Add chicken stock, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and hot sauce. Bring to a boil.
4. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for about 15 minutes until rice is almost tender and liquid mostly absorbed.
5. Add shrimp, season if needed, cover and cook 5 minutes until shrimp turn pink and rice is tender.
6. Remove bay leaf, stir in parsley, and serve immediately.

Notes

Use a heavy-bottomed pot like a Dutch oven for even cooking. For best flavor, choose low-sodium chicken stock. Tomato paste adds richness without extra liquid. Frozen shrimp is fine, just thaw and dry well before cooking. Serve with hot sauce and crusty bread for a perfect meal.