Louisiana Jambalaya Recipe

Louisiana Jambalaya Recipe

INGREDIENTS

Proteins

• 1 lb andouille sausage, sliced (authentically Louisiana)

• 1 lb boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces

• Optional but traditional: ½–1 lb shrimp, peeled & deveined

The Cajun Trinity

• 1 medium onion, diced

• 1 green bell pepper, diced

• 2 ribs celery, diced

Aromatics & Seasonings

• 3–4 cloves garlic, minced

• 1–2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning

• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

• ½ teaspoon thyme

• ½ teaspoon oregano

• 2 bay leaves

• Salt & black pepper to taste

• Optional: ¼–½ teaspoon cayenne for heat

Rice & Liquids

• 1½ cups long-grain white rice

• 3 cups chicken broth

• Optional for Creole style: 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
  (Creole = tomato jambalaya; Cajun = brown jambalaya with no tomatoes)

Oils

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or bacon fat for extra authenticity

Garnish

• Green onions

• Parsley

• A splash of Louisiana hot sauce (classic)

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🔥 HOW TO MAKE AUTHENTIC LOUISIANA JAMBALAYA

1. Brown the Sausage

Heat oil in a large heavy pot (Dutch oven preferred).
Sear the sliced andouille sausage until browned on both sides.
Remove and set aside.

The browned bits at the bottom (fond) are the foundation of deep Louisiana flavor.

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2. Brown the Chicken

Season chicken with a little Cajun seasoning.
Add to pot and brown on all sides (doesn’t need to fully cook).
Remove and set aside with the sausage.

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3. Cook the Cajun Trinity

Add onion, bell pepper, and celery to the same pot.
Cook 5–7 minutes until soft and lightly browned.
Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.

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4. Add Seasonings & Optional Tomatoes

Stir in:

• Cajun seasoning

• paprika

• thyme

• oregano

• bay leaves

• (Optional) diced tomatoes

Let the spices bloom for 1–2 minutes.

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5. Add Rice and Broth

Stir in the uncooked long-grain rice so it gets coated in the seasonings.
Add chicken broth and stir everything together.

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6. Return Sausage & Chicken

Add all meat back into the pot.
Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.

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7. Simmer

Lower heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer 20–25 minutes until rice is tender and liquid absorbed.

Don’t lift the lid! Steaming is essential for Louisiana-style rice texture.

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8. Add Shrimp (Optional but Classic)

If using shrimp:

• Add them during the final 5–7 minutes

• Place them on top and cover

• They will steam perfectly

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9. Rest & Fluff

Turn off the heat but keep the pot covered for 10 minutes.
Fluff gently with a fork.

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🌶️ LOUISIANA STYLE NOTES

Cajun Jambalaya (Brown Jambalaya)

• No tomatoes

• Darker color from browning meats heavily

• Smokier flavor

Creole Jambalaya (Red Jambalaya)

• Contains tomatoes

• Slightly sweeter and more saucy

Classic Louisiana Add-Ins

• A little Worcestershire (adds savory depth)

• Extra andouille for smokiness

• Shrimp added at the end

• Hot sauce as a must-serve condiment

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🍽️ SERVING SUGGESTIONS

• Cornbread

• Fried okra

• Simple green salad

• Sweet iced tea

• Hot sauce on the table

OTHER RECIPES

A nice Jambalaya recipe to try !
Jambalaya Recipe Ingredients

* 3 lbs. shrimp shopping list
* 1 lb. smoked sausage (chroizo works good)
* 2 Tbsp. oil
* 1 Tbsp. butter
* 1 cup onions, chopped
* 1 cup green peppers, chopped
* 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
* 1 16 oz. can tomatoes
* 3 cloves garlic, chopped
* 1/4 cup parsley, chopped
* 2 cups chicken stock
* 1/2 cup green onions, chopped
* 2 bay leaves
* 1 tsp. thyme
* 1 tsp. basil
* 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (or more, if you so desire)
* 1 tsp. salt
* 1/8 tsp. cloves
* 1/8 tsp. allspice
* 1/2 tsp. chilli powder
* 1 1/2 cups long grain rice

Jambalaya Recipe INSTRUCTIONS
* Peel the shrimp.
* Slice the sausage and saute in oil and butter over low heat for about 5 minutes.
* Add the onions, green peppers, celery and garlic and saute slowly until the vegetables are tender.
* Stir in the tomatoes, seasonings, rice and stock.
* Add the shrimp and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cover.
* Simmer for about 25-30 minutes, or until rice is fluffy.
* During the last 5 minutes of cooking add the green onions and chopped parsley...and the Jambalaya recipe Louisiana style is ready to serve..enjoy it !
chicken-jambalaya-recipe i

VIDEO:

An Easy Jambalaya Recipe

An Easy Jambalaya Recipe

INGREDIENTS

Proteins

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-size pieces

• 12 oz smoked sausage (like andouille), sliced into rounds

• ½–1 lb shrimp, peeled & deveined (optional but classic)

Vegetables (The Cajun Holy Trinity)

• 1 medium onion, diced

• 1 green bell pepper, diced

• 2 ribs celery, diced

Seasonings

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes

• 1–2 tablespoons Cajun or Creole seasoning

• 1 teaspoon paprika

• ½ teaspoon dried thyme

• ½ teaspoon dried oregano

• 1–2 bay leaves

• Salt & pepper to taste

• Optional heat: ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Rice & Liquids

• 1½ cups long-grain white rice

• 3 cups chicken broth (or stock)

Oils

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or olive oil

Garnishes (Optional)

• Chopped green onions

• Chopped parsley

• A squeeze of lemon over the shrimp before serving

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🔥 INSTRUCTIONS

1. Brown the Chicken and Sausage

Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
Add chicken pieces, season lightly with Cajun seasoning, and brown for 4–5 minutes.
Remove and set aside.

In the same pot, add the sliced sausage and cook until lightly browned.
Remove and set aside.

Browning builds deep flavor and authentic jambalaya richness.

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2. Sauté the Cajun Trinity

Add onions, bell pepper, and celery to the same pot.
Cook 5–7 minutes until softened and lightly caramelized.

Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute more.

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3. Add Seasonings and Tomatoes

Add:

• diced tomatoes

• remaining Cajun seasoning

• paprika

• thyme

• oregano

• bay leaves

Stir well to coat the vegetables with spices so they bloom and release aroma.

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4. Add Rice and Broth

Pour in the uncooked rice and stir to coat it with the tomato-spice mixture.
Add chicken broth and bring to a gentle boil.

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5. Return Chicken and Sausage

Stir in the browned chicken and sausage.
Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 20–25 minutes, or until rice is fully cooked and liquid absorbed.

Avoid lifting the lid too often—steam cooks the rice.

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6. Add Shrimp (Optional but Recommended)

If using shrimp, place them on top of the hot jambalaya during the last 5–7 minutes of cooking.
They will steam perfectly without overcooking.

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7. Rest and Fluff

Turn off heat and let the jambalaya rest 5–10 minutes with the lid on.
Fluff gently with a fork.

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🌶️ FLAVOR TIPS & VARIATIONS

Add More Heat

• Extra Cajun seasoning

• A few shakes of hot sauce

• Red pepper flakes

More Creole-Style (With Tomato Flavor)

Add 1–2 additional tablespoons tomato paste.

More Cajun-Style (Less Tomato)

Reduce diced tomatoes to half a can or omit them entirely.

Seafood Version

Replace chicken with:

• 1 lb firm white fish chunks

• extra shrimp

• crab meat stirred in at the end

Smoky Version

Use andouille sausage and add a pinch of smoked paprika.

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🍽️ SERVING SUGGESTIONS

• Side of cornbread

• Simple green salad

• Garlic bread

• Fresh lemon wedges

OTHER RECIPES

A nice Jambalaya recipe to try !

Jambalaya recipe Ingredients
* 8 tbsp olive oil
* 4 cloves of garlic
* 1 onion
* 3 peppers
* a good handful of chorizo, chopped
* 450g/1 lb chicken pieces, on or off the bone
* 2 chopped Scotch Bonnet or other chilli peppers, 1 red, 1 yellow
* 500g/1 lb 1oz long grain rice
* 2 tbsp Cajun spices
* 2 pints chicken stock
* 1 tsp chilli powder
* 2 tbsp turmeric
* mixed vegetables, e.g. carrots, peas, green beans, sprouts, courgettes. I often just buy the mixed frozen ones to keep it cheap!
* 450g/1 lb king prawns
* salt and ground black pepper

Jambalaya recipe INSTRUCTIONS 1. 

Heat the oil in a large pan and add onion, chopped peppers, garlic, chorizo and chicken pieces then cook for around 8 minutes.
2. Add the chillis.
3. Add the rice and stir. Add the chilli powder, turmeric and Cajun spices and mix in well.
4. Add the chicken stock and bring to a simmer.
5. Add the mixed vegetables and bring to the boil then turn the heat down to a simmer.
6. Once the rice has swollen and is part-cooked, add the prawns or crayfish.
7. Simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour and then season with salt and pepper to taste. The Jambalaya recipe is ready to serve...enjoy it !
bubbas-jambalaya recipe

VIDEO: