Cajun Chicken Jambalaya Recipe | Easy Slow Cooker Jambalaya (2024)

This Slow Cooker Cajun Jambalaya recipe is a total showstopper! Comforting, warming, and delicious, this combination of chicken, sausage, shrimp, and aromatics will blow your mind. It tastes like you spent all day in the kitchen! But, just between us, it’s actually a super-easy recipe that lets your slow-cooker do all the work!

A FLAVOR PACKED SLOW-COOKER JAMBALAYA RECIPE

I absolutely love Jambalaya! The complex tomato sauce is enriched with onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic, plus an amazing blend of spices. And, by prepping this authentic recipe in your slow-cooker, most of the work is done for you, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy.

Plus, while my jambalaya recipe calls for the traditional mix of chicken, sausage, and shrimp, you can definitely leave out the sausage, shrimp, or both, and substitute more chicken!

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GUMBO AND JAMBALAYA?

Gumbo and Jambalaya are both well-known staples of Cajun and Creole cooking. They are very similar dishes, but in general, gumbo is more of a stew, served with a side of hot white rice, while jambalaya is a thick casserole with the rice stirred into (and usually cooked in) the sauce itself.

Gumbo is also thickened with a roux and usually some okra, while jambalaya contains neither.

WHAT MAKES THIS JAMBALAYA RECIPE CAJUN?

Some would say that the tomatoes make this a Creole dish, and I’m not arguing there! It’s definitely a “red” jambalaya rather than a “brown” jambalaya, using both diced tomatoes and tomato paste. But, for most people, this Jambalaya recipe tastes Cajun because of its spices and herbs, savory sausage and shrimp, and the flavor-packed “holy trinity” of onion, celery, and bell pepper.

INGREDIENTS

• Boneless, skinless chicken thighs: Cut these into 1-inch cubes.
• Andouille sausage: Kielbasa makes a good substitute. Add a pinch of cayenne if you use kielbasa.
• Canned Diced Tomatoes
• Yellow Onion
• Green and Red Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Fresh Garlic
• Low-Sodium Chicken Broth
• Tomato Paste
• Oregano, Paprika, Cayenne, Thyme, Bay Leaf, and Cajun Seasoning
• Frozen Shrimp
• Rice: I like long-grain white rice, but you can also use Jasmine rice or whatever cooked rice you have on hand.
• Parsley: Chop finely for garnish.

HOW TO MAKE JAMBALAYA IN YOUR SLOW COOKER

This jambalaya recipe is super easy to prepare in your slow cooker or crockpot. Here’s how to do it:

1. Prepare the Ingredients: Cube the chicken and slice the sausage into ½ inch rounds. Dice the onion, celery, and bell pepper. Finely chop the garlic or put it through a garlic press.
2. Add Ingredients to the Slow Cooker: Add all of the ingredients, in the order listed on the recipe, to the slow cooker except rice and shrimp. Cover and cook on Low for 3 to 3 ½ hours, or until the chicken reaches and internal temperature of 165°F. Please use an Instant Read Food Thermometer.
3. Add Shrimp and Prepare Rice: Add the frozen shrimp to the slow cooker and stir to combine. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes longer, until the shrimp are cooked through. In the meantime, prepare rice according to package directions.
4. Stir rice in the Jambalaya. Serve and Enjoy!

TIPS FOR THE BEST JAMBALAYA

• Check your spices: Check the dates on all herbs and spices. Spices last for one year, while dried herbs last for up to three. If yours are getting old, replace them. Your jambalaya will taste much more flavorful.
• Cut chicken evenly: Try to keep the sizes of your chicken cubes and sausage slices consistent so that they cook evenly and don’t dry out.
• Use white wine if you like: Replace ½ a cup of the chicken broth with white wine for even more depth of flavor.

WHAT GOES WITH JAMBALAYA?

• Jambalaya pairs really well with corn. Try sweet corn kernels seasoned with butter and salt, fresh corn on the cob, or even a side of skillet cornbread!
• A refreshing salad makes a good contrast to the hearty, rich texture of jambalaya. Try a classic green salad like Caesar, or this refreshing Cucumber Salad.
• Serve with cut veggies like cucumber slices gently tossed in homemade ranch dressing.

HOW TO STORE AND REHEAT LEFTOVERS

This jambalaya recipe stores well in the refrigerator or freezer, and the leftovers taste amazing!

• To store in the freezer: Place in a ziploc bag and push all excess air out before sealing. Vacuum-sealing the leftover jambalaya works even better. Watch out for freezer burn, however.
• To store in the refrigerator: Place in a food storage bag or container and keep up to 3 days.
• To reheat on the stovetop: Thaw frozen jambalaya in the refrigerator (if frozen). Reheat slowly over low heat, in a covered skillet, until just heated through.
• To reheat in the microwave: Thaw frozen jambalaya in the refrigerator (if frozen). Place in a large microwave-safe dish and cover with a paper towel. Heat on medium for 1-2 minutes at a time, stirring the jambalaya between cooking times, until just heated through.

More Cajun Recipes

• Jambalaya Stuffed Peppers
• Grilled Shrimp Boil in Foil Packets
• Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

ENJOY!