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Slow Cooker Jambalaya is loaded with tasty sausage, chicken, and shrimp that gets cooked low and slow to activate the bold spices. This hearty dinner is an effortless meal that is ready with only 10 minutes of prep!
One-pot meals are the perfect solution for busy nights! Cajun alfredo, shrimp creole, and foil packets are more easy and flavor-packed meals that will liven up a normal weeknight.
Easy Slow Cooker Jambalaya Recipe
Slow cooker jambalaya is delicious, satisfying, and comes together with hardly any effort at all! Our family favorite slow cooker recipes are normally honey garlic chicken or beef tips, but this jambalaya is so good we’ve been adding it into the regular rotation. The way the spices play with the tasty flavors of sausage and shrimp is so addictive. Savory, spicy, meaty, and juicy, I know this is a dish you and your family won’t be able to resist getting second helpings of!
Jambalaya doesn’t have to take a lot of work. You can just prep and toss all of the ingredients together and let the slow cooker do the work. Or, for an instant flavor boost, brown the sausage with the onions and peppers before adding the ingredients to the slow cooker. Either way, with this recipe you save a lot of time and effort. You can go about your day, being able to return to a dinner packed with terrific New Orleans flavor. This dinner is guaranteed to be a hit!
Ingredients in Slow Cooker Jambalaya
This shortlist of classic cajun ingredients comes together flawlessly. Various spices blend together to create a warm, spicy meal that is hearty and incredibly delicious!
- Chicken Breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken cut into chunks will fit perfectly on your spoon.
- Andouille Sausage Links: I slice these into bite-sized pieces.
- Raw Shrimp: I like to use shrimp that is large, peeled and de-veined.
- Diced Tomatoes: Adds to the color and enhances the jambalaya’s sweet and salty flavor.
- Onion, Red Bell Pepper, Celery: These are the three essential flavors that can be found in almost any cajun dish.
- Chicken Broth: You need this liquid to cook your meat. I like using chicken broth because it adds a hint of savory flavor.
- Dried Thyme: Thyme pairs well with the tomato and adds a bit of a minty taste.
- Dried Oregano: Adds a bitter and earthy spice to balance out the flavors.
- Cajun Seasoning: This rustic and bold seasoning blend adds a punch of spice.
- Cayenne Pepper: Adds even more earthy and spicy flavors.
Making Slow Cooker Jambalaya
This jambalaya will be a new family favorite, and it is the quickest and easy to prepare. Simply combine all the ingredients and let your slow cooker work its magic! Honestly, the hardest part is waiting for it to be ready because the smell of this cooking is amazing!
- Combine Ingredients: First, add all the ingredients except the shrimp into the slow cooker. Then, simply stir to combine.
- Cook: Next, set the cooker to low for 7-8 hours (high for 3-4 hours), and in the last 15 minutes add in the shrimp.
- Serve: Serve over rice and enjoy!
Easy Jambalaya Tips and Tricks
This dish can easily be customized to match your individual tastes. With these easy tips and suggestions, you will create the best jambalaya around!
- Gumbo or Jambalaya: The difference between gumbo and jambalaya is that gumbo typically contains a roux which is cooked to a deeply flavored brown stage. It contains more liquid like a stew and is filled with vegetables like okra, bell peppers, celery, and onions. Jambalaya is a traditional rice dish made in one pot with more meat than vegetables.
- Brown Your Meat: Do this before adding it into your crock pot. Browned meat is traditionally a key flavor in jambalaya. Don’t skip this step if you want the most authentic flavor!
- Quality Sausage: Seasoned sausage is one of the most important parts of this recipe. A good quality sausage can really uplevel your jambalaya’s flavor.
- Using Other Meats: This dish is super versatile and changing up the meat will not interfere with the delicious results! Beef tastes great in this, too, so I also like to add in chuck roast. You can also add in crawfish or crab meat.
- Add Enough Spice: If you are planning on serving up your jambalaya with rice, make sure it is heavily seasoned! Rice tends to soak up flavor. Don’t be afraid to add in an extra dash of cajun seasoning!
- Add Garnish: For an extra pop of flavor, top your jambalaya with chopped green onions or parsley. It gives it an aromatic finish.
- Serve With: Serving your jambalaya with rice is the traditional way of having it. I also like to pair it with homemade cornbread or corn casserole for a sweet, creamy contrast to its spicy flavor. Additionally, hush puppies and fried okra are some of my other favorite Southern sides!
Storing Leftover Jambalaya
I love how easy and delicious this recipe is, but also how amazing leftovers taste! Jambalaya is the perfect thing to have on hand for simple weeknight dinners.
- In the Refrigerator: In an airtight container, jambalaya will stay good for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: You can easily microwave jambalaya in a microwave-safe bowl for 30 second intervals until warm. My personal favorite way of reheating jambalaya is on the stove. I feel like it helps retain all of the delicious texture of the meat and shrimp. Heat on medium, stirring frequently until warmed through.
My Other Favorite Cajun Recipes
The hearty, spicy flavors of Cajun cooking pairs perfectly with hot summer nights. Bring the spirit of New Orleans to your kitchen this summer with these other mouthwatering dishes! Easy and packed with flavor, I know you will love all of them just as much as I do!
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Slow Cooker Jambalaya
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts skinless, boneless, cut into chunks
- 1 pound andouille sausage links sliced
- 1 can diced tomatoes 28 ounces
- 1 large onion chopped
- 1 red bell pepper finely chopped
- 2 stalks celery thinly sliced
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 cup uncooked long grain rice (see notes*)
- 1 pound raw shrimp 13-15 count
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients except the shrimp into the slow cooker and stir.
- Cook on low for 7-8 hours (high for 3-4 hours). Add int the uncooked rice about 1 hour before finishing.
- Add the shrimp in the last 15 minutes of cooking.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Personally I think that the veggies need to be added later because once the meat was cooked the veggies were overcooked.
What kind of shrimp cooked or raw
Hello! The shrimp should be raw and added to the Jambalaya during the last 15 minutes of cooking.
Are the shrimp frozen or raw?
Hi! Hello! The shrimp should be raw and added to the Jambalaya during the last 15 minutes of cooking.
I havent made this yet, but I wanted to know if it freezes well? I live alone and won’t be able to finish a whole serving.
Yes! You can place it in an airtight container and store it in your freezer for about three months. When you are ready to eat it, just thaw it overnight in your fridge and then reheat it on your stove.
Hello. This recipe looks delicious. Do you have instructions to make it in an instant pot?
I don’t, but that’s a great idea! I will have to try that!
could you reheart it in a slow cooker?
Sure! That will work fine.
Rather than the rice, do you think it would work to toss in a 12-oz bag of frozen cauliflower rice? I’m not concerned of how “authentic” it is, just good flavor and low carbs. Thank you!
That should work just fine!
Thank you so much for responding! I made it today with a few tweaks and the cauliflower rice and it was delicious. My husband was a happy guy at dinner!
Could you make this on the stove in a large pot too?
Yes! Try that with this recipe Easy Jambalaya Recipe
Can’t share by email..link doesn’t work for me
Can you use frozen shrimp??
Yes, but instead of adding it in during the last 15 minutes, add it during the last hour so that it has longer to cook.
Using frozen shrimp adding in the last hour that’s if cooking on low, right? Do I thaw it over cold water first? Forgot to take it out of the freezer last night and making today.
My husband loves Okra and he mentioned it would like to add to. Would that work in this recipe?
Ooh, I haven’t tried that before in this recipe! Let me know how it turns out!
I tried the okra and it was a Amazing! I have never made jambalaya before and have made it 3x’s already!! Thank you for sharing! Perfection!
Can you use smoke saiusage??
Yes! It will bring in a very different taste but it would work. Let me know how it turns out!
I made this jambalaya today and it is absolutely delicious and my whole family loved it! It is definitely a keeper.
I made as written but added more shrimp (only because my son likes lots of shrimp) and doubled the rice that I cooked separately on the stove. Added the rice to the slow cooker towards the end of the cooking time.
Wonderful recipe and thank you for sharing it!
Oh my God, I made this today for Fourth of July dinner and definitely I am not disappointed. Flavor is so good I even added extra bag of rice and one more extra pound of shrimp Lord have mercy this is so good.Thank you Alyssa Rivers for sharing this recipe. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
How long should I cook this in the slow cooker if I use precooked chicken?
The other ingredients still need that time to cook so I would not adjust the cooking time. I would add the cooked chicken in later into the cooking process, when there is about an hour left. Let me know how it turns out!
Hi I love your page, can I make this on a stove top as I don’t have a slow cooker yet? Thanks
Try this recipe for Jambalaya instead! Easy Jambalaya Recipe
Hi , I’m on a keto diet so should I reduced the fluids as I don’t eat rice , but it would go well with garlic and turmeric cauliflower rice on the side
This was so delicious, I would just add more rice if you want a true jambalaya to meat ratio but either way it is so darn good!!!!