Description
Looking for a quick dinner that explodes with flavor and satisfies every craving? This Easy Homemade Jambalaya is the answer. Loaded with juicy shrimp, smoky Andouille sausage, tender chicken, and colorful vegetables, this one-pot meal is bold, comforting, and simple to make. Perfect for anyone searching for dinner ideas, easy recipes, or food ideas that deliver big-time flavor with minimal fuss. Whether you’re meal prepping or feeding a crowd, this easy dinner solution brings the taste of Louisiana straight to your table.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
12 oz Andouille sausage, sliced
1 pound chicken thighs or breasts, diced
1/2 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 medium onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, with juice
1 1/2 cups long grain rice
3 cups chicken broth
2 teaspoons Creole or Cajun seasoning
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 green onions, sliced
Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the sausage for 2–3 minutes, then remove and set aside.
2. Add diced chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook until no longer pink. Remove and set aside with sausage.
3. In the same pot, sauté onion, bell peppers, and celery until softened, about 5–7 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1–2 more minutes.
4. Stir in rice, Creole seasoning, thyme, smoked paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Toast rice for 2 minutes.
5. Add chicken broth and canned tomatoes with juice. Return sausage and chicken to pot. Bring to a boil.
6. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20–25 minutes until rice is tender.
7. Gently fold in shrimp, cover, and cook for 5–6 minutes until shrimp are pink and cooked through.
8. Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with green onions and parsley.
Notes
For authentic flavor, always brown your sausage and chicken before adding other ingredients—this adds depth to the dish.
Avoid stirring too much while rice is simmering, and don’t lift the lid often; this ensures evenly cooked, fluffy rice.
Customize spice level to taste: more cayenne for heat, or milder sausage for a kid-friendly version.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Creole
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 180mg
Keywords: easy dinner, jambalaya, one pot meal, food ideas, shrimp rice, Louisiana recipe