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chicken and sausage jambalaya on white plate with mardi gras beads on the side

Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

This jambalaya recipe is simple to make and full of Cajun flavors.  You'll enjoy every spicy, savory, bite of chicken, sausage, rice, and the perfect blend of seasonings.
5 from 2 votes
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 6

Equipment

  • Sharp kitchen knife
  • Cutting board
  • heavy, 5-qt pan with lid
  • measuring cup(s)
  • measuring spoons

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1" chunks
  • 1 pound smoked, spicy sausage (such as conecuh or andouille), cut into 1" discs
  • 1 cup diced onion (see recipe Note for time-saving step)
  • 1 cup diced bell pepper (see recipe Note for time-saving step)
  • 1/2 cup diced celery (see recipe Note for time-saving step)
  • 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic & oregano
  • 1 14.5-ounce can chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cajun seasoning (Tony Chachere's or Slap Ya Mama)
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups uncooked, extra long grain rice (or long grain) do NOT use instant rice

Instructions

  • In a heavy 5 qt saute pan, add olive oil and brown the cut up chicken that has been seasoned with Tony's (NOTE: this is not the amount in the ingredient list; simply sprinkle the cut-up chicken with a little [or a lot] Tony's) for 3-5 minutes. Do not cook the chicken through. Remove chicken from pot.
  • Add the sliced sausage to the pot and brown for 5 minutes. Then add the onion, bell pepper, and celery. Mix well and scrape bottom of pan to remove and incorporate any browned pieces of chicken and sausage. Simmer covered for about 5 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking.
    cooked chicken and sausage and onion mix
  • Return chicken to pot and add the tomatoes, broth, and seasonings above. Mix well and taste for flavor. Add raw rice and mix well. Bring mixture to a boil, cover, and lower heat to medium-low. Simmer for 10 minutes and then stir mixture to bring rice to the top. 
    cooked chicken and sausage and onion mix with broth
  • Cover and lower heat (very gentle simmer) and cook another 30 minutes or until rice is done. Do not lift the lid while the jambalaya is cooking.
    cooked jambalaya in plate
  • Alternative Method. Recipe can be doubled and baked in the oven at 350 for 1 hour. The pan needs to be covered tightly with heavy duty aluminum foil.

Notes

Time-saving tip: Use 1 (10-oz) bag of frozen chopped onion, bell pepper, and celery "seasoning blend." I almost exclusively use this now, and I promise the recipe will still turn out fantastic!
I personally don't like "chunky" vegetables in my jambalaya, so I prefer smaller "diced" vegetables over the larger "chopped" vegetables. But if you prefer chunky, then chop on!
(A) Use long grain rice or extra long grain rice otherwise, the rice may be too soft and soggy.
(B)  Serve with crusty french bread and a side salad.
(C)  Any leftovers should last up to 3 days in the refrigerator.  Store in an airtight, covered container.