Best 6 Quick And Easy But Delicious Jambalaya Recipes

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**Jambalaya: A Flavorful Fusion of French, Spanish, and African Cuisine**

Hailing from the vibrant city of New Orleans, Jambalaya is a delectable dish that encapsulates the rich cultural heritage of Louisiana. This iconic one-pot meal, pronounced "zham-buh-LIE-uh," is a harmonious blend of French, Spanish, and African influences, resulting in a symphony of flavors that tantalize the taste buds. Jambalaya's versatility allows for a myriad of interpretations, each embodying the unique culinary traditions of the region. From the traditional Creole Jambalaya, brimming with succulent shrimp, tender chicken, and the "holy trinity" of bell peppers, onions, and celery, to the robust Cajun Jambalaya, characterized by its bold spices and the addition of andouille sausage, this dish offers a captivating journey through the diverse culinary landscape of Louisiana. In this article, we present a curated collection of Jambalaya recipes, each offering a distinct take on this beloved classic. From the classic Creole Jambalaya to the hearty Cajun Jambalaya, and even a vegetarian-friendly version, these recipes cater to a wide range of preferences, ensuring that every palate can savor the vibrant flavors of this Louisiana treasure.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

QUICK JAMBALAYA



Quick Jambalaya image

This quick and easy recipe will fill up your family with delicious jambalaya flavors without spending hours in the kitchen.

Provided by Hillshire Farm(R) Brand

Categories     Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips     Hillshire Farm®

Time 40m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 (14 ounce) package Hillshire Farm® Smoked Sausage
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
½ teaspoon hot pepper sauce
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 pinch Salt to taste
½ pound large raw shrimp, peeled, deveined
6 cups hot cooked long grain white rice

Steps:

  • Cut sausage into 1/2-inch slices. Melt butter in a 5 to 6-quart pan over medium-high heat. Add sausage, onion, red bell pepper, green bell pepper and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until vegetables are soft and sausage is lightly browned.
  • Stir in tomatoes, pepper sauce, black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes and salt to taste. Bring to a boil; add shrimp. Cook 3 minutes or until shrimp are cooked and opaque in center.
  • Gently stir in hot rice and cook 3-5 minutes or until heated through.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 948.3 calories, Carbohydrate 150.9 g, Cholesterol 104 mg, Fat 23 g, Fiber 6.1 g, Protein 30 g, SaturatedFat 8.8 g, Sodium 862.4 mg, Sugar 2.3 g

QUICK SAUSAGE AND SHRIMP JAMBALAYA



Quick Sausage and Shrimp Jambalaya image

Like most creole dishes, this jambalaya contains the "holy trinity"-onion, celery and bell pepper. The andouille sausage and creole seasoning add a distinct Louisiana flavor. The rice for jambalaya is traditionally cooked in with the other ingredients, but in this quick version I use pre-cooked rice, making this dish perfect if you've got leftover rice to use up.

Provided by Vallery Lomas

Categories     main-dish

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion, diced
6 ounces andouille sausage, diced
2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
1 green bell pepper, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon creole or Cajun seasoning blend
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
One 15-ounce can diced tomatoes
2 cups cooked rice
1 pound cooked and peeled shrimp
1 tablespoon hot sauce
2 tablespoons chopped scallions

Steps:

  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the sausage and cook until starting to brown, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the celery and bell pepper and cook until softened, 5 to 7 minutes longer. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste and cook until very fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Reduce the heat to low. Sprinkle the Creole seasoning, salt and pepper on top. Stir in the tomatoes and rice and cook until warmed through. Taste and stir in additional salt and pepper if needed. Stir in the shrimp and heat through. Stir in the hot sauce. Sprinkle with the scallions. Serve warm.

QUICK JAMBALAYA



Quick Jambalaya image

Jambalaya, a one-pot New Orleans favorite, always includes meat or seafood and vegetables; this easy rendition is full of chicken, spicy andouille sausage, bell pepper, and onion.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Chicken     Chicken Breast Recipes

Time 1h

Number Of Ingredients 12

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
3 celery stalks, finely chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 green bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and finely chopped
1 pound andouille sausage, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups homemade or low-sodium store-bought chicken stock
3/4 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
1 can (14 ounces) crushed tomatoes with juice
1 cup long-grain rice

Steps:

  • Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Cut into 3/4-inch pieces; set aside.
  • Add vegetables to pot. Cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Add sausage; cook 3 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute. Stir in stock, Old Bay, tomatoes, and 1/2 cup water; bring to a boil. Add rice and chicken. Reduce heat; simmer 12 minutes. Cover; remove from heat. Let stand until rice is tender and liquid is mostly absorbed, 30 to 35 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

QUICK AND EASY - BUT DELICIOUS - JAMBALAYA!



Quick and Easy - but Delicious - Jambalaya! image

Even though I'm a born-and-raised Arizonan, both of my grandparents are from southern Louisiana. As a result, I grew up eating a lot of good, homecooked Cajun food!! This isn't a family recipe, but it rivals any I've had. (It's a combination of several recipes I found online.) I find myself craving it once every couple of weeks...luckily my boyfriend loves it too! :-) This can be made with 2 pounds of chicken, or 1 lb chicken + 1 lb smoked sausage. The chicken / shrimp is our favorite way to make it, and the chicken / smoked sausage is a close second.

Provided by Robyns Cookin

Categories     Cajun

Time 40m

Yield 6 , 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 cup uncooked rice
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed
1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 bell pepper, chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon basil
1 1/2 teaspoons cajun seasoning (I use Tony Chachere's creole seasoning)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 bay leaf

Steps:

  • Cook rice according to package directions (I cook it in chicken broth for more flavor).
  • Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a stock pot over medium-high heat.
  • Cook the onions, bell pepper, celery, and garlic until tender.
  • Add the meat and sauté until cooked.
  • Stir in the tomatoes, seasonings, and cooked rice.
  • Cover and cook until heated through.

QUICK JAMBALAYA



Quick Jambalaya image

This recipe makes quick work out of jambalaya by using leftover rice, and it tastes great with freshly cooked grains, too. To make this meal meatless, use vegan andouille sausage or stick with pork sausage, if you prefer. Either option, along with creole seasoning and the classic trinity of creole cooking - onion, celery and green bell pepper - result in a dish that is unmistakably Louisianan. Though many jambalaya recipes skip tomatoes, this version uses a blend of tomato paste and diced tomatoes to add bulk, and an acidity that helps lighten up the otherwise hearty one-pot meal.

Provided by Vallery Lomas

Categories     grains and rice, main course

Time 35m

Yield 2 to 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 links pork or vegan andouille or chorizo sausage (6 ounces), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
1 green bell pepper, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 cups cooked long-grain white rice
1 tablespoon creole seasoning
Salt and black pepper
1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon hot sauce, plus more for serving
2 tablespoons sliced scallions

Steps:

  • Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the sausage and cook until starting to brown, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the remaining tablespoon oil, then add the celery and bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste and cook until very fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Reduce the heat to low and add the cooked rice. Sprinkle with the creole seasoning and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Stir in the tomatoes and hot sauce and cook until warmed through. Season with additional salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with the scallions and serve with more hot sauce.

JAMBALAYA



Jambalaya image

Spicy jambalaya with chicken and andouille sausage.

Provided by Terri

Categories     Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes     Stews     Jambalaya Recipes

Time 1h5m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 17

2 tablespoons peanut oil, divided
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
10 ounces andouille sausage, sliced into rounds
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 onion, diced
1 small green bell pepper, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (16 ounce) can crushed Italian tomatoes
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon hot pepper sauce
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon file powder
1 ¼ cups uncooked white rice
2 ½ cups chicken broth

Steps:

  • Heat 1 tablespoon of peanut oil in a large heavy Dutch oven over medium heat. Season the sausage and chicken pieces with Cajun seasoning. Saute sausage until browned. Remove with slotted spoon, and set aside. Add 1 tablespoon peanut oil, and saute chicken pieces until lightly browned on all sides. Remove with a slotted spoon, and set aside.
  • In the same pot, saute onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic until tender. Stir in crushed tomatoes, and season with red pepper, black pepper, salt, hot pepper sauce, Worcestershire sauce and file powder. Stir in chicken and sausage. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Stir in the rice and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 465.1 calories, Carbohydrate 42.4 g, Cholesterol 73.1 mg, Fat 19.8 g, Fiber 3 g, Protein 28.1 g, SaturatedFat 5.7 g, Sodium 1632.7 mg, Sugar 2 g

Tips:

  • Use a large pot or Dutch oven: Jambalaya is a one-pot dish, so you'll need a large pot or Dutch oven to cook it in. This will ensure that all of the ingredients have enough room to cook evenly.
  • Don't crowd the pot: When you're adding the ingredients to the pot, don't crowd them. This will prevent them from cooking evenly and will make the jambalaya mushy.
  • Use a flavorful broth: The broth you use in your jambalaya will make a big difference in the flavor of the dish. Use a flavorful broth, such as chicken broth, vegetable broth, or seafood broth.
  • Add the rice last: The rice is the last ingredient that you'll add to the jambalaya. This will ensure that it cooks evenly and doesn't get overcooked.
  • Season to taste: Jambalaya is a flavorful dish, so be sure to season it to taste. Add salt, pepper, and other spices as desired.

Conclusion:

Jambalaya is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. With its combination of rice, protein, vegetables, and spices, jambalaya is a hearty and flavorful dish that is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give jambalaya a try. You won't be disappointed!

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