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Slow Cooker Jambalaya Recipe – Easy Chicken, Shrimp and Sausage Dinner

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This slow cooker jambalaya is a comforting, crowd-pleasing Southern classic packed with juicy chicken, smoky sausage, tender shrimp, and colorful veggies. It’s easy to prepare, full of bold Cajun flavor, and perfect for busy weeknights or festive gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 pound andouille sausage, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds (or smoked kielbasa)
  • 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails off
  • 2 cups long-grain white rice (or brown rice)
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 3 celery stalks, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, with juice
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced (for garnish)
  • Hot sauce for serving

Instructions

  1. Chop chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces, slice sausage, dice onion, bell peppers, celery, and mince garlic.
  2. Add chicken, sausage, onion, bell peppers, celery, and garlic to a 6-quart slow cooker.
  3. Pour in chicken broth and diced tomatoes with juice.
  4. Sprinkle Cajun seasoning, thyme, smoked paprika, oregano, black pepper, salt, bay leaf, and cayenne (if using) over the mixture.
  5. Stir gently to combine. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours.
  6. After 4 hours, stir in rice. Re-cover and cook on LOW for another 1 to 1.5 hours (check at 60 minutes; rice should be tender and most liquid absorbed).
  7. Once rice is cooked, gently fold in shrimp. Re-cover and cook on LOW for 15-20 minutes, until shrimp are pink and opaque.
  8. Remove bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or hot sauce as desired.
  9. Stir in chopped parsley and sliced green onions.
  10. Serve hot, garnished with extra parsley or hot sauce.

Notes

Add rice halfway through cooking to prevent mushiness. Shrimp cook quickly—add at the end and check after 15 minutes. For gluten-free, ensure sausage and seasoning are certified GF. Adjust spice to taste with cayenne and hot sauce. Leftovers taste even better the next day and freeze well.

Nutrition

Keywords: jambalaya, slow cooker, chicken, shrimp, sausage, Cajun, easy dinner, comfort food, one pot, gluten-free, meal prep

Find it online: https://bitematrix.com/slow-cooker-jambalaya-recipe-easy-chicken-shrimp-and-sausage-dinner/