Description
Slow Cooker Jambalaya is a hearty Creole-inspired dinner with smoked sausage, chicken, shrimp, tomatoes, rice, and bold seasoning.
Ingredients
1 white onion, diced
3 ribs celery, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, diced
1 pound smoked sausage, sliced into 1/4-inch pieces
1 pound boneless chicken breasts and/or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 bay leaves
1 to 2 tablespoons Creole seasoning
1 pound large shrimp, shell-on, thawed
1 cup long-grain white rice
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
1. Combine onion, celery, bell pepper, garlic, sausage, chicken, tomatoes, oregano, bay leaves, and Creole seasoning in a large slow cooker and mix well. Cook on high for about 3 hours or on low for 4 to 5 hours, until the vegetables are very soft and the chicken is fully cooked.
2. Cut along the backs of the shell-on shrimp to make peeling easier later. Stir the shrimp into the slow cooker, cover, and cook on high for 30 to 45 minutes, until the shrimp are cooked through.
3. Meanwhile, cook the rice according to package directions and keep warm.
4. Remove the bay leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley. Either mix the cooked rice into the jambalaya or serve the jambalaya over the rice. Shrimp shells can be removed before serving or left on for diners to peel themselves.
Notes
For easier eating, remove shrimp shells before serving or have diners peel them at the table.
If using a salted Creole seasoning blend, taste before adding extra salt.
Shell-on shrimp add flavor and help prevent overcooking during slow cooking.
This recipe works best when cooked in two stages, adding shrimp near the end to avoid tough shrimp and overcooked rice.
Refrigerate leftovers in airtight containers for up to 2 to 3 days.
Freezing is not recommended because the rice, shrimp, and sauce do not reheat well.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Creole
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 371
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 1911mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 154mg