Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

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Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya- Some days, it’s nice to have something to cook for dinner that checks off all the boxes: easy, filling, quick cooking, and minimal cleanup. This recipe does all that! In this post, I’ll show you how to make an easy one pot jambalaya that will become a go- to busy weeknight dinner for you and your family!

Why You’ll Love This Jambalaya

If you have had a busy day, this one pot chicken and sausage jambalaya is so easy to prepare. One pot means less cleanup, right? Hooray for fewer dishes to wash! You will even make your own spice blend, so there is no need for store bought creole seasoning.

Sometimes you just have one of those days. You know the kind I’m referring to. The kind of day where you just want to order takeout. In the amount of time it takes you to decide what to order and wait for it to be ready for pickup you can have this on the table! 

With two kids around the house, sometimes things get a little out of hand and before I know it, I have to make dinner. I like having a few quick cooking dishes in my arsenal, and this one is terrific. I have been making this dish for years, and it has become a regular busy weeknight meal!

The richness of the chicken thighs pairs nicely with the smoked sausage, and there are enough farm fresh veggies to have some in every bite. This is just the kind of meal I like to have at the end of a hectic day where I may not be in the mood to whip up something extravagant. It’s also a nice meal after a not so busy day. I think you’ll feel the same way once you try this recipe!

Homemade Spice Blend For Jambalaya

This is easy to make yourself, and you likely have all of these spices in your kitchen already. I have two children who are not big into spice, so I have made this fairly mild. If it were up to me, this would be spicy enough to blow the top of my head off. 

If you want it hotter, just increase the amount of cayenne pepper a bit and you should be good to go. The amount of ingredients used is enough for one recipe (this yields around one tablespoon of spice blend, just enough for one recipe), but you can always double or triple this to have extra on hand if you know you’ll make this jambalaya again soon.

Here are the ingredients for the seasoning blend:

• Dried Oregano
• Paprika
• Fresh Thyme
• Cayenne Pepper
• Fresh Garlic

You don’t need to use any special variety of paprika here, what you have on hand in your kitchen is fine.

I think fresh thyme has better flavor, but you can use dried if that is what you have. More notes on that in the recipe card.

If you know you like your jambalaya hot, you can use a bit more cayenne pepper.

Ingredients for Chicken And Sausage Jambalaya

Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs- Don’t substitute the chicken thighs for breasts. The thighs hold up really well to braising, and don’t have the tendency to dry out the way chicken breasts can.

Avocado Oil- I prefer a more neutral flavored oil here.

Salt and Pepper- You will use some of the salt and pepper to season the chicken thighs, and the rest will go into the veggies and rice.

Smoked Sausage- You can use andouille sausage instead of the smoked sausage if you would like more heat. More on sausage in the next section.

Onion- Any variety of yellow onion will work fine. Don’t do a fine dice, you want it in about a half inch dice.

Red Bell Pepper- I like using red pepper for its sweetness and pop of color. If you grow your own or buy these from a farmer, they will most likely be smaller than the red bell peppers found in the grocery store. One large store bought pepper or two smaller ones from your garden or other source will yield you enough.

Celery- Adds a nice crunch.

Chicken Stock- If you don’t have any chicken stock, you can use water instead but the flavor of the overall dish won’t be quite the same. 

Crushed Tomatoes- This is one of the few times you’ll find a canned product in a recipe on the blog. If you can find fire roasted crushed tomatoes, definitely use them here. They provide more depth of flavor than the regular variety. If you don’t have crushed tomatoes, canned diced tomatoes are fine.

White Rice- I do not recommend using brown rice in this recipe. It has a longer cooking time, and you will end up overcooking the vegetables and the chicken if you were to attempt using it.

The onions, bell pepper, and celery are what is known as the Holy Trinity in Cajun and Creole cooking. These vegetables provide a great flavor base and stand up well to longer cooking times.

What Is The Best Sausage For Jambalaya?

I use smoked sausage here that is not a spicy sausage because I want my kids to enjoy it. In my personal opinion, Andouille sausage is the best variety for a recipe like this because it has a little extra spice.

I am lucky enough to find great Andouille sausage made locally even though I live in the Pacific Northwest. Take a look around in your area, you never know what you might find!

How To Make Chicken And Sausage Jambalaya

Be sure to head down to the recipe card for the full details and recipe notes.

1. Assemble the spice blend.
2. Brown the chicken thighs.
3. Chop the veggies and sausage.
4. Saute the veggies and sausage.
5. Add the rice, seasoning blend, and liquid.
6. Cook until done!

This has so much flavor, and I know you are going to love the homemade spice blend!

Variations And Substitution Ideas For One Pot Jambalaya

• If you really like a lot of spice, you can try hot links instead of smoked sausage or Andouille.
• You can add shrimp too! About a half pound is all you need, make sure they are peeled and deveined. To add them, take the lid off the pot in the last 3 to 5 minutes of cooking, put them right on top, and close the lid. Shrimp take almost no time to cook!
• Try different types of Paprika such as smoked or hot.

How To Store Jambalaya

Your jambalaya will keep in a plastic or glass container with a lid for up to a week. This makes it a great meal prep option for dinner, or taking leftovers to work for lunch.

What To Serve With Jambalaya

This works with so many side dishes! I love it with a simple green salad, and a veggie side. Here are a few ideas:

• Charred Broccoli
• Roasted Green Beans and Carrots
• Roasted Rainbow Carrots

Thank you for stopping by The Copper Table. I hope you enjoy this chicken and sausage jambalaya! If you tried this recipe, please leave a rating or comment below. 

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