Slow Cooker Jambalaya

Introduction

Nothing brings the flavors of New Orleans into your kitchen quite like Slow Cooker Jambalaya. This classic Cajun dish boasts a vibrant mix of spices, tender meats, and the unbeatable trio of onion, celery, and bell pepper. With a slow cooker at your side, you can enjoy all the depth and character of traditional jambalaya—without hours over the stove.

Jambalaya is a perennial crowd-pleaser, perfect for gatherings and family dinners. Its rich and hearty flavors satisfy any appetite, and the set-it-and-forget-it method means you’ll have time to mingle—or just relax—while dinner simmers away.

A Flavor-Packed Take on Slow Cooker Jambalaya

This recipe delivers the smoky, spicy depth of jambalaya by combining andouille sausage, chicken, shrimp, and an aromatic base of peppers and tomatoes. Long, slow cooking coaxes every morsel of flavor out of your ingredients, resulting in impossibly tender proteins and an aromatic, thickened sauce.

Chopping Vegetables the Easy Way

The “holy trinity” of Cajun cuisine—bell pepper, celery, and onion—sets the base for jambalaya. To make prep a breeze and get perfectly uniform pieces, use the Mueller Pro-Series 10-in-1, 8 Blade Vegetable Chopper. It creates consistent cuts, which means even cooking and less time at the cutting board.

Building Deep, Slow-Simmered Flavor

Layer your slow cooker with sausage, chicken, vegetables, garlic, and tomatoes. Cajun and Creole spices infuse everything with that unmistakable Louisiana kick as the jambalaya bubbles away for hours, melding flavors to perfection. Make sure to use a quality dried thyme, smoky paprika, and a bit of cayenne for authentic heat.

For shredding chicken after cooking, reach for the Chicken Shredder Tool Twist for Kitchen—it’ll make easy, mess-free work of pulling chicken in seconds.

Finishing and Serving Your Jambalaya

With your jambalaya almost finished, add the shrimp and uncooked rice for the last 30 minutes. This gives the shrimp just enough time to become tender, never chewy, and allows the rice to soak up all the saucy goodness.

Scoop generous portions into bowls using a heatproof ladle; for leftovers or meal prep, pack extra into Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers to keep flavors fresh.

Perfect Pairings and Serving Suggestions

Jambalaya shines with simple sides—think cornbread, a green salad, or crusty bread to mop up every last drop. For an easy, portable lunch, transfer servings to a Bentgo Salad Container for work or school.

For parties, protect your table with a Pureegg Plastic Table Cloth Disposable and let everyone serve themselves straight from the slow cooker.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe serves 6 to 8 generous portions. With lean proteins and plenty of vegetables, a typical bowl contains around 350–400 calories, making Slow Cooker Jambalaya both hearty and nutritious—a fulfilling meal for any night of the week.

Slow Cooker Jambalaya (Recap)

Slow Cooker Jambalaya offers bold Cajun flavors with minimal fuss. The long, gentle cook brings out the best in sausage, chicken, shrimp, and vegetables. It’s easy to prepare, feeds a crowd, and perfect for leftovers—making it the ultimate weeknight or party meal.

Instructions

1. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Brown the andouille sausage and chicken pieces for 4-5 minutes, then transfer to your slow cooker.
2. Use the Mueller Pro-Series 10-in-1, 8 Blade Vegetable Chopper to chop onion, bell pepper, and celery. Add to the slow cooker, along with minced garlic, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, Cajun seasoning, thyme, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
3. Cook on LOW for 4–5 hours (or HIGH for 2–3), until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
4. If needed, shred the chicken using the Chicken Shredder Tool Twist for Kitchen right inside the slow cooker for even distribution.
5. Stir in uncooked rice and shrimp. Cover and cook on HIGH for another 25–30 minutes, or until the shrimp are opaque and rice is fluffy. If your slow cooker runs hot, start checking rice at the 20-minute mark.
6. Serve immediately, garnished with scallions and parsley. Store leftovers in Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers for up to 3 days.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 5–6 hours

Total Time: 5.5–6.5 hours

Enjoy a taste of the bayou with this effortless, flavor-packed Slow Cooker Jambalaya—the perfect crowd-pleasing meal for any occasion!