When I’m craving some real Cajun comfort food, I whip up this flavor-packed, one-pot chicken jambalaya recipe! The holy trinity of Cajun cooking — onion, celery, and bell peppers — is married up with chicken and andouille sausage, then seasoned with garlic, herbs, and plenty of bold spices. My homemade chicken and sausage jambalaya is truly anything but bland!
Top Reader Reviews
Amazingly delicious! My wife & I have been cooking cajun jambalaya for years & today we decided to try a new recipe. This one beats all previous recipes hands down! Will add to our weekly/monthly family menu!
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Delicious recipe! I made it today! My family already requested to make it again!
Very easy to make and very tasty!
Thank you so much for sharing it!
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Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya
Living in St. Louis, I’ve had my fair share of delicious Creole and Cajun cuisine! This easy jambalaya recipe with chicken, Andouille sausage, rice, and Cajun seasoning has all the flavor you’d expect from an authentic recipe. But I made this dish with just one pot and 40 minutes, so that I can cook it whenever I’m craving it, even on weeknights!
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I’ve made this jambalaya for so many cookouts and tailgating parties, and people always ask me for the recipe. I’ve even brought a big batch to a crawfish boil, and it was such a hit! If you love Cajun food, I know you’re going to love this trusted dish.
Chicken Jambalaya Recipe
Equipment
- Large Skillet (OR)
- Dutch Oven
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast (cut into bite-size pieces*)
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (divided)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 1 pound Andouille sausage (sliced into rounds**)
- ½ onion (diced)
- 2 ribs celery (diced)
- 2 bell peppers (any color)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 14.5 ounces crushed tomatoes (1 can)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup white rice (***)
Instructions
- Season the chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once heated, add the chicken to the pan and cook for 5-7 minutes, until browned on all sides. Transfer the chicken to a plate.1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, 1 tablespoons Cajun seasoning, 1 tablespoons olive oil
- Heat another tablespoon of oil in the skillet. Add in the sausage, cooking until browned. Transfer the sausage to the plate with the chicken.1 pound Andouille sausage, 1 tablespoons olive oil
- Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in the skillet. Add in the onion, celery, and bell pepper. Season with salt and pepper, and sauté until softened.½ onion, 2 ribs celery, 2 bell peppers, 1.01 tablespoons olive oil
- Add in the garlic and cook for another minute.2 cloves garlic
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning, oregano, chicken broth, and rice. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cover the pan and cook for 20-25 minutes or until the rice has cooked and the liquid has absorbed.14.5 ounces crushed tomatoes, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 2 cups chicken broth, 1 cup white rice, 1 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- Stir in the chicken and sausage and cook until everything is heated through.
- Give the jambalaya a good stir. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
- Use a large skillet, non-stick pan, or Dutch oven with a well-fitted lid.
- Keep the pot covered for the full cooking time. Try not to remove the lid and check too often because the liquid will escape, and the rice needs it in order to properly cook.
- The Cajun seasoning adds a nice heat, but it won’t burn off your taste buds! For a spicier jambalaya, I add one or two jalapeños. You can also add more cayenne at the end if you’d like.
Note: Water, salt, pepper, oil, and broth are not counted as ingredients on this site.
Watch one of our trusted recipe testers make this!
Kristina shows us how simple it is to cook up this jambalaya in one pot.
Avoid Overcooked Rice!
Unlike stews and chilis, jambalaya does not get better the longer it simmers. It is possible (and very common) to overcook and dry it out. We want the rice to be soft and fluffy, but not gummy or mushy. And we certainly don’t want to dry out the chicken — so stick to the cooking time as instructed.
How to Make Cajun Chicken Jambalaya Step by Step
Prep: Gather the list of ingredients for this homemade jambalaya recipe. Cut 1½ pounds of boneless skinless chicken breast into bite-sized pieces. Slice 1 pound of Andouille sausage into rounds. Dice ½ an onion, 2 ribs of celery, and 2 bell peppers.
Season the Chicken: First, season pieces of chicken breast with 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning.
Brown the Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once heated, add the Cajun chicken pieces to the pan and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until browned on all sides. Then transfer the chicken to a plate.
Brown the Sausage: Heat another tablespoon of cooking oil in the same skillet. Then add 1 pound of Andouille sausage rounds, and cook until browned. Transfer the sausage to the plate with the chicken.
Sauté the Veggies: Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in the skillet. Add ½ of a diced onion, 2 stalks of diced celery, 1 diced red bell pepper, and 1 diced green bell pepper. Then season with salt and pepper to taste, and sauté until the veggies are softened.
Add the Garlic: Then add 2 minced cloves of garlic and cook for another minute.
Add the Rest of the Ingredients: Next, stir in 1 can of crushed tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, 2 cups of chicken broth, and 1 cup of white rice.
Simmer: Bring the jambalaya to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
Cook: Cover the pan and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the rice has cooked through and the liquid has been fully absorbed. It’s important to keep the pan covered to keep the steam locked in. The rice needs this moisture to soften and cook.
Add the Chicken and Sausage: Stir the browned chicken and sausage into the jambalaya mixture, then continue cooking until everything is heated through.
Serve: Give the finished chicken jambalaya a good stir, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
How to Store and Reheat
- Store: Let the jambalaya fully cool to room temperature, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Reheat: Reheat on the stovetop with a bit of extra oil or broth, stirring until warmed through. Or microwave your leftovers in 30-second intervals, stirring each time it stops, until warmed all the way through.
- Freeze: Freeze chicken and sausage jambalaya in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let it thaw before reheating.
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