{"id":6481,"date":"2021-03-11T23:49:04","date_gmt":"2021-03-11T23:49:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.howtocook.recipes\/?p=6481"},"modified":"2026-01-16T16:51:26","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T16:51:26","slug":"classic-jambalaya-recipe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.howtocook.recipes\/classic-jambalaya-recipe\/","title":{"rendered":"Classic Jambalaya Recipe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bold and full of Cajun flavor, make your own Mardi Gras at home. My whole family loves this jambalaya recipe<\/strong>. I love making it on weekends when we want to have something spicy and fun to enjoy. It\u2019s easier than you think to make this wonderful dish!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Best Jambalaya Recipe<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What makes the best jambalaya recipe? I\u2019d say fresh shrimp, andouille sausage, okra, Cajun spice, and the holy trinity (green bell peppers, onions, and celery). And this recipe has them all. It only takes 20 minutes to prep and the rest is patient waiting on your part until this meal is ready. That\u2019s the hardest part too since your house will smell so good you\u2019ll be drooling!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Easy Jambalaya Recipe<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is an easy jambalaya recipe with sausage and shrimp that even a beginner can make. However, it does require time and patience. I\u2019d say it wouldn\u2019t be ideal to make on a busy weeknight because it takes 20 minutes just to prep and a full hour from start to finish. And while the ingredient list is lengthy, you\u2019ve likely got most of it in your kitchen right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jambalaya Ingredients
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  • Rice<\/strong> \u2013 the base of jambalaya, which should be long grain white rice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Andouille sausage<\/strong> \u2013 spicy and delightful, it is essential for sausage jambalaya.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The holy trinity<\/strong> \u2013 you can\u2019t call it \u201cjambalaya\u201d without green bell peppers, celery, and onions!<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Canned crushed tomatoes<\/strong> \u2013 adds that signature red hue.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Cajun seasoning<\/strong> \u2013 so you get that spicy, Cajun jambalaya recipe flavor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Shrimp<\/strong> \u2013 adds another dimension of flavor from the sea and necessary for any shrimp jambalaya recipe. Seafood jambalaya is the traditional way of making the dish and is delicious!<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Okra<\/strong> \u2013 perhaps the most perfect veggie for jambalaya.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Jalapenos<\/strong> \u2013 gives it more spice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Jambalaya seasoning<\/strong> \u2013 thyme, bay leaves, and crushed red pepper bring out all the flavors of jambalaya.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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    How do you Make Jambalaya from Scratch<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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    • First you\u2019ll brown the sausage. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • After that, you\u2019ll remove it from the pan and then add the bell peppers, celery, onion, jalapeno, and garlic to saut\u00e9. Then add the crushed tomatoes, chicken stock, rice, and seasonings. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • You\u2019ll let it simmer, then cover it until the rice is mostly cooked through. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • That\u2019s when you\u2019ll add the shrimp and okra. Finally, you\u2019ll add the sausage back and serve while hot.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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      Jambalalalalaya!
      Megan<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

      Expert Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Jambalaya Every Time<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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      • Don\u2019t just dump everything in at once<\/strong>. I know it\u2019s tempting, but jambalaya isn\u2019t like that. You need a layering of flavors. To achieve that, sausage is browned first and then removed. Then the aromatics. Then the liquids and rice. And finally the shrimp and okra.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Gently scrape the bottom when browning<\/strong>. With the sausage and the aromatics, you\u2019re building up layers of flavor. Then when you add the liquids, it will all come together, coming off the bottom and making for an amazing taste.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Stir it enough but not too much<\/strong>. About every 5 minutes, come back and stir your jambalaya so the rice doesn\u2019t stick when it cooks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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        How to Cook Jambalaya<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Want to make an authentic jambalaya recipe? Easy, here is how you do it. You\u2019ll brown the rice, add the aromatics, add the liquids, add the rice, and then finish it off with shrimp and okra. It couldn\u2019t be easier to hop this train to Flavor-town!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        What is usually in jambalaya?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Andouille sausage, bell peppers, celery, onion, long grain white rice, shrimp, chicken stock, crushed tomatoes, and Cajun seasoning are some of the main ingredients that are often used to make jambalaya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        What is the primary ingredient in jambalaya?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        There are many ingredients in jambalaya, but rice is the main one. It is a rice-based dish that has other flavor enhancers added in. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        What type of rice is best for jambalaya?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Long grain white rice is the best rice to use for a jambalaya rice recipe. If you have basmati rice, that will work too. Avoid anything that is short grain for it will become mushy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Do you cook rice before adding to jambalaya?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        No, the rice cooks in the liquids you add to the jambalaya. It soaks up all the flavors from the spices and aromatics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        Does authentic jambalaya have tomatoes?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        The Creole version of jambalaya tends to have tomatoes. This is what gives it that nice, red color to a Louisiana jambalaya recipe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        What type of meat is used for jambalaya?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        While there are many recipes for jambalaya out there where you can add chicken and other options, andouille sausage is the standard. Additionally, this recipe adds fresh shrimp to round out the seafood jambalaya recipe. However, a chicken jambalaya or chicken and sausage jambalaya recipe is equally as delicious and always a crowd favorite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Does jambalaya use a roux?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        No, you do not make a roux for jambalaya. That would be gumbo!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        What is the difference between gumbo and jambalaya?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        When it comes to gumbo vs jambalaya, both are delightful Cajun dishes, however the difference is in where the rice is. With gumbo, rice is cooked separately and the gumbo is served in a bowl with a scoop of rice in the center. With jambalaya, the rice is cooked in the same pot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        What is the difference between Cajun and Creole jambalaya?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        The difference comes down to the hue you see. When it has a reddish appearance, it\u2019s considered Creole. A brown hue denotes a Cajun style of jambalaya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        Should jambalaya be wet or dry?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Unlike gumbo, jambalaya should be more dry. It shouldn\u2019t be like dust though, but it\u2019s not supposed to look like soup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Is jambalaya supposed to be soupy?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        No, it should be more like a saucy rice. If yours comes out with a soupy texture, make sure you\u2019re adding enough rice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        How do you keep jambalaya rice from getting mushy?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        You should make sure you use long grain rice to keep it from turning to mush. Also, your jambalaya should follow the measurements in this recipe so that you use the right amount of liquid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        What goes well with Jambalaya<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Jambalaya is a one-pot meal of epic proportions. Still, you\u2019ll want to serve something with it. Cornbread, corn on the cob, sauteed green veggies, or even a garden salad will all complement your jambalaya well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        How to Store Jambalaya<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Jambalaya needs to be kept in an airtight container in the fridge. Allow it to cool first before packaging it up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        How Long Does Jambalaya Last?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        In your fridge, you\u2019ve got up to 4 days to make use of that jambalaya. If you can\u2019t finish it all, you may want to turn to your freezer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Can You Freeze Jambalaya?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Yes, you can surely freeze jambalaya, however, it will not taste as good as it did when it was fresh. Make sure you remove all excess air before freezing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        How to Reheat Jambalaya?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        From your freezer, you\u2019ll want to let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Then heat it on the stovetop, adding just a little broth or water to keep it from drying out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        Watch How To Make Jambalaya (Video)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n