Description
This Simple Weeknight Jambalaya recipe is a hearty and flavorful one-pot dish combining tender chicken, spicy Italian sausage, aromatic vegetables, and Cajun spices simmered together with rice for an authentic taste of Louisiana comfort food perfect for easy weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1 pound Chicken Breast
- 1 pound Spicy Italian Sausage Link
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 3 stalk Celery
- 1 Yellow Onion
- 1 Red Bell Pepper
- 3 clove Garlic
- to taste Scallion
Liquids & Canned Goods
- 2 1/2 cup Chicken Stock
- 1 can Crushed Tomatoes
Grains & Seasonings
- 1 cup White Rice
- 2 tablespoon Cajun Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- to taste Salt
- to taste Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the meat: Cube the chicken breast into bite-size pieces and slice the spicy Italian sausage into rounds to ensure even cooking and easy eating.
- Chop vegetables: Chop the celery stalks finely, mince the garlic cloves, and dice the red bell pepper and yellow onion to release their flavors during cooking.
- Brown the meat: Heat olive oil in a dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook the sausage first, then the chicken in two batches, until both are golden brown on all sides, about 5 minutes each batch. Remove meats from the pot and set aside.
- Sauté vegetables: In the same pot, add celery, diced onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic. Cook until vegetables are softened and fragrant, approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Add liquids and seasonings: Pour in chicken stock, then stir in Cajun seasoning, bay leaf, dried thyme, and crushed tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil to combine flavors and activate the spices.
- Combine ingredients and simmer: Add the white rice, browned chicken, and sausage back into the pot. Cover and simmer on low heat for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until rice is fully cooked and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
- Season and serve: Adjust seasoning with salt and ground black pepper to taste. Garnish with chopped scallions before serving for a fresh finish.
Notes
- Use a dutch oven or a heavy-bottomed pot for even heat distribution.
- Adjust the Cajun seasoning quantity to control the heat level.
- For a smoky flavor, consider using smoked sausage instead of spicy Italian sausage.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat well.
- To make it gluten-free, verify that the sausage and Cajun seasoning do not contain gluten additives.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun, Creole, Southern US
Keywords: Jambalaya, Cajun, Creole, Chicken Jambalaya, Sausage Jambalaya, One-Pot Meal, Weeknight Dinner, Spicy, Rice Dish
