Jambalaya
Rice cooked in the pot with the meat — Louisiana, not paella, not a dump-and-stir rice mix.
Recipe by I Want Some Food · Reviewed by the editorial kitchen.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Rest
- None
- Total
- 1 hr
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Spice
- Medium heat
- Cost
- Weeknight budget$8–16 USD · indicative, not a store price
About
Jambalaya is rice cooked in a seasoned pot with the trinity, sausage, chicken or shrimp. Cajun versions are usually brown (no tomato); Creole often red. This is a brown-ish home pot with a little tomato as a house choice we will admit.
What you'll need
11 ingredients. Tap each one once it's out on the bench.
Ingredients
Scaling multiplies the written quantities. Baking still prefers a scale.
Steps
Step 1
Brown sausage and chicken. Lift out. Soften trinity and garlic. Optional tomato, paprika.
15 min
Step 2
Rice, toast 1 minute. Water, meat, salt. Cover 20 minutes. Rest 10. Do not stir it into mush.
25 min
Nutrition
Per serving · estimate
- Calories
- 326 kcal
- Protein
- 33.4 g
- Carbs
- 27.9 g
- Fat
- 7.8 g
- Saturated fat
- 2.4 g
- Fibre
- 2.3 g
- Sugar
- 4.4 g
- Sodium
- 870 mg
Calculated from canonical ingredient data (USDA FoodData Central averages and equivalent published tables). Estimates only.
Allergens
Informational only. Not a medical guarantee. Cross-contamination happens in real kitchens.
- No major allergens flagged in the structured ingredients.
- Gluten-free
- Dairy-free
- Nut-free
Adapt this recipe
The original recipe stays as it is. Personal versions are labelled. Serving changes are simple maths.
Adaptations · 0 / 15 used. Resets 12 November.
Substitutions
Sausage → More chicken
A quieter pot.
Tips
- Shrimp at the end if you want them. They overcook in the simmer.
- The bottom can catch. That crust is an argument, not always a mistake.
History & culture
A one-pot that feeds a crowd. Related to Spanish rice and West African jollof in the way port cities are related.
Gulf cooking with Spanish, French and African layers. The name is debated; the pot is not.
Regional variation
Provenance: Editorial adaptation.
Questions about this recipe
Answers taken from this dish's times, amounts, swaps and tips.
How long does Jambalaya take?
1 hr all in — 20 min prep, 40 min cook. Cook and rest follow the method. Leftover storage and optional extra waits are not included.
How many does it serve?
The recipe is written for 6 pots. Scale the ingredient list on the page if you are cooking for a different number.
How hard is it?
Medium.
How spicy is it?
Medium heat.
Does it fit a diet?
The published recipe is labelled Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Nut-free.
What does it cost to cook?
Weeknight budget — about $8–16 USD, as a grocery budget for this recipe, not a restaurant price.
5 more questionsFewer questions
What equipment do I need?
Dutch oven.
How much salt do I put in?
The recipe lists Salt at 1½ tsp.
What can I use instead?
Sausage → More chicken. A quieter pot.
Any tips from this recipe?
Shrimp at the end if you want them. They overcook in the simmer. The bottom can catch. That crust is an argument, not always a mistake.
Can I use an air fryer?
This method is not written for an air fryer. The core technique on the page still applies.
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