This Jambalaya recipe is a shortcut version of the Creole classic that’s made in the crockpot! With just 5 minutes of prep, you’re going to find yourself making this delicious version of Jambalaya week after week!

Overhead of Sausage Jambalaya on a white plate.

Ok, before people skewer me for calling this Jambalaya when it’s not made in the traditional way, let me explain. I love a good ol’ Creole Jambalaya, but sometimes I literally have 5-10 minutes to prep dinner and I need to go for quick and easy short cut versions of classic dishes.

I love the ease of this slow cooker jambalaya recipe and it tastes amazing! It doesn’t exactly have the same roasted and toasted flavor of real-deal jambalaya, instead, it’s more of a fresh, vibrant-tasting dish. Just give it a try. It’s one of my favorite quick-prep dinners!

Jambalaya on a white plate that's served over rice.

What is Jambalaya?

Jambalaya is a one-pot Creole dish made with “the trinity” (celery, bell peppers, and onions), meat (usually chicken, smoked sausage, and/or shrimp), and tomatoes.

What is in a Jambalaya?

Here are the basics:

  • celery
  • bell peppers
  • onions
  • smoked andouille sausage
  • chicken (sometimes)
  • shrimp (sometimes)
  • kidney beans (sometimes)
  • garlic
  • tomatoes
  • salt, pepper, and other seasonings
  • rice

Close up picture of Jambalaya on a plate with a white napkin.

How do you make Jambalaya?

Real-deal Jambalaya is made in one pot where the veggies and meat are sautéed first followed by a nice simmer in a red broth made with tomatoes and spices and then served over rice.

I love a good one pot meal, but for my Jambalaya I decided to simplify things even more by cooking mine in the crockpot!

What is the difference between Jambalaya and Gumbo?

Jambalaya is a one-pot rice-based dish with a thick red sauce due to the tomatoes in the dish. Gumbo is more of a soup or stew with a roux base.

What do you eat with Jambalaya?

The obvious answer is rice! I like to serve either short grain rice or brown rice with this dish. I usually opt for brown rice because I like the somewhat nutty flavor that it adds.

Another thing I love to eat with this is cornbread! My Sour Cream Cornbread recipe goes nicely with this dish.

Overhead picture of Jambalaya

Cook’s Note:

FREEZER MEAL ALERT!

  • You can make this Crockpot Jambalaya into a freezer meal by placing all of the ingredients (minus the rice and garnishes) in a gallon-sized ziplock bag, and freeze it until you’re ready to use it. When cooking it from the frozen state you’ll have to increase the cooking time slightly. Cook on HIGH for 3 hours and LOW for 5 hours.

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Cook’s Tools:

  • The star of this dish is definitely the slow cooker! This is the one that I have and love!

More Slow Cooker Dinner Recipes:

Let’s face it, slow cooker recipes are just easier! Some of my favorite crockpot dinners include my Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers which is great served on toasted subs or over pasta. Another favorite is Slow Cooker Chicken Curry because it’s so flavorful and it will warm up even the coldest of winter nights. Finally, this Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings recipe is just about as close to comfort food as you can get!

Easy Jambalaya made in the slow cooker
5 from 5 votes

Shortcut Crockpot Sausage Jambalaya Recipe

Author Jillian - a Food, Folks and Fun original!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
4 people
This Jambalaya recipe is a shortcut version of the Creole classic that’s made in the crockpot! With just 5 minutes of prep you’re going to find yourself making this delicious version of Jambalaya week after week! 

Ingredients
 
 

FOR THE JAMBALAYA:

  • 14 ozs smoked andouille rope sausage I like either Johnsonville or Hillshire Farm
  • 2 large bell peppers red, orange, green, and/or yellow
  • 1 small white onion chopped
  • 1 cup chopped celery about 2 stalks
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
  • pinch cayenne pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 Tablespoon butter
  • 2 10 oz cans diced tomatoes with green chiles I use Rotel
  • 15 oz can red kidney beans rinsed and drained

FOR SERVING:

  • Chopped fresh parsley for garnish optional
  • Chopped celery leaves for garnish optional
  • 1 ½ cups short grain rice or brown rice cooked as per package instructions for serving
  • hot sauce for serving optional

Instructions

  • Slice the andouille sausage into 1-inch pieces and place them in the insert of a slow cooker (the slow cooker should be able to hold at least 4 quarts). 
  • Next, stem, seed, and dice the bell peppers and place them in the slow cooker followed by the remainder of the jambalaya ingredients (onion, celery, salt, garlic powder, pepper, thyme, cayenne, bay leaf, butter, diced tomatoes, kidney beans). 
  • Give everything a quick stir, cover and cook on HIGH for 2 hours or on LOW for 4 hours. 
  • Remove the bay leaf, and serve over rice (brown rice is my favorite with this dish). Finally, top with parsley or celery leaves, and hot sauce to taste, (optional). 

Nutrition

Calories: 793kcal | Carbohydrates: 86g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 1233mg | Potassium: 1175mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 2810IU | Vitamin C: 108.7mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 6.2mg

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12 Comments

  1. Stephanie@ApplesforCJ says:

    I’m a big fan of slow cooker recipes and especially when there is little prep involved. Sounds like the perfect tasty meal.

    1. It’s literally one of my favorites for the such little prep factor.

  2. Allison - Celebrating Sweets says:

    I literally have every ingredient on hand for this recipe. It was meant to be! I can’t wait to try it!

    1. Awesome, I hope you love it!

  3. Valentina says:

    This is a dish I didn’t know much about, and you’ve just answered all of my questions. Your version is so beautifully colorful and fun.

    1. Yay, I’m glad this post was some use to you. 🙂

  4. Drooling! Such a comfort food! So far, I’ve only tried crockpot vegan jambalaya, but I’m sure nothing can’t beat a real thing! Your recipe looks really delicious!

    1. Thank you so much, Iryna!

  5. This is a delicious dish!

  6. Lindsay Wannan says:

    Do you cook the rice separate

    1. Yes, you do. For this recipe I just ladle the slow cooker mixture over cooked rice.