Jambalaya is a Louisianan favorite that is typically made with chicken, spicy sausage slices, shrimp, vegetables, rice, and Cajun seasoning. It lies somewhere between being a soup and a stew, and I promise you it is FILLING! Exactly the kind of food you want after a long day. I love my Instant Pot and any recipe I can adapt to cook in it, I will! That’s why I decided to take my best recipe for jambalaya and tweak it for the IP. I think this version is just as delicious as the traditional stovetop one and is a snap to make.
Why you’ll love this recipe
Ingredients
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Vegetable oil – This is a neutral-tasting oil that won’t overpower the other flavors in the dish. Grapeseed and canola are other options for neutral-tasting oils.Andouille sausage – Commonly used in Cajun cuisine, this sausage is spiced and smoked.Boneless, skinless chicken breast – You could also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs if that’s what you have on hand.Cajun seasoning – This is a bold and spicy seasoning! It’s a blend of spices usually containing cayenne, paprika, garlic and onion powders, black pepper, oregano, etc. Yellow onion, celery, and green bell pepper – Considered The Holy Trinity in Cajun cooking, most recipes start with these three ingredients.Garlic – You’ll need 3 cloves of minced garlic. I use fresh garlic cloves, but if you prefer to use jarred minced garlic for ease, that will work too.Dried basil – Adds a peppery sweetness to the dish.Salt and pepper – Adds seasoning and helps to bring out the other flavorsFire-roasted diced tomatoes – These canned tomatoes are charred over a flame, so they help to add a smoky flavor to the dish.Granulated sugar – Used to balance the acidity from the tomatoes. Long grain rice – You can use either white rice or brown rice depending on your preferences. Make sure you use regular and not instant rice! Instant rice will turn mushy in the Instant Pot. Chicken stock – Look for low sodium as that way, you can control how much salt you add according to your tastes.Cayenne or red pepper flakes – These are optional for added heat. The Cajun seasoning will already have some cayenne pepper in it.Raw shrimp – If you are using frozen shrimp, let them defrost before adding them to the Instant Pot.
How to Make Instant Pot Jambalaya
Recipe Tips
The amount of salt you add will depend on how salty your chicken stock is, to begin with. It’s always important to taste before seasoning.Rinsing the rice may seem like an unnecessary step, but don’t be tempted to skip it! You’ll be rinsing off some of the starch, which means that your rice won’t clump and stick together once it’s cooked.Browning the sausage, chicken, and vegetables is the key to developing a deeper flavor. That’s why we use the sauté function of our Instant Pot before we put in the rest of the ingredients. Don’t forget to scrape up all the browned bits at the bottom of the pot because that’s where your flavor is!
Side Dishes that Work Well with Jambalaya
Jambalaya makes an amazing stand-alone dish, but if you’re looking for side dishes to pair with it, you might enjoy some of these suggestions:
Cornbread – Moist and not too sweet, this bread is the perfect pairing. Corn on the cob – A great accompaniment and can also be made in the Instant Pot.Simple tossed green salad – Goes well with every meal!Cheddar BiscuitsFried Okra
If you like shrimp dishes, you should try my easy Fried Shrimp recipe too! Once you’ve had a taste of this Instant Pot jambalaya, you’ll be hooked! Let me know in the comments what you think and if there are any ways you tweaked the ingredients for your family! © Little Sunny Kitchen
