Easy Instant Pot Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya

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Easy Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya – a quick, easy, healthier, not-so-spicy version. Easy Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya – a quick, easy, healthier, not-so-spicy version of instant pot jambalaya recipe. It has so much flavor, you are going to love it! Stove top instructions included too!

I wasn’t sure how this meal would go over with my family, some like it hot and spicy and some (me!) not so much. WINNER, winner chicken and sausage jambalaya for dinner!

I you are like me and want to spend more time with your family and less time cooking, try these other favorite recipes:: Instant Pot Whole Roasted Chicken, Crockpot London Broil, Best Cheesesteak Sandwich Recipe, and Easy 30 minute Chicken Parmesan

This easy instant pot jambalaya is such a great recipe – I have made it numerous times at the request of my kids, requesting seconds every time, but be warned, now I need to add extra chicken and especially sausage because everyone picks out the sausage!

The whole family loves it!

Perfect for Mardi Gras or anytime you are looking for a healthy, delicious meal! Someone even told me it was better than the famous Martha Stewart Firehouse Jambalaya and easier too! Let me know what you think!

True confessions, I have never had jambalaya before, not the real deal at least; then I stumbled upon this recipe using chicken and sausage and played with the spices so it wasn’t too spicy, but was chock-full of flavor! 

What Is Jambalaya?

From what I have gleaned, jambalaya originates from the French Quarter in New Orleans, it was apparently an attempt by the Spanish to make paella in the New World, where saffron wasn’t readily available and tomatoes became the substitute. But do not quote me!

Is Jambalaya Creole or Cajun?

Although every family has its own recipe for jambalaya, there are two main categories: Cajun and Creole.

The difference lies in the order in which the ingredients are cooked and the use of tomatoes. Creole jambalaya, which is also sometimes known as “red jambalaya,” includes tomatoes. (Source) So, I suppose this version would be considered Creole.

But does it really matter when it nourishes your soul, is healthy, filling and packed with flavor? I don’t think so!

What kind of meat do you put in jambalaya?

In my research, it seems like with many regional recipes; there have been many adaptations throughout history.

I am not here to debate what is authentic or traditional, just what has been used in this famous dish.

• Smoked sausage is typical; most commonly, andouille sausage, though I usually use kielbasa
• Smoked ham
• Shrimp
• Chicken breast or chicken thighs

It is a “clean out your leftovers” kind of meal! So be creative! I have used andouille sausage, ham, chicken and kielbasa. I am allergic to shrimp (to my husband’s dismay), but if you are not, toss some in at the very end!

What kind of sausage is best for jambalaya?

Smoked sausage is best with the flavors in this dish (like kielbasa, andouille or even chorizo), but hey, if all you have is polish sausage or quality beef hot dogs, try it!

How long does Jambalaya take to cook?

• Pressure Cook less than 30 minutes!
• STOVETOP about 45-60 minutes! Either way a great meal!

Ingredients and Substitutions for Instant Pot Jambalaya

• Celery, Onion and Green Pepper (traditionally it would be green bell pepper, but I like red, orange or yellow). Substitute a jar of roasted red peppers, this is also delicious! This combination is traditionally called the “holy trinity”.
• Cayenne pepper for heat, from a sprinkle up to ½ a teaspoon.
• Garlic, Creole or Cajun seasoning, Italian Seasoning. Substitutes | I have used all Italian Seasoning as well as Garam Masala seasoning in place of Cajun/Creole seasoning, all tasted great.
• Chicken and Kielbasa Sausage | Choose your proteins! I have used kielbasa, andouille sausage, and chicken; substitute or add in ham chunks and/or shrimp*.
• Chicken stock (stovetop method, may need more liquid) Substitute | Vegetarian Jambalaya omit meat and sub in vegetable stock.
• Diced Fire Roasted Tomatoes. Substitute regular diced tomatoes.
• Rice | Long grain is traditional, short grain white rice also works. I used jasmine rice.
• Sea Salt and Black Pepper | Always taste before serving, adding additional seasonings if needed.

How to make chicken jambalaya

• Press Saute function to preheat the Instant Pot Insert (this is the Instant Pot I love and recommend).
• When “HOT” is displayed, add olive oil.
• Saute onions, bell pepper, celery in HOT Instant Pot, stirring occasionally about 4-5 minutes until golden and translucent (add a small teaspoon of butter or dab of oil if needed)
• While veggies are caramelizing, heat a separate skillet over medium-high heat, adding a couple teaspoons of olive oil.
• Add sausage to skillet, using a wooden spoon to quickly brown both sides, 2 minutes per side, remove to plate
• Brown chicken in skillet, about 2 minutes per side, remove to plate.
• Add garlic, cajun/creole seasoning, sea salt and Italian seasoning, stirring until fragrant
• Pour in chicken stock, scraping bottom of the pot to release any brown bits
• Press CANCEL on panel to turn off IP
• Add browned chicken and sausage back to Instant Pot
• Pour uncooked white rice evenly over the top of the meat
• Pour can of tomatoes over the top, pressing gently to cover the rice.
• Secure lid, steam vent in locked position. Press PRESSURE COOK (Manual), adjust cooking time to 5-6 minutes (sea level) or 6-8 minutes (altitude), at high pressure.
• Carefully, perform a quick release on pressure cooker jambalaya
• Remove lid, stir gently, serve with chopped parsley if desired. If the rice isn’t quite done, simply return the lid to the IP and place on warm for another 10 minutes while you set the table!
• If adding shrimp | Add 12 oz medium cooked shrimp and immediately reseal the Instant Pot lid and allow the easy Jambalaya recipe to warm for 5 minutes in the residual heat (Alert: the Instant Pot is on Warm). Borrowed these instructions from Boulder Locavore

Storage

• Tastes great leftover, refrigerate up to 1 week or freeze up to 3 months in an airtight container. Reheat on stovetop over low heat or in microwave.

Variations & Tips for Instant Pot Jambalaya

• When browning or searing meat in the IP, I notice when it’s a decent amount of meat it’s better to do it in batches so the meat browns vs. boils. I prefer to brown my meat in a separate pan (my favorite pan) on the stovetop. Saves time since you brown the meat and saute your veggies at the same time, reducing your overall cook time.
• The first few times I made this recipe, the rice stuck to the bottom of the pan, almost burning, but by adding the rice AFTER the meat, but BEFORE the tomatoes the problem was solved. Could very well be due to altitude.
• Try adding a 1-2 bay leaves to the ingredients.
• Replace white rice with brown rice, I’ve had several people successfully do this, you might need to add a few more minutes time, or let it sit a little longer.
• Garnish with green onions

STOVETOP INSTRUCTIONS

Jambalaya for a Crowd

I made this on a ski trip and was feeding 10 people, which I knew it would not work in the Instant Pot, as I was doubling the recipe.

• Heat a large skillet (or pot) over medium-high heat, adding a couple teaspoons of olive oil
• Add sausage to skillet, stirring to quickly brown both sides, 2 minutes per side, remove to plate
• Add chicken to skillet, browning on both sides, about 2 minutes per side, remove to plate.
• Saute onions, bell pepper, celery, adding another teaspoon or two of oil or butter if needed. Stirring occasionally about 4-5 minutes until golden and translucent
• Add garlic, cajun or creole seasoning, sea salt and Italian seasoning, stirring until fragrant.
• Pour chicken stock, scraping bottom of pan to release any brown bits
• Add chicken and sausage back to pan
• Pour uncooked white rice evenly over the top of the meat
• Pour tomatoes over the top, stirring to combine
• Cover, reduce to simmer and cook for 25-30 minutes, being sure to stir the mixture every 5 minutes or so (to prevent burning) until the rice is tender, add a little more chicken broth if gets too dry.
• Adding shrimp | Add 1 pound raw large shrimp, peeled and deveined during last 5 minutes or so of cooking, stirring occasionally until shrimp is cooked (opaque and pink).

There you have it, a quick and easy Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya recipe for your Instant Pot or Stovetop! This recipe easily doubles!

Gluten-Free Jambalaya

This recipe, since it does not use a roux of any kind, is naturally gluten-free, watch your sausage, but otherwise, enjoy this delicious, family friendly recipe for instant pot jambalaya.

Side dishes for Jambalaya

• A Crisp Green Salad or Wedge Salad
• Corn Bread, Cheddar Beer Popovers
• Try these amazing Cheddar Bay Biscuits!
• Wash it down with this amazing, Bourbon Cherry Smash
• And if you like this Louisiana Creole Cajun inspired dish, try my simple Slow Cooker Red Beans & Rice
• Don’t forget these fun Mini King Cake Bites!

This recipe was adapted from The Big Book of Instant Pot Recipes by The Wicked Noodle

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Easy Instant Pot Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya

Author: Kathleen • The Fresh Cooky © 2022

4.71 from 34 votes

Instant Pot Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya – a quick, easy, healthier, not-so-spicy version of jambalaya. It has so much flavor, you’re going to love it! No Instant Pot? No problem, I provide easy instructions for making on the stovetop!

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Under Pressure Time 7 minutes mins

Total Time 22 minutes mins

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Creole, Cajun, American

Servings 6 servings

Calories 370 kcal

Equipment

• ▢
  Lodge Cast Iron Pan with Lid
• ▢
  Instant Pot 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker,

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 – 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, a little butter may be substituted for some oil
• ▢ 1 lb or 12 oz pkg smoked kielbasa or andouille sausage, cut into ¼ in slices
• ▢ 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces
• ▢ 1 medium-large yellow or sweet onion, chopped
• ▢ 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped (try other colors too, or substitute with small jar of roasted red peppers)
• ▢ 2 celery ribs, chopped
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ▢ 1-2 teaspoons Cajun or Creole Seasoning, I’ve also used Garam Masala or added more Italian Seasoning
• ▢ ½-1 teaspoon kosher sea salt
• ▢ 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning
• ▢ 2 cups chicken stock, or broth, regular or low-sodium
• ▢ 1 ½ cups uncooked long-grain white rice, may substitute short grain white rice
• ▢ 1 14.5 oz can fire-roasted or regular diced tomatoes, undrained

Instructions

 

• Instant Pot InstructionsPress Saute to preheat the Instant Pot Insert (this is the one I love and recommend). When "HOT" is displayed, add olive oil.
• Saute onions, bell pepper, celery in HOT Instant Pot, stirring occasionally about 4-5 minutes until golden and translucent (add a small teaspoon of butter or dab of oil if needed)
• While veggies are caramelizing, heat a separate skillet over medium-high heat, adding a couple teaspoons of olive oil. Add sausage to skillet, stirring to quickly brown both sides, about 2 minutes per side, remove to plate. Add chicken to skillet, browning on both sides, about 2 minutes per side, remove to plate.
• Add garlic, cajun/creole seasoning, sea salt and Italian seasoning to onion mixture in Instant Pot, stirring until fragrant. Pour in chicken stock, scraping bottom of pan to release any brown bits. Press CANCEL on panel to turn off IP
• Add browned chicken and sausage back to Instant Pot. Pour uncooked white rice evenly over the top of the meat, add can of tomatoes over the top of rice, evenly, pressing gently to cover the rice.
• Secure lid, steam vent in locked position. Press PRESSURE COOK (Manual), adjust timer to 5-6 minutes (sea level) or 6-8 minutes (altitude), at high pressure.
• Once finished, carefully, and immediately release the steam! Remove lid, stir gently, serve with chopped parsley if desired.
• If adding shrimp | Add 12 oz medium cooked shrimp and immediately reseal the Instant Pot lid and allow the Jambalaya to warm for 5 minutes in the residual heat (Alert: the Instant Pot is on Warm). Borrowed these instructions from Boulder Locavore
• STOVETOP INSTRUCTIONSHeat a large skillet (or pot) over medium-high heat, adding a couple teaspoons of olive oil. Add sausage to skillet, stirring to quickly brown both sides, about 2 minutes per side, remove to plate. Add chicken to skillet, browning on both sides, about 2 minutes per side, remove to plate.
• Saute onions, bell pepper, celery, adding another teaspoon or two of oil or butter if needed. Stirring occasionally about 4-5 minutes until golden and translucent. Add garlic, cajun or creole seasoning, sea salt and Italian seasoning, stirring until fragrant.
• Pour chicken stock, scraping bottom of pan to release any brown bits, return browned chicken and sausage back to pan, pouring uncooked white rice over the top, add tomatoes, stirring to combine.
• Cover, reduce to simmer and cook for 25-30 minutes, being sure to stir the mixture every 5 minutes or so (to prevent burning) until the rice is tender.
• Adding shrimp | Add 1 pound raw large shrimp, peeled and deveined during last 5 minutes or so of cooking, stirring occasionally until shrimp is cooked (opaque and pink).

Video

✱ Kathleen’s Tips

Easily doubles or triples using Stovetop method. Tastes great leftover, refrigerate up to 1 week or freeze up to 3 months.

Gluten-Free and Dairy Free.

TFC NOTES & CHANGES

• When browning or searing meat in the IP, I notice when it's a decent amount of meat it's better to do it in batches so the meat browns vs. boils. I prefer to brown my meat in a separate pan (my favorite pan) on the stovetop. Saves time since you brown the meat and saute your veggies at the same time.

• The first few times I made this recipe, the rice stuck to the bottom of the pan, almost burning, but by adding the rice AFTER the meat, but BEFORE the tomatoes the problem was solved. Could very well be due to altitude.
• I have had some readers say that their rice was not cooked after 5 minutes. My advice is to 1. make sure your IP is at HIGH pressure and not low. Make sure you are using a long grain white rice, not brown rice or other longer cooking rice. Lastly, you can seal the IP back up and set for 2-3 more high pressure minutes, which should cook the rice through.

I have also made this dish and allowed it to depressurize naturally vs. releasing the steam immediately, keeping the IP on Warm until ready to eat.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Celery, Onion and Bell Pepper (traditionally it would be green pepper, but I like red, orange or yellow). Substitute a jar of roasted red peppers, this is also delicious!
• Add Cayenne for heat, from a sprinkle up to ½ a teaspoon.
• Garlic, Creole or Cajun seasoning, Italian Seasoning. Substitutes | I have used all Italian Seasoning as well as Garam Masala seasoning in place of Cajun/Creole seasoning, all tasted great.
• Chicken and Kielbasa Sausage | Choose your proteins! I have used kielbasa, andouille sausage, and chicken; substitute or add in ham chunks and/or shrimp*.
• Chicken stock (stovetop method, may need more liquid) Substitute | Vegetarian Jambalaya omit meat and sub in vegetable stock.
• Diced Fire Roasted Tomatoes. Substitute regular diced tomatoes.
• White Rice | Long grain is traditional, short grain white rice also works.
• Sea Salt and Black Pepper | Always taste before serving, adding additional seasonings if needed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 Calories: 370 kcal Carbohydrates: 21 g Protein: 14 g Fat: 26 g Saturated Fat: 8 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 16 g Cholesterol: 56 mg Sodium: 1627 mg Fiber: 2 g Sugar: 8 g

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Fresh Cooky is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

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About Kathleen Pope

Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer

Hi, I’m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen. Read more about Kathleen here.