I have been making this Easy Smoked Sausage Jambalaya for years. This recipe is simple, quick, and yummy! And because most of the ingredients can probably be found in your pantry, it makes a great dinner on a busy weeknight.
You can use smoked sausage, kielbasa, or turkey sausage in this jambalaya. Whichever one you choose, this is an easy dinner idea recipe that the entire family will love.
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This post was updated in December of 2021 with new photos. The recipe remains the same.
The original recipe is from a magazine, and I have adjusted the ingredients a bit to fit my families taste. You can always spice it up or down to satisfy your family.
Table of contents
Ingredients needed
The ingredients that you will need are shown here. Most of these items may already be in your pantry so you might be able to prepare this meal with minimal shopping.
- Olive Oil
- Smoked Sausage
- Onion
- Green Bell Pepper
- Creole Seasoning
- Salt
- Pepper
- Bay Leaf
- Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilis
- White Rice
- Chicken Broth
- Water (not shown)
How to make this easy dinner recipe
First, you will need to chop up an onion, green bell pepper, and smoked sausage.
If you like, you can also use Polska Kielbasa or turkey sausage instead of the smoked sausage. I usually use Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage for this recipe for jambalaya.
Add the olive oil to a pan over medium heat and add the onion, bell pepper, and sausage. Stir well and cook until the onion and bell pepper start to soften for about 5 minutes.
Next add the Creole Seasoning, bay leaf, and salt & pepper. Cook while stirring for about another minute to release all the flavors in the spices.
Next, you will need to add the water, chicken broth, tomatoes with chilis, and then the rice. Bring the smoked sausage jambalaya to a boil. Cover and cook the jambalaya until the rice is done.
Before you know it, dinner is ready and it is time to eat!
This quick Easy Smoked Sausage Jambalaya is a surprisingly simple and delicious recipe to keep in your busy, weeknight dinner rotation. Of course, be prepared for your family to request this meal again and again.
To mix things up a bit, you can always add shrimp instead of the sausage or add both! Additionally, chicken would be good, too!
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Faq's and tips
Personally, I usually buy the Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage. I have used Smoked Sausage, Polska Kielbasa, and Turkey Smoked Sausage. All work very well in this recipe.
This recipe is based on using smoked sausage, but if you prefer, leave out the sausage and used vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.
Try Chicken
Or, try some cubed-up chicken breast. Make sure the chicken is cooked with the onion and bell pepper before proceeding with the recipe.
Try Shrimp
Just add the shrimp towards the end. I would add it while the rice is cooking during the last 5 to 10 minutes of cooking depending on the size of the shrimp you use. Or, you can cook the shrimp separately and add it once the rice is done.
I commonly use both long-grain rice and Jasmine rice. Just remember, check the directions on whatever kind of rice you use and note that you might need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
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Recipe
Easy Smoked Sausage Jambalaya
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 14 ounces Smoke Sausage cut into bite size pieces
- 1 Onion chopped, about 1 cup total
- 1 Green Bell Pepper chopped, about 1 cup total
- 1 teaspoon Creole Seasoning
- 1 Bay Leaf or ½ tsp. Oregano
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 14 ½ ounce Diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles can
- 14 ½ ounce Chicken Broth can
- 1 cup Water
- 1 ½ cups Long-Grain Rice
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat.
- Add the olive oil, onion, green pepper, and smoked sausage to the heated skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes until the onion and pepper start to soften.
- Stir in the Creole seasoning, salt & pepper, and bay leaf. Cook and blend in the spices for about 1 minute.
- Next, add the diced tomatoes, water, chicken broth, and rice. Stir to combine the ingredients together and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 20 minutes or until the rice is cooked.
- Remove the bay leaf and dinner is ready!
Pam
Easy to make and tastes delicious
Peggy H
Delicious and so quick! I used leftover Easter ham for 1/2 of the sausage. I’m always looking for ways to use up ham, and this was a winner!
Renae Hill
This is one of our family favorites!! So easy and delicious!!
Michelle Dexter-Zambrano
So perfect, simple and really tasty!
I added celery and garlic to my vegetables because the Cajuns use it too. But perfect instructions because I usually make terrible rice and I rocked this! Thank you
Cook This Again Mom
Thank you! I bet the addition of garlic and celery was delicious!
Margaret Nelson
I use Hilkshire Farm Cajun Andouille sausage. It is delicious.
Michelle
Made this on the stove and cooked my brown rice in my instant pot so it was almost done when I started cooking this in the skillet. Family loved it! Thanks!
Abigail Curtis
Can you use regular white rice instead of long grain?
Cook This Again Mom
Hi,
I have not tried anything other than long grain rice. If you try short or medium grain rice just be aware that you will have a different texture to the Jambalaya, probably more sticky. If you give it a try, please let us know how it works out! I will update my post if I have a chance to give it a try and include the information in the recipe.
Ruby Bennett
Can shrimp be added to this as well
Cook This Again, Mom!
Absolutely! Just add the shrimp towards the end. I would add it while the rice is cooking during the last 5 to 10 minutes of cooking depending on the size shrimp you use. Or, you can cook the shrimp separately and add it once the rice is done.
Bonnie McCabe
Simple, easy and so delicious! Thank you! I will be making this often.
Cook This Again, Mom!
Thank you!
Marie
This has been a winner in our family! My teens are able to make this recipe and leftovers are great reheated for lunches. Because we watch our sodium intake, we use a low sodium broth, skip the added salt and use a homemade sodium free creole blend. It is delicious!
Cook This Again, Mom!
I love this! Thank you for sharing and I am so glad you like the recipe.
Lacey
Pretty good, easy meal to make after a long days work. I added double the amount of creole seasoning to fit our liking.
Deb Kobler
Love this recipe! I did Chan’s it just a bit... I cooked the sausage first to get it a bit crispy, removed it from the pan. I removed some of the oil then cooked the peppers and onions once after 5 minutes I added the rice to toast it a little bit, then the seasoning & the rest of the ingredients. Super delicious!
Cook This Again, Mom!
I love the sausage when it is crispy! I'm so glad you like the recipe.
Walidah Campbell
It turned out amazing. Definitely a new staple in my cooking. No more boxed Jambalaya ever again. Thank you.
Cook This Again, Mom!
Yay! I am so glad you liked the recipe. Thank you!
Melonni
This recipe is absolutely delicious and so easy my 14 year old loves cooking it. Thank you for sharing!
Lafaye
Sounds delish! Could brown rice also be used?
cookthisagainmom
I have not tried it. Let me know if you do and how it works out! You may have to adjust the amount of liquid.
Lisa
I found your recipe about a year ago and it quickly became a family favorite. During the week I fix supper for my kids & their families and this is so delicious. (It also doubles easily.) I make my own Creole seasoning so there isn't too much heat for the little ones since the adults can add hot sauce. I remember how hard it was to be a working mom with no help & I am so grateful to be able to help my kids out now. Thanks for posting such a family-friendly recipe.
Teri Bennett
Excellent. I made my own creole seasoning too!
cookthisagainmom
Wonderful! I am so glad you liked the recipe. I bet the homemade seasoning was amazing! 🙂