Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya Recipe (Made in the Slow Cooker!)

If you're looking for the ultimate Southern comfort food, this slow cooker chicken and sausage jambalaya recipe is sure to hit the spot. It simmers low and slow all day, filling your home with mouthwatering, hearty Creole flavors with very little hands-on effort. You'll love that it's a filling, high-protein dinner that's surprisingly kid-friendly and makes amazing leftovers for your busy winter weeknights!

🍲The Difference Between Creole and Cajun Jambalaya

While both versions rely on slightly different traditional spice blends, the biggest difference really comes down to the tomatoes. Creole versions (New Orleans-style), like this recipe and my original jambalaya stovetop recipe, always include them for a rich, red sauce. Cajun style (from the bayou) relies on browned meats for its color.

🤔What is the Holy Trinity in Creole And Cajun Cooking?

If you've never cooked Louisiana-style cuisine before, you'll definitely want to know about the famous holy trinity (also found in our Cajun Pasta Salad). It's simply a savory blend of diced onions, green bell peppers, and celery that builds an amazing flavor foundation. We're using it to start this chicken and sausage jambalaya recipe, and it's going to make your kitchen smell absolutely incredible while it simmers!

🫚Homemade Seasoning for Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

You can certainly grab a high quality store-bought blend, like Tony Chachere's or Slap Yo Mama. But I prefer mixing my own simple spices right from scratch for this recipe. Making it yourself means you're totally in control of the heat and salt levels for your family. It doesn't take much extra time to measure, and it truly makes this chicken and sausage jambalaya recipe shine!

🥘Ingredients Needed

• Boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts: Thighs are the authentic choice, but I often use breasts for a lean, hearty protein base. Both options become incredibly tender after slow cooking all day.
• Andouille sausage or kielbasa: While andouille is traditional, turkey kielbasa is a fantastic swap that adds wonderful smoky flavor with less fat and a milder spice level for the kids.
• Celery, green pepper, onion: Known as the Creole/Cajun "holy trinity," this classic veggie trio creates the essential savory flavor foundation for the entire dish.
• Minced garlic: A generous amount of garlic infuses the sauce with an aromatic depth you just can't skip.
• Low sodium chicken broth: Using a low-sodium broth helps the dish stay perfectly moist while giving you complete control over the final salt level.
• Tomato sauce: The main ingredient that creates the rich, vibrant red sauce separating a Creole jambalaya from a Cajun one.
• Oregano, thyme, smoked paprika, sage, chili powder, cayenne pepper: Mixing this custom spice blend from scratch lets you dial in the exact flavor and heat level your family loves. (This blend is a fusion of Creole and Cajun-style aromatics and spices.)
• Worcestershire sauce: Just a splash adds a delicious punch of umami that really wakes up all the other savory notes in the pot.
• Bay leaves: Tossing a couple of these into the slow cooker adds a subtle, earthy background flavor that ties everything together beautifully.
• Long grain rice: Cooking this on the side and stirring it in towards the end of cooking time guarantees perfectly fluffy grains instead of mush.
• Green onions and hot sauce: Optional toppings for added flavor.

See recipe card for quantities.

🔪How To Make This Slow Cooker Chicken And Sausage Jambalaya Recipe

Step 1: Add cubed chicken to the bottom of crockpot; sprinkle seasonings on top.

Step 2: Add chopped vegetables and garlic.

Step 3: Top the veggies with the sausage. Then pour in the tomato and Worcestershire sauces, followed by the chicken broth. Add the bay leaves. Cover add cook on LOW for 6-8 hours.

Step 4: Towards end of cooking time, cook rice separately on stove. Then remove bay leaves and add cooked rice to slow cooker. Cook for an additional 15 minutes on LOW. Serve immediately and top with green onions and hot sauce if desired.

For step-by-step instructions, see the printable recipe card below.

Hint: Follow the directions on the package for cooking the rice, but take 1-2 minutes off of the cook time. That way, when you add the rice to the slow cooker, it will continue to cook and absorb the flavors without getting mushy.

🌿Healthy Ingredient Substitutions

• Extra Veggies: You can easily pack in more nutrients by stirring in sliced zucchini or classic okra during the last hour.
• Whole Grains: Swap out the standard white rice for brown rice or quinoa for extra fiber.

📖Easy Jambalaya Recipe Variations

• Seafood Lover's Twist: If you're missing the classic seafood element, just toss in some peeled shrimp during the last twenty minutes of cooking! They'll cook perfectly in the warm sauce without getting rubbery or tough.
• Kick Up the Heat: If your family loves spicy food, definitely use traditional andouille sausage and add an extra pinch of cayenne pepper! It'll give you that fiery, authentic Louisiana kick you're craving.
• Ham and Chicken: You can easily swap the turkey kielbasa for diced ham if you have some leftovers to use up! It adds a fantastic savory saltiness that pairs beautifully with the tender chicken (as found in my my original jambalaya stovetop recipe).

See this Crock Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta and Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken for more slow cooked Southern favorites.

🍽Essential Equipment Needed

• 6-quart slow cooker/crockpot (well greased or lined)
• cutting board, pairing knife, chef's knife, serrated knife
• medium saucepan with lid

🍶Storing chicken And Sausage Jambalaya

Refrigerator Storage: This chicken and sausage jambalaya recipe makes fantastic leftovers and will keep fresh in your fridge for about three to four days. Just make sure you let it cool completely before sealing it up in an airtight container. The rice will continue to absorb the sauce, so it's helpful to have extra chicken broth on hand when reheating leftovers.

Freezer Storage: This hearty meal freezes beautifully for up to three months! Just pack it into a freezer-safe bag or airtight container once it has completely cooled down. When you're ready to eat, simply let it thaw overnight in the fridge before warming it back up.

❓FAQ

🔥More Cajun Recipes

Looking for other Louisiana inspired recipes like this? Try these:

🍴Our Favorite Pairings

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya Recipe:

📋Recipe With Step-By-Step Instructions

Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya Recipe (Made in the Slow Cooker!)

Kitchen Ready Betty

This cozy slow cooker jambalaya is packed with tender chicken, smoky sausage, and rich Creole flavor that simmers all day. It's incredibly easy to throw together on busy mornings, leaving you with a hearty, comforting dinner everyone will love!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 7 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Total Time 7 hours hrs 45 minutes mins

Course Game Day, Main Dishes, Slow Cooker

Cuisine American, Cajun, Creole, Louisiana, Southern

Servings 8

Calories 422 kcal

Equipment

• 6 quart slow cooker/crockpot (well greased or lined)
• cutting board
• chef's knife
• pairing knife
• serrated knife
• garlic press
• medium saucepan with lid

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I only recommend products I truly love and use in my own kitchen!

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 lbs chicken boneless skinless thighs OR boneless skinless chicken breasts; cut into cubes
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon sage
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• salt & pepper to taste
• 3 celery ribs chopped
• 2 medium green bell peppers seeded, stemmed, and chopped
• 1 cup white onion chopped
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 lb smoked sausage sliced; choose andouille for a spicier, authentic profile, or kielbasa for mild
• 15 oz tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 3 bay leaves
• 3 cups cooked long grain rice
• sliced green onions and hot sauce optional toppings for individual servings

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

 

• Add chicken (either cubed thigh or breast meat) to bottom of greased or lined slow cooker.
• Combine the dry seasonings (oregano, thyme, smoked paprika, sage, chili powder, cayenne, salt & pepper); sprinkle over chicken.
• Arrange chopped celery, peppers, onion, and minced garlic over the seasonings.
• Place sliced sausage on top. Then add tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce; slowly pour in chicken broth. Add the bay leaves.
• Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours OR on HIGH for 3-4 hours (*see recipe notes).
• About 30 minutes before jambalaya is finished, cook the rice separately on the stove. Follow package directions, but take 1-2 minutes off of simmer time.
• Remove lid from slow cooker and take out the bay leaves. Then add the cooked rice; stir to incorporate.
• Cover and cook on LOW for an additional 15 minutes. Serve immediately. Optional to garnish individual servings with green onions and hot sauce.

Notes

If you decide to use chicken breasts instead of thighs, you'll want to closely watch your cooking time. Chicken thighs have more natural fat, so they can simmer low and slow all day long without drying out. Since chicken breasts are much leaner, you'll want to start checking the jambalaya around the six-hour mark to keep the chicken perfectly tender and juicy!

Every crockpot varies, but mine perfectly simmers cubed chicken breasts for seven full hours before it's time to add the rice.

Cooking rice on the side and stirring it in towards the end of cooking time guarantees perfectly fluffy grains instead of mush.

Store leftovers in the fridge for about three to four days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. The rice will continue to absorb the sauce, so it's helpful to have extra chicken broth on hand when reheating leftovers.

Nutrition

Calories: 422kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 35gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 113mgSodium: 930mgPotassium: 895mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 847IUVitamin C: 32mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 2mg

Keyword chicken and sausage jambalaya, creole jambalaya, crockpot jambalaya, easy jambalaya recipe, fall comfort food, game day dinner, healthy jambalaya, jambalaya without shrimp, slow cooker jambalaya, slow cooker meals, southern comfort food, tailgating food

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

_{Please note that nutritional information is provided by a third party service and is intended for guidance purposes only. KitchenReadyBetty.com makes no claims to its accuracy.}