Ready in less than one hour, Ham and Chicken Jambalaya is the perfect one pot meal when you're craving spicy comfort. This family friendly, easy to prep dinner is perfect for a cool fall or cold winter's day and is a great way to use up chicken and ham leftovers.
If you've ever had a warm spicy bowl of Louisiana-style jambalaya, you know it can really wake up your taste buds. There's nothing like that authentic experience, especially if you love Cajun and Creole dishes.
But super spicy isn't for everyone. This easy one pot recipe aims to be family friendly, so we've dialed back the spices and we've cut out the sausage and shellfish. It’s a much tamer, family-friendly version of authentic Cajun cuisine—similar to how my Cantonese Chicken simplifies the flavors of traditional Chinese takeout for a quick weeknight meal.
This easy recipe uses precooked chicken and ham for hearty, smoky flavor (it's a great way to use up those leftovers), rice, veggies (you can add in leftovers here too), and a variety of seasonings to flavor the chicken broth and tomato sauce base.
This meal is served in one bowl like a hearty soup or stew. Don't forget the cornbread to scoop up the last few savory splashes!
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🥘Ingredients
- precooked ham & chicken- this recipe is perfect for leftovers
- onion & celery- for crunch and flavor
- yellow & orange bell pepper- offer a color variety and mild spice
- garlic- for added savoriness
- olive oil- the meat and veggies are sautéed in this
- chicken broth & tomato sauce- the savory base
- uncooked rice- choose brown for a healthier option
- parsley, thyme, sage- fresh or dried
- chili powder & ground cayenne red pepper- choose your spice level
- Worcestershire sauce- used for richness and flavor depth
- 1 bay leaf- optional for added flavor
See recipe card for quantities.
🔪Instructions
- Step 1: Add the ham, onion, pepper strips, garlic and oil. Cook over medium heat until the onion is soft, stirring occasionally.
- Step 2: Add the remaining ingredients; bring to a boil.
- Step 3: Reduce the heat and allow the jambalaya to simmer for 40 minutes, stirring once or twice.
- Step 4: Serve warm with a slice of garlic bread or cornbread. So hearty and so delicious!
Hint: There's no need to cook the rice before adding. It cooks just fine when added with the broth.
🍽Equipment
- cutting board
- chef's knife
- scraper & chopper (not required, but super handy)
- garlic press
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- large skillet or pot with lid
- stirring spoon
- ladle
🍶Storage
Store Ham and Chicken Jambalaya in an airtight container and refrigerate. Enjoy within 3 days.
When reheating, stir occasionally until evenly heated over low to medium heat on your stovetop. (You can also reheat it in the microwave. It's sometimes helpful to add a little water or chicken broth to leftovers to make it easier to stir.
🥄Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
🍴Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Ham and Chicken Jambalaya:
📋Recipe with step-by-step instructions
Ham and Chicken Jambalaya
Ingredients
- 2 cups ham pre-cooked and diced
- 1 cup onion chopped
- ¾ cup celery diced
- 1 small yellow bell pepper cut into strips
- 1 small orange bell pepper cut into strips
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chicken pre-cooked and diced
- 2 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
- 1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
- ¼ cup water
- ¾ cup uncooked rice do not use instant
- 2 tablespoon parsley fresh or dried
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon ground sage
- 1-2 tablespoon chili powder choose your spice level
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne red pepper
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 bay leaf optional
Instructions
- Add the ham, onion, pepper strips, garlic and oil to a large skillet. Cook over medium heat until the onion is soft, stirring occasionally.
- Add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and allow the jambalaya to simmer for 40 minutes, stirring once or twice.
- Serve warm.
Elaine B. says
This is a tasty jambalaya recipe. Usually I don't try making my own, but this was very easy to follow. I might add some shrimp to it next time.
Kitchen Ready Betty says
Traditionally, shrimp and other seafood is found in jambalaya, so I'm sure that would be good. I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Barb says
I like your recipe using leftovers and easy to follow directions. What a warm and tasty meal for this cold weather.
Kitchen Ready Betty says
Hi Barb! I’m glad this Ham and Chicken Jambalaya hit the spot. It’s such a hearty, warm meal for cold weather, and I love that it’s an easy recipe using leftovers to save time in the kitchen. Thank you for the wonderful review!