Easy Sausage Jambalaya
Tender rice seasoned with paprika and a variety of zesty peppers create a wonderful bed for Andouille sausage, tomatoes and green peppers.
This super Easy Sausage Jambalaya is ready in one pot in under 30 minutes!
Easy Jambalaya Recipe with Sausage
Rice mixed with meat and vegetables is a classic meal. In this Jambalaya there’s a good amount of spiciness and zest, but not so much that it’s overpowering. The fattiness in the Kielbasa pork sausage creates a wonderful balance to the spiciness of the box of Zatarain’s Jambalaya mix.
Paprika, red pepper, chili pepper and black pepper bring the spice and warm up your taste buds. Chopped green peppers add diversity in texture and tomatoes add more color.
Zatarain’s is a long grain rice mix with vegetables and spices that is a New Orleans tradition. This easy jambalaya mix with sausage added is a great way to enjoy a taste of the unique culture and experiences of New Orleans at home.
A similar meal that my family enjoys is this Sausage Fried Rice that also features Andouille sausage.
One pot meals like our Sausage, Sweet Potatoes & Green Beans and BBQ Kielbasa Sandwiches save time and make meals easier.
What is Andouille Sausage
Andouille sausage is a form of smoked sausage with a coarser grind (or bigger pieces of meat and fat) and more spices than the typically more mild Kielbasa or Smoked Sausage.
The best sausage for jambalaya depends on your personal preference and desire for spice and heat. A pre-cooked Andouille Sausage, Kielbasa or Smoked Sausage all work very well in jambalaya.
A friend shared a family cookbook with this recipe. The author noted in the U.S. Andouille sausage is most often associated with Cajun cooking where it is a coarse-grained smoked sausage made using pork, garlic, pepper, onions and seasonings. The pork used is mostly from a smoked Boston Butt roast. Once the casing is stuffed, the sausage is smoked again (double smoked0.
Known as “the Andouille Capital of the World,” the town of LaPlace, Louisiana on the Mississippi River is famous for its Cajun Andouille. Jacobs is the premiere place to buy it in LaPlace.
What is Jambalaya
Jambalaya is a rice based dish with Cajun and Creole flavors. Meat like sausage, chicken and or shrimp are typically mixed with vegetables and rice. Strong seasonings like garlic, onion, paprika and a variety of ground peppers make jambalaya hot and spicy.
The cajun holy trinity uses equal parts onion, green pepper and celery. While the original recipe doesn’t call for celery, it can be sliced thinly and added to the pot at the same time as the bell pepper.
Ingredients Needed:
- Box of Zatarain’s Jambalaya
- Andouille sausage
- Can of Rotel – diced tomatoes & green chilies
- Green pepper
How to Make Jambalaya with Sausage
Pour water, box of Zatarain’s Jambalaya and can of Rotel into a dutch oven or stock pot and stir well. Turn on medium heat and begin to warm mixture while chopping green pepper and slicing sausage into coins.
Add green pepper and sausage to the pot when ready and turn to medium-high heat. Stir well and bring to a boil.
Cover and turn down to low heat. Simmer 25 minutes or until rice is tender.
Serve warm right out of the pot and enjoy!
Tips & Tricks:
- Coins of sausage may be browned in a couple tablespoons of vegetable oil, but I typically skip this step in this recipe.
- Green peppers work better than red, yellow or orange peppers which are sweeter.
- Do not drain can of Rotel, the rice will absorb the juices as it cooks.
- Smoked sausage and white rice are substitutes to decrease the spiciness of the meal for more mild palates.
- Using a box of flavored rice already has the creole seasonings included for maximum flavor and minimum effort.
- Chicken broth may be used in place of water for even more flavor.
More Easy Recipes with Sausage:
Kielbasa & Sauerkraut – Lightly browned kielbasa tastes great served on a warm bed of sauerkraut.
Smoked Sausage & Cheesy Potato Casserole takes a classic potato dish and tops it with savory sausage. This Cheesy Sausage & Potato Casserole is a similar version that’s great in the crock pot.
Sheet Pan Sausage & Veggies is a simple way to make sausage, peppers, onion and potatoes in a big batch in the oven.
Sausage & Cream Cheese Stuffed Peppers are one of our favorite keto meals.
Printable Sausage Jambalaya Recipe
Easy Sausage Jambalaya
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces Zatarain's Jambalaya
- 2 cups water
- 14 ounces Andouille sausage undrained
- 10 ounce can Rotel
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
Instructions
- Add water, box of Zatarain's and can of Rotel with juices to a stock pot and stir. Begin to heat while prepping other ingredients.
- Chop green pepper and slice sausage. Add to pot and stir.
- Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat and then turn down to low, cover and simmer for 25 minutes or until rice is tender.
Notes
- Coins of sausage may be browned in a couple tablespoons of vegetable oil, but I typically skip this step in this recipe.
- Green peppers work better than red, yellow or orange peppers which are sweeter.
- Do not drain can of Rotel, the rice will absorb the juices as it cooks.
- Smoked sausage and white rice can be used to decrease the spiciness of the meal for more mild palates.
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This recipe was so simple which I needed today but so delicious and comforting. I sautéed the smoked sausage in some olive oil prior to adding them to the rice, water, Rotel and green pepper. My husband who doesn’t eat a lot had 2 helpings and he said he loved it!! Thanks for a special simple recipe.
Absolutely delicious!! And soooo easy. I’m definitely making this again and again. I also added raw shrimp about 15 minutes before it was ready. So good!
I have been making this for years according to the box. In fact, made it yesterday. But using Kielbasa. Wish I had seen this recipe first. I will definitely give your recipe a try. I also, like to make it using half chicken and half sausage.