Crockpot Jambalaya Recipe with Chicken and Shrimp (2024)

81 · · 6 Comments

Disclosure:This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

My Crockpot Jambalaya Recipe with Chicken and Shrimp is the perfect way to bring the taste of New Orleans home to your kitchen. Savor the Cajun flavors in this healthy, but hearty flavor-packed Crockpot Chicken and Shrimp Jambalaya recipe. You’ll love the warmth of this recipe, and the full-bodied flavors in an easy to make slow cooker meal.

Crockpot Jambalaya Recipe with Chicken and Shrimp (1)

Crockpot Jambalaya Recipe with Chicken and Shrimp

Mix it up with a combination of all of the above of chicken, shrimp or a healthy sausage. All it takes is your trusty crockpot and a little bit of spice to throw together this recipe. Think dinner party or your weekly meal prep!

Be transported back to the sights, sounds, and flavors of Mardi Gras as soon as your spoon hits your mouth with this epic crockpot recipe. About 10 minutes of prep time is all it takes – and of course, about 4-5 hours in your crockpot, to make this dish a reality. Get this recipe ready to go before you leave in the morning and enjoy a special treat for dinner. A perfect blend of protein, carbs and healthy fats from the chicken, the Crockpot Chicken, and Shrimp Jambalaya will be your new go-to.

Can I Add More Spice to This Crockpot Jambalaya?

Need more heat? Go ahead, add a little more Tony’s, or even some cayenne. I made this a bit milder than most would, simply because I know not everyone tolerates high spice levels. Cajun foods are often a bit more flavorful than some recipes, but this one can be adjusted to fit your needs.

If you are looking for a little more pep, try our Red Beans and Rice recipe. Continue the Cajun theme and add our Quinoa Jambalaya to your weekly rotation as well.

Can I Use Chicken Thighs Instead?

While I prefer using chicken breasts due to the health and fat content, you can definitely substitute chicken thighs. In fact, they will give this an even richer flavor to the jambalaya. Just grab boneless skinless chicken thighs if you decide to go that direction.

I have even grabbed chicken sausages to add to this recipe when I’ve found clean versions at the grocery store. This adds a whole other depth of flavor to a perfect warm slow cooker meal.

Can This Recipe be Frozen?

Yes! You can definitely make large batches of this crockpot jambalaya and freeze for future meals. I like to prep this recipe by adding all of the ingredients except the rice into a large freezer storage bag and labeling. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then pour into the slow cooker to cook the day you want to serve.

You can, of course, cook as directed, allow it to cool completely, then pour into freezer storage bags or freezer soup containers to label and date before freezing. Remember that liquids expand when they freeze, so definitely leave room in your container for this.

Ingredients

  • Chicken breasts
  • Shrimp
  • Brown rice
  • Green bell pepper
  • Celery
  • Yellow onion
  • Tomatoes
  • Garlic
  • Chicken broth
  • Tomato paste
  • Cajun seasoning
  • Salt

This was originally published on August 8, 2013, and updated on January 12, 2020.

Print

Crockpot Jambalaya Recipe with Chicken and Shrimp (2)

Crockpot Chicken and Shrimp Jambalaya

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

5 from 2 reviews

  • Author: Whitney Carlson
  • Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x
Print Recipe

Description

This Crockpot Jambalaya Soup can be made with shrimp, chicken, and/or sausage (or mix them all together!)! Throw it all in the crockpot and have a hearty and delicious meal.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast, thawed, excess fat removed
  • 1 lb uncooked wild-caught shrimp, fresh, peeled and deveined
  • 2 cups brown rice
  • 1/2 cup diced fresh green bell pepper
  • 2 cups finely diced fresh celery
  • 1 cup finely chopped fresh yellow onion
  • 2 cups diced fresh tomatoes, with juices
  • 2 cups organic chicken broth
  • 1 6-oz can organic tomato paste
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 TBSP Cajun seasoning (we used Tony Chachere’sbut you can also make your own seasoning)
  • 1 tsp sea salt

Instructions

  1. Combine chicken breasts, bell pepper, celery, onion, tomatoes, paste, broth, garlic, seasoning and salt into large, 6-quart crockpotor slow cooker.
  2. Cover and cook on low heat for approximately 6 hours or high heat for approximately 3 hours. Stir intermittently if needed.
  3. Add rice and shrimp to slow cooker, stirring to combine. Cook on low for 2 additional hours or high for 1 hour.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 4 hours
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Slow Cooker
  • Cuisine: Cajun

81

Crockpot Jambalaya Recipe with Chicken and Shrimp (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to a good jambalaya? ›

Use the Right Ingredients: Authentic jambalaya typically includes ingredients like andouille sausage, chicken, shrimp, bell peppers, onions, celery, and tomatoes. Use these traditional ingredients for the best flavor. Season Liberally: Cajun and Creole seasoning blends are essential for flavoring jambalaya.

How much liquid should jambalaya have? ›

Once the meat has created a good browning at bottom of the pot, add about 1 cup of water. Don't worry, we will cook this water out. You want to add enough water to be able to scrape the griade off the bottom, but not too much so that it doesn't take too long to cook back out again.

What is the best rice for jambalaya? ›

One of the biggest complaints when making jambalaya is that the rice ends up mushy. And there's two main culprits of this – choosing the wrong type of rice and over-stirring. For this recipe, you want long-grain white rice, like basmati or jasmine. Don't use short-grain rice.

Does jambalaya always have chicken? ›

So there are broad guidelines but no hard rules around what goes into a Jambalaya – for many, it's however yo' mama cooked it! The “holy trinity” of bell pepper, celery and onion is fairly standard. Meat-wise, seafood, chicken, pork, sausages, cured meat, rabbit and game can all find their way into the pot.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Reed Wilderman

Last Updated:

Views: 6310

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (52 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Reed Wilderman

Birthday: 1992-06-14

Address: 998 Estell Village, Lake Oscarberg, SD 48713-6877

Phone: +21813267449721

Job: Technology Engineer

Hobby: Swimming, Do it yourself, Beekeeping, Lapidary, Cosplaying, Hiking, Graffiti

Introduction: My name is Reed Wilderman, I am a faithful, bright, lucky, adventurous, lively, rich, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.