Flavorful Slow Cooker Jambalaya

This flavorful Slow Cooker Jambalaya recipe is super easy to make, and full of bold Cajun flavors that everyone will love!

Whether you’ve got a busy weeknight ahead or you’re needing a crowd pleasing meal for game night, everyone needs a super tasty, but also super easy meal that they can throw together and forget. This oh so flavorful slow cooker jambalaya is totally that dish!

I kept things pretty traditional with shrimp, chicken, classic cajun seasonings and the rich, savory smoked sausage. Love a good smoked sausage to really take the flavor up a notch! Something that can get a little tricky with this recipe is getting your rice perfectly cooked. Based on reader feedback, the recipe was revised slightly to allow for the rice to cook longer. The video below, shows adding in the rice after some cooking, but brown rice, in particular, needs a longer cook time.

3 Steps for Perfect Slow Cooker Brown Rice

• Use a large, wide slow cooker. As much as I love my smaller slow cooker and my Instant Pot, you don’t want to use either for this recipe. You need a six-quart or larger slow cooker that allows proper absorption and evaporation. One with an oval or oblong crock is best.
• Boil the water/broth to jumpstart cooking. You’ll need to bring the water to a boil before adding it to the slow cooker. Starting the rice in cool water could cause it to cook up gummy.
• Cover the rice with parchment as it cooks. This isn’t a must, but it will ensure that the water evaporates slowly over the entire cook time. Adding a layer of parchment paper directly over the water and rice mixture slows evaporation and makes sure every single grain is perfectly cooked.

Love this Flavorful Slow Cooker Jambalaya? Try these other cozy meals too!

Clean Eating Creamy Chicken Enchilada Soup (slow cooker option)

Pumpkin Chicken Tortilla Soup

Healthy Taco Soup {Super Easy}

I’d love to know if you make this (or any) recipe! Tag @kimscravings on Instagram and be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.

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4.25 from 20 votes

Nutrition Facts

Flavorful Slow Cooker Jambalaya

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 309 Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Cholesterol 154mg51%

Sodium 987mg43%

Carbohydrates 21g7%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 8g9%

Protein 37g74%

Vitamin A 750IU15%

Vitamin C 61.1mg74%

Calcium 100mg10%

Iron 3.6mg20%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Servings:8 servings

Flavorful Slow Cooker Jambalaya

Prep Time:

10 mins

Cook Time:

4 hrs

Total Time:

4 hrs 10 mins

 

This flavorful recipe is super easy to make, and full of bold Cajun flavors that everyone will love!

Ingredients

• 1 (14 oz.) package smoked sausage
• 1/2 lb. (about 2.5 cups) shredded chicken (I used rotisserie chicken)
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 2 cups low sodium chicken broth (start with 2 cups and add up to 2 1/2 cups more as rice cooks, to prevent it from becoming hard - see instructions below)
• 1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 1/2 cups uncooked brown rice*
• 1 lb. uncooked shrimp, peeled and de-veined

Instructions

1. Spray crockpot with cooking spray. Slice sausage into 1/4 inch thick slices.

2. Add the sausage along with all other ingredients, (except for shrimp), to slow cooker. Stir to combine.

3. Cover and cook for 3-4 hours on high. Check to see if rice is cooked and tender. Add more chicken broth or water, as needed, if rice mixture is getting too dry. You may need to add 2 to 2 1/2 cups more of broth, to prevent rice from becoming hard.

4. In the last 20 minutes of cooking and once rice is tender or seems close to being cooked completely, remove tails from shrimp and place into crockpot. Cover and cook for another 15-20 minutes, or until shrimp turns pink and is cooked through. Stir everything together, sprinkle with chopped parsley if desired, and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Please note: the video shows adding the rice after cooking for 3-4 hours. Based on reader feedback, I've revised this recipe. The brown rice will need longer to cook and should be added with all other ingredients to the slow cooker.

Tips for cooking brown rice in the slow cooker: 

3 Steps for Perfect Slow Cooker Brown Rice

• Use a large, wide slow cooker. 
• Boil the water/broth to jumpstart cooking. 
• Cover the rice with parchment as it cooks. 

*Feel free to use white rice, which will yield a shorter cook time. Probably closer to 2 hours on high, in the slow cooker. 

Author: Kim

Course: Main Course, slow cooker

Cuisine: American, cajun

Keyword: authentic jambalaya, healthy jambalaya recipe, jambalaya

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