Sausage and Shrimp Jambalaya

By
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich is a food writer, recipe video producer, and culinary school instructor with more than 20 years of experience in the food industry.
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Updated on 08/26/19
Sausage and shrimp jambalaya recipe

​The Spruce

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 50 mins
Total: 65 mins
Servings: 4 servings

This recipe is an easy, delicious version of one of America's great dishes. It's soul food at its finest–hearty, satisfying, and deeply comforting. There are many variations of this Creole classic, but this sausage and shrimp version is a favorite jambalaya recipe. The brown rice adds a great texture and nutty flavor, as well as raising the nutritional level of the dish.​

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Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 8 ounces Andouille sausage (or another spicy smoked sausage, sliced 1/4-inch thick)
  • 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup diced tomato (fresh or canned)
  • 1 large green bell pepper (cored, seeded, and diced)
  • 2 ribs celery (trimmed and cut into 1/4-inch thick slices)
  • 4 green onions (white and light green parts, thinly sliced)
  • 1 cup brown rice
  • 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 pound large shrimp (peeled and deveined)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Gather the ingredients
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  2. In a heavy-bottomed pot with a lid, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the sliced sausage and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes.

    Sausage in pan
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  3. Add the paprika, cumin, cayenne, black pepper, and salt, and cook, stirring often, for 1 minute.

    Add spices
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  4. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring for a few minutes to let some of the liquid from the tomatoes evaporate.

    Add the tomatoes
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  5. Add the green bell pepper, celery, and most of the green onions (reserve some of the onions for garnish). Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.

    Add green pepper and celery
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  6. Stir in the brown rice and mix well.

    Stir in brown rice
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  7. Add the chicken broth, increase the heat to medium-high, and bring the mixture to a simmer.

    Add chicken broth
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  8. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and cook for 45 minutes. Remove the lid and check the rice. It should be just tender; if it is still too firm cook longer.

    Lower heat
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  9. When the rice is tender, stir in the shrimp, cover, and cook for 5 minutes, or just until cooked through and no longer translucent. Taste for seasoning and adjust if needed.

    Stir in shrimp
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  10. To serve the jambalaya, spoon it into individual serving bowls with green onions sprinkled on top.

    Spoon into bowls
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  11. Enjoy!

Tip

  • Jambalaya makes a great one-pot dish. To round out the menu, serve with warmed cornbread or a French baguette and a tossed green salad.

Recipe Variations

  • Use long-grain white rice instead of brown rice, but be aware you will need to check the recipe after 20 minutes, as it cooks much faster than brown rice.
  • Andouille sausage is a French-Creole smoked sausage made with pork and spices. If you can't find Andouille, any spicy smoked sausage, such as chorizo or kielbasa, can be substituted.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
472 Calories
20g Fat
34g Carbs
39g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 472
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g 26%
Saturated Fat 8g 42%
Cholesterol 273mg 91%
Sodium 2115mg 92%
Total Carbohydrate 34g 12%
Dietary Fiber 5g 16%
Protein 39g
Calcium 165mg 13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)