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My family is deeply Minnesotan. Like, the cast of Fargo Minnesotan.
Now don’t get me wrong, I come from a long line of excellent cooks. My mother’s Wild Rice Soup makes me sigh audibly every time I eat it.
But “spicy” in Minnesota is Salt and Pepper.
No kidding.
So when I married my husband, who is from Louisiana, my recipe box got a little visit from flavor town.
Enter Jambalaya.
Yes, we sing the song at my house when it’s on the menu.
I have made this for more Yankees than I can count, and everyone is amazed:
First, that Cajun Food doesn’t have to be overwhelmingly spicy. (That’s what the bottle of Tabasco on the table is for). But this easy jambalaya is oh so flavorful.
And second, that Jambalaya is not soup. Yes, that’s how it’s often served in restaurants. (That’s Gumbo, folks)
Before I give you the recipe, let me just put something out there that may shock anyone reading from Louisiana:
This easy jambalaya is baked in the oven. (Gasp!)
Yes, I know that traditionally Jambalaya is made on the stovetop … with lots and lots of stirring. (We have a friend who has a gigantic cast iron pot that he makes Jambalaya in over an open fire. And it’s scrumptious!)
This recipe is way easier. But that’s not even why I make it.
I tried the stovetop recipes. Tons of them. I just could not get the good, deep, mouthwatering flavor that this recipes provides.
I’ve fed this recipe to many a native Louisianian and ended up sharing the recipe more than once. (And, this baked jambalaya gave me the idea to cook all my rice in the oven…easy peasy, no mess. It’s the only way I cook rice now!)
Funny story…I gave the recipe to a friend from Louisiana after I’d made if for her on a visit. Years later, my niece tried jambalaya at her house down South and asked for her recipe. “Happy to give it to you,” my friend said, “It’s your aunt’s recipe!”
Jambalaya Recipe
This recipe is so easy to customize, too. I often don’t have celery. Still tastes great. Allergic to green peppers? Still tastes great. I have made this for picky eaters who don’t like ‘hunks’ of vegetables in things, so I’ll puree the celery, onion and green pepper. (In fact, that’s my standard way of making it for my picky eaters) Still tastes great.
==> A note if you decide to double the recipe, which I frequently do when we have guests (we like leftovers!). When I double it, I like to bake it in the really big foil pans from the dollar store. If you do that, set the foil pan on a baking sheet for stability. Also, you will need to about double the cooking time as well..that’s a lot of rice! I didn’t do that the first time I doubled the recipe and we ended up having time for a game of Ticket to Ride before dinner. (Thankfully we had very gracious guests over that night.)
I’ve also tripled the recipe and cooked it in a large electric roaster when cooking for large groups … or graduation parties!
I like to serve this with rolls, biscuits, or texas toast and green beans. And sweet tea, of course!
You need to make this easy jambalaya today!
Sing the song when you serve it … maybe even gross your kids out a little and dance with your husband!
Ingredients
- 1 small onion (or 1/2 of a larger onion), chopped
- 1/2 - 1 green pepper, chopped
- 1 celery rib, chopped
- ½ cup butter - 1 stick
- 2 cloves of garlic - or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 lb. smoked sausage, cut into slices
- 2-2 ½ cups of cooked, chopped/shredded chicken
- 2 cups long grain rice
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup chopped tomatoes, or canned diced tomatoes (w/juice)
- 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp. Tabasco sauce
- 1 Tbsp. browning sauce (optional)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp. pepper
Instructions
- In a skillet, saute onion, green pepper, and celery in butter until crisp-tender. Add garlic. Saute 1 minute longer.
- Optional step: puree tomatoes in blender.
- In a greased 9 x 13 baking dish, combine all ingredients.
- Cover tightly with foil and bake at 375 for 50-60 minutes, or until rice is tender.
- Stir before serving.
Thanks for sharing, Susan! Next time I make Jambalaya, I’m going to try your recipe. I’m sure it’s delicious!
Let me know what you think, Tammy. It has gotten Greg’s “Louisiana Native” approval!
This brought back fond memories of my Dad (Missouri by birth) dancing around the kitchen with my Mom (Mississippi by birth) singing Jambalaya. I don’t think she was cooking Gumbo or Jambalaya but my Dad made whatever meal it was fantastic. Another thing that he did was grab her around the waist from behind and sing it to her while rocking side to side. My Dad loved to dance so that was often shown in the kitchen or dining room and all of us kids loved it, just as much as he loved her. Sweet memory from a long ago childhood.
I’m so glad that I could remind you of a happy memory! Be blessed today–
Oh my goodness Susan this looks so good. I have never had Jambalaya somehow. I grew up in the south and have avoided it at every angle…just doesn’t look appealing to me, but this one sounds amazing for some reason.
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Oooo, I do hope you like it! I had never heard of it till I had it made by a Louisianian. I suspect if I tried it first from somewhere else, I wouldn’t be as enamored with it as I am. My son, who’s graduating this spring, requested it for his grad party…so I’ll be making a lot!
So I came across this recipe and Pinterest and have made it twice now. My family loves it. Both times I’ve made it I’ve had a hard time getting the rice to cook and usually have to bake for 30-45 minutes more than the directions state. Is there a tip/secret that I don’t know about or is there something I could be doing wrong?
First, I’m SO glad your family enjoys the recipe! Regarding the rice not cooking, the only things I can think of are size of the pan and oven temperature. I know when I double the recipe, I have to add cooking time. If you’re using a smaller pan than a 9×13, maybe that’s it? Or if your oven temp is different? I would try baking it at a slightly higher temp to see if that helps? If neither of those things are it, I’m at a loss. Good luck!
Hello! I am wanting to try out this recipe next week. Does the rice need to be cooked or uncooked prior to baking?
Thank you!!
Uncooked. It cooks in the oven. I hope you enjoy it!!