An easy one pot meal of spicy sausage, tomatoes, rice, and spices make this the best and easiest jambalaya recipe you’ve ever tried.
I had never tried jambalaya until one night a few years ago when I was helping a friend of a friend with her Christmas soiree. Believe me when I say it couldn’t possibly qualify as just a party. It was indeed a soiree. But my job at said fancy pants party was to basically be the head caterer…without having to make all the food. Now that you’re kinda confused by this picture in your head the really important part that you need to know is that I got paid in food.
There was so much good food at this party that I can still remember it several years later. Homemade meatballs and a spicy bean dip and jambalaya. Oh good heavens the jambalaya. It was packed full of shrimp and chicken and sausage and she made so much that I got to eat jambalaya leftovers for dayssss. And I was not sad about it. It was just the right amount of spicy and tomato-y and perfect. It was so freakin’ perfect.
I thereafter became obsessed with jambalaya but wasn’t nearly brave enough to make my own. So I made it from a box. That little red and white box. Y’all know what I’m talkin’ about. And I wasn’t proud of myself but I wasn’t exactly super comfy in the kitchen at that point either. At least not outside of my usual staple favorites.
Then I made this. Then I put this in my mouth. Then I literally said out loud “omg”. Because what in the heck had I been waiting for for so long?! Plus I made it in one pot cause lets be real. One pot meals are what I do, y’all. I used only sausage in this go ’round but I’m pumped to try shrimp and chicken or all three together!
Do you have a dish you’ve never tried that quickly became a favorite after your first bite?

Easy One Pot Jambalaya
Ingredients
- 1 lb sausage, sliced
- 2 ½ cups long grain rice
- 3 cups water
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 Tbs onion powder
- 1 Tbs garlic powder
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 Tbs olive oil
Instructions
- Add olive oil and sliced sausage to a pan over medium heat and cook through.
- Add tomatoes, rice, water, and chicken broth and bring to a boil.
- Reduce to a simmer and stir in onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, black pepper, cayenne, paprika, and salt.
- Simmer over medium heat for 20-25 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.
Erin
Thursday 26th of October 2017
What could I substitute for the can of tomatoes?
Meaghan
Friday 3rd of November 2017
You could substitute fresh tomatoes if you prefer :)
~Meaghan
Hillary Reeves
Thursday 19th of November 2015
Too easy to be true! Can't wait to give this a try, Meaghan!
Meaghan
Friday 20th of November 2015
I hope you love it!
~Meaghan
Johlene@FlavoursandFrosting
Wednesday 18th of November 2015
I don´t think I´ve ever tasted jambalaya but now I am definitely going to try it!!
Meaghan
Friday 20th of November 2015
This one is the perfect starter recipe!
~Meaghan
Whitney @ That Square Plate
Tuesday 17th of November 2015
I've never made jambalaya before, but you've got me wanting to try it!! It looks amazing, and I love any Cajun dish!
Meaghan
Friday 20th of November 2015
This dish is one of my favorites! I play around with the protein in it each time and so far sausage is my favorite with shrimp a close second :)
~Meaghan
Paige @ Where Latin Meets Lagniappe
Monday 16th of November 2015
I LOVE LOVE LOVE jambalaya - it's one of my very favorite creole foods :) Can't wait to give this version a try!
Meaghan
Monday 16th of November 2015
I hope you love it! Or maybe can give me some pointers ;)
~Meaghan