This quick and easy Weeknight Sausage Jambalaya recipe doesn’t take any shortcuts with flavor, it’s positively delicious!
As much as I love to cook, it can be challenging to find the time to do it. I know you can relate. I’ve found that to be especially true now that I have two toddlers. And so there are definitely times when I really appreciate the convenience of quick, healthy meals that I can make for my family in a time crunch. Like this one. So get your Creole on in just 30 minutes with this Weeknight Jambalaya and laissez les bons temps rouler!! Jambalaya is a traditional Creole dish from New Orleans, though there are also Cajun varieties. It has been said that jambalaya was the South’s attempt at recreating Spanish paella in the New World. Jambalaya can include any one or combination of chicken, crawfish, shrimp, andouille sausage, and diced ham. Cajun varieties have traditionally included oysters, alligator, turtle, and…nutria. If you don’t know what that last one is (I didn’t), educate yourself by googling it. So yes, we’re going to stick with Creole jambalaya. Whether one or several meats are used, it’s all thrown in with rice, tomatoes, green bell peppers, and – of course – a healthy dose of Creole seasoning. I wanted to make jambalaya with some good sausage (though you can substitute any meat you want). I made a quick dash into Safeway and made my way over to the stash of Hillshire Farm goods. I’ve always enjoyed kielbasa and thought this smoky sausage would work wonderfully in my Jambalaya. It did. Let’s get to that Weeknight Jambalaya, shall we? Alright!
Easy Weeknight Jambalaya Recipe
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and saute the veggies for about 6-7 minutes.
Add the tomatoes with their juice, the Creole seasoning, salt, and hot sauce if using.
Stir to combine.
Add the rice, kielbasa, bay leaf, and chicken stock.
Stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes.
Remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork.
Serve immediately accompanied by the Carpenters’ “Jambalaya (On The Bayou)” That’s optional, of course.
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