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I'm always looking for easy and healthy instant pot recipes for my busy family, and this Instant Pot Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya fits the bill! This easy jambalaya recipe is made with andouille sausage, chicken, uncooked rice, bell pepper, onion, celery and spices, all cooked together in just one pan, for a simple and flavorful meal that my entire family enjoys.
Instant Pot Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya
When it comes to comfort food, any type of cajun or creole food ranks high on my list of favorites! I adapted this jambalaya recipe from my popular one pan jambalaya that's made on the stove top. It's one of those easy and filling meals that I know my kids will eat with smiles on their faces, and thanks to the instant pot it comes together even easier than ever and has all of the same delicious flavor!
What is jambalaya?
Jambalaya is a cajun recipe originating in Louisiana made with rice, celery, peppers and onion; with chicken and smoked or spicy sausage like Andouille. Shrimp is often added, too.
The ingredients in this jambalaya recipe include the “trinity” of green bell pepper, onion and celery, rice, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, spices, chicken and andouille sausages.
What's the difference between gumbo and jambalaya?
Although jambalaya and gumbo are both popular dishes made in Louisiana, they are different, and their cooking methods can be different as well, depending on whether they're prepared cajun or creole style.
Jambalaya is more of a rice dish, similar to paella (in looks, but not taste). Gumbo is more of a stew. Both contain what's called the “holy trinity” of cajun cooking which is a base of bell peppers, onion and celery. Both also often contain sausage and shrimp.
Homemade gumbo was one of my favorite recipes that my mom made for us growing up.
How to make Jambalaya in the Instant Pot:
- Turn instant pot to the saute setting and add the oil. Once the oil is hot, add the andouille sausage slices and cook them until browned. Transfer them to a paper towel–lined plate.
- Add a little more oil to the pot, and then add the chicken, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the instant pot. Turn the instant pot off and add the onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic. The instant pot will still be hot from being on the saute setting. We don't need to saute the veggies for long–just a minute or so.
- Add the the spices and rice and stir to combine. Then add the diced tomatoes, chicken stock, and salt.
- Cook on Manual High Pressure for 5 minutes, with a 5 minutes natural release. Fluff the rice with a fork and add the sausages.
- I like to return the lid to let the rice rest in the residual heat for another 5 minutes. It helps keep the rice “fluffy” instead of “goopy”.
Can I double the recipe?
Yes, you can double the recipe, and use the same cooking time.
Don't own an Instant Pot? No Problem!
If you don’t own an instant pot yet, you can make this jambalaya in just one pan, on the stovetop, with this recipe.
Don't miss my other favorite Instant Pot recipes, including:
- Instant Pot Skinny Fettuccini Alfredo
- Instant Pot Chicken Taco Bowls
- Instant Pot Ranch Chicken Pasta
- Instant Pot Spaghetti
- Instant Pot Ribs
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Instant Pot Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons oil, , divided
- 12 ounces andouille sausages, cut into ¼ in. thick slices
- 1 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
- 1 yellow onion, , chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, , seeded and chopped
- 3 green onions, , chopped
- 3 ribs celery, , chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, , minced
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasonings
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups long grain white rice
- 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes, , undrained
- 1 3/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Turn instant pot to saute setting. Add oil. Once hot, add sausage slices, cooking until browned, about 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel–lined plate.
- Add remaining oil to the pot.
- Add the chicken and cook for one minute, scraping up the browned bits from the sausage. Turn instant pot off. Add onions, bell pepper, celery, and garlic and cook for one minute.
- Add the Cajun seasoning, dried basil, thyme, sugar and rice and stir to combine.
- Add the diced tomatoes and their juices, chicken broth, and salt.
- Secure the instant pot lid and turn valve to sealing.
- Cook on Manual High Pressure for 5 minutes. When the timer beeps, allow the pressure to naturally release for 5 minutes, and then quick release the remaining pressure.
- Carefully open the lid and gently fluff the rice with a fork. Add the sausages on top of the rice and return the IP lid to let the mixture rest for an additional 5 minutes. Stir lightly and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Have you tried this recipe?!
RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.
Great recipe! Hardest part was finding a decent Cajun Seasoning in Buffalo!!!! This definitely made it to my printed collection! Thank you!!!
I have made this several times and have not had any problems. We prefer not to use chicken and use two packages of sausage. Thank you for sharing.
Green peppers can’t be used, so do you think red would work fairly well since it’s the same pepper, just fully ripe? I realize it won’t have the same “punch” but thought it could be better than leaving out the pepper entirely. Thanks!
Yes, thats fine! enjoy.
My family of 7 loved it. Used turkey bread instead of chicken and used a flavored braut from my local butcher. Made our own Cajun seasoning from an online substitute (basic spices).
One issue we had (made this with my daughter) was that our IP seems to struggle with recommended rice times. After the 5/5 minutes as listed, the rice was still crunchy. I added another 1/2 cup of broth and pressurized for another 5 minutes with a fast release. It could have used a slow release again but we gobbled it down as is. Will be sure try this again.
Tip: you must add the tomatoes last and do not stir them in. They need to be resting on top of everything else. If you mix them in, then the IP will keep saying that the food is burned.
This could be and I hope is the reason I kept getting burn notices because it was delish and I want to make it again. Do you know why this happens with tomatoes?
How long would you cook this with brown rice?
Brown rice takes about 22 minutes at high pressure to cook.
I love this recipe everytime! I use Tony Chachere more spice Creole seasoning instead of Cajun seasoning.
Jambalaya was simply delish! Thank you for posting the recipe. I’m always looking for good ones to use in the pressure pot and this one will be used often with in our family meals.
This recipe never gets old. Thank you for making me look like a good cook!!
We followed the instructions, and doubled the ingredients but using the same cook time (like what it suggests). Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to undergo any pressure in the pot and we had raw veggies and rice when we opened it.
I’m so sorry that happened. I would consult your instant pot manual to trouble shoot why your pot may not have sealed and come to pressure as it should. You definitely shouldn’t have ended up with raw rice if the pot came to pressure as it should.
Mine did the same thing! Kept saying food burned and never came to pressure!
I’ve had the same issue and have learned to keep an eye on the following:
1) make sure the seal is clean and that the lip of the metal pot doesn’t have remnants of food on it. Either one being “dirty” will create a leak point.
2) I have to check my pot after 5-10 minutes. Sometimes I can push down on the lid to get a seal and get the indicator to pop up. When it doesn’t seal on its own you will eventually hear the steam escaping instead of building pressure.