Instant Pot Jambalaya is a delicious one-pot meal with veggies sauteed in sausage drippings, tender chicken, rice, succulent shrimp, and lots of Cajun spice, seasonings, and flavor.
This is wonderful in rotation with other Instant Pot meals like Instant Pot chicken and rice, Instant Pot rice and beans and Instant Pot chicken fried rice!
Table of Contents
Instant Pot Jambalaya is one of my favorite Instant Pot recipes to make. It is similar to paella but instead of expensive saffron, it contains affordable cajun seasoning.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- One pot meal: We saute vegetables, chicken and sausage in same pressure cooker we cook rice in. Only one pot to wash, perfect for busy weeknights!
- Versatile: Make jambalaya in Instant Pot with any sausage you have on hand, white rice or brown rice, and veggies are simple as well.
- Delicious: There are many original versions of this Louisiana dish and I am in no way saying it’s authentic. It’s just simply good!
- Weeknight dinner or celebratory meal: We had jambalaya for a Sunday dinner with friends and everyone raved about it for days. But it is also mid-week healthy dinner friendly.
What Is Jambalaya?
Jambalaya is a Southern dish that has originated from Louisiana. It is made with rice, meat and vegetables seasoned with Creole and Cajun spices.
Common choices of meat are smoked sausage like andouille or chorizo and an addition of pork or chicken. Less common seafood like shrimp or crawfish is sometimes added as well.
Vegetables are sofrito like mixture of onion, celery and green bell pepper known as “holy trinity”. Other vegetables are often used.
Ingredients for Instant Pot Jambalaya
The list of ingredients for this Instant Pot jambalaya recipe might seem long but they are all simple ingredients you can find in any grocery store.
- Sausage: Traditional jambalaya calls for andouille sausage. I used chorizo sausage. You can also use kielbasa or Polish sausage.
- Vegetables: Onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic.
- Chicken: Boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs work. You can also use leftover shredded Cajun chicken.
- Seafood: Use any shrimp or prawns. Make sure they are deveined and peeled, tails can be on or off.
- Rice: You can use either white rice or brown rice. The only difference is pressure cooking time which I indicate in the recipe card. Feel free to buy short grain rice or long grain rice.
- Seasonings: Chicken broth, tomato sauce or diced tomatoes, cajun seasoning, dried oregano, dried thyme, salt and pepper.
How to Make Instant Pot Jambalaya
Here is a quick overview how to make jambalaya in Instant Pot. Full recipe card is located below.
- Saute the sausage: Preheat Instant Pot on Saute until display says Hot. Cook sliced sausage rounds on both sides until golden brown. Remove onto the plate to prevent it from getting rubbery.
- Saute the veggies: To the Instant Pot, add onion, celery and bell pepper, saute for a few minutes. Stir in chicken, seasonings and broth. Cook for 2 more minutes, scraping the bottom of the pot to deglaze it. Then press Cancel.
- Cook: Add rice and diced tomatoes, and do not stir. Pressure cook jambalaya on High Pressure with white rice for 8 minutes, or with brown rice for 22 minutes. Release pressure 5 minutes after cooking is done by turning pressure release valve to Venting.
- Add shrimp: Open the lid, add shrimp and stir jambalaya. Close the lid and let it sit for 10 minutes. Residual heat will cook the shrimps without overcooking.
Tips for Best Results
- Instant Pot size: I made this Instant Pot jambalaya in 8 quart Instant Pot and it will also fit 6 quart Instant Pot. For 3 quart Instant Pot, cut recipe ingredients in half but keep same cook time.
- Use frozen chicken if you want: You can use frozen chicken breasts or thighs without changes to the original recipe. Just make sure frozen chicken pieces are separated and not in one blob. Shred or dice them after cooking. You can also cut frozen chicken into cubes, if it is slightly thawed.
- Don’t discard sausage drippings: Don’t transfer sauteed sausage onto paper towel to soak up the fat. Sausage drippings add a lot of flavor to pressure cooker jambalaya.
- Rinse the rice: Don’t skip rinsing the rice. If you don’t rinse off the starch coating rice grains, your jambalaya will come out mushy.
- If your rice comes out undercooked: It shouldn’t happen but if it did, close the lid and let jambalaya sit in Instant Pot for another 10 minutes. Rice will finish cooking with residual heat.
- If you got the dreaded Burn: I have updated this recipe in 2023 with instructions to deglaze the pot after sauteing, so you shouldn’t get the Burn notice. Some Instant Pot models are a bit sensitive. It doesn’t mean your food is actually burning though.
What to Serve Instant Pot Jambalaya with?
Jambalaya is truly a one pot meal full of protein and complex carbs. Maybe a simple salad like lettuce salad or cucumber bell pepper salad, so it doesn’t overpower the flavors of the dish.
How to Store and Reheat
Store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freeze: You can also freeze completely cooled jambalaya for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Reheat: Add desired amount of food to a small pot, add a splash of water or broth and simmer on low heat while covered for 5-10 minutes. You will have to stir it a few times to avoid burning.
FAQs
Jambalaya in Instant Pot should be more of a thick porridge consistency. Rice will absorb most of the juices. It should neither fall apart nor be mushy.
The ratio of liquid to rice when cooking jambalaya in Instant Pot should be 1 to 1. We use 2 cups of chicken broth and liquid from diced tomatoes with 2 cups of rice.
Yes, feel free to omit shrimp when making jambalaya. Then skip the 10 minute resting time at the end of the recipe.
Gumbo is a stew or soup that’s served over rice. Where as jambalaya is a rice dish with meat and vegetables, where rice is the main component of it.
Yes, to make this Instant Pot Jambalaya recipe on the stove, saute sausage, veggies with spices, and chicken in stages, transferring to a plate in between each step. Then add all ingredients to a large pot along with other ingredients, increasing broth amount to 3 cups. Cover the pot, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer jambalaya for 20-30 minutes with white rice, and 40-45 minutes with brown rice. Add shrimp and adjust any seasonings to taste. Also you might need to cook it for more or less time, just play it by ear.
More Instant Pot Recipes to Try
- Instant Pot stuffed peppers
- Instant Pot stir fry
- Instant Pot cabbage rolls
- Instant Pot lasagna
- Instant Pot shrimp boil
Be sure to browse more of my healthy Instant Pot recipes!
Instant Pot Jambalaya
Equipment
Ingredients
- 10 oz andouille or chorizo sausage sliced
- 1 lb boneless chicken breasts or chicken thighs cubed (fresh or frozen)
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 3 celery stalks finely chopped
- 2 large bell peppers finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tbsp cajun seasoning low sodium
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups chicken or veggie broth low sodium
- 2 cups brown rice or white rice
- 14 oz can tomato sauce or diced tomatoes low sodium
- 1 lb raw or cooked shrimp peeled & deveined
- 3 green onion sprigs finely chopped
Instructions
- On 6 or 8 quart Instant Pot, press Saute and wait until display says Hot.
- Add sausage and cook for 5 minutes, stirring a few times. Remove onto a plate and set aside.
- Swirl oil to coat and add onion, celery, bell pepper and garlic. Saute for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add chicken, oregano, thyme, cajun seasoning, salt, pepper and broth. Cook for 2 more minutes, scraping the bottom of the pot to deglaze it, then press Cancel.
- Add chicken broth and tomato sauce, do not stir.
- Close the lid and set valve to Sealing. Press Pressure Cook on High or Manual button for brown rice – 22 minutes, white rice – 8 minutes.
- After cooking has finished, allow pressure to come down on its own for 5 minutes and then turn valve to Venting to release remaining pressure.
- Add previously cooked sausage and shrimp. Stir, close the lid and let residual heat cook shrimp for 10 minutes.
- Open the lid, sprinkle with green onion, give a few gentle stirs and serve hot.
Video
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
- Reheat: Add desired amount to a small pot, a splash of water or broth and simmer on low covered for 5-10 mins. You will have to stir a few times.
- Fresh or frozen chicken: Boneless and skinless chicken breast or thighs. Frozen – Same cook time, just make sure frozen chicken pieces are not one blob. You can cut frozen chicken into cubes if it is slightly thawed. But best is to add frozen chicken breasts (make sure they are separated) and shred or dice them after cooking.
This was delicious!! It makes a TON of food, but I’m excited for leftovers for lunches this week. Really good, simple recipe that will be in our dinner rotation moving forward.
Haha I’m sorry I do feed “an army” here so sometimes I lose sense what’s “a lot of food”. But good thing it freezes well that’s why I still share full size recipe. So glad to hear everyone loved this jambalaya!
i have cooked many of you recipes and never had trouble with any and have enjoyed the results. With Instant Pot Jambalaya I had serious problems. I very careful follow recipes and very, very seldom make any alternation to them. I followed this one and don’t know I did wrong but the pot went to burn and did not pressurize. I emptied it, cleaned in, put in a cup of water in the bottom and replace the partial cooked food. Again it did that – I still had the same problem so I just stirred it and put the lid on but let it unsealed. We had it for dinner but it was mostly rice and of course the rice was gummy as it was overcooked. When I could not get it out of the burn sequence I never added the shrimp. We each ate a serving except for the rice it was good but I threw the rest out at the request of my husband who had taken seconds. Can you tell me what my problem was?
Phillis Simon
Hi Phillis. I’m so sorry to hear you had trouble with this recipe. The only thing I can think of is because some newer models of instant pot are more sensitive than my older ones, so you have to deglaze the pot. Next time after you’re done sitting the vegetables and meat at the broth there and deglaze the parts scraping the bottom and steering meat and vegetables. Only then add remaining ingredients. It is an older recipe and I probably should have updated to this deglazing step because I did notice that newer instant pots are way more sensitive. I’m so glad to hear that you are enjoying my recipes!
I have made this a few times and we love it. It is on rotation in our household. thanks!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Martha!
Where is the step for the chicken?
In step 3 of the recipe card is where you will find that direction. Enjoy!
Do you have instructions for making this recipe if one does not have an InstantPot? I would really like to try making it!
Unfortunately not. You could try the stovetop but would need to adjust some things like adding additional liquid I assume.
Have to admit I was skeptical having lived in Louisiana for 23 yrs but it’s really good and really is easy, my Dad loves it and he’s usually very critical. I don’t think I’ll make it the traditional way ever again!
I am so happy to hear that not only we love this jambalaya so much but also true Louisiana residents.:)
I just made the most delicious jambalaya from your recipe. I can’t wait for my husband gets home to eat. I told him I was making a surprise for dinner and it surely is.
So happy to hear this Joan!
Made this with brown rice and it was still a bit crunchy after 22 minutes. I tried putting the lid back on and letting it sit for 10 minutes, but it didn’t help. How much longer should I have cooked it?
Other than that, it’s a yummy dish that I will be making again. Thanks for all the great recipes!
Rice can be tricky in IP. It could be the particular rice or brand or your altitude. Using the same rice, you might want to increase the time by 3 minutes next time. Definitely let us know how it works out!
I’d like to make this, but I don’t care for tomatoes, can I substitute more chicken broth and if so, how much?
Unfortunately can’t tell how much without retesting the recipe. Could cause burn.
How can I turn my left overs Jamabalya into a soup? TIA
Pressure cook with broth for 5 mins, season to taste.