This Instant Pot Gumbo is an authentic New Orleans recipe that’s hearty, flavorful, and perfect for feeding a crowd. Made with chicken, andouille sausage, and shrimp in a rich, dark roux, this Louisiana gumbo has all the traditional Cajun flavors but it can be made in under an hour. Stovetop instructions also included.
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Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Instant Pot Gumbo
- Traditionally, gumbo is simmered on the stove for hours, but I love this Instant Pot gumbo recipe because I can make delicious, hearty, spicy gumbo in less than an hour.
- This recipe makes 10 servings, making it perfect for Mardi Gras parties or game day.
- You can easily customize this recipe. Make it spicier. Customize the protein e.g. use only chicken or add extra shrimp.
- Gumbo actually tastes even better the next day when the flavors develop. It also freezes well for up to 3 months.
Introduction
Gumbo is a spicy, thick stew made with chicken, spicy sausage, seafood, and vegetables, including okra. It’s typically served over rice.
It’s one of those dishes I just love making for a group. All you need is some rice to accompany it because it’s such a hearty recipe.
I find the origins of gumbo to be so interesting! The dish was introduced by West Africans who were enslaved and sent to the colony of Louisiana. In fact, the word ‘gumbo’ is derived from the West African word for okra!
Over time, other groups influenced the dish, including Native American, French, Spanish, and German communities. If you’re curious, read more about the rich history of gumbo.
There are three ways to thicken gumbo: roux (butter or oil and flour), okra, and filé powder, which is made from dried sassafras leaves. You can use one or more of these ingredients.
My Instant Pot gumbo recipe includes okra and roux. The roux not only thickens and flavors the gumbo but gives it a deep, rich color.
This recipe has over 90 reviews!
Chris says ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’ve made this recipe many times. Thank you so much! It’s one of my favorites.
I adapted this pressure cooker gumbo recipe from an authentic stovetop recipe I’ve been using for years. My version has chicken, sausage, and shrimp, but you can modify it to include your choice of meats and seafood.
Don’t be daunted by the number of ingredients. Just be organized and have everything ready to go before you begin cooking.
I’m breaking one of the ‘rules’ of Instant Pot cooking here by pressure cooking the flour-based roux. The key is making sure the bottom of the inner pot has no stuck-on bits of food when you begin pressure cooking.
I always serve Instant Pot Gumbo over rice. Try my Instant Pot Jasmine Rice recipe because Jasmine rice is perfect for absorbing the flavors of the gumbo. Use brown Jasmine rice if you prefer a healthier option.
➡ Looking for Cajun and Creole recipes? Try my jambalaya, red beans and rice, shrimp etouffee, or Cajun chicken pasta (pasta jambalaya) They’re all amazing!
Instant Pot Gumbo Ingredients
For the Roux
- Olive oil and all-purpose flour are used in equal parts. The roux is the foundation of your gumbo, providing both thickness and that deep, nutty flavor.
Vegetables
- Onions, green bell peppers, and celery form the aromatic base of Cajun and Creole cooking. This combination is so important to Louisiana cuisine that it’s called the “holy trinity.”
- Frozen okra not only thickens the gumbo but also adds traditional flavor and texture. Some people are concerned about the “slimy” nature of okra, but I don’t notice that at all in this recipe. You can use fresh okra too.
- Diced tomatoes are somewhat controversial. Purists will tell you they don’t belong, but I love the flavor they add. You can omit if you prefer.
Proteins
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs stay tender and flavorful in the Instant Pot. You can substitute chicken breast, but I recommend thighs, because they have more flavor and won’t dry out.
- Andouille sausage is a spicy smoked Cajun sausage that’s traditional in gumbo. If you can’t find it, substitute Polish Kielbasa or Spanish Chorizo. Be sure to use smoked sausage, not raw!
- Shrimp, peeled and deveined, are added at the end and cook in the residual heat of the Instant Pot.
Seasonings and Flavors
- Chicken broth forms the base of the stew.
- White pepper, black pepper, and cayenne pepper add multiple layers of spice. Thyme and salt add flavor. I sometimes substitute cayenne with Cajun or Creole seasoning, in which case I reduce the salt.
- Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and brown sugar add depth and balance.
- Bay leaves give the gumbo earthy flavor and aroma.
Garnishes
- Green onions and fresh parsley add fresh flavor and color.
How to Make the Perfect Roux
Roux is made from equal parts flour and oil. It’s cooked slowly to develop thickness and deep flavor. The longer you cook it, the darker and more flavorful it becomes.
What Color Should my Roux Be?
For gumbo, aim for the color of peanut butter or even a bit darker. A traditional Creole or Cajun gumbo recipe will often suggest cooking the roux for 30-45 minutes to get a dark roux. This creates a rich, deep, nutty flavor.
In this recipe, I cook the roux for about 10-15 minutes, which results in a medium brown roux. This works great, but you can certainly cook it longer if you want that traditional dark roux flavor.
Important Roux Tips
- Stir constantly. Once the roux starts to darken, it cooks quickly. Keep stirring and remove from the heat source as soon as it’s reached the desired color. A burned roux will ruin your gumbo and you’ll have to start over.
- Watch the temperature. You can’t control the Saute function temperature on some Instant Pots, which means it might cook the roux at a higher-than-desired temperature. I actually prefer cooking it in a saute pan on the stove, where I have more temperature control.
- Make it ahead. Roux can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Some of my readers even make large batches and freeze them in portions. Thaw completely before using.
- Oven method. You can also make roux using the oven by baking the flour and storing it in a jar. I’ve not personally tried this method, but have had readers successfully use it.
How to Avoid the Burn Message
Some Instant Pots are prone to getting the burn message, especially when cooking recipes with roux. You can avoid the burn error by following these steps:
What to do Before Pressure Cooking
- Deglaze very well after browning the chicken and sausage. Make sure there are no burnt bits stuck to the bottom of the inner pot.
- Let it cool down. After sauteing the onions, bell pepper, celery and garlic, turn off the Instant Pot for a few minutes to let the inner pot cool down.
- Add liquids first. After sauteing the vegetables, stir in the broth before adding other ingredients.
- Don’t stir the tomatoes. Add tomatoes at the end, after the meats. Don’t stir them in. Just push them down gently with a spatula to submerge them.
- Add extra liquid. To be extra safe, you might need to add an extra ¼ to ½ cup of chicken broth.
Alternate Method
If you know your Instant Pot tends to get the burn error, make the roux on the stovetop and add it to the Instant Pot with the tomatoes at the end, without stirring it in. This keeps the thick roux away from the bottom of the pot and your chances of getting a burn message are greatly reduced.
How to Make Gumbo in the Instant Pot (Step by Step Instructions)
- Season shrimp
- Turn on Saute Mode
- Saute chicken and sausage
- Make the roux
- Saute vegetables, add spices and broth
- Pressure cook
- Quick-release pressure
- Stir in shrimp and garnish
Season Shrimp
- Thaw and thoroughly dry the shrimp with a paper towel.
- Rub Creole seasoning all over the shrimp and set aside.
How to Turn on Saute Mode
- Instant Pot DUO: Select the Saute function.
- Instant Pot ULTRA: Select the Saute function and press Start.
Saute Chicken and Sausage
- When the inner pot is hot, add 2 tbsp olive oil.
- Add chicken and sausage and saute until lightly browned, about 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Press Cancel.
- Using a slotted spoon transfer contents of the inner pot to a plate and set aside.
Make the Roux
- Add remaining olive oil and all-purpose flour to inner pot, to make a roux.
- Select Saute mode.
- Cook roux until it becomes the color and thickness of peanut butter, stirring frequently, for about 10 to 15 minutes. You can go darker than peanut butter. The darker the roux, the more intense the flavor of the gumbo, but be very careful not to burn, so stir constantly.
Saute Vegetables, Add Spices and Broth
- Add onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic.
- Saute until vegetables are slightly soft, about 5 minutes.
- Using a wooden spatula, scrape the bottom of the inner pot. If there are brown bits stuck to the bottom, deglaze with a few tablespoons of chicken broth, scraping off the brown bits.
- Stir in broth, white pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, dried thyme, salt, brown sugar, worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, bay leaf, and frozen okra. Add reserved chicken and sausage.
- Finally, add the tomatoes on top, don’t stir but submerge by pushing down gently with a spatula.
Instant Pot Duo Pressure Cook 4 minutes
- Close the lid and make sure steam release handle is in Sealing position
- Press Manual (or Pressure Cook) and + or – until the display reads 4 (4 minutes).
Instant Pot Ultra Pressure Cook 4 minutes
- Close the lid.
- Select Pressure Cook mode and adjust the time to 4 minutes (00:04).
- Press ‘Start’.
Pressure Cooking Process (Duo and Ultra)
- Instant Pot display will change to On.
- Once the Instant Pot is pressurized, the float valve will go up.
- The display will count down to 0; it will then switch to Keep Warm mode and display L0:00 or 00 00 and begin to count up the number of minutes since pressure cooking completed.
How to Quick Release Pressure (QR) on the DUO
- Move the steam release handle to Venting. Steam will come out of the steam release handle.
- When your Instant Pot is depressurized, the float valve will be in the down position.
- Press Cancel and open the Instant Pot.
How to Quick Release Pressure (QR) on the ULTRA
- Press down on the Steam Release Button until it locks into place, and steam begins to come out of the Steam Release Valve.
- When your Instant Pot is depressurized, the float valve will be in the down position.
- Press Cancel and open the Instant Pot.
[Find out more about the pressure release methods and how and when to use them. ]
Stir in Shrimp and Garnish
- Stir in spice-rubbed shrimp.
- Close Instant Pot immediately and let the shrimp cook in the residual heat for 10 minutes.
- Stir gently and sprinkle with green onions and parsley.
- Serve over Instant Pot Jasmine Rice or a rice of your choice.
Stovetop Instructions for Gumbo
- Season the shrimp with the creole seasoning and reserve.
- Heat oil in a dutch oven over medium-high heat. Saute the sausage and chicken, and remove.
- In the same pot, cook oil and flour until the roux is the color and consistency of peanut butter.
- Saute the onions, bell peppers, celery, and garlic until the onions are translucent.
- Add the spices and saute briefly.
- Stir in the broth and tomatoes, and simmer for 15 minutes. You’ll need to add two extra cups of broth compared to the Instant Pot version of the recipe.
- Add the reserved sausage, chicken, shrimp and okra. Simmer for another 5 minutes. Serve over white rice.
See the recipe card below for detailed instructions.
FAQS
Gumbo is a thick stew served over rice, while jambalaya is a rice dish where the rice cooks with all the other ingredients. Gumbo has a soupy consistency and is thickened with roux, okra, or filé powder. Jambalaya is similar to paella, with the rice absorbing the flavors as it cooks.
Yes! If you don’t like okra or can’t find it, just omit it. The roux will still thicken the gumbo. You can also add filé powder (ground sassafras leaves) at the end of cooking for both thickening and traditional flavor. Add 1 teaspoon of filé powder after the gumbo has finished cooking and cooled slightly. Check the consistency and a bit more as needed.
Yes, you can substitute boneless skinless chicken breast. Cut it into bite-sized pieces. Keep in mind that chicken breast can dry out more easily than thighs.
Be careful not to exceed the maximum fill line on your Instant Pot (⅔ full). The cooking time stays the same. An 8-quart Instant Pot is perfect for doubling this recipe.
You can thicken it by selecting the Saute function and letting it simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes to reduce the liquid. Alternatively, mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water to make a cornstarch slurry. Stir the slurry into the gumbo, then simmer until thickened.
Delicious New Orleans Instant Pot Gumbo
Ingredients
- ½ lb shrimp (250 grams) peeled and deveined
- 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning or Cajun seasoning
- ½ cup olive oil + 2 tablespoon extra for sauteing
- ½ lb Andouille sausage (250 grams) or smoked sausage, cut into ¼ inch slices
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs (500 grams) cut into bite size pieces
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup onions diced
- 1 cup green bell peppers diced
- 1 cup celery diced
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 4 cups low sodium chicken broth (6 cups broth for stovetop version)
- 1 tsp white pepper
- 1 teaspoon black pepper powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 bay leaves (small) or 1 large
- 2 cups frozen okra
- 14.5 oz. diced tomatoes (1 can) or 2 cups chopped tomatoes – 411 grams
- 2 tablespoon green onions green parts only, sliced thinly
- Chopped parsley to garnish
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions
- Rub shrimp with Creole or Cajun seasoning and set aside.
- Select Saute mode and when Instant Pot has heated, add 2 tablespoon olive oil to the inner pot of Instant Pot.
- Add andouille sausage and chicken, and cook until browned, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Press 'Cancel' and transfer chicken and sausage to a plate using a slotted spoon and set aside.
- To make the roux, select 'Saute' and add ½ cup olive oil and all-purpose flour to the inner pot.
- Cook oil and flour until the mixture resembles a dark peanut butter, stirring frequently, and being careful not to burn. This can take about 10 to 15 minutes. [See Note 1].
- Add onions, bell pepper, celery, and garlic. Stir until vegetables are slightly soft, about 5 minutes.
- Using a wooden spatula, scrape the bottom of the inner pot to make sure there are no burnt bits stuck to the bottom. Deglaze with a couple of tablespoons of broth as needed.
- Stir in broth, white, black and cayenne peppers, thyme, salt, brown sugar, worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, bay leaves, and frozen okra.
- Stir in reserved chicken and sausage.
- Add tomatoes on top and gently push down with a spatula to submerge. Don't stir.
- Close Instant Pot and pressure cook on High Pressure for 4 minutes.
- Do a quick release of pressure and open the Instant Pot. [Read More: The Different Pressure Release Methods]
- Immediately stir in the shrimp and close the Instant Pot for 10 minutes. The shrimp will cook in the residual heat.
- Open the Instant Pot and sprinkle the gumbo with parsley and green onions.
- Serve gumbo over Instant Pot Jasmine rice.
Stovetop Instructions
- Rub shrimp with Creole or Cajun seasoning and set aside.
- Heat a large dutch oven over medium heat on the stovetop. Add 2 tablespoon oil and heat until the oil is hot and shimmering.
- Add andouille sausage and chicken, and saute until browned. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a medium bowl and set aside.
- In the same pot, stir together ½ cup oil and flour. Cook oil and flour until the mixture resembles a dark peanut butter, stirring frequently, and being careful not to burn. This can take about 10 to 15 minutes. [See Note 1].
- Add onions, bell pepper, celery, garlic, white, black, and cayenne peppers, salt, and brown sugar. Add more oil if needed. Stir until onion is translucent. If it begins to burn, deglaze the pan as needed, with one tablespoon broth at a time.
- Stir in worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, bay leaves, tomatoes, and broth. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the stew becomes too thick, add another ¼ cup of broth.
- Add reserved sausage, chicken, shrimp and okra. Simmer for another 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. Garnish with green onions and parsley.
- Serve gumbo over white rice.
Notes
- Prep time does not include steps that are already accounted for in the ingredient list, e.g. chopped onions, minced garlic, diced chicken, etc.
- If your Instant Pot is prone to getting the burn message, I recommend making the roux on the stovetop and adding it to the Instant Pot right before pressure cooking (on top of all the ingredients), and don’t stir.
- Note 1: The darker your roux, the more intense the gumbo flavor. So you can cook the roux for even longer. However, be sure not to burn the roux, so keep stirring constantly, especially as it gets darker. I prefer cooking the roux on the stovetop because I can control the temperature better.
Nutrition
Thank you for visiting Paint the Kitchen Red. All photos and content are copyright protected. Please don’t use any content without prior written permission. If you’ve made this recipe and would like to share it with your friends, please link back to this recipe. Thank you!
I am not a certified nutritionist. I provide my best estimate of nutritional information merely as a courtesy to my readers. If you depend on nutritional information for dietary or health reasons, I suggest using your favorite online nutrition calculator to confirm the nutritional value of this recipe based on the actual ingredients that you use.
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Chris says
Neena,
As usual for recipes in your blog, I made this exactly per recipe and it did not disappoint! So Yummy!
Though my instant pot has never given me the “burn message”, just to be on the safe side, I followed the stovetop instructions through to adding veggies and seasoning, then dumped into the instant pot and followed instant pot instructions after that. I do not care for the slimy texture of okra, but used the 2 c. per recipe, and was happily surprised to discover the okra in the gumbo lacked the slime and was delicious! If prep work done in advance, it was surprisingly quick.
Neena Panicker says
Hi Chris, thank you so much for trying the recipe and for your lovely comment and tips! I’m so glad you liked it!
Chris says
I’ve made this recipe many times. Thank you so much! It’s one of my favorites. If I have it on hand, sometimes I will use bacon grease instead of olive oil. One thing I haven’t tried is adding rice to the soup. I usually pour the gumbo over the rice, but today, I’m going to cook about 1 cup of rice and then mix it into the gumbo. Again, love this recipe and thank you for sharing.
Neena Panicker says
Thanks, Chris! Oh, such an interesting idea. I wonder if you could add 1 cup water plus 1 cup raw rice and cook the rice in the gumbo?!
Cooking in California says
Great recipe! No shrimp in ours (allergy) so added a splash of fish sauce for flavor. May try clams, which I’ve done for your jambalaya recipe. I have a family member with a visceral negative reaction to okra, though. Any suggestions for a substitute?
Neena Panicker says
Hi there, thank you for trying my gumbo recipe. You can try and omit the okra and see if it’s thick enough for you – it might be. Filé powder made from sassafras is probably the best substitute. Add it to the gumbo after it’s done cooking. It can become stringy, so add it once the gumbo has cooled down a bit. About 2 teaspoons to begin with.
Laura says
This is my favorite gumbo recipe ever! However, my instant pot has started giving a burn notice every single time I use the saute setting, no matter what I try. Any chance you could provide the stovetop recipe like you did for your jambalaya (also a fave)?
Thank you thank you thank you!
Neena Panicker says
Hi Laura, have you tried making the roux on the stovetop and then adding to the Instant Pot? That helps some people. I just added the stovetop instructions to the recipe post and recipe card!
Laura says
Thank you Neena! I really appreciate the recipe. Making it tonight!
Neena Panicker says
Laura, I hope you enjoyed the gumbo recipe!
Lola says
This was very good. I will make it again, and I will probably make the roux on the stovetop ahead of time, so there’s less to do in one day. I cooked the roux for about 20-25 minutes to make sure I had a good dark chocolate color on it.
I used 1 lb frozen shrimp because my shrimp were a bit small, and that was 20 shrimp (2 per serving x 10 servings).
Don’t forget to make rice (seriously, I did this.) And if you make the roux on the stovetop, don’t forget to add it to the pot when sauteing the veggies (holy trinity). (Yup, you guessed it, I did that, too. The recipe instructions don’t mention adding it to the pot because they instruct how to make the roux in the instant pot, so if you’re following the instructions, there’s nothing to add. I finally remembered to add the roux after I had already added the tomatoes, so I didn’t want to stir it in well and risk a “Burn” error on my IP. It still worked out well.)
Neena Panicker says
Lola, thank you for the detailed comment. I’m sure it will be helpful to others. I will try to make a not in the recipe card based on your feedback.
Nola native says
Looks good, but I don’t see where you add the okra.? Do you de-snot it or add it at the end, just before pressurizing? I don’t typically use the Instapot when making gumbo, so I was looking for those tips:)
Neena Panicker says
The frozen okra is added with all the spices. It’s mentioned in the step by step photo section and in the recipe card (step 9).
Nicole says
This is one of my go-to recipes. Just the right amount of spice. I do use a whole pound of shrimp and a bit more sausage so it feeds a few more people. Tastes like you spent all day cooking it!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Thank you for commenting, Nicole! I’m so happy you like the Instant Pot gumbo recipe.
Whitney says
The number of bell peppers is not mentioned. Also the okra is not mentioned in the list and how much
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Whitney, both are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. You can click on the link “Jump to Recipe” that’s right at the top to get directly to the recipe card. 1 cup bell peppers is about 1 small bell pepper. And it’s 2 cups frozen okra (ingredient listed between bay leaves and diced tomatoes).
Whitney says
Oh I know what threw it off. They are not red like your other ingredients so my eyes completely failed me.
I love this recipe. I had okra and bell peppers so no worries. Stables in my home. Followed the recipe exactly. Used home made bone broth & gf flour instead, coconut sugar, blended the veggies due to picky eaters, added the whole bag of frozen okra after the timer went off because my husband doesn’t like mushy okra and then added shrimp at the end. I also added 1 more tsp of Cajun seasoning.
Thank you for an easy recipe
Paint the Kitchen Red says
I’m glad you enjoyed the Instant Pot gumbo recipe!
Leigh says
Can you double this in the 8quart
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Leigh, yes you should be able to. Keep the same cook time.
Kristen Schultz says
This recipe is not only wash to follow but the result is delicious! I used chicken andouille style sausage instead of normal but other than that, followed the directions to a T and all I can say is wow. Flavorful, spicy, YUM!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Kristen, thank you for the comment. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Sabrina says
OMG this is fabulous! I made a few mods based on what I had on hand: substitute a couple of organic hotdogs for the sausage, 1 pound package of mixed seafood that I had in the freezer for the shrimp, and half a rotisserie chicken breast from the grocery store for the chicken. I screwed up the calculations and only use a quarter of a cup of flour to half a cup of oil which explains why the roux didn’t thicken as much but when it was all said and done, it still tasted great, just more like soup consistency. I added a little file to the roux (cooked on stovetop) after I put it in the Insta pot, and no okra as none on hand. No tomatoes touch this gumbo, mmm hmmm.
Will be making again for sure and look forward to sharing with friends this summer. Thank you so much!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Sabrina, I’m glad your substitution worked for you. Thanks for taking the time to comment!