This Instant Pot Jambalaya recipe was adapted from an authentic jambalaya recipe with spicy andouille sausage, chicken, shrimp, and rice. Flavored with Louisiana spices and cooked to perfection, it’s a delicious one pot meal that can be made in the pressure cooker or on the stovetop. Great for an easy dinner on busy weeknights or a special occasion!
[This post was first published in February 2017 and was one of the first original and authentic Instant Pot Jambalaya recipes! It’s a popular recipe with rave reviews. Read the reviews at the bottom of this post.]
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Table of Contents
Introduction to Jambalaya
Jambalaya is a Cajun recipe that originated in Louisiana. It’s a one pot rice dish consisting of meat (pork or chicken), seafood (shrimp, crab, or crawfish), and a spicy sausage called andouille (pronounced aahn-doo-wee).
There are two types of Jambalaya: Creole or red jambalaya, which includes tomatoes, and Cajun or brown jambalaya, which is made without tomatoes.
Creole cuisine originated in the city of New Orleans, while Cajun food is traditionally associated with the French Acadian people who settled the swamps of southwest Louisiana.
This easy jambalaya recipe includes tomatoes and is derived from an authentic jambalaya recipe from a cookbook I’ve had in my possession forever, but I can’t recall when or where I got it!
It’s a tiny little cookbook a bit larger than a smartphone, written by chef Austin Leslie of the famed New Orleans restaurant Chez Helene, which closed in the 1990s.
I adapted this recipe for the Instant Pot and prefer this one pot pressure cooker jambalaya recipe over the stove top version! But I do provide the stove top instructions too.
Back when I first published this recipe, it was the only one. And it’s the real deal. This is the best Instant Pot Jambalaya recipe you’ll find! Read the reviews at the bottom of this post to see how popular this recipe is.
Learn more about your Instant Pot…
- Natural or Quick Release: What is Instant Pot natural release vs quick release and when should you use them?
- Instant Pot Tips and FAQs: What are Instant Pot frequently asked questions?
- Instant Pot Not Sealing: Why is your Instant Pot not sealing and what can you do to fix it?
- Common Instant Pot Problems: This Instant Pot troubleshooting guide explains common problems and errors and how to solve them.
- Sous Vide Button: How to use sous vide Instant Pot function for perfectly cooked foods.
Make this one-pot Instant Pot jambalaya for a quick weeknight meal or when you’re entertaining. It’s perfect not just for Mardi Gras, but for any time of year.
Try These Creole and Cajun Instant Pot Recipes…
- Gumbo is a Cajun stew with chicken, shrimp and sausage that is a popular and hearty recipe. It’s thickened with okra and a dark roux and traditionally served over rice. Gumbo and jambalaya are the two most popular Cajun dishes.
- Etouffee is a Cajun seafood recipe that is another popular recipe in New Orleans. It’s traditionally made with crawfish cooked in a blonde roux, but my version has shrimp.
- Instant Pot red beans and rice has andouille sausage, ham bone, and red beans. It tastes like it’s simmered on the stove all day, but the Instant Pot makes it so easy! It’s one of my favorite recipes to make.
- Cajun chicken pasta is pasta with a Cajun twist. It’s like a jambalaya made with pasta! It’s a one-pot creamy pasta with chicken and sausage that’s really easy to make.
Tips to Make Instant Pot Jambalaya
Chicken, Sausage, and Shrimp
This Instant Pot jambalaya is made with chicken, andouille sausage, and shrimp. However, you can use chicken alone, or make chicken and sausage jambalaya by omitting the shrimp.
You could also make a seafood jambalaya – the options are endless!
Shrimp: Peel and devein the shrimp. Peeling ensures that the spices penetrate the shrimp.
Chicken: I love how tender chicken thighs turn out in the Instant Pot. And nothing beats their flavor. However, if you’re not a fan, feel free to use boneless skinless chicken breast. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
Sausage: Andouille is a spicy smoked Cajun sausage. If you don’t have access to it, substitute it with Spanish chorizo or Polish kielbasa. I recommend that you use smoked sausage, not raw sausage.
Cooking the Shrimp
It might seem unusual to add the raw shrimp at the end and allow it to cook in the residual heat of the jambalaya. But this is something I discovered through trial and error and find it works well and the shrimp don’t get overcooked or tough.
Rub Creole seasoning over the uncooked shrimp and set aside while the rice is cooking, and stir in the shrimp at the end. Close the Instant Pot lid and allow the shrimp to cook in the residual heat.
Try to work quickly and add the shrimp as soon as the pressure goes down. You don’t want too much heat to escape because the shrimp needs to cook in the residual heat.
When you put the lid on, you might have trouble getting it to close. Put the steam release handle/button/switch in the Vent position and it should close easily. After closing the lid, put the steam release back into Seal. It might seal back up (i.e. the float valve may come up) and that’s okay. The shrimp is just going to steam in the rice.
If you have extra-large or jumbo-sized shrimp, you’ll need to let the shrimp sit in the covered Instant Pot for an extra 3 to 5 minutes. If you have smaller shrimp you may be able to decrease the amount of time.
If you prefer, you can saute the shrimp at the beginning when you’re sauteing the sausage and chicken and add it in once the rice has cooked.
In that case, do a natural release of pressure for 10 to 15 minutes after the rice is done pressure cooking. Then release any remaining pressure by moving the steam release to Venting position.
Different Types of Rice
The rice for this recipe is regular long-grain white rice or basmati rice. If you’d like to use jasmine rice, cook it for 5 minutes.
Brown rice requires a longer cook time (approximately 22 to 24 minutes), so your meats and vegetables may get a bit overcooked. Many of my readers use brown rice and do it this way. See the FAQ section for more options.
Seasonings
You can substitute Creole spice with Cajun spice. You can also add more or less seasoning than I’ve suggested. The quantity of salt you need will depend on the quantity and type of Cajun or Creole spices you use.
Go easy on the salt if you use more seasoning and/or the Creole or Cajun seasoning is very salty!
Stock / Broth
This recipe calls for chicken stock but you may want to try out my Instant Pot Shrimp Stock. It adds another dimension of flavor and it’s so easy to make. You already have the shrimp shells, so why not make some stock with them?
Shallots
Many people don’t like the taste of raw onions, and that’s the case with one of my children. So I often omit the shallots. The jambalaya tastes great either way.
If you’re new to the Instant Pot and aren’t familiar with how to use it, you might find it helpful to first read one of the following guides and then come back here to learn how to make this recipe.
- General Instant Pot Instructions for Beginners
- Instant Pot ULTRA Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot DUO EVO PLUS Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot DUO NOVA Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot DUO GOURMET Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot DUO CRISP Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot PRO Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot PRO CRISP Beginner’s Manual
FAQS
Jambalaya and gumbo are both from Louisiana and have some similar spices. However, gumbo is more of a soup or stew and is served over some rice, while jambalaya is primarily a rice dish.
To make it spicier, add some cayenne pepper. You could add more Creole spice, but watch out for the salt. You can also serve it with tabasco sauce or other hot sauce on the side.
You have a few options:
– Substitute brown rice for long-grain rice and cook for about 24 minutes. Brown rice cooks for much longer than white rice, so the meats and vegetables could get a bit overcooked. However, many of my readers do it and like it.
– Use parboiled brown rice, and increase the original cooking time by a couple of minutes.
– Another option is to reduce the quantity of liquid in the recipe, pressure cook everything but the rice for a couple of minutes, and stir in cooked brown rice at the end.
Yes, you can double the recipe. Keep the cooking time the same.
Different models and sizes of pressure cookers can vary. If you find your rice is undercooked, add some more liquid and cook for a few extra minutes. Next time add an extra tablespoon or two of liquid and pressure cook for 2 extra minutes.
Use a smoked sausage such as kielbasa, smoked chorizo, or a brand like Aidell’s chicken sausage.
You can try using jasmine rice instead of long grain white rice. Reduce the cooking time by one to two minutes.
Ensure you deglaze and scrape the bottom of the pot well before pressure cooking. Also, don’t stir the rice or tomatoes. Add them on top and gently press down to ensure the rice is submerged. If you’re still having issues, increase the liquid by ¼ cup. Find out how to food burn Instant Pot message.
Instant Pot Jambalaya Recipe – Ingredients
- Shrimp
- Andouille sausage
- Chicken
- Uncooked rice
- Red and/or green bell pepper
- Tomato
- Onion
- Celery
- Broth
- Garlic
- Thyme
- Olive oil or vegetable oil
- Parsley
- Bay leaves
- Worcestershire sauce
- Creole or Cajun spice
- Salt
- Shallots (missing from photo)
Full recipe instructions and details are below in the recipe card.
How to Make Authentic Jambalaya in the Instant Pot
- Season shrimp
- Turn on Saute Mode
- Saute sausage
- Saute chicken
- Saute vegetables
- Add the chicken, sausage, tomato, and rice
- Pressure cook
- Quick-release pressure
- Stir in Shrimp
- Garnish with parsley
Season Shrimp
- Thaw and thoroughly dry the shrimp with a paper towel.
- Rub creole spices all over the shrimp and reserve.
How to Turn on Saute Mode
- Instant Pot DUO: Select the Saute function.
- Instant Pot ULTRA: Select the Saute function and press Start.
Saute Sausage
- Once it has preheated, add oil to the inner pot and let it heat up.
- Add sausage slices and cook until browned, about 6 minutes.
- If the sausage browns too quickly, press Cancel until the Instant Pot cools down a bit, and press the Saute button again. Deglaze the bottom of the pot as needed with a tablespoon of broth.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer sausage slices to a plate.
Saute Chicken
- Add chicken and cook until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Deglaze as needed.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a plate.
- Press Cancel to turn off the heat if the Instant Pot is too hot, and turn it back on when it’s cooled down a bit.
- Now add the holy trinity of Cajun cuisine (onions, bell peppers, celery) and garlic.
Saute Vegetables
- Saute vegetables until the onion is translucent. The liquid released from the vegetables should be enough to deglaze the pan. If it’s not, add a few tablespoons of broth to deglaze the bottom of the pot and incorporate the brown bits. The bottom of the pot should be completely clean.
- Add thyme, Creole seasoning, salt, and Worcestershire sauce and stir to coat for about 30 seconds.
- Stir in broth and bay leaves.
Add Chicken, Sausage, Tomato, and Rice
- Stir in the reserved chicken and sausage.
- Add the tomatoes and gently spread them out with a spatula. Don’t stir.
- Add the rice and gently push down with a spatula till covered with broth. Don’t stir the rice mixture.
Program the Instant Pot and release pressure
- Close the lid.
- Program the Instant Pot to pressure cook on high pressure for 7 minutes.
- The display will go from On to 7:00. The float valve will go up after a few minutes. The display will count down to 00:00.
- Do a quick release of pressure. Once the float valve goes down, the lid can be opened.
Stir in Shrimp
- Open the lid and add in shrimp.
- Using a spatula, stir up the rice mixture and nestle the shrimp in the rice.
- Try to work quickly so too much steam doesn’t escape.
Garnish with Parsley
- Close the Instant Pot and allow the shrimp to finish cooking in the residual heat. If you have trouble closing the lid, move the steam release to the Vent position.
- After 10 minutes, open the Instant Pot and add parsley. Gently fluff the rice with a fork.
- Let the jambalaya rest (lid open) for 5 to 8 minutes before serving
- Serve with hot sauce on the side.
How to Make One Pot Jambalaya on the Stove
- Season the shrimp with the creole seasoning and reserve.
- Heat oil in a dutch oven over medium-high heat. Saute the sausage and chicken separately, and remove.
- Saute the onions, bell peppers, and celery until the onions are translucent. Saute garlic until fragrant.
- Add the spices and saute briefly. Deglaze the bottom of the pan.
- Return the meats to the pot. Stir in the broth and tomatoes, and bring to a boil. You’ll need to add an extra cup of broth compared to the Instant Pot version of the recipe.
- Add in the rice.
- Bring to a boil, stir, reduce heat to low, and cover. Don’t stir again.
- Let the rice simmer until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is cooked through.
- Add the shrimp to the rice and allow the shrimp to cook through.
- Once the shrimp is cooked, open the pot and garnish.
See the recipe card below for detailed instructions.
Easy Instant Pot Jambalaya
Ingredients
- 1 lb. shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon Creole seasoning or to taste
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 12 oz. Andouille sausage (340 grams) cut into ½ inch slices
- 12 oz. boneless skinless chicken thighs (340 grams) cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup onion chopped
- 1 cup bell pepper chopped
- 1 cup celery chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste *
- 1 tsp worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth (3 cups for stovetop version)
or homemade Instant Pot Shrimp Stock
- 2 small bay leaves or 1 large
- 14.5 oz. diced tomatoes (411 grams)
- 1 ½ cups long grain white rice
- 2 tablespoon parsley chopped, to garnish
- ½ cup shallots thinly sliced – optional
- hot sauce to taste
Instructions
- Dry shrimp with a paper towel, rub with 1 teaspoon of Creole seasoning and set aside.
Instant Pot Instructions
- Press 'Saute' and add oil to inner pot of the Instant Pot.
- Once the oil is hot, add the sausage and cook until browned, about 6 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a medium bowl and set aside. If the sausage browns too quickly, press ‘Cancel’ until the Instant Pot cools down a bit and press the ‘Saute’ button again. Deglaze as needed with a tablespoon of broth.
- Add chicken to the inner pot, and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to the bowl containing the sausage, and set aside. If the chicken browns too quickly, press ‘Cancel’ until the Instant Pot cools down a bit and press the ‘Saute’ button again. Deglaze as needed with a tablespoon of broth.
- Add onions, bell pepper, celery, and garlic. Stir until onion is translucent. The liquid released from the vegetables should be enough to deglaze the pan. If it's not, add a tablespoon or more of broth to deglaze.
- Add thyme, remaining Creole seasoning, salt, worcestershire sauce and stir to coat, about 30 seconds.
- Stir in chicken broth and bay leaves. Make sure there's nothing stuck to the bottom of the inner pot – deglaze as needed.
- Stir in the reserved sausage and chicken.
- Add the tomatoes (with the liquid) and spread out with a spatula, but don't stir.
- Add the rice and gently push down with a spatula till immersed in the liquid, but don't stir in.
- Close the lid and pressure cook on High Pressure for 7 minutes. **
- Do a quick release of pressure (QR) and open the lid. [Read More: The Different Pressure Release Methods].
- Carefully stir in shrimp. Take care to not allow too much steam to escape because the shrimp will cook in the residual heat.
- Close the Instant Pot and allow the shrimp to finish cooking in the residual heat for about 10 minutes. Jumbo shrimp may require an additional 5 minutes. If you have trouble closing the lid, move the steam release to 'Vent', close the lid, and move it back to 'Seal'.
- Open the Instant Pot and add parsley. Gently stir the jambalaya. Allow the Instant Pot jambalaya to rest for a few minutes. Garnish with shallots, if using.
- Serve with hot sauce on the side.
Stovetop Instructions
- Heat a large dutch oven over medium heat on the stovetop. Add the oil and heat until the oil is hot and shimmering.
- Add andouille sausage, and saute until browned. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a medium bowl and set aside. Repeat with the chicken.
- Add onions, bell pepper, celery, and garlic. Add more oil as needed. Stir until onion is translucent. The liquid released from the vegetables should be enough to deglaze the pot. If it's not, add a tablespoon or more of broth to deglaze.
- Add thyme, remaining Creole seasoning, salt, worcestershire sauce and stir to coat, about 30 seconds.
- Add the broth, bay leaves, reserved meats, and diced tomatoes, and bring to a boil. Add rice to the pot. Stir just until combined and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and cover. Don’t stir again.
- Let the rice simmer for 25 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is cooked through. If you find it sticking, add some more broth.
- Add the seasoned shrimp to the rice, stirring gently so that the shrimp is nestled in the rice. Allow the shrimp to cook through (about 5 to 7 minutes).
- Once the shrimp is cooked, open the pot and sprinkle with parsley and shallots (optional). Serve with hot sauce on the side.
Notes
- Prep time does not include steps that are already accounted for in the ingredient list, e.g. cut up chicken, chopped onion, etc.
- * Quantity of salt will depend on your Cajun seasoning. If it’s more salty, go easy on the extra salt.
- ** I find that 7 minutes is perfect. However, some people find the rice to be undercooked at 7 minutes. This could be due to variations in pressure cooker models and brands of rice. Modify the recipe to add an extra 2 minutes to the cooking time if you experience this.
- If you prefer, you can very briefly saute the shrimp at the beginning and remove. I find that adding the raw shrimp at the end allows the juices to get absorbed by the rice, without the shrimp drying out.
- This recipe has been modified from the original publication version: tomatoes and rice are layered on top without stirring in to avoid the Burn Message.
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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More Instant Pot Recipes
Jeri says
Amazing!!!! This recipe is definitely a keeper. So easy and flavorful. I’ll definitely make this one again.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Jeri, thanks for the comment. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Emilyn says
Hello! Will this recipe fit in the 3qt mini instant pot?
Thanks for the help.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
I haven’t tried it in the 3 quart. It should work. You need to make sure the contents don’t go past the 1/2 full mark.
Marcia Osborne says
This recipe has excellent flavor, even though it’s more spicy than my husband’s stomach can take at his age (77). Next time I’ll cut back on the Cajun spice I used, but I wanted to make it as written the first time. I also noticed the long grained white rice was more done than I’d like, so I’ll need to cut back the time next time also. There definitely will be a next time! Thank you for the great recipe.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Hi Marcia, thank you for the feedback. Sounds like you’ve got it figured out for next time. I think one minute less should work for you. Glad you tried out the recipe 🙂
Nazia says
What modifications would you recommend if I omit the sausage? We don’t eat pork but would love to try this recipe. Are there any additional seasonings I should add if I use just chicken and shrimp?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Nazia, I’ve successfully used Aidell’s chicken sausage, in case that’s an option for you. You can add a pinch of hot sauce or cayenne if you want to spice it up, but not necessary. You can also add a little extra chicken and shrimp.
Janet says
This is the only recipe I will make. So delicious and flavorful
Paint the Kitchen Red says
So great to hear. Thank you!
Vanessa says
I followed the directions exactly and this turned out perfect! Perfect amount of spice and the consistency and flavor is terrific! Definitely making this again and again!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Thanks Vanessa!
Melissa says
This was my first meal made in my new instant pot Viva, after I made plain jasmin rice for my son. This was really good. Added okra, kidney beans and used Zataran’s jambalaya boxed meal and also added Creole seasoning! Will be making again!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Glad you liked it Melissa. Good to know that you were able to use the Zatarain’s jambalaya mix with this recipe 🙂
Cheryl says
I have never made Jambalaya before but this was so eww easy and so good!! Hubby ate two plates then asked for some in his lunch tomorrow for work!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Awesome! I’m so glad you found this favorite of mine.
Eric M says
This recipe was fire. Exceeded my expectations!!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Thanks Eric – I’m so glad you liked it!
Lynne Snyder says
If short on time can we add rotisserie chicken at e d
End like the shrimp
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Lynne, yes you can do that! Hope you enjoy the recipe.
Pauline says
Made this twice already and both times, rice was mushy… I cooked it at 5minutes since I’m Hsiang jasmine rice. Should I reduce the water or the time to avoid this next time ? Flavor is delicious though !! I rinsed my rice before added it in.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Pauline, although I love Jasmine rice, I tend to use long grain or basmati for this recipe and have actually never tried it with Jasmine. 5 minutes should have worked. My instinct would be to reduce the cooking time to 3 or 4 minutes, you probably have to play with it. I think the quantity of liquid is okay. However, when you rinse the rice, make sure it’s properly drained. That could also cause the mushiness.
Tarron says
This was just excellent!!!! I didn’t change a thing nor would I. Just perfect as written. I used parboiled rice and it couldn’t have turned out better. 10 stars!!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Thank you, Tarron – that’s so kind of you!
Lorene Grinberg says
What size shrimp (actual count, such as 26/30 or 31/40, etc) do you recommend? Thanks!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Lorene, I usually use the medium size shrimp, approximately 36/40.
Wendy Banister says
Thank you Neena for the wonderful detailed instant pot jambalaya recipe. My husband had 2 bowls. I have to admit I was intimidated until I watched your set up of the duo nova. I look forward to watching more of your video tutorials.
Wendy
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Thank you Wendy! I’m so happy that y’all liked the recipe – it’s a family favorite 🙂
Kc says
The taste was great – I reduced the chicken stock to one cup since I was not adding the rice to the mix but served it separately. My only problem is and that’s with more than just this recipe is the prep time – 15 minutes?? It took approximately 40 minutes to clean and devein the shrimp, dice. But once that was done it was rated a 9 with my family. Will do it again
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Kc – I’m glad you liked the recipe. I always make a note in the Notes section of the recipe that the prep time doesn’t include steps that are already specified in the ingredients eg. some people buy deveined shrimp, or minced garlic. But I understand your frustration and I’m sorry about that!
Lisa says
Hi, just made your recipe (and I secretly do not like instant pots). It was a huge hit! I held the shrimp out and sautéed separately because it was being served the next day and I wanted ‘just cooked’ shrimp in the final dish. Thanks for an easy to follow recipe using the instant pot.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Hi Lisa, that’s so great to hear – thank you for giving the recipe a chance 🙂
Hoyt says
Hi, can this be doubled in a 6qt? Modifications?Thanks
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Hi Hoyt, as long as the contents don’t go above the 1/2 mark, you can double the recipe. Just double the quantities and leave the pressure cook time the same.
Ann- Marie says
This is our 2nd time making this! My 16 year old son loves everything about it. The 13 year old girl who is a picky eater loves it(picks out the shrimp lol). Thanks for the great recipe! Someday I hope top take the kids to New Orleans!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Ann-Marie, that’s great to hear – thank you for letting me know!
Vickie says
Delicious! Thank you for the detailed instructions for an Instant Pot newbie.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
You’re very welcome, Vickie!
Lainie says
This was SO good. I usually make jambalaya in a crock pot, but needed the speed of the instant pot. I doubled this recipe and it came out PERFECT. As a native Louisianian, I believe a good jambalaya recipe is gold 🙂 Thanks for publishing!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Aww, thank you Lainie. I always love hearing from Louisianans especially for my Cajun and Creole recipes!