SLOW COOKER JAMBALAYA

Jambalaya is a natural “budget” recipe because it combines flavorful and inexpensive cuts of meat (smoked sausage and chicken thighs) with bulky and inexpensive ingredients, like rice, onion, celery, and bell pepper. Add a good handful of spices and you have a super filling and very satisfying meal that freezes well and reheats effortlessly in the microwave. Total winner. While jambalaya is not difficult to make on the stove top, it’s still SUPER hot here, so I like to use my slow cooker when I can. Everything in this Slow Cooker Jambalaya is cooked in one pot, including the rice. Cooking rice in a slow cooker might sound like a mushy mess, but as long as you add it at the very end, you can control the texture a bit more and get good results.

This recipe depends greatly on the sausage that you buy, which accounts for about half of the flavor in the dish. I had one of those “small changes make big differences” moments at the grocery store and bought smoked turkey sausage instead of regular smoked pork sausage, and I kind of regret it. But hey, it all depends on your priorities. Just be aware that the sausage can make or break this recipe. And while I think you could easily skip the chicken thighs to reduce the meat load of the dish, do not skip the smoked sausage.

SLOW COOKER JAMBALAYA

Slow Cooker Jambalaya is a Louisiana classic made simple, with all the big flavor and half the effort.

Total Cost $10.52 recipe / $1.32 serving

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 4 hours 30 minutes

Total Time 4 hours 45 minutes

Servings 8 (about 10 cups)

INGREDIENTS

3 ribs celery $0.37

1 yellow onion $0.42

1 green bell pepper $0.87

2 cloves garlic $0.16

12-16 oz. smoked sausage* $3.49

2 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (optional) $1.13

1 tsp dried oregano $0.10

1 tsp dried thyme $0.10

1/2 Tbsp smoked paprika $0.15

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper $0.05

Freshly cracked pepper (15-20 cranks of a mill) $0.05

2 15 oz. cans diced tomatoes (or one 28oz. can) $1.98

1/4 bunch fresh parsley, chopped $0.20

2 cups chicken broth $0.26

2 cups uncooked long grain white rice $0.96

3 green onions, sliced $0.23

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Finely dice the celery, onion, and bell pepper. Mince the garlic. Add the celery, onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the bottom of a 5 quart or larger slow cooker.
2. Slice the smoked sausage into rounds or half moons and add them to the slow cooker, along with the chicken thighs, oregano, thyme, paprika, cayenne, and freshly cracked pepper.
3. Pour the diced tomatoes and all their juices over the meat and spices in the slow cooker. Add the chicken broth and a handful of chopped fresh parsley. Stir briefly.
4. Read full recipes here >> budgetbytes.com/slow-cooker-jambalaya/

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