Are you in for a treat today with my easy oven jambalaya recipe with smoked sausage and chicken! This converted rice jambalaya with sausage and chicken is loaded with flavor thanks to the addition of celery, onion, and spices. This baked jambalaya casserole, perfect for feeding a crowd at a party or gathering, can also be a make ahead jambalaya. Simply prepare ahead of time and pop in the oven when ready to serve! Read on for our recipe and to see what goes with jambalaya for an incredible tasty Cajun meal!
I’ve mentioned before that I lived in south Louisiana for a year after college. The food I ate during that one year have really stuck with me. I remember running out on my lunch break to this special little cafe one or two days a week to grab a to-go plate of authentic jambalaya and potato salad. I would then head home and watch Days of Our Lives in my living room while eating my delicious Louisiana chicken jambalaya.
About ten years ago, when we hosted our second murder mystery party, we went with a Mardi Gras theme. Actually, we held the Mardi Gras party two times with two different groups of friends. Those parties were the first times I served this oven jambalaya casserole as the main course. I made two batches of this chicken and sausage jambalaya from the oven for each party as we had quite a few guests. The original recipe is the one which came with the murder mystery game I had purchased. However, I have tweaked the recipe over the years. I am posting my tweaked version here today.
Oven Jambalaya Casserole Recipe Ingredients
Typically, I make this oven jambalaya recipe with smoked sausage and pre-cooked chicken breast. (I like to cook chicken breasts in advance, then chop them, and package them in the freezer in individual bags.) However, I have also made my oven jambalaya rice with sausage and shrimp. Or you could just use one of those three meats if you wish. There is a lot of flexibility. Since my chicken is typically already cooked, this is a simple jambalaya casserole to throw together.
The rice for this recipe is Uncle Ben’s Converted Rice. I have not attempted this dish with any other rice but that one.
Also, I used Hillshire Farm cooked beef sausage for nearly everything. But for a more authentic Louisiana jambalaya experience, you might try andouille sausage instead of a beef smoked sausage jambalaya.
Making This Easy Oven Jambalaya Recipe with Sausage and Chicken
The baked chicken jambalaya ingredients are pretty simple. The biggest part of the prep is chopping the sausage, the green onion, the celery, and the parsley. Of course, I am a super slow chopper! It takes me about 15 to chop everything. However, I use pre-cooked chicken that has already been chopped into bite-sized pieces. If you have to cook and chop your own chicken, be sure to add that to your prep time.
I like the slight crunch of the celery. With so many soft ingredients in this dish, the crunch adds nice variety – especially if you cook the dish just right.
What Goes Well with Jambalaya? Check out These Jambalaya Sides!
Indeed, this easy chicken and sausage jambalaya recipe is perfect for Mardi Gras. So what goes good with jambalaya? Well, you might want to serve it with some Cajun potato salad – as I mentioned above, the jambalaya I routinely bought in south Louisiana was always served with potato salad. However, jambalaya rice is also just right for any other day of the year, too! Jambalaya is often served with Creole cornbread and collard greens. Another option might be this Cajun cabbage.
Also, I checked with my friend who still lives in south Louisiana to see if she had any other suggestions for what to serve with jambalaya. She said her friends serve their jambalaya with French bread and green beans. Another option for bread with jambalaya is a Bahn Mi baguette.
What Salad to Serve with Jambalaya?
As far as what salad goes well with jambalaya, my friend agrees that potato salad and cole slaw are good to serve with jambalaya. Additionally, she said that any salad with a sweet dressing is a good compliment to the salt, spice, and seasonings of jambalaya. She recommended a Copper Pennies salad as a side dish for jambalaya.
Hopefully, you will give this easy chicken and sausage jambalaya a try! Also, you might not want to miss my easy slow cooker red beans and rice recipe!
Can You Freeze Jambalaya with Rice?
The key to being able to freeze jambalaya with rice is to let the rice cool completely before freezing. If you are in a hurry, you will want to spread the rice in a shallow rimmed plate or bowl to help it cool more quickly. Then, transfer the dish into Ziploc bags. I like to use multiple gallon size bags – in meal sizes for my family. That way, I can grab one at a time in the future.
To reheat the frozen jambalaya with rice, I simply thaw it ahead of time and then toss it in a deep skillet with a bit of broth. I reheat until hot and ready to serve.
Easy Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups Uncle Ben’s CONVERTED Rice
- 1 package Hillshire Farm Beef Sausage or andouille sliced into 1-inch rounds or half-moons
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast chopped into bite-size pieces
- 1 can French Onion Soup 10.5 oz
- 1 can beef broth 14.5 oz
- 1 can tomato sauce 8 oz
- 1 bunch celery chopped
- 1/2 bunch green onions chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley chopped
- 1 tbsp thyme
- 1 tbsp Creole seasoning
- 2 whole bay leaves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In a large bowl, mix all ingredients except for bay leaves.
- Carefully, pour all ingredients into a 9×13 casserole or baking dish.
- Add the two bay leaves into the top of the jambalaya.
- Cover dish with foil.
- Cook for 55 minutes and remove foil.
- Cook for 5-10 more minutes without foil. Jambalaya should still look a little moist and not overly dry. Do not let the jambalaya become overly dry in the oven.
- Remove bay leaves .
- Serve with potato salad or French bread.
Nutrition
More Easy Main Dishes
Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Shredded Chicken
Easy Oven Jambalaya with Chicken and Sausage
Giju
I’m pinning and making!Love this recipe.easy and simple .i will definitely try it. One of our families favorite dinners! So easy and it tastes delicious! Thanks for a great recipe!
The Gifted Gabber
Yay! I hope you have made it again since then! It is one of my favorites too!
Al
We love this recipe! I added some shrimp and it was great!