Jambalaya Soup is an easy and soul-satisfying soup recipe. Slightly thick and perfectly spicy, it's a delicious taste of the south!
If I were to ever write a cookbook it’d be all about soup. No theme has ever felt more right. Cozy, savory, and soul-satisfying — every season is soup season, if you ask me!
My latest soup recipe, Jambalaya Soup, is not to be missed!
This recipe might look a little familiar to long-time readers as it’s adapted from the Chicken Gumbo Soup I shared many years ago. I felt the recipe needed to be re-highlighted and updated with a name that better communicates it’s contents.
Maybe I’m overthinking things but gumbo is made with a roux and Jambalaya is not, and while this soup is slightly thickened by the addition of gluten-free flour, it definitely falls more into the Jambalaya category — that is, a mixture of meat, vegetables, and rice.
Over-analysis aside, this is the ultimate cool weather soup. Cajun-spiced vegetables, chicken, Andouille sausage, bacon, and white rice bob in a slightly thickened broth that’s ultra savory, perfectly spicy, and so, so filling. I’ve also included instructions on how to keep this soup on the mild side if you’re serving to spice-sensitive people and/or kids, so the whole family can enjoy.
This easy, hearty recipe is a KEEPER!
Start by rendering the fat from 4 slices chopped bacon in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat.
Once the bacon is crisp, scoop it onto a plate reserving the bacon fat in the pot. If you’re using lean bacon, add enough extra virgin olive oil so there’s 2 Tablespoons fat in the pot total.
Turn the heat up to medium-high then add 12oz chopped andouille sausage and 2 chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces. Season with salt and pepper then saute until the chicken starts to turn opaque, about 2 minutes.
- Tip: Andouille sausage has a spicy kick to it, so use keilbasa if you want a more mild soup.
Next add the “Holy Trinity” of southern cooking: chopped bell peppers, onions, and celery – wouldn’t be Jambalaya without it!
Season the vegetables with 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning – I like Emeril’s Essence – then saute until the vegetables are tender, 5 minutes, turning the heat up if necessary to keep everything sizzling.
Again, if you’ve got some spice sensitive folks you’re feeding this soup to, start with 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning then add up to another teaspoon at the end to get the spice level just right.
Once the vegetables are tender, sprinkle in 3 Tablespoons gluten-free flour (or AP if not GF) over the meat and vegetables then stir to combine and cook for 2 minutes.
Slowly add splashes from a 6 cups gluten-free chicken broth while stirring to create a smooth sauce then add a 28oz can crushed tomatoes, and 2 bay leaves.
Turn the heat up to high then, once the liquid is boiling, stir in 3/4 cup long grain white rice.
Turn the heat down to medium-low then cover the pot and cook until the rice is al dente, 15-18 minutes, stirring frequently.
Remove the pot from the heat then let the rice finish cooking for a couple minutes before taking the lid off, stirring in the bacon, and letting the soup sit and thicken for 10 minutes or so.
That’s it! Told you it was easy!
When it’s time to eat, ladle the soup into bowls then serve with a side salad, Gluten-Free Cornbread, or Gluten Free Focaccia to make it a meal.
I hope you love this perfectly thick and spicy, hearty Jambalaya Soup!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 12 oz gluten free andouille sausage, chopped, or kielbasa for a mild soup. Johnsonville recommended
- 2 chicken breasts, ~1lb, cut into bite-sized pieces
- salt and pepper
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 2 ribs celery, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning, see notes
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- 3 Tablespoons gluten free flour, or AP flour if not GF
- 6 cups gluten free chicken broth
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 2 bay leaves
- 3/4 cup long grain white rice, Lundberg recommended
Directions
- Add bacon to a large Dutch Oven or soup pot then place on the stove and turn heat to medium. Cook until bacon is crisp then remove bacon to a plate and set aside, reserving bacon fat in the pot. If necessary, add enough extra virgin olive oil to total 2 Tablespoons fat in the pot.
- Turn heat up to medium-high then add sausage and chicken, season with salt and pepper, then saute until chicken begins to turn opaque, 2 minutes. Add onion, bell pepper, and celery, season with Cajun seasoning, then saute until vegetables are tender, 5 minutes, turning heat up if necessary to keep ingredients sizzling. Add garlic then saute for 30 seconds.
- Sprinkle flour over the meat and vegetables then stir to coat and cook for 2 minutes. Slowly add chicken broth a splash at a time while stirring to create a smooth sauce, then add crushed tomatoes, and bay leaves. Turn heat up to high to bring liquid to a boil then add rice and stir well. Turn heat down to medium-low then cover and simmer until rice is al dente, 15-18 minutes, stirring often to ensure the rice isn't sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- When the rice has a couple minutes left until it's tender, remove the pot from the heat then let sit with the lid on for 2-3 minutes to let the rice finish cooking from the heat of the pot. Remove the lid then stir in the bacon and let soup sit and thicken for 10 minutes before ladling into bowls and serving.
Notes
- If serving this recipe to children or someone who is sensitive to spice, start with 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning then add up to 1 additional teaspoon seasoning at the end until desired heat level is reached.
- I use Emeril's Essence for the Cajun seasoning.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
Yummy! Entire family enjoyed this recipe. I increased the green peppers to 2 and added a celery rib. Also added more cajun seasoning. Took around an hour to make.
This is so good ! I used brown rice and added shrimp. Loved it !
So good! I made this for dinner tonight, and served with a “Southern Biscuits” recipe I had in my collection. It was delicious. I used the spices that you have in your “Cajun Shrimp” recipe. I am from Melbourne, Australia, and holidayed in Savannah, Georgia, a few years back and I have since declared it my most favourite city in the world. I am forever trying to find meals to take me back there, so thank you for these flavours in yet another one of your amazing dishes! This dish will go in our “family favourite” rotation.
Thank you for a wonderful recipe. I added half a pound of shrimp, and about 8 ounces of okra. I like heat so I added 1/2 a jalapeƱo too. Perfect with a loaf of French bread. Next time I will add only 1/4 cup of rice to keep it more soupy and less thick stew.
I decided to do a more soup style jambalaya rather than a traditional like my grandma’s recipe I always go by. Other than I use Tony Chacherie Cajun seasoning and at the end I added a pound of shrimp cut in half, I followed your recipe to the letter. An excellent soup!! My family just loved it. My two 19 year old grandkids went back twice for refills. Really an inexpensive recipe (,I got the shrimp on sale with bonus card points) and filling and warming. In the middle of June where I live, today’s high was 60 degrees with a chilling drizzle. Absolute comfort food. Will definitely check out more of your recipes!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the soup, Mary! Thank you for your feedback! :)
Really sooooo yummyyyyyy
Kristin I cherish the turns and turns of taking conventional formulas and making them spring up recently! You’re so great at that! This soup looks astounding and I can hardly wait to attempt it!
Don’t refer to this as jambalaya, because it does not resemble it in any possible way.
You are so wrong. I can’t tell you how many times my Mawmaw added chicken broth to the hardened leftover rice and the leftover jambalaya and turned it into soup. This was common among all the people I grew up with-in the coastal Gulf.
Made this for dinner tonight with salad and cornbread muffins. Huge hit! My kids (7 and 5) love your sausage and chicken gumbo, as do the hubby and I, but this is an awesome, quicker substitute! The kiddos called is Gumbalaya, which I sort of think is the perfect accidental name.
Used andouille sausage and 1 tsp of Emerill’s essence and the spice level was fine for them. They can tolerate a little spice but not a ton. Happy family. Can’t wait to battle husband over who gets to take the leftovers to work!
Ahhh, so thrilled to hear this! And “Gumbalaya”…LOVE. IT! ;)
Wonderful recipe! I made this last night and used boneless skinless chicken thighs and also added Old Bay seasoning, which really helped boost the flavor. I also used Cento chef’s cut tomatoes, my personal favorite for any jambalaya recipe. I’m a southern girl with Creole influences so I couldn’t help myself…go figure! Love your recipes and your blog. Keep up the good work!
Such a compliment coming from a Southern girl with Creole roots! Thanks so much for the feedback, Nat! :)
Hi Kristin! Do you have any recommendations for making this in a slow cooker? I’d love to make this soon!
Hi Laura! White rice doesn’t do so well in the crock po, but I think you could probably cook the rest on low for 3-4 hours, and then add cooked rice at the end. I’d remove 1 – 2 cups cooking liquid since it wouldn’t be soaked up by the rice.
This is delicious! I made this for dinner last night it was a big hit. I just finished up the leftovers for lunch. We have a household full of littles, so thank you for the notes on making it less spicy. I used Polish kielbasa and just 1tbsp of the cajun seasoning. It was still a little spicy for us so I stirred in 1/2 cup of sour cream after it cooled a bit. So delicious. Thank you!
I’m so, so glad you all loved it – I just had leftovers for lunch too! ? Just a quick tip for next time, the recipe calls for 2 teaspoons of Cajun seasoning vs 2 Tablespoons. That will make it much less spicy for your little guys!
Haha right you are!!! This is why YOU have the awesome cooking blog and not me! My two youngest, 3 and 1, can’t have gluten. I really enjoy all your awesome recipes. Thank you for giving me the confidence, and joy, back into cooking! It used to be so stressful trying to find things that they could eat. You have really simplified it!
OMG! The wolf spider thing had me rolling with laughter! We have a similar thing every year! What the heck!! Creepy!! I think they just wait for us to unpack the patio chairs and table to stretch out and have their own family outing! ICK!