Last week at my MOPS meeting the ladies at my table and I got to talking about family holiday traditions. While Ben and I are still dreaming up the traditions we want Lincoln to grow up with, I have fond memories of candlelit Christmas Eve services, opening one present from a family member on Christmas Eve, and playing card games while eating my Dad’s gumbo lunch on Christmas Day when I was young.
I know what you might be thinking. Gumbo? in Iowa? Heck yeah! Despite having zero ties to the south – he’s lived in Iowa for 25+ years and hails from Ohio – my Dad’s been making gumbo for decades. What can I say, it’s his thing!
While I don’t know what fun holiday traditions the future holds for my little family I’m pumped that it could now include my own version of homemade gumbo – the Smoked Sausage and Chicken Gumbo I made for the gumbo cook off at Thanksgiving this year, and WON!
You guys, I want to shout this recipe from the rooftops – it is so dang delicious! If you’ve never had gumbo before then you are in for such a special treat.
Smoked Andouille sausage and tender shredded chicken combine in a full-flavored, Cajun spiced broth that becomes thick and glossy after simmering low and slow for over an hour. Scooped over fluffy white rice, no matter where you live you’ll feel like you’re in the French Quarter at a restaurant older than you are while enjoying a big bowl of this perfectly spicy gumbo. Ice cold Abita on the side, naturally, if only in your imagination.
That said, I based this recipe on the gumbos I’ve enjoyed on my travels down south to New Orleans, Charleston, and Savannah, where I ordered gumbo nearly as often as I ordered Shrimp and Grits. What can I say, a good gumbo speaks to my soul.
Whether you’re a seasoned gumbo eater, or new to the dish, promise me you’ll try this easy Smoked Sausage and Chicken Gumbo. Rich, hearty, and warming, it’ll keep you cozy on the coldest of winter nights.
Start by browning 14oz Andouille sausage in 1 teaspoon grapeseed or vegetable oil in a 6+ quart Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat. Andouille sausage is similar to kielbasa, and is so, so delicious. It’s smoked, a touch spicy, and comes pre-cooked. All you need to do is slice then sear it up until golden-brown and sizzling.
I used Johnsonville brand which is gluten free.
Scoop the sausage onto a plate then set aside. Next season 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs with 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning on both sides. Place the thighs into the Dutch oven skin-side down then sear for 3-4 minute a side. They don’t have to be cooked through at this point.
Here’s the Cajun seasoning I used on the chicken thighs, by the way. We’ll also use it in a bit to season the gumbo as a whole. The blend of spices is perfect – I have, cough, three of these little canisters in my spice cupboard right now.
Transfer the seared chicken thighs to the same plate as the sausage then set aside.
Now it’s time to make the roux, which will thicken and flavor the gumbo. First though, take the Dutch oven off the heat to cool for a couple minutes. The roux is made from oil and flour and since the Dutch oven retains heat very well, we don’t want it to burn the roux.
After a couple minutes, return the Dutch oven to the burner over medium-low heat then add 3 Tablespoons oil and sprinkle in 6 Tablespoons gluten-free or all-purpose flour. Whisk constantly for the next 10-15 minutes until the roux has turned the color of caramel. Many gumbo recipes call for cooking the roux until it’s dark brown but I also like the flavor of a lighter roux (plus it takes less time to get there!)
Next add 1 chopped green bell pepper, 2 chopped celery stalks, and 1 large shallot or small onion that’s been chopped then saute until the vegetables are slightly tender, 5 minutes. I like using a wooden spoon with a flat edge to make sure the roux isn’t sticking to the bottom of the Dutch oven.
Finally, add 2 Tablespoons tomato paste and 2 minced garlic cloves then saute for 1 more minute. I always keep extra tomato paste frozen in 2 Tablespoon segments in a plastic baggie. So easy to snap off a segment then throw it in the pot!
Next add a couple big glugs of low sodium chicken broth then start scraping the bottom of the Dutch oven to loosen any bits. Just keep adding glugs and scraping.
Add the remaining chicken broth from 7 cups total then add 2 bay leaves and a few spices including 1 Tablespoon Cajun seasoning, 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika, and 1/4 teaspoon (or more or less) cayenne pepper. Add the sausage and chicken back into the Dutch oven, turn the heat up to high to bring the gumbo to a boil, and then turn the heat back down to medium and simmer uncovered for 1-1/2 hours, occasionally skimming off the fat that raises to the top.
At this point your gumbo should be thick, rich, and luxurious – oh man!! Remove and discard the bay leaves, then take the chicken thighs out and discard the bones and skin. Shred the meat then add it back into the gumbo and stir to combine.
Scoop the gumbo over cooked white rice then devour!
free email bonus
Dinner Made EASY
5 days of simple yet flavorful recipes that take the stress out of dinnertime!
Smoked Sausage and Chicken Gumbo
Description
Smoked Sausage and Chicken Gumbo is a classic taste of the south. This mouthwatering recipe won me first prize at a family gumbo cook off!
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons + 1 teaspoon vegetable oil, divided
- 14oz Andouille sausage, sliced into half moons
- 4 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs (about 1-1/4lb)
- 1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 6 Tablespoons gluten-free or all-purpose flour (dish will not be GF if using AP flour)
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 2 small celery stalks, chopped
- 1 large shallot or 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 7 cups chicken broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more or less, optional)
Directions
- Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a 6+ quart Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat. Add sausage then saute until browned, 5-7 minutes. Transfer to a plate then set aside. Season both sides of chicken thighs with 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning then place skin side down in Dutch oven. Sear on both sides until golden brown, 3-4 minutes a side (does not need to be cooked through,) then transfer to plate with sausage and set aside.
- Remove Dutch oven from heat for a few minutes to cool slightly then place back over medium-low heat. Add remaining 3 Tablespoons oil then sprinkle in flour and whisk constantly until mixture is the color of caramel, 10-15 minutes (this is your roux.) Add bell pepper, celery, and shallot or onion then saute until vegetables are slightly tender, 5 minutes, scraping the bottom of the Dutch oven often with a wooden spoon to make sure roux doesn't burn. Add garlic and tomato paste then saute for one more minute.
- Add a couple big glugs of chicken broth at a time to the Dutch oven, using the wooden spoon to scrape up any bits on the bottom. Add remaining chicken broth, remaining 1 Tablespoon Cajun seasoning, bay leaves, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, sauteed sausage and chicken thighs then turn heat up to bring gumbo to a boil. Turn heat down to medium then simmer uncovered for 1-1/2 hours, occasionally skimming off the fat that rises to the top.
- Transfer chicken to a cutting board then remove and discard skin and bones. Shred chicken then add back into the gumbo. Remove bay leaves then taste and adjust seasonings if necessary. Serve over cooked white rice.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
This recipe has got to be one of my favorites. Between the smoky Andouille sausage, buttery shredded chicken, and warming Cajun spices, this gumbo is packed to the max with flavor. Such a winner – enjoy!
Hands down THE BEST gumbo ever.
WINNING recipe!! I used chicken andouille and some previously cooked chicken that made the recipe a little faster.
Woo!! So glad it was a hit, Shannon!! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
It came out so good! But am curious if there was something I could have done to make it more thick?
I’ve always enjoyed making gumbo, but this gluten-free version is one to try out. Wonderful!
This is one of our favorites. I think I make it once a month! And my husband just requested it (instead of chili) for the Super Bowl!!
The flavor in this is amazing, and it’s easy to make – one of my all time favorite “stoups”!
About how many servings does this make? I’m thinking of using it this week but not sure if I should double it. Thanks!
Made this recipe tonight & it will definitely be on repeat!! Love it! So delicious. The step by step photos really helped out.
Made this when we played bridge last week. It was excellent. Can’t thank you enough for all your good recipes.
Looks delicious…I’ll definitely try this. And what a great tip about the tomato paste! Never thought of that!
My family devours this recipe! Have you ever tried making this in the Instant Pot?
I am fairly new to your site but our family already has three favorites of yours and that is hard to do in our family of four with differing picky tastes!
We were having a hard time finding chicken at the beginning of the pandemic here so I told my his a band to buy what he could find. That ended up being bone in chicken thighs, I thought oh great… what am I going to do with these? I froze them and about a month later saw this recipe. We live in the desert and it’s not exactly gumbo weather here right now, but I pretty much had everything on hand (subbed a red pepper for the green, and turkey kielbasa for the andouille).
This. Recipe. Is. AMAZING. It reminded me of being in New Orleans and I’ve never had so much success re-creating a creole staple at home. We all ate it up and decided it was a keeper; even my picky kids! I read through the comments and I too had a very thick, pasty roux. It also only cooked for about 8 minutes because at that point it was a dark Carmel color and started smelling a little burnt. I really bet the difference is using regular AP flour vs. rice flour. We aren’t gluten free, but I may try the rice flour next time after reading from a commenter that it makes a smoother gravy. I really think what added so much to the flavor of this as well was scraping up all those burnt parts from the bottom of the pan.
Thank you for a recipe that will be made in our house for years to come!
Celiac family and we absolutely love this recipe! I
Have made it three times now adding okra and shrimp to it the last two times. Hubby loves it!
So happy to hear that, Marcella! I’m going to try adding shrimp next time. YUM.
Great recipe! You know it’s a winner when your husband brings up how good dinner was multiple times throughout the night!