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!
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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!
I lived in Louisiana for several years and make a very good gumbo. I base mine off of the Tabasco recipe website and this has many similarities! I have been making it every Christmas Eve for several years now. Yum!
Made this last night. It was very tasty and filling! I found that the sauce wasn’t really thickening up, so I added 1 T more of rice flour and later a 1/4 tsp. of xantham gum. Perhaps I had too much fat left from the chicken and sausage in the pan? I dunno–you have to be flexible sometimes :-)
Yes, totally – way to think on the fly! I will say it does thicken up quite rapidly in the last 15 minutes or so. So glad you enjoyed it though!
Yum, this looks fantastic! Do you think it would be pretty straight forward to double the recipe, or should I just stick to making two batches?
Doubling should be no problem! You’ll probably want to saute the chicken in two batches then give everything a bit more time (veggies 7 minutes, simmering maybe 2 hours, etc.) Enjoy!
The Johnsonville andouille is da-bomb! This looks so good, Kristin. If you don’t have a deathly hatred for okra I’d like to suggest throwing in bag of frozen pieces – it’s absolutely NOT slimy and adds an extra element of flavor and texture that I love in gumbo. = )
Ooo yummy, I’ll check that out! Thanks for the tip, Jamie!
Oh yes. This is the recipe I’ve been waiting for! Can’t wait to try this at home…need to find a good dutch oven first. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve never had gumbo, but this looks super tempting. And that picture of your boy running through the zoo just melts my heart.
This recipe screams freezer-ready to me, and as someone who is seven-ish weeks away from Baby, I’m definitely looking for good recipes that fall into that category. Any experience with freezing a batch or two for later?
Yum! And I love rice flour. I have used it for years to thicken recipes and make gravies. I’ve always found that it is less likely to “clump” and makes the smoothest roux. Definitely beats AP flour and tapioca starch in my opinion. BTW, I love your posts with Lincoln; they evoke such great memories of when my children were little!
Hey Kristin…just thought I’d share. Johnsonville also makes a Chicken Andouille sausage in that same type of packaging (split rope). I’m OBSESSED with it. It’s become one freezer staples. Any time I want to whip up a pasta or something and I don’t have any chicken breasts or other meat thawed, I just pull that out and it thaws in no time. AND it’s delicious. You should give it a try!
Ooh! Kristin- where did you get your fabulous peacoat? Love that color on you as well:)
This looks yummy!
P.S. Napolean Dynamite is so hilarious!
Never tried gumbo before, this looks delicious!
I love MOPS! And gumbo! :)
When do you add the chicken back in?
Hi Linda! The last two step-by-step photos detail when to simmer then chicken then shred and add back in.
What happened to the Save this Recipe button? Waah!
Hi Karla! Unfortunately ZipList closed shop as of December 10, but there is a way to transfer your recipes to Epicurious!
Ack! I had a ton of recipes saved there! Many times I cut and paste recipes into my own humongous recipe file (yay Dropbox and iPad!) but when in a hurry, it was so convenient to just hit Save Recipe. Waahh! Good thing you keep an archive. Off to cut and paste your Gumbo recipe……
I know :( You’re whole recipe box should still be recoverable, though – all is not lost! :)
OK… do you think I could make this ahead and reheat? travelling to my moms for the holidays and my sister is GF. We’ve been trying to come up with dishes that still seem festive, but are still GF and don’t feel like she’s missing out. Would love to make up a big batch and take to reheat.
For sure! You can reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat. You might want to add a splash of chicken broth to help get it going – it will appear thick cold, but it actually doesn’t need too much extra liquid to thin back out.
My family also used to let the kids open one gift on Christmas Eve – love that tradition! This gumbo looks amaze too. I’m adding it to my recipe list!
I’ve always wanted to try gumbo but it always looks intense to try and make. But this looks simple and delicious! I’m going to have to finally give it a try!
Yes! Love the Napoleon Dynamite reference :) Unfortunately all of my holiday experiences at the Des Moines zoo have been filled with long lines. Lincoln looks adorable though – and what a patient boy!
One of my college roommates hailed from Louisiana and she would often make a big batch of gumbo for us to share. I never asked for her recipe so I will have to give this one a try.
I have a question about your roux. Whenever I make a roux, it immediately gets clumpy when I add in the flour, rather than staying smooth. Am I adding too much flour? Not enough fat? What’s your trick?
Sounds like maybe you don’t have enough fat in the pot, perhaps? There will be some fat leftover from the chicken + the 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil which will be plenty to sprinkle in the flour then whisk until smooth, which should only take 5 seconds or so.
Your recipe says 10-15 minutes after the roux directions. Does that mean to wisk for that long? My roux started to smell burnt.
Yep! Step two says to whisk constantly for 10-15 minutes.