Healthy Jambalaya Recipe With Shrimp And Sausage (2024)

A simply, yet mouthwatering 30-minute healthy jambalaya recipe with minimal ingredients including shrimp, pre-cooked sausage and rice, and spicy Cajun spices. It's got deep southern flavors and is comfort food at its best!

Why make this jambalaya recipe

This healthy jambalaya recipe is a delicious "jumbled" or "mixed up" stew that is so easy to make and is bursting with fantastic flavors! It is one of our family favorite recipes and tops the charts just as much as this healthy turkey sweet potato chili and Indian coconut curry chicken rice soup.

All of the ingredients in this Louisiana cuisine are simple to find, yet if you run out of Cajun spice you can easily make it at home with common ingredients using this Cajun shrimp seasoning recipe. Guess what else, it gets better since it is free of dairy and gluten, low fat and super simple to make!

Jambalaya: Healthy Ingredients

Authentic jambalaya consists of meat and vegetables mixed with rice and Cajun spices (you can also learn more here). Typically the meat is chicken or pork and always sausage. In some cases crayfish and shrimp are incorporated. Jambalaya vegetables are green bell peppers, onion, celery, chili and sometimes carrots, okra, tomatoes, and garlic are used then seasoned with Cajun seasoning, which makes this dish spicy!

Here is what you need for this healthy jambalaya:

• Shrimp – frozen that is already deveined and with shells and tails removed to keep the recipe easy.
• Sausage links – either lean, and natural with not nitrates added or use chicken sausage. To keep this simple, use sausage that is already cooked.
• Olive oil – for sautéing the vegetables
• Garlic
• White onion
• Green and red bell peppers
• Celery
• 1 (14 ounce) can of fire roasted diced tomatoes with juice or crushed tomatoes
• 1 dry bay leaf
• Chicken or vegetable broth
• Cajun seasoning mix
• Optional to add an 8 ounce chicken breast that is cooked and shredded (although it is not used in this recipe in the images
• Cooked white or brown rice
• Salt and pepper
• Optional to garnish at the end with green onion or fresh chopped cilantro for a pop of color!

To keep this healthy jambalaya simple I suggest making the rice in advance and adding it in before serving. That way this popular French dish is on the table in as little as 20 minutes! But if you have the time, you can also add the rice without cooking it first. Directions for both are included in the printable recipe below.

How to make this healthy and easy jambalaya recipe

Follow along by the numbered pictures.

1. First on medium-high heat the olive oil on the stove and add the vegetables.
2. Sauté the vegetables for 6 minutes until soft, mixing frequently.
3. Add to the pot the fire roasted tomatoes, broth, Cajun seasoning, pepper, salt, broth, bay leaf, sausage slices, and cooked rice.
4. Stir together and heat for 4 minutes.
5. Add the prepared uncooked shrimp and stir them in.
6. Cover and simmer on medium-low for 10 minutes or until the shrimp is cooked and pink in color. Serve right away or continue to heat uncovered to release more juices and thicken the sauce, or stir in 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to thicken the jambalaya sauce.

Jambalaya calories

A common question I have come across over the internet is how many calories does jambalaya have? My easy jambalaya uses minimal rice and no chicken, which cuts out some of the calories. This recipe makes about 16 cups, serving 8 people with 2 cups each with under 400 calories per serving (391 calories to be exact).

Frequently asked question

More healthy shrimp and sausage recipes

• Sheet Pan Sausage And Vegetables
• Cajun Shrimp Seasoning
• Shrimp and Scallop Pasta In Cajun Garlic Cream Sauce
• Coconut Milk Shrimp Skewers
• Healthy Grilled Shrimp Fajitas
• Turkey Sausage Cloud Eggs

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