Reach your New Year’s health goals AND eat your favorite comfort foods with our Easy Sausage Jambalaya Recipe! Made with just 8 ingredients in one pot in less than 30 minutes, this keto jambalaya with cauliflower rice delivers all the flavors you crave with none of the fuss.
Table of contents
Why We Love This Recipe
After all the decadence of the holidays, we’re always eager to jump into the New Year, New You craze with everyone else. This pared-down, healthy jambalaya recipe is always one of our favorites to jumpstart the transition away from the cookie plates and towards a more balanced lifestyle.
Aside from delivering big Cajun flavors, this homemade jambalaya recipe is also:
- Made With Fewer Than 10 Ingredients – A short ingredient list makes this recipe extra easy to pull off.
- Quick & Easy – You just can’t beat a one-pot preparation. And, if you buy frozen veggies that are already chopped and ready to go, the prep work is nearly non-existent.
- Diet-Friendly – This naturally gluten-free jambalaya is also low-carb, keto, Whole30, and Paleo-friendly, so no matter what diet you’re subscribing to you can get in on the fun.
Ingredients & Substitutions
As promised, you only need a few simple ingredients to make this low-carb jambalaya. Here’s your shopping list:
- Cauliflower Rice – We typically buy bags of frozen cauliflower rice to stash in the freezer for whenever a craving hits, but you’re welcome to make your own, too. Simply break down a head or two of cauliflower into florets, then pulse in a food processor until broken down into small, rice-sized pieces.
- Cajun-Style Andouille Sausage – This smoky, slightly spicy pork sausage is a favorite in our Coastie kitchens. Feel free to swap in andouille-style chicken sausage if needed.
- Bell Pepper – Any color will work here, but remember that green will taste more earthy and the yellow, orange and red varieties will be sweeter. You’re always welcome to use a frozen blend of bell peppers if you simply can’t decide.
- Yellow Onion – You can also swap in sweet onion, white onion, or shallots here if needed.
- Olive Oil – Just your normal cooking oil will be perfect here.
- Cajun Seasoning – Tony Chachere’s is our go-to brand, but you’re welcome to use any seasoning blend you and your family prefer.
- Kosher Salt & Freshly Ground Pepper – Every dish needs seasoning!
How To Make Keto Jambalaya
This easy jambalaya recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes thanks to our streamlined recipe. Here’s how it’s made:
Step 1: Sauté. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and bell peppers and sauté until they begin to soften.
Step 2: Brown Sausage. Add the sliced sausage to the skillet and cook until it begins to brown, about 3-4 minutes.
Step 3: Add (Uncooked) Cauliflower Rice & Seasoning to the pan, stir to combine, then cook until the rice is heated through, about 5 minutes.
Step 4: Taste & Adjust Seasonings as needed. You might need more cajun seasoning (not all brands are created equally), or you may like extra salt, pepper, or the addition of some garlic powder. When it tastes right, serve and enjoy!
Optional Variations
While we love this healthy, homemade jambalaya recipe exactly as written, there’s always room for you to make any recipe your own. Here are a few variations to consider:
- Use chicken sausage to cut down on some of the fat and calories. Just make sure to reach for an andouille-flavored sausage to get the Cajun jambalaya flavor you crave.
- Add shrimp. For an added layer of flavor, you can pop some peeled and deveined shrimp in the pot when you add the cauliflower rice.
- Make it extra spicy. We know that some folks like it hot, so feel free to add a chopped jalapeño to the sauté mix in step 1. You’re also welcome to use a few glugs of Southern vinegar-based hot sauce (e.g. Crystal) to assist in the final seasoning process.
Expert Tips
This keto cajun jambalaya recipe is super simple, but we do have a couple of pro tricks to share:
- Buy frozen cauliflower rice to cut back on prep time. You can also buy pre-chopped frozen onions and bell peppers!
- Meal-prep FTW! This healthy keto jambalaya will keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, simply zap in the microwave or reheat in a cast-iron skillet on the stovetop until warmed through.
FAQs
In our minds, jambalaya should be nice and thick, not runny or soupy. If you find that yours is watery, simply continue to cook it with the lid off to evaporate any excess liquid.
Nope! While gumbo is always made using a roux, the primary thickening agent in jambalaya is the rice. In this healthy, low-carb recipe, we swap in cauliflower rice instead.
We use cauliflower rice, which isn’t actually rice at all.
More Easy One-Pot Recipes
- Takeout Favorite, Homemade Flavors: Instant Pot Pork Lo Mein
- Savor the Simplicity: Crockpot Soy Spareribs Recipe
- Crockpot Red Beans & Rice
- Louisiana Seafood Gumbo Recipe
If y’all tried this sumptuous recipe for our healthy, low-carb jambalaya, holler and let us know how it turned out for you by giving us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and commenting below. You can also always feel free to tag us (@creamcheeseandlemonsqueeze) in your social media posts so we can cheer you on.
Alright, y’all. Thanks so much for stopping by! For even more down-home Mississippi Coast cooking inspiration, be sure to follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and TikTok. You can also get all of our newest content delivered straight to your inbox by signing up for our weekly newsletter. We can’t wait to see you again soon!
XO,
Anna & Ashley
Easy Keto Jambalaya
Ingredients
- 20 oz frozen cauliflower rice 2 frozen bags
- 13 oz Andouille sausage
- 1 bell pepper diced
- 1 yellow onion small, diced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning Tony's Chachere's
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; sauté the diced bell pepper and onion with the oil for a few minutes, or until they begin to soften.
- Stir in the sliced sausage and continue cooking 3-4 minutes or until the sausage starts to brown.
- Add the frozen cauliflower rice (uncooked) and Cajun seasoning (Tony's Chachere's) to the pan; stir and continue cooking for about 5 minutes or until the cauliflower rice has warmed through.
- Do a taste test to see if you need more Cajun seasoning (not all brands are created equally). You may also prefer a little salt, pepper or garlic powder.
Notes
- Use chicken sausage to cut down on some of the fat and calories. Just make sure to reach for an andouille-flavored sausage to get the Cajun jambalaya flavor you crave.
- Add shrimp. For an added layer of flavor, you can pop some peeled and deveined shrimp in the pot when you add the cauliflower rice.
- Make it extra spicy. We know that some folks like it hot, so feel free to add a chopped jalapeño to the sauté mix in step 1. You’re also welcome to use a few glugs of Southern vinegar-based hot sauce (e.g. Crystal) to assist in the final seasoning process.
- Buy frozen cauliflower rice to cut back on prep time. You can also buy pre-chopped frozen onions and bell peppers!
- Meal-prep FTW! This healthy keto jambalaya will keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, simply zap in the microwave or reheat in a cast-iron skillet on the stovetop until warmed through.