Is it ok to freeze jambalaya? (Easy Freezer Jambalaya Recipe)

Gluten Free

Easy Freezer Jambalaya Recipe

I LOVE seafood, shellfish, sausage, chicken….I LOVE FOOD! This freezer jambalaya recipe makes my mouth water everytime. 

Its a delicious jambalaya recipe filled with shrimp, sausage and chicken. Plus it only takes 5-10 minutes to make. This freezer meal is so simple and all you have to do is throw the ingredients together into a freezer bag. 

All the ingredients are frozen raw so you get the fresh best cook the first time you make the recipe. 

This healthy freezer jambalaya recipe is the perfect dump crock pot freezer meal. 

Whenever I create a new recipe health is one of my top priorities, along with BIG flavor. Feeling good about what I am eating and feeding my family as well as knowing the food is delicious is super important. 

TIP: You can monitor the amount of kick in this recipe by adding more of less spice to your recipe. My kids are young and love jambalaya but hate spice. Hopefully I can spice it up as they get older but for now we are mild with dinner. 

Why you will love this freezer jambalaya recipe. 

  • 10 Minutes to Prep
  • Super Easy
  • Extremely Tasty
  • Healthy (Soy Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Preservative Free)
  • Family Friendly
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Is Jambalaya healthy?

Yes! Any recipe can be made healthy as long as you are using real whole healthy ingredients. I avoid gluten and sugar in my recipes to promote clean eating. I also love to make my own seasoning mix so that there are no preservatives or extra ingredients that should not be consumed. 
 

Ingredients you will need for this healthy easy slow cooker jambalaya recipe. 

  • chicken thighs
  • sweet Italian sausage
  • shrimp
  • diced tomatoes
  • onion
  • bell pepper
  • celery
  • chicken broth
  • oregano
  • bay leaves
  • garlic powder
  • creole seasoning

Can jambalaya be made ahead of time?

 
I love this question. Whenever I hear about making food ahead of time the question usually involved cooking the recipe ahead of time. But who wants to spend hours in the kitchen to cook something fresh and then eat it later. 
 
No way! I always recommend preparing the recipe and freezing it raw. This way it takes away all the prep of making dinner and allows you to enjoy a fresh recipe after its cooked for the first time. 
 
This jambalaya recipe uses just that strategy. Freezer to crockpot meals like this one are a great way to save time and energy while still enjoying family dinners regularly. 
 

How to make hearty jambalaya?

SUPER EASY! Just throw all the ingredients together into a freezer bag and thats it. All done! Takes only 5 minutes to put together then you can move on and enjoy the day.  
 

How to make this easy jambalaya recipe in the slow cooker?

Just throw everything into a slow cooker and let it cook for you. No mess, no fuss and a delicious home-cooked dinner!
 
 
 
 

 

What kind of meat can I use?

There is seafood, sausage, and chicken in this dish. I love using Italian sausage, a hot Italian sausage would be amazing. Chicken thighs work really well or chicken breasts and shrimp of course. I love using deveined and peeled shrimp to save some time. 

Be sure to buy uncooked shrimp so that you do not end up with overcooked shrimp.  

What to serve with this savory jambalaya recipe?

Serve with any of your favorite sides. I love serving with a fresh slaw. Or some fruit salad. Try playing with a mix of textures when you choose sides to go with this dish. Mashed potatoes is also a perfect side. 
 

How to store this healthy heart jambalaya recipe?

After cooking store in fridge in an airtight container for 3-5 days.
 

Do I need a slow cooker for this recipe?

You can use a slow cooker or crock pot for this recipe. It is designed to be fast and easy so you do not have to take the time to cook all night.
 

Can I use an instant pot instead?

Of course! If you are tight on time or a last minute cook then throw everything in the instant post and adjust cook time. For slow cooker to instant pot conversion times click here to get a simple instant pot cheat sheet. You will never have to guess or research an instant pot cook time again!
 

*See FAQ’s and specific tips following recipe below. (so you don’t have to scroll for a million years to find the food 😉 ).

How do you make this freezer jambalaya recipe? 👇 

Easy Slow Cooker Jambalaya

Easy make ahead freezer jambalaya recipe. Thisdump and go crockpot freezer meal is delicious and family friendly!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time6 hours
Total Time6 hours 5 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: crockpot dump jambalaya, crockpot jambalaya recipe, freezer meals, grandma's jambalaya recipe
Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 1 lb chicken thighs
  • 1 lb sweet italian sausage
  • 1 lb frozen shrimp, uncooked (peeled and deveined)
  • 14 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1 large bell pepper, diced
  • 1 cup celery, diced
  • 2 cups chicken broth or broth of preference
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1-2 tbsp creole seasoning

Optional: Homemade Creole Seasoning

  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp thyme
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil

Instructions

  • Add everything, except the shrimp, to the slow cooker.
  • Cook on low 7-8 hours.
  • Stir in shrimp during the last 30 min cook time.
  • Stir and serve over rice.

Freezer Directions:

  • Label Freezer bag with recipe name, cooking from frozen directions and expiration date (todays date plus three months).
  • Add all ingredients, except shrimp, to labeled gallon freezer bag. Freeze shrimp in its own bag in freezer. (TIP: purchase shrimp in 1lb bags and throw into the freezer when you get home.)
  • Store in freezer for 3-4 months.

Cooking from frozen directions:

  • Thaw overnight in fridge or in the morning in water (meal may not be 100% thawed but that is ok).
  • Dump contents of gallon freezer bag into slow cooker. (Do not add shrimp yet).
  • Cook on low 7-8 hours.
  • Stir in shrimp during the last 30 min cook time.
  • Stir and serve over rice.

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How freezer meals will change your life.

Makes homecooking Easy

Only spend one hour in the kitchen for a whole week of dinners. Day of, throw your freezer meal in the slow cooker or instant pot and enjoy dinner!

feel confident

Knowing you have a fool proof systen for something that is easy and works gives you confidence in the kitchen. So wether you're a seasoned chef or occational home cook the method of freezer cooking will work for you!

Eat Healthier

Because you're prepping the freezer meals with fresh foods you're eating healthier. Anytime you cook at home instead of eating out you get the benefits of healthier food.

Enjoy less stress

Have you ever felt the pressure of forgetting about dinner, or having to cook at the end of a long day?! No more, just grab something out of the freezer and you're good to go.

Frequently asked questions

No problem! Just throw the freezer meal in your slow cooker and you’re all set. If it doesn’t fit thaw it for a few minutes in warm water. (You may need to add an extra 30 minutes cook time if completely frozen when cooking).

After jambalaya has cooked it will store in an airtight container for 3-5 days. Before cooking the jambalaya can sit in the freezer to thaw, if desired, for 24-48 hours. 

Just throw your frozen jambalaya freezer meal into the slow cooker, can be thawed or frozen, and the recipe will cook for you. No special reheating required. 

Yes! The best way to freeze jambalaya is raw so that it is fresh the first time you cook it. Makes a hug difference and will give you the best flavor and texture. 

Absolutely. You may have to play around with cook times. If you’re interested in an instant pot cheat sheet for cook times click here!

This jambalaya freezer meal will last for 3-4 months in the freezer. Its an easy jambalaya recipe you will be craving.

Jambalaya is unique in the way that it typically contains seafood, sausage and chicken. All three together with spices and veggies giving you a savory delicious flavor you will want more and more of. 

If you want to freeze leftover cooked jambalaya then try portioning it out into individual containers and then freeze in an airtight container. Take then out when needed and thaw to enjoy. 

Food frozen after cooking will never give the same results as when frozen before cooking. I would advise against freezing cooked jambalaya. 

Yes, leftover jambalaya will last 3-5 days in the fridge if stored properly. 

It all depends on the recipe. Cooked rice may end up with a poor texture if the chicken is raw and still needs to be cooked. However if you are freezing cooked rice and cooked chicken together then you are good to go. 

If you are making the recipe from scratch then you have control of the spices. I add no cayenne and little to no red pepper flakes when a recipe calls for them if I am trying to minimize spice. I also would limit hot sauce and sriracha if the recipe calls for that. 

If the jambalaya is ordered and too spicy try adding cheese or some form of dairy to help calm down the spice. 

Don't forget to pin this recipe and save it for later! 👇

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