Popeye’s Jambalaya Recipe - Recipes.net (2024)

Popeye’s Jambalaya Recipe - Recipes.net (1)

Mardi Gras, voodoo, and jazz music reflect the beautiful state of Louisiana. Apart from being the birthplace of Louis Armstrong, the most influential Jazz performer of all time, it also houses mouth-watering southern cuisine. Jambalaya is made up of various broths and vegetables depending on which version you plan to make. For this recipe, we’ll be introducing a Jambalaya recipe from a well-known fast-food chain. Popeye’s Jambalaya captures the essence of its Louisiana roots. A flavorful dish filled with spices, vegetables, and meat, it’s a hearty bowl of rice you shouldn’t miss out on.

Jambalaya is a truly diverse dish with influences from the Spanish, French, and even Germans. And, with it, comes two types of dishes; Creole and Cajun. To tell which is which by appearance alone, the Creole Jambalaya appears orange or reddish. If it’s brown, most probably it’s Cajun. When it comes to making it, some would stick to the Creole version, where it includes the red, juicy tomatoes, hence the color. The Cajun version chooses to leave out the tomatoes and cooks the meat first to allow it to brown. Regardless of which version you choose, this recipe is a scrumptious dish to get a taste of New Orleans.

Typically served with Southern cornbread, you can pair this copycat dish with our Cajun Crawfish Cornbread recipe. The wonders of the deep south lie in delicious food and good music. Not everyone has the luxury to visit the French Quarter but whipping up a part of their culture is as close as we can get.

How To Make Popeye’s Jambalaya

A mouth-watering dish to cook in the kitchen, it’s a hassle-free dish made up of various spices, fresh vegetables, and the rich culture of the South.

Prep: 5 mins

Cook: 30 mins

Total: 35 mins

Serves:

Ingredients

  • 3 cups white rice, cooked
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 7 oz boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 3 spicy sausages, diced
  • 3 oz yellow onion, chopped
  • ½ cup celery, chopped
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 can crushed tomatoes, 7 oz
  • ¼ cup chicken broth
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ cup scallions, chopped
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • salt & ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. In a deep skillet, heat oil and cook chicken until cooked through.

  2. Add sausages, onion, celery, cumin, chili powder, paprika, thyme, & cayenne. Sauté for a few minutes.

  3. Add flour and stir until thickened.

  4. Add tomatoes, broth, and Worcestershire and bring mixture to a boil.
  5. Reduce briefly until flavors intensify.

  6. Remove pot from heat and stir in rice and scallions.

  7. Season to taste with salt & pepper. Adjust accordingly. Mix together.

  8. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

  • Sugar: 1g
  • :
  • Calcium: 32mg
  • Calories: 206kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 12g
  • Cholesterol: 39mg
  • Fat: 12g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Iron: 2mg
  • Potassium: 234mg
  • Protein: 11g
  • Saturated Fat: 4g
  • Sodium: 281mg
  • Vitamin A: 373IU
  • Vitamin C: 3mg
Nutrition Disclaimer

Want to recreate Popeye's famous Jambalaya at home? Join our Recipe Sharing forum to discuss tips, tricks, and your own twists on this classic dish!

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I serve with Jambalaya?

Apart from the classic cornbread, zucchini and okras are great pairs with Jambalaya. You can cook, fry, or sautee them and adjust the taste to your liking. You can also try our Grilled Okra recipe for a smokey flavor with a savory Jambalaya.

What is the difference between gumbo and jambalaya?

It’s not a surprise that gumbo and jambalaya can be mistaken for each other. However, they contrast in a handful of ways. Gumbo is a thickened stew that uses thickening agents like roux, flour cooked in fat, and file, which also gives flavor to the dish. Gumbo is served over rice while Jambalaya is a one-pot dish where the rice is cooked together with the ingredients. If you’re curious to try a gumbo recipe, you can refer to our Chicken and Seafood Gumbo recipe and give it a go.

Popeye’s Jambalaya Recipe - Recipes.net (2)

Conclusion

A true Popeye’s Copycat, it’s the same rich and hearty flavors of a jambalaya. Throwing in shrimps or bell pepper would add a Southern touch. It’s a great recipe to prepare for Mardi Gras or something to impress your family.

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Popeye’s Jambalaya Recipe - Recipes.net (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to a good jambalaya? ›

Use the Right Ingredients: Authentic jambalaya typically includes ingredients like andouille sausage, chicken, shrimp, bell peppers, onions, celery, and tomatoes. Use these traditional ingredients for the best flavor. Season Liberally: Cajun and Creole seasoning blends are essential for flavoring jambalaya.

What's the difference between Cajun jambalaya and jambalaya? ›

Cajun vs.

Creole jambalaya, also known as red jambalaya, contains tomatoes. Cajun or brown jambalaya does not. Jambalaya isn't thickened with roux, although some cooks do include a little skillet-browned flour.

What are the two types of jambalaya? ›

A hearty blend of rice, meats, vegetables, and lots of seasoning, jambalaya is a cold-weather comfort food that is sure to please everyone. There are two types of jambalaya: Cajun and Creole.

Does Popeyes have jambalaya? ›

Popeye's Jambalaya captures the essence of its Louisiana roots.

What is the Holy Trinity of jambalaya? ›

The "holy trinity" in Cajun cuisine and Louisiana Creole cuisine is the base for several dishes in the regional cuisines of Louisiana and consists of onions, bell peppers and celery. The preparation of Cajun/Creole dishes such as crawfish étouffée, gumbo, and jambalaya all start from this base.

What is the difference between Cajun and Creole jambalaya recipe? ›

Creole jambalaya includes tomatoes—possibly a sub for paella's saffron (a once out-of-reach ingredient for southern Louisianans). Cajun jambalaya, found more frequently further outside of New Orleans, omits tomatoes, yielding distinctly cooked grains, garnished with chicken, sausage, and later, spring onions.

Do tomatoes belong in jambalaya? ›

Two main categories of jambalaya exist: Creole (or red) jambalaya, which is associated with the city of New Orleans and contains tomato, and Cajun (or brown) jambalaya, which contains no tomato and is more common in other parts of Louisiana. The recipe I'm focusing on here is the former, with tomato.

What makes jambalaya taste like jambalaya? ›

The one ingredient that seems to be fairly constant in all Jambalaya preparations though is some kind of sausage, and preferably a smoked one. Andouille, a spicy smoked sausage native to Louisiana, is the traditional choice.

What is the best rice to use for jambalaya? ›

One of the biggest complaints when making jambalaya is that the rice ends up mushy. And there's two main culprits of this – choosing the wrong type of rice and over-stirring. For this recipe, you want long-grain white rice, like basmati or jasmine. Don't use short-grain rice.

What is a fun fact about jambalaya? ›

There is some folklore that claims jambalaya originates from the French Quarter of New Orleans, in the original sector Some culinary scholars argue that it may have been a local version of the Spanish rice dish paella French influence was strong in New Orleans, and native spices from Louisiana, the Gulf Coast and the ...

Why Popeyes stop selling Cajun Rice? ›

"At Popeyes, we are always listening to feedback from our guests and looking for ways to improve our menu," the fast-food chain responded via email. "So, after thoughtful consideration, our Cajun Rice and Green Beans are no longer on the permanent menu. However, we still have a bunch of delicious sides." There it was.

What is Popeyes signature dish? ›

Popeyes' signature spicy chicken isn't necessarily for the faint of heart. Whether you're getting a two piece chicken meal for yourself or a 16 piece version for the whole family, choosing the spicy option means you'll likely want a glass of milk on hand (especially for the kids).

Why is Popeyes no longer serving Cajun Rice? ›

In a statement, the company said the move was based on customer feedback and “looking for ways to improve our menu.”

How do you keep rice from getting mushy in jambalaya? ›

One of the biggest complaints when making jambalaya is that the rice ends up mushy. And there's two main culprits of this – choosing the wrong type of rice and over-stirring. For this recipe, you want long-grain white rice, like basmati or jasmine. Don't use short-grain rice.

How do you elevate jambalaya? ›

Add clams, mussels, shrimp, green beans, and peas. Cook an additional 15 minutes. Serve with crusty bread for sopping up some fantastic sauce.

What is the difference between Cajun and Creole seasoning for jambalaya? ›

Popular Cajun seasonings like Tony Chachere's and Slap Ya Mama get heat from red pepper, with black pepper, salt, and garlic powder in the mix to enhance the flavor of food. Creole seasoning rounds out spicy red pepper with herbs like thyme, oregano, basil, and bay leaf.

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