Slow Cooker Jambalaya - Men Food Flavor

Men Can Cook Chef Level: Lightweight

Yields about 16 servings

Intro

We are making Slow Cooker Jambalaya! I have crazy love for Cajun-style food! My old man made Jambalaya a few times and I always loved it. Then I had a chance to go to New Orleans through a work conference and that was it. I was hooked! The seafood, the spices, & just the atmosphere in New Orleans. I mean you walk into every bar there is live music and BEER! Around every corner is just a fantastic restaurant creating what I believe to be some of the best food on earth! Crab cakes, Shrimp & Grits, Gumbo, Po’boy Sandwiches, & crawfish just to name a few great meals available in New Orleans.

Travel and eat different foods! Drink a beer with a stranger & become friends! It’s totally worth it! Ok, I’ll get off my soapbox now.

Moving on here, the only problem was for years I could not make a good version on my own! After I figured it out it’s so easy with this Slow Cooker Jambalaya recipe. This is a special one for me I make it a couple of times a year & with Fat Tuesday here it’s a great day to post this recipe.

With any of my recipes feel free to make it your own and if you don’t like an ingredient you don’t have to use it! Also if you like something that is not in there add it! I have a strong dislike for onions, so if you follow me long enough you will notice I don’t use them in many recipes. With that said they have their place and if you like onions add away! Now to more important things the Beer pairing.

Beer pairing

Ok, the fun part of my recipe posts! The Beer! Now I have found that malty sweet dark beers seem to go well with Cajun spice. The flavor of the sausage in this recipe just mixes great with this type of Beer. Now if I’m in New Orleans I’d go with a local beer such as Abita Turbodog or Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager.

Since I don’t live in New Orleans and my guess is many of you don’t as well. I’m going to suggest a national brand that really is a great beer….Michelob Amber Bock. Anyone here in the States should be able to find this one. It has the sweet caramel malty taste that brings out the sausage flavor in this Slow Cooker Jambalaya.

Men you can do this!

Ingredients

3 Medium Green Bell Peppers
2 cups of Chopped Celery
1 yellow onion (I left this out)
3 Cloves of Garlic
3 Chicken Thighs
1 tsp of dried oregano
1 tsp of thyme
½ tsp of smoked paprika
½ tsp of cayenne pepper
3 tsp of cracked pepper
2 TBS Cajun seasoning (Do this to taste may need more or less)
28oz of Andouille Smoked Sausage
12oz of Crabmeat
4 cups of Chicken Stock (maybe less explained in directions)
2 Pounds of Raw Shrimp
28oz Can of Diced Tomatoes
2 cups of Brown Rice

Directions

Cut up the Green Bell Peppers, Onion, & Celery and add it to the slow cooker.
Mince the garlic cloves and add them to the slow cooker.
Cut up the Andouille Smoked sausage into small circles and add them to the slow cooker.
Add in the 28oz Can of Diced tomatoes.
Place the three Chicken Thighs on top.
Now sprinkle the spices over the top of the chicken thighs.
Start to add in the chicken stock until everything is covered. You may not need to add all of the 4 cups, but you have it if you do.
Add in the Crab Meat. (I used canned crab meat and it works just fine, but if you have fresh crab meat that would be better)
Give everything a good mix.
Cover and set the slow cooker on high for 4 hours.
After the 4 hours quickly remove the chicken and replace the lid.
Shred the chicken with 2 forks and add it quickly back into the slow cooker.
Now at this point, the liquid should be slightly boiling.
Add in the brown rice quickly and replace the lid. The Brown rice should take between 40 minutes to an hour.
At this point, you want to prepare the raw shrimp by deshelling and removing the tails. (Some people leave the tails on for presentation, but not this guy!)
Keep an eye on the rice and once you have around 10 to 15 minutes to go add the shrimp. The shrimp will cook quickly.
Once the Rice and Shrimp are cooked set the slow cooker to warm.
Make yourself a bowl and enjoy with that ice-cold beer.