Shrimp, Sausage and Rice Recipe

One-pot recipes are a miracle, especially for individuals who live busy lifestyles. A one-pot dinner offers the pleasure of having a warm, home-cooked meal without all the fuss. Additionally, one-pot recipes almost always consist of protein, starch, and greens, which are the essentials that our body needs. If you’re running out of one-pot dishes to make, here’s a new one for you to try.

The one-pot sausage, shrimp, and rice is a recipe that is reminiscent of Jambalaya. This Cajun shrimp and sausage rice dish is both comforting and flavorful, making it a great recipe to cook on weeknight dinners or anytime you wish to make it! 

What is Cajun Seasoning?

You might be wondering, what exactly is Cajun seasoning? Cajun is a word that refers to an ethnic group that mainly lives in the bayou area of southern Louisiana. Cajun cuisine is a style of cooking developed by the Cajuns. It is also known as “rustic cuisine” which means it is based on locally available ingredients and that the preparation is relatively simple. Crawfish, shrimp, and andouille sausage are staple meats in the savory dishes of Cajun culture. 

Cajun seasoning is a rustic blend of seasoning that brings depth and flavor to any meal. It is often used in a lot of great recipes in Cajun cuisine. There are commercial Cajun spice blends available in the market, but you can also make your own at home as you’ll probably have these ingredients on hand. Not only can you use this seasoning blend in Cajun shrimp and sausage rice, but you can also use it in numerous healthy recipes that you can eat for both lunch and dinner. Here are the spices that you’ll need:

Cayenne Pepper

The cayenne pepper is what brings the heat to Cajun recipes. You can control the spice level of your homemade seasoning by adding more or less of this.

Smoked Paprika

This spice has a flavor profile that is rich, mild, sweet, and smoky. If you don’t have smoked paprika on hand, the regular version is fine. Not only can you use this in Cajun recipes, but you can also add this to Mexican recipes, making it worth it.

Onion Powder

This adds a sweet and savory flavor to certain dishes that regular fresh onions cannot provide. 

Salt

Salt is essential to enhance all the other flavors in the seasoning. You may use kosher salt or regular table salt in your blend. However, do keep in mind that kosher salt may do a better job of drawing out meat in any recipe that you put it on.

Dried Oregano

This dried spice adds a warm, peppery flavor to the seasoning blend.

Dried Thyme

Thyme that is dried boasts a strong herbal flavor that also has certain floral notes.

Pepper

Black pepper adds a kick to any recipe without making the dish too spicy.

Ingredients for One-Pot Sausage and Shrimp Rice

For this Cajun shrimp and sausage rice recipe, you will need a large pot or a dutch oven to cook in. Here are the ingredients that you will need to make this delicious dinner for the family:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound uncooked shrimp
• 1 pound Andouille sausage
• 1 1/2 cups uncooked rice
• 1 green or red bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup plain diced tomatoes
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 stalks of celery, chopped
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning

While this recipe calls for fresh shrimp, you can use any kind of shrimp. Raw shrimp that has been peeled and deveined is great as you do not have to do the deveining yourself. Frozen shrimp is also a great choice as it is fresh shrimp frozen shortly after it was caught. It is even fresher than the shrimp being sold at the seafood counter. You simply need to thaw it before using it to cook.

As for rice, you will want to use long-grain rice. White rice is alright, but if you want a healthier alternative, you may use brown rice. Using long-grain rice, whether white or brown rice, means that the grains remain distinct when cooked and will not stick together. It also means that you will not end up with mushy rice. 

How To Make One-Pot Sausage and Shrimp Rice

One-pot Cajun shrimp and sausage rice is an easy shrimp recipe that you can whip up for dinner with the whole family on nights when you may be too busy. This Cajun shrimp and sausage rice recipe has a cooking time of 20 minutes.

1. In a bowl, add 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning to the shrimp. Stir to coat the shrimp evenly, and then set aside. 
2. Slice sausage into bite-sized pieces. You may use andouille sausage or smoked sausage.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in one pot or a dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook it for five minutes or until sausage begins to brown. You do not have to cook the smoked sausage thoroughly as it is fully cooked already. Using a slotted spoon, move the sausage to a plate and set it aside.
4. Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the pot and heat over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp in an even layer. When cooking shrimp, make sure that you cook them until they are opaque. Additionally, as the shrimp cooks, they will curl into a perfect C shape. If the shrimp has an O shape, you may have overcooked them.
5. Remove the shrimp from the pan and transfer it to a plate. 
6. Add rice to the pot. You may use white or brown rice, as long as they are of the long-grain kind. Add onions and all the remaining Cajun seasoning and saute on medium heat for 3 minutes.
7. Add the bell pepper and celery, and saute for another 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
8. Stir in the chicken broth, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and the cooked smoked sausage. 
9. Bring the pot to a simmer, uncovered. Give it a stir and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently. 
10. The rice is done when most of the liquid has evaporated. However, if all the liquid has evaporated and the rice is not yet tender or cooked, you may add additional chicken broth or water.
11. Once the rice is al dente, you can stir in the shrimp. Let the shrimp cook for an additional 5 minutes. Reduce heat as you stir. Cover the pot, and then remove from heat. Let the pot rest for 10 minutes.
12. Taste and season with enough salt, black pepper, or cayenne pepper according to your taste preference.

Tips for Cooking Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Rice

• Pat the shrimp dry using paper towels. This will help the seasoning stick to the shrimp. It will also help the shrimp sear and not just steam.
• If you are using shrimp that has been frozen, you can quickly thaw your shrimp by transferring them to a bag with a tight seal. Place the bag in a large bowl and submerge it with cold tap water.
• Cook the shrimp in batches if needed. It’s important to spread the shrimp in the pot to draw its flavor and give it a good texture.
• Cook the shrimp with the tails on because the tail contains the flavor. Once your shrimp is cooked and resting, you can remove the tails.
• If possible, use fire-roasted diced tomatoes to give the sausage and shrimp rice dish a sweet smoky flavor. If you can’t locate them, using regular diced tomatoes can also work. Remember to not drain the tomatoes.
• This Cajun shrimp and sausage rice recipe can be made spicy or tame as you’d like by adding more or less cayenne pepper. 
• It is recommended to not skip adding the sausage to this recipe. The sausage is juicy and spicy and is the highlight of the dish along with the shrimp. If you do end up skipping the sausage, you can increase the amount of cayenne pepper.
• While this recipe is called Cajun shrimp and sausage, you can also swap the shrimp for chicken. 
• You can prepare this recipe ahead for an even quicker dinner. Make the seasoning blend beforehand and store it in an airtight container. Prepare the shrimp by thawing it overnight, chop the vegetables, and store it in the fridge until ready to use. Rinse the rice beforehand and store it. All you’ll have to do is throw in all the ingredients in one pot.
• If you are using brown rice, you may want to increase the amount of liquid. Additionally, brown rice cooks longer than white rice, so your cook time may be double the stated amount.
• Use the correct type of rice as it affects the texture and consistency of the other ingredients. Other types of rice may result in too much start and may make your result mushy. 

Final Note

Dinner does not have to be the same old boring recipe every night. Shrimp recipes are easy to make because they’re quick. Stir things up by making this one-pot sausage and shrimp recipe! This is gluten-free and has a nutrition serving of 398 calories, 32 grams of protein, and 49 grams of carbohydrates. This can even become one of your favorite dinner recipes. Try to cook this Cajun shrimp and sausage rice recipe tonight!

If you have any sausage and shrimp rice leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. You can also freeze them by allowing the sausage and shrimp rice to cool completely before transferring them to a freezer-safe container. To reheat, you may put it in the microwave for one minute or heat at 30 seconds intervals until warm. You may also reheat it on the stove.

Need a few ideas that you can cook for your weekly menu at home? Check out our favorite recipes here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for chicken broth?

If you do not have chicken broth, you may use equal parts vegetable broth. You may also use bullion cubes dissolved in water.