Can I use regular diced tomatoes?

Yes, you can use canned diced tomatoes as a substitute for fire-roasted tomatoes. Fire-roasted tomatoes have a roasted flavor, while regular diced tomatoes add a milder tomato flavor. Do not drain the substitute diced tomatoes to preserve tomato juice for use in the recipe. Pour the diced tomatoes over the rice rather than adding them to other ingredients before pressure cooking.

What rice should I use?

Use raw long-grain white rice for the Instant Pot directions. The recipe also calls for short-grain white rice, and the recipe author notes using jasmine rice. Brown rice may need longer cooking or standing time in the Instant Pot. Special tips include pressing down on the rice to fully cover it and not stirring.

Can I add shrimp to this jambalaya?

Yes, you can add medium-size cooked shrimp to pressure-cooked jambalaya after cooking. Cooked medium-size shrimp will warm for an additional five minutes on the Warm setting when you replace the lid after pressure cooking. Add peeled and deveined large raw shrimp to stovetop jambalaya during the last five minutes of cooking time. Do not add shrimp before that point in the cooking process because shrimp can become rubbery during rice cooking.

Why is my rice still hard?

Rice may not have cooked properly due to insufficient liquid coverage when the lid was closed on the Instant Pot. Place rice and tomatoes in the Instant Pot so that the tomatoes are whole and on top of the rice, not combined with it. To further cook the rice, close the lid on the Instant Pot and cook for 10 more minutes on the Warm function, or a few more minutes using pressure, according to the article.

Can I double this Instant Pot jambalaya?

The article states that this recipe can be doubled. The example recipe given in the article was prepared for a large party on the stove, not in an Instant Pot. Larger pots and pans give you more room to prepare and stir doubled recipes. Expect to cook doubled stovetop recipes for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or so. Stirring helps prevent rice from sticking to the pan.

Instant Pot Jambalaya with Smoky Sausage, Chicken, and Fire-Roasted Tomatoes

By Mason BrooksOct 5, 2026

Prep

10 min

Cook

5 min

Total

22 min

Servings

Level

Easy

Jump to recipe

Choose kielbasa or andouille sausage with a smoky taste and browned ends to enhance the taste of Instant Pot jambalaya. Sausage is a major flavor ingredient in jambalaya. One-pot chicken and sausage jambalaya with tomatoes and rice has flavorful rice and a spicy taste.

Instant Pot Jambalaya with Smoky Sausage, Chicken, and Fire-Roasted Tomatoes

The recipe includes celery, onion, and bell peppers cooked until tender. Garlic and spices, including Cajun or Creole seasoning, salt, and Italian seasoning, are stirred in. Browned sausage and chicken pieces are added for flavor. Chicken broth and rice are cooked under a cover of canned diced tomatoes with juice. Cooking rice under a layer of tomatoes helps ensure even cooking in a pressure cooker.

Watch the vegetables cook until they are soft and see-through, and cook the chicken and sausage until they brown on both sides. Add the vegetables and meat to the pot. The key indicator that the food in a pressure cooker is done is that the rice is fully pressed beneath the liquid from the stock and tomatoes. If the rice hasn't fully absorbed the liquid, reseal the cooker and let the pot sit in Warm mode for 10 minutes.

Serve jambalaya with chopped parsley, if using, and other side dishes, including green salad and cornbread or popovers. Leftover jambalaya can be stored and reheated in an airtight container for up to 1 week in the refrigerator and 3 months in the freezer, as described in the article. Reheat leftover jambalaya gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Why you'll love this recipe

Smoked kielbasa or andouille sausage offer strong flavors in one ingredient, and fried kielbasa slices give the rice a caramelized flavor.
Long-grain white rice can be prepared with chicken broth and tomatoes and other products to absorb their flavors without cooking in another container.
The celery, onion, and red pepper mixture contains typical vegetables and is browned for added flavor before pressure cooking.
Fire-roasted diced tomatoes are a canned food product with a fire-roasted flavor intended for use as an ingredient, Diced tomatoes are provided as an alternative.
Chicken breast and sausage have different textures, Browned chicken and sausage are returned to the pot to season the cooked rice.
Optional precooked shrimp can be added at the end of the recipe to include seafood in the recipe without changing the other recipe ingredients.

Instructions

Press Sauté to preheat the Instant Pot insert.

When HOT is displayed, add the olive oil.

Sauté the onion, bell pepper, and celery, stirring occasionally, for about 4-5 minutes until golden and translucent; add a small teaspoon of butter or dab of oil if needed.

While the vegetables caramelize, heat a separate skillet over medium-high heat and add a couple teaspoons of olive oil.

Add the sausage and brown both sides, about 2 minutes per side; remove it to a plate.

Add the chicken and brown both sides, about 2 minutes per side; remove it to a plate.

Add the garlic, Cajun or Creole seasoning, sea salt, and Italian seasoning to the onion mixture in the Instant Pot and stir until fragrant.

Pour in the chicken stock, scraping the bottom of the pot to release any browned bits.

Press Cancel on the panel to turn off the Instant Pot.

Add the browned chicken and sausage back to the Instant Pot.

Pour the uncooked white rice evenly over the meat.

Pour the undrained diced tomatoes evenly over the rice and gently press them down to cover the rice.

Secure the lid with the steam vent locked, then pressure cook on high for 5-6 minutes at sea level or 6-8 minutes at altitude.

Carefully perform a quick release.

Remove the lid, stir gently, and serve with chopped parsley if desired.

If the rice is not quite done, replace the lid and leave the Instant Pot on Warm for another 10 minutes.

If adding shrimp, add 12 oz cooked medium shrimp, immediately reseal the lid, and warm for 5 minutes in the residual heat on Warm.

FAQ

Smoked kielbasa or andouille sausage are great meats to use for this dish. A smoky sausage will give the dish its primary flavor. Other choices include chorizo sausage, Polish sausage, and high-quality hot dogs, as mentioned in the article. Slice the sausage into 1/4-inch-thick pieces. This will help the sausage cook more quickly and combine with the rice.

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Dinner Chicken American Quick Meals One Pot Instant Pot

Instant Pot Jambalaya with Smoky Sausage, Chicken, and Fire-Roasted Tomatoes

Name: Instant Pot Jambalaya with Smoky Sausage, Chicken, and Fire-Roasted Tomatoes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 22 min
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil (2-4 teaspoons; a little butter may be substituted for some oil); 1 lb smoked kielbasa or andouille sausage (or 12 oz package; cut into 1/4-inch slices); 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-size pieces); 1 medium yellow or sweet onion (chopped); 1 red bell pepper (seeded and chopped; other colors or a small jar of roasted red peppers may be substituted); 2 ribs celery (chopped); 3 cloves garlic (minced); 1 tsp Cajun or Creole seasoning (1-2 teaspoons; Garam Masala or additional Italian seasoning may be used); 1/2 tsp kosher sea salt (1/2-1 teaspoon); 2 tsp Italian seasoning; 2 cups chicken stock or broth (regular or low-sodium); 1 1/2 cups uncooked long-grain white rice (short-grain white rice may be substituted); 14 1/2 oz fire-roasted or regular diced tomatoes (1 can, undrained)

By Mason BrooksOct 5, 2026

Prep

10 min

Cook

5 min

Total

22 min

Servings

Level

Easy

Jump to recipe

Why you'll love this recipe

Smoked kielbasa or andouille sausage offer strong flavors in one ingredient, and fried kielbasa slices give the rice a caramelized flavor.
Long-grain white rice can be prepared with chicken broth and tomatoes and other products to absorb their flavors without cooking in another container.
The celery, onion, and red pepper mixture contains typical vegetables and is browned for added flavor before pressure cooking.
Fire-roasted diced tomatoes are a canned food product with a fire-roasted flavor intended for use as an ingredient, Diced tomatoes are provided as an alternative.
Chicken breast and sausage have different textures, Browned chicken and sausage are returned to the pot to season the cooked rice.
Optional precooked shrimp can be added at the end of the recipe to include seafood in the recipe without changing the other recipe ingredients.

Ingredients

Servings6

•2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil (2-4 teaspoons; a little butter may be substituted for some oil)
•1 lb smoked kielbasa or andouille sausage (or 12 oz package; cut into 1/4-inch slices)
•2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-size pieces)
•1 medium yellow or sweet onion (chopped)
•1 red bell pepper (seeded and chopped; other colors or a small jar of roasted red peppers may be substituted)
•2 ribs celery (chopped)
•3 cloves garlic (minced)
•1 tsp Cajun or Creole seasoning (1-2 teaspoons; Garam Masala or additional Italian seasoning may be used)
•½ tsp kosher sea salt (1/2-1 teaspoon)
•2 tsp Italian seasoning
•2 cups chicken stock or broth (regular or low-sodium)
•1 ½ cups uncooked long-grain white rice (short-grain white rice may be substituted)
•14 ½ oz fire-roasted or regular diced tomatoes (1 can, undrained)

Instructions

1
Press Sauté to preheat the Instant Pot insert.
2
When HOT is displayed, add the olive oil.
3
Sauté the onion, bell pepper, and celery, stirring occasionally, for about 4-5 minutes until golden and translucent; add a small teaspoon of butter or dab of oil if needed.
4
While the vegetables caramelize, heat a separate skillet over medium-high heat and add a couple teaspoons of olive oil.
5
Add the sausage and brown both sides, about 2 minutes per side; remove it to a plate.
6
Add the chicken and brown both sides, about 2 minutes per side; remove it to a plate.
7
Add the garlic, Cajun or Creole seasoning, sea salt, and Italian seasoning to the onion mixture in the Instant Pot and stir until fragrant.
8
Pour in the chicken stock, scraping the bottom of the pot to release any browned bits.
9
Press Cancel on the panel to turn off the Instant Pot.
10
Add the browned chicken and sausage back to the Instant Pot.
11
Pour the uncooked white rice evenly over the meat.
12
Pour the undrained diced tomatoes evenly over the rice and gently press them down to cover the rice.
13
Secure the lid with the steam vent locked, then pressure cook on high for 5-6 minutes at sea level or 6-8 minutes at altitude.
14
Carefully perform a quick release.
15
Remove the lid, stir gently, and serve with chopped parsley if desired.
16
If the rice is not quite done, replace the lid and leave the Instant Pot on Warm for another 10 minutes.
17
If adding shrimp, add 12 oz cooked medium shrimp, immediately reseal the lid, and warm for 5 minutes in the residual heat on Warm.