Quick & Easy Vegetable Jambalaya
We’re using a flavorful shortcut in the form of Jambalaya Rice Mix to make my quick and easy 4-ingredient vegetable jambalaya recipe. It’s bursting with those quintessential Jambalaya spices that we know and love.
Jambalaya is one of those dishes that’s on heavy rotation in my household. Sometimes we’ll enjoy this vegetarian jambalaya recipe with rotisserie chicken for a quick supper. Other times we’ll enjoy it as a quick side dish with another main meal (I’ve included lots of options below), as it’s just a great compliment to any dish. This is truly one of my favorite shortcut rice mixes as we usually have rice a few times a week in our house.
So, what’s the shortcut? Well, today we’re using Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice Mix. I specifically use Zatarain’s because they are always perfectly seasoned and you can make a quick meal by adding protein. Now, this is a quick and easy 4-ingredient vegetable jambalaya, so seeing as the rice is already bursting with Cajun seasoning, all you need is… vegetables! We add onion, canned tomatoes, and frozen mixed veggies.
The instructions are as simple as the ingredients. You just need to bring the rice to a boil, add the remaining ingredients, and let them simmer and those flavors mingle together. It truly doesn’t get easier than this vegan jambalaya (did I mention it was vegan?) or tastier. Who can resist the combination of tender rice and vegetables with the spicy Cajun seasoning? Certainly not me!
Recipe Ingredients
- Chopped onion
- Zatarain’s Jambalaya Mix
- Diced tomatoes (can substitute for a can).
- The frozen mixed veggie blend of your choice.
How to Make Vegetable Jambalaya
Place water and tomatoes (with juice) in a large saucepot and bring this to a boil over medium-high heat.
Stir in rice mix and onion and return to a boil.
Once it gets back to boiling, reduce the heat to just simmering and cover.
Allow this to cook for about 15 minutes, then stir in frozen veggies and cook for about 10 minutes longer or until the rice and veggies are tender.
That’s all there is to it!
Enjoy a big bowl of quick and easy vegetarian jambalaya.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days and simply reheat them on the stovetop or in the microwave. You can also freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating as above.
Recipe Notes
- Wondering what vegetables to add to your vegetarian jambalaya? You can start with the “Holy Trinity” in Cajun cuisine: onion, celery, and red or green bell pepper. Then some other good options include okra, carrots, broccoli, zucchini, and corn.
- For more flavor, add a tablespoon of .
Recipe FAQs
What is jambalaya?
Jambalaya is an American Creole and Cajun side dish popular in Louisiana with French, African, and Spanish influences. It includes meat, vegetables, and rice with Creole or Cajun seasoning.
What’s the difference between Creole and Cajun seasoning?
Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice Mix includes Cajun seasoning: paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Meanwhile, Creole jambalaya is more herbal and generally includes a combination of paprika, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, dried basil, dried thyme, black pepper, white pepper, and cayenne pepper.
What meat should I add to my vegetable jambalaya?
The most popular meat to add to jambalaya is fried sausage, followed by seafood like crawfish or shrimp. However, you can keep things simple and just use cooked chicken pieces or rotisserie chicken. If you want to keep it as a vegan jambalaya dish, opt for tofu, vegan sausage, or a can of beans (butter beans, red kidney beans, and red beans all work).
What is the main difference between gumbo and jambalaya?
What do you serve with jambalaya?
If you’re serving your vegetable jambalaya as a side dish, it tastes great with a simple meat main dish like blackened chicken, grilled chicken, or pork chops. On the other hand, if you’re serving it as a main meal, enjoy it alongside other Southern classics: cornbread or biscuits. It also tastes great with or as a garnish.
Check out these other soul food dishes:
Blackened Chicken Recipe With Cheese Topping
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 8-ounce package Zatarain's® Jambalaya Mix
- 1 cup diced onion
- 3-4 cups frozen vegetable blend
Instructions
- Bring water and tomatoes (with juice) to a boil in a large saucepan. Add rice mix and onion. Stir. Return to a boil, reduce heat to just simmering, cover, and allow to cook for 15 minutes.2 cups water, 1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained, 1 8-ounce package Zatarain's® Jambalaya Mix, 1 cup diced onion
- Stir in frozen veggies, mix well, cover, and cook for about 10 minutes longer or until rice and veggies are tender.3-4 cups frozen vegetable blend
Nutrition
“Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.”
~Hans Selye
Can you leave out the onion in this and get the same result? Could you sub a little minced onion? My family doesn’t care for onion in recipes.
You sure could!
When we walk with the Lord in the light of his Word
What a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will, he abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
These old hymns still say so much and bring so much comfort. I know that you and Ricky have lived your love for Jesus with Brady and Katy. It will serve them all their days. I love you, Christy, as do so many, many others.
College Days are great fun and they pass too quickly.
We were blessed in that ours attended a Christian university only 45 minutes from home (on our farm), but they lived in the dorm and I discovered that there is a great blessing in becoming a “home away from home” for their many friends, some of whom were hours away from home, and some of whom were from the other side of the globe!
I learned to adjust bar recipes to fit a 12 x 17 x 3 inch pan, and that I could make cinnamon rice krispie squares for 80 (80 guys on his hall, for sharing at hall meetings) in that pan if I filled the pan to the top and cut them right, lol.
I also learned the weekend before college graduation that what started out as “a few friends might come out with me” can turn into 10 cars full of close friends, hall mates, and brothers and sisters in student ministry, but they brought extra food with them, helped on the grill, and they were wonderful guests, who appreciated having a place to get together one more time as it was their last time to be together before heading out into the world after graduation.
After dark, the worship majors brought out their guitars, and they all stood around the large campfire, arm in arm, singing praise and worship songs together, then singing blessings over those who were graduating by name, until an hour before curfew when they put out the fire, got in their cars, and headed back to campus.
I wish we had thought to get phones out and record it all but we were too busy watching in wonder and drinking in this most amazing experience of God moving in these young people, which is as it should be.
It was the best gathering I never planned, must have been the Lord’s plan, and His plans are always better than anything we could imagine. This memory makes me smile, even 4 years later.
Enjoy this special time with Brady, and I know you will make lots of new memories in this next chapter of life!
Thank you so much for the encouragement and blessing Juliane, I truly am looking forward to it and am excited for him as well!!
Love this meal! I think I was lucky. Because we homeschooled, our oldest started at our local 4 year regional university when he was 16. He had known he wanted to practice law since he was 9, but I think he was surprised that having met some wonderful folks doing missions in Mexico and Argentina, and having a fluent Spanish speaker for a Dad, that he kind of fell into a Spanish minor. He travelled during the summers, which gave us a taste of him being gone for significant periods, then his last year included an internship that provided living quarters, so he moved out, but was still home for dinner pretty frequently. Having said that, when a scholarship turned into a 2 year job offer in Washington DC, and a chance to network for a place in an Ivy League law school, we were, of course, thrilled for him. But, I’ll never forget putting him on that plane for DC, I managed to keep it together and positive until he walked through those airport doors, and then I fell apart and cried all the way home. It was the knowing that a very precious part of our lives was ending. (His brother was also leaving around that time too) It had taken me 10 years to have him, and then suddenly, 20 years had passed, and I was moving again into a new, unknown world. It seemed to have passed in a flash. I’m pleased to say that both of my boys are now in their 30s, and are very successful, well adjusted adults, who both love Jesus, and their neighbors. And I too have adjusted to not having them live in my house, or even my state! And I’ve survived and thrived, as it is meant to be. But, boy howdy, did I spend quite a few tears that August!
Thank you Roz. It is so encouraging to hear from seasoned veterans that survived and thrived!! I know he is ready for the upcoming adventures that await him and I am looking forward to watching him blossom into the man I know he can be 🙂
When my youngest son graduated high school, I kept Dr. Suess’ motto for the whole year…. “Don’t cry because it’s over….SMILE because it happened.” They return home frequently…when they need their clothes washed!! 🙂
You are so right Teresa, I will be looking forward to laundry days I am sure!!
I know how you feel. My baby is graduating in less than a week also. She is planning to go off to college about 4 hours away. I’m happy for her and sad for us. She is the life of the party and will be missed greatly.
I will be praying for you and your daughter Angela!! I know, like Brady, she will be fine but a few extra prayers never hurt 🙂
Perfect for our house! My husband is crazy about Zatarain’s rice mixes (we really like their brand of rice too), and I love an easy recipe, so this supermarket short cut is a win win!
I hope y’all enjoy the recipe Lucy!!