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- What Is Jambalaya?
- What Is Jambalaya Supposed To Taste Like?
- Keto Jambalaya Ingredients
- How To Make Keto Jambalaya
- Can I Have Jambalaya On Keto?
- Is Keto Jambalaya Supposed To Be Soupy?
- Can You Make Low Carb Jambalaya More Saucy?
- Is This Jambalaya Spicy?
- How To Store Low Carb Jambalaya Leftovers
- Can You Freeze Jambalaya With Cauliflower Rice?
- What To Serve With Keto Jambalaya
- More Cauliflower Rice Recipes
- Tools To Make Cauliflower Rice Jambalaya
- Low Carb Keto Jambalaya Recipe
Flavorful keto jambalaya with cauliflower rice, sausage, and shrimp is here for all of your Cajun food cravings! Betcha thought we couldn’t do cajun low carb, didn’t you? But you know there’s nothing I love more than turning classic foods into keto faves, and nothing is off limits.
I think this low carb jambalaya proves this little obsession of mine in a very delicious way! Not only is cauliflower rice jambalaya as good as the real deal, but it’s a healthy and lighter way to enjoy a classic Cajun dish. And it’s a 30-minute, one-pot keto meal. What’s better than that?!
What Is Jambalaya?
Jambalaya is a southern one-pot stir fry from Louisiana, traditionally including rice, vegetables, tomato-based sauce, spices, and meat and seafood, most commonly andouille sausage, shrimp, and chicken. The vegetables used in this dish includes peppers, onions and celery, often called the “holy trinity” of cajun cooking. Not surprisingly, the classic flavor of jambalaya comes from cajun seasoning blend.
Keto jambalaya takes all the same flavors and ingredients, but swaps in cauliflower rice for rice and uses a simplified ingredient list, with just 10 total ingredients.
What Is Jambalaya Supposed To Taste Like?
Jambalaya tastes like rice with meat and seafood in a spicy, cajun-flavored tomato sauce. And, low carb cauliflower rice jambalaya tastes very similar!
Keto Jambalaya Ingredients
The ingredients for keto jambalaya without rice are very similar to “regular” jambalaya that has it. I just swapped in cauliflower rice instead and used a simplified ingredient list, with just 11 required ingredients, plus salt:
- Olive oil
- Andouille sausage
- Bell peppers
- Onions
- Celery
- Garlic
- Shrimp
- Cauliflower rice
- Diced tomatoes
- Chicken bone broth
- Cajun seasoning
- Sea salt
TIP: A common addition to keto jambalaya that I left out is chicken – feel free to add it if you like. I omitted it to keep the ingredient count down, but traditional jambalaya often includes chicken in addition to the sausage and shrimp. To do so, simply add 1-2 diced chicken breasts (or 2-3 chicken thighs) together with the sausage and let it cook through before proceeding to add the garlic.
You can scroll to the recipe card below to get all the ingredient amounts, or read below first to see how to make keto jambalaya with step-by-step pictures and tips.
(I know, I went over my limit of 10 on this blog, but make a few exceptions for traditional recipes that typically have even more than I’m using.)
How To Make Keto Jambalaya
This jambalaya recipe with cauliflower rice comes together in 20 minutes! Here’s how we make it:
- Saute the holy trinity until soft. The holy trinity is the Cajun mirepoix combo of peppers, onions, and celery.
- Add garlic and cook for an additional minute.
TIP: Before adding the garlic, make sure to get the heat high enough to evaporate any liquid after cooking the peppers and onions. Otherwise, everything will steam instead of caramelizing.
- Add andouille sausage. Saute until slightly puckered and starting to brown.
- Add cauliflower rice and sauce ingredients, including diced tomatoes, bone broth, and Cajun seasoning. Stir together.
- Add shrimp last. Bring to a simmer, then continue to simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally until the cauliflower is tender, shrimp is cooked through, and liquid is reduced.
TIP: When cooking the shrimp, move the uncooked pieces toward the bottom of the pot, to help them brown and cook through. If any start to turn opaque, stir them toward the top.
TIP: It’s important to simmer over high heat at the end. Otherwise, you’ll end up with too much liquid. Cauliflower rice has a lot of water in it, and you need it to evaporate.
- Adjust seasoning and garnish. Add more salt and/or Cajun seasoning to taste. Garnish with green onions and parsley.
Can I Have Jambalaya On Keto?
Most jambalaya recipes are made with white rice – not keto! But this keto friendly jambalaya utilizes cauliflower rice for a lower carb and keto option.
The serving size is generous, a slightly heaped 1 1/2 cups, perfect for a whole meal. This keto jambalaya recipe has 9.9 grams net carbs – very reasonable for a large, dinner-size portion! All of the flavor, much fewer carbs.
Is Keto Jambalaya Supposed To Be Soupy?
No. Cauliflower rice jambalaya has a cajun flavored sauce, but is not supposed to be liquid like soup. That would be more similar to a gumbo.
Can You Make Low Carb Jambalaya More Saucy?
Yes, you can. If you want a more saucy, tomato-ey jambalaya, add a second can of diced tomatoes. This would increase carb count, though. It’s still plenty flavorful as is.
Is This Jambalaya Spicy?
Yes, the amount of Cajun seasoning in the recipe makes a spicy keto jambalaya. If you want it more mild, reduce Cajun seasoning to one tablespoon instead of two.
How To Store Low Carb Jambalaya Leftovers
If you don’t finish it all, store this keto sausage jambalaya in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a hot skillet, until hot.
Can You Freeze Jambalaya With Cauliflower Rice?
Yes, you can freeze jambalaya with cauliflower rice. Let it cool completely, store in an airtight container, or freezer bag with air flattened out, and freeze for 2-3 months.
Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat in a hot skillet or the microwave, or until heated through.
What To Serve With Keto Jambalaya
Keto jambalaya is already a one-pot meal, so you don’t have to add anything to it. But if you like, try a low carb bread such as keto cornbread or cheddar bay biscuits, and a neutral salad, such as cucumber tomato avocado salad.
More Cauliflower Rice Recipes
If you like this jambalaya with cauliflower rice, you might also like some of these other keto side dishes featuring cauliflower rice:
- How To Make Cauliflower Rice – The best basic guide to cauliflower rice! This will answer ALL of your questions and show you some tricks on getting it perfect every time.
- Low Carb Cauliflower Fried Rice – Miss your favorite take-out? No need, this is a delicious alternative.
- Keto Mushroom Risotto – Creamy mushroom risotto without the carbs!
- Keto Grits And Shrimp – Another Southern classic with a fluffy, cheesy grits swap!
- Low Carb Cauliflower Breadsticks – These healthy breadsticks will make you believe that cauliflower really can do anything.
- Ground Beef Cauliflower Lasagna – Lasagna flavors so good, you won’t miss the pasta!
Tools To Make Cauliflower Rice Jambalaya
Tap the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.
- Dutch Oven – From stove too table, this dutch oven is amazing quality and nice to look at, too!
- Chef’s Knife – My go-to chef’s knife! It’s one of my favorite tools in my kitchen, and makes chopping low carb cajun jambalaya ingredients EASY.
The Best Low Carb Keto Jambalaya Recipe:
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Reader Favorite Recipes
The recipe card is below! Readers that made this also viewed these recipes:
Low Carb Keto Jambalaya Recipe
30-minute keto jambalaya with cauliflower rice is a healthy version of the classic, with just as much flavor. This low carb jambalaya recipe makes an easy one-pot keto meal.
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Heat the oil in a large dutch oven over medium heat. Add the bell peppers, onions, and celery. Saute for 5-8 minutes, until the vegetables are soft.
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Add the sliced sausage. Saute for about 5 minutes, until browned.
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Make a well in the center and add the minced garlic. Let it sizzle for about 30 seconds, until fragrant, then stir in with everything else.
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Add the cauliflower rice, diced tomatoes, bone broth, and Cajun seasoning. Stir together, then add the shrimp. Increase heat to high to bring to a simmer, then continue to simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the cauliflower is tender, shrimp is cooked through, and liquid is reduced, about 5-7 minutes. It will release more liquid at first and then reduce in volume again as it simmers more.
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Season with salt to taste, and/or more Cajun seasoning if you like. If desired, garnish with green onions and parsley.
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 1/2 cups (slightly heaped), or 1/6 entire recipe
Video Showing How To Make Keto Jambalaya:
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45 Comments
Annie Dutari
I really want to try this… sounds delicious! Can I make this recipe in my instant pot?
Wholesome Yum D
Hi Annie, You probably can use your instant pot but I have never attempted it.
Darrian
I loved this recipe. It was really good! It didn’t lack in flavor. I’ll definitely be making this again.
Margie B
If we DO want to add chicken, when should we add that? Cook with the sausage or cook before adding? Your information would be greatly appreciated!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Margie, If you want to add chicken to the recipe, I recommend adding chopped chicken to the pot after sauteeing the bell peppers, onions, and celery. Keep the veggies moving so they don’t burn. Proceed with the rest of the recipe once the chicken is cooked through. If you want to use cooked and shredded chicken, you can add that at step 4 and let it warm through before serving. Enjoy!
Ray441
Does this recipe freeze well? Not so sure about reheating the shrimp after cooking and freezing.
Thanks!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Ray441, This recipe actually freezes really well. When you are ready, defrost it in the fridge overnight and then reheat it in a skillet. This will prevent the shrimp from becoming rubbery.
Adele
So easy, and tasty. Fantastic recipe.
Nancy Heidinger
This is a super easy dish to prepare, and it is very delicious! My whole family loved it!
Mary
I made this recipe for my family and they loved it! I pretty much followed directions, but I also added chicken and jalapenos and a few more spices to make it more spicy. I will for sure be making this recipe again.
Ginger Snell
My family loved this Jambalaya!! Can’t wait to serve it to company <3
kay
Thank you so much for this recipe! I’ve made it every week for the last 6 weeks! My family can’t get enough of it.
Harvey
Made the recipe pretty much as written, except used frozen veggies to reduce prep time. Everything was very tasty. Added a bit of Penzey’s Mural of Flavor spice for additional flavor.
Trish
In a seasonal rental so I checked to make sure I had all the equipment to make this recipe. Then I went to the store to purchase everything I needed.
Imagine my dismay when I realize that the house blenders blades were too dull to blend water. So I am looking at this head of cauliflower that will never be riced in that blender when I decide to cut the cauliflower into small cubes and par cook it.
Other than the riced cauliflower I followed this recipe to the letter.
So I called this concoction Jambalaya “rice less” stew and served it with a side salad
My guests loved it. What a great basic recipe you gave me to work with. Thankyou
Emily Garrett
how does the recipe change if I use Palmini rice? What would the macro switch be and how many packs would I have to use.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Emily, I am not sure. Once you determine how much rice you would need, you can enter the recipe into an online recipe calculator to get an accurate idea of the nutrition for the dish.
Angelene
My family loved this recipe. I thought the cauliflower rice was going to be an issue but it really works well in this recipe. We used it frozen and it was great. We will definitely make this recipe again but will add chicken and more sausage/shrimp for my 3 hungry boys.
Lorie Mahan
Definitely a keeper! My husband and I both loved it. It was easy and came together fairly quickly. I used rotel tomatoes and it was spicy, but sooo good!
Lisa Broyles
Easy and delicious. 1 tbsp is enough unless you spicy
Jody
Absolutely wonderful! I did not have the andouille sausage so I substituted Butterball Turkey Sausage sliced up. I added Rotel tomatoes and chicken and shrimp. This recipe is a keeper!!
Judy Banas
This recipe has amazing flavor. It was very easy to follow. My only suggestion is to include how to make in slow cooker as this is what I did. I will definitely half the cajun seasoning next time though.
Shyloh Dawn Brunton
This was DELICIOUS!
Jane
Very simple for us non cooking types but had very good flavor! Definitely will make this again!
Rachel
Yum!!! I made this a few days ago, and am already craving my next batch!! I added a diced jalapeno (I happened to have it around) to the bell pepper mix, and it was perfect.
Jane
I’m going to use frozen cauliflower rice – do I need to I thaw it?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Jane, No need! Just add it and proceed with the recipe as usual! Enjoy!
ChefK
Loved this keto version of jambalaya! I made a few minor tweaks, using only 1 lb. of fresh cauliflower rice (it was plenty), used 1/2 lb. of jumbo shrimp cut in half, only used 1 tbsp. of Cajun seasoning (since the andouille is already spicy) and did not addthe extra salt. For my family, it was perfect. I took a photo, it was so pretty. Thank you so much for a healthier version of one of my favorites!
Katherine
This recipe was perfect. Super freezer friendly and easy to reheat.
Sarah
This is very simple to make and good for a weeknight dinner as it requires little prep time (if you purchase pre-chopped veggies). However, I like something with different flavors, and similar to crockpot recipes, everything in this dish tastes the same. I think rather than using a premade Cajun seasoning, I might make my own, to add some different flavors.
Grace
Am I missing more liquid? Only 1/4c broth? Mine seems too low
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Grace, If you haven’t had the chance yet, take a look at the video in the recipe card. This jambalaya is not very wet. You can adjust the amount of broth you use to taste, but the finished product shouldn’t be soupy.
Ebonie
This was so good! I’ve been looking for more dairy free low carb recipes. Sooo good!
Stephanie
This was so delicious!! Thank you so much for this recipe. I reduced the Cajun seasoning a little because I’m not a big fan of spicy food, but I can tell this is going to be a staple in my diet going forward!
Hayley
I don’t have a Dutch oven. Do you have instructions for how to do this in a crockpot?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Hayley, Your Jambalaya will be ‘wetter’ than it would be in a dutch oven, but it will still turn out great. The only change I would make would be to cook the shrimp separately and add to the jambalaya at the end. This will prevent your shrimp from overcooking. Enjoy!
Carson
I’m excited to try the recipe but your site isn’t user friendly. It’s bogged down with so many ads and videos that it took 20 minutes to just try to get the recipe without being taken to a different page by ads.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Carson, Thanks for your feedback. Ads keep the Wholesome Yum website running and allow me to develop recipes that readers like you can access absolutely free. However, you may be interested in Wholesome Yum Plus, which includes an ad-free version of the website, along with other perks.
Rowena Espina
Omg. I just made it for dinner. It is soo delicious!!! Thank you so much for sharing your recipes.
Kelly Anthony
We love jambalaya at our house and I’m excited to try a healthier version with cauliflower rice.
Carrie Robinson
Loving this low carb version of one of my favorite meals! Looks delicious. 🙂
Jessica Formicola
I have a head of cauliflower that needs to be used, and this is the perfect recipe for it. Thanks for sharing!
Mirlene
It’s been so long since I last made jambalaya. But every time I make on it is such a delight. Can’t wait to give your recipe a try – it does look a bit different from mine 🙂
Ashley
This recipe is so so delicious! My aunt and uncle love cajun food, and they absolutely LOVED this new keto/low carb version! Thanks for sharing, Maya!
Kelly Anthony
I’m so in love with Louisiana cooking, but it can be SO HEAVY! Love this lightened up version of one of my favorite dishes!
Sophie Heath
I’m always trying to find good Keto recipes and this Jambalaya one is delicious! Not to mention how easy it was to make !!