Healthier Instant Pot Chicken Jambalaya with Brown Rice + meal planning tips

Chicken Jambalaya Bowl

Meal prep made easy! 3 steps to meal planning, 6 ideas to meal prep + Instant Pot Chicken Jambalaya recipe. A great make ahead recipe because flavors develop over time and it may stretch to 2 or 3 meals.

It’s 5 o’clock. Somewhere.

That means it’s time to kick back and relax. Right?

Somewhere. But not your house after work when the kids want attention, the dog demands even more, and you’re trying to get dinner on the table.

3 steps to meal planning

Meal planning helps control the chaos, saves time and money, decreases the number of trips to the store and reduces wasted food. I know, you’re thinking I don’t have time to plan! But, seriously, it’s not that bad, The more you flex this planning muscle, the easier it gets. Here are three steps to get you going.

Survey

Before you grocery shop, survey your cupboards, fridge and freezer to see what’s available. Are there foods on hand you can use to start a recipe? Tomatoes (canned or fresh) can be simmered with olive oil and garlic to make a pasta sauce. If you have a can of olives, tuna or clams, add those. Do you have fruit or vegetables you can repurpose into a salad or salsa?

Plan

Use this weekly meal planner to get started.

chart to help plan meals

download this free weekly meal prep worksheet

Plan at least 3 meals you can make this week. Jot them down on a weekly meal planner (made one for you ;-), or you can buy one What to Eat notepad (did not make that), your phone, or just a piece of paper.

Cook

Set aside a meal prep power hour to focus in the kitchen on foods to use through the week. Sunday works for me, but find the time best suited for your schedule. Sometimes I turn on some music. Sometimes I enjoy the quiet. Whatever your vibe, you’ll save time and your sanity during the week.

Meal planning ideas

Check the grocery ads to see what’s on sale and what’s in season. Seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables taste best and cost less. If you’re unsure, ask the store produce manager to learn what’s in season. Plain frozen and canned fruits and vegetables are also good options. Keep high-fiber foods in mind. Fiber is found in plant foods such as beans, seeds, nuts, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Think about how you can use what you’re cooking in another meal. Cooking ground beef? Cook extra and freeze for next week. Baking chicken? Save half to make into salad with lettuce, avocado, cucumber and orange slices. Cooking quinoa? Make extra to add to soups, chile, or tossed with black beans, corn, green chiles and a vinaigrette.

6 ways to meal prep

  • Set the oven to 350° F. to toast nuts, bake oatmeal, roast vegetables, bake potatoes or chicken. Potatoes can be reheated and topped with broccoli and cheese or chili. Try these Sweet Potato Nachos. Add chicken to salads or casseroles, or layered on a sandwich.
  • While the oven is heating, chop vegetables for side dishes, snacks and lunches. Keep some raw and store them at eye level, in a clear container in the fridge. When they’re the first things you see, you’re more likely to eat them. Toss some with 1- 2 teaspoons of olive oil, spread on a baking sheet and bake until just tender. Use on pizza or in a frittata.
  • Simmer a pot of soup or jambalaya. Split pea soup, Peruvian Quinoa soup, beef and barley or white bean chicken chili can give you a night or two of meals.
bowl of Chicken Jambalaya

Chicken Jambalaya

  • Hard cook eggs. Perfect for breakfast, lunches, and snacks. Add in salads, such as canned beets, toasted walnuts and feta cheese crumbles or make Curry Egg Salad.
  • Cook a whole grain. After the eggs are cooked, rinse the pan to make quinoa, bulgur, or wheat berries. This is an easy way to boost fiber and protein in salads. Or top with yogurt and fruit for a quick breakfast.
  • Blend bean dip, artichoke jalapeño dip, or hummus for a high-fiber snack that’s ready when hunger strikes. Pack it with veggies and whole-grain crackers for lunch.

How to freeze food

As you finish cooking, pack foods in airtight containers, label and place them in the fridge or freezer. I like these Pyrex dishes. The more you plan, the easier this routine becomes. You’ll also appreciate that 5 o’clock is more like “bring it!”

Pin it for later!

Chicken Jambalaya bowl

Peace of Mind

Knowing that I have healthy food waiting for me gives me peace of mind. When I’m traveling, I make a batch of pasta sauce or soup  freeze before I leave so I can walk in the door and have an satisfying meal.

Jambalaya on fork

Chicken Jambalaya with more veggies and brown rice

Jambalaya recipe on the stove, Instant Pot or InstaPot

Jambalaya is a great meal prep recipe. Flavors develop over time and it may stretch to 2 or 3 meals. I boosted the healthy quotient with more vegetables and used brown rice rather than white rice.

With the Instant Pot, cook vegetables to soften, then add about everything else to cook for 15 minutes. Similarly, on the stove, soften the vegetables, stir in garlic and rice, cook 1 minute, stirring. Add tomatoes, broth and water, bay leaves, Creole Seasoning, cayenne, Worcestershire, oregano, salt, pepper, thyme and chicken. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, cover with lid, cook without stirring for 20 minutes, until rice is cooked but not mushy. Stir before serving.

The ingredients

  • canola or olive oil
  • celery, chopped, onion, bell peppers, red, yellow or green, garlic
  • brown rice, white rice can be used
  • fire-roasted or regular canned tomatoes
  • chicken or vegetable broth
  • bay leaves, Creole Seasoning, cayenne, Worcestershire, dried oregano and fried thyme
  • 34 boneless chicken thighs, trimmed of fat and skin, cut into 1-inch cubes
Chicken Jambalaya

A few more Instant Pot recipes to get you going:

  1. Instant Pot Apple Pumpkin Butter
  2. Instant Pot Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps
  3. Instant Pot Chicken Mole
  4. Instant Pot Short Rib Ragu
  5. Instant Pot Curried Egg Salad

P.S. Hungry for more healthier eating tips and recipes? Sign up for my newsletter here.

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Watch the video below. 😉

Those two tools again:

  • What to Eat notepad
  • Weekly meal plan I made this for 5 days because most of us aren’t cooking 7 days a week. Are we?
  • Instant Pot I made jambalaya in my Instant Pot and included the recipe below. It’s a useful, time saving appliance.
Print

Instant Pot Chicken Jambalaya

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

Jambalaya is a recipe that may stretch to 2 or more meals. I boosted the health quotient with more vegetables and used brown rice rather than white rice. Cook on the stove or in an Instant Pot.

  • Author: Judy
  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 30 mins
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Instant Pot
  • Cuisine: Spanish, French, Louisiana

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon canola or olive oil
  • 2 cups celery, chopped
  • 1 large onion, chopped (3 cups)
  • 2 bell peppers, red, yellow or green, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 ½ cups brown rice
  • 1 14.5 ounce can fire-roasted tomatoes
  • 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon Creole Seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoons salt
  • ¾ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 34 boneless chicken thighs, trimmed of fat and skin, cut into 1-inch cubes

Instructions

Stovetop

  • Cook: In a large pot heat over medium heat, pour in oil. Add celery, onions, and peppers, cook and stir until softened, 7-8 minutes. Stir in garlic and rice, cook 1 minute, stirring. Add tomatoes, broth and water, bay leaves, Creole Seasoning, cayenne, Worcestershire, oregano, salt, pepper, thyme and chicken. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, cover with lid, cook without stirring for 20 minutes, until rice is cooked but not mushy. Stir before serving.

Instant Pot

  • Cook: Pour oil in Instant Pot liner. Press Saute. Add celery, onions, and peppers, cook and stir until softened, 5-6 minutes. If vegetables appear to be cooking too quickly, press Cancel to allow Instant Pot to cool down a bit. Press Saute when ready to heat again. Stir in garlic and rice, cook 1 minute, stirring. Add tomatoes, broth and water, bay leaves, Creole Seasoning, cayenne, Worcestershire, oregano, salt, pepper, thyme and chicken. Press Cancel.
  • Seal: lid on Instant Pot. Make sure Vent handle is turned to Seal. Push Manual, High and set timer for 10 minutes. Let Instant Pot cool for 5 minutes, turn handle to release steam. Stir before serving.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1.5 cups
  • Calories: 285

Meal planner image to download and print

Comments

  1. Have you tried this with chicken breast and cooking it in the instant pot? I’m hoping it works and tastes just as good. As this is on my menu for tonight.

    1. Author

      Hey Alicia, chicken breast will work but the cooking time will be reduced. I can’t give a cook time because I haven’t made it with breast meat. You could cook the chicken first to 165•F, remove from pot, then add it back to the pot after rice is done or try cutting the cooking time by a few minutes. Because they are so lean they can overcook easily. Enjoy your dinner!

  2. Hi Judy, thank you for your timely reply. I am a instant pot newbie and I am terrified of the thing. But I came across your recipe and I couldn’t wait to try it out. I did omit the onions because I do not like them and I doubled the recipe, used cubed chicken breast meat. Oh and also only 1 cup of brown rice since I have some carb free eaters on my hands. Since I’m allergic to shellfish, I was on a mission to find a chicken jambalaya recipe, This recipe was SO good I cannot give it enough stars. I’m so happy I came across your website I can’t wait to try out more recipes.






  3. Pingback: Instant Pot Recipes | Mediterranean Diet | The Domestic Dietitian

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