If you can’t head over to the Big Easy, you can always churn out a staple dish of New Orleans cuisine with jambalaya. This spectacular rice dish is rich with savory and spicy flavors from andouille sausage, tomatoes, bell peppers, and celery.
It’s typically an all-in-one main dish with the rice cooked into it for a hearty meal. For my household, a jambalaya can be put together with all the staples that I keep on hand. Come on, what soul food cook doesn’t keep the “Holy Trinity” in the fridge? Whether you’re putting this together as a stocked pantry meal or going all out for the spice and Cajun flavors, jambalaya is a WIN!
How to Serve Jambalaya
Jambalaya can be served either on its own or along with sides. With the addition of extra proteins such as chicken, shrimp, or even crawfish, jambalaya can stand alone. In addition, you could totally forgo the meats for a vegetarian rice dish that packed with flavor. You can serve jambalaya on plates as it’s not runny like a gumbo or stew. And by serving it on plates, you can go ahead and grab some accompaniments to enjoy along with it too!
As previously stated, jambalaya is a filling meal on its own, but keep reading to find out what else you can serve with this spectacular Cajun rice dish.
What Sides Should You Serve with Jambalaya?
If you’re in need of ideas of what to serve with jambalaya, you’re in the right place. Try as many of these as you’d like to create a truly memorable meal.
As if you needed an excuse to make cornbread, this buttery delight is a perfect match for jambalaya and is traditionally served alongside. Make a classic version, or feel free to chop up some jalapeno peppers to give it a spicy kick. Add cheese in there for some more savory flavors or take it to the sweet side with a drizzle of honey. Any way you serve cornbread with jambalaya, it’s going to be delicious! Check out my favorite cornbread recipe here.
– Corn on the Cob
Corn on the cob is another great side dish for your jambalaya. And it’s easy to make too. Serve it with butter and you’ll be good to go. If you really want to step things up, butter the corn and sprinkle with Cajun seasoning.
– Hush Puppies
If you’re going to take your taste buds to the south, don’t skip hush puppies. These amazing, deep-fried fritters have that fluffy texture and corn taste that everyone loves. You don’t need to make a mess with all that oil for frying though…just use your air fryer and you’ll still get that crispy golden texture outside with a light and airy interior.
– Cheddar Cheese Biscuits
One of the best things to go with your jambalaya can be cheddar cheese biscuits. They’re fluffy and cheesy, a perfect match for this savory dish. Not in the mood for cornbread, then you’ve got to try these
– Crispy Green Salad
Since jambalaya is such a robust dish, you should also think about contrasting it with a lighter side dish. Few things compare to a fresh, crispy green salad. You can mix a bunch of greens like spinach, romaine, and peppery arugula. Then add in more veggies to your liking.
Cucumber, avocado slices, carrots, sweet peppers, sunflower seeds, cheese, and whatever ingredients you like will make for the best salad. A vinaigrette or other light dressing makes it a refreshing side dish to serve with your jambalaya.
– Cucumber Tomato Salad
When your selection of veggies isn’t as robust, a simple salad of cucumbers and tomatoes will surely lighten things up. It’s a great idea when you’re tired of traditional salads too.
Simply slicing up fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onions is all it takes. You’ll also want to add some fresh dill and then a dressing to pull it all together. Vinaigrette works well here, but something light and creamy can give it more of an indulgent taste too.
– Black Eyed Peas
Another classic pairing for your jambalaya, black-eyed peas is perfection. They have all those quintessential flavors, and when made with ham or bacon, really bring out the smokiness of the jambalaya.
– Ranch Style Pinto Beans
The zesty spice of ranch-style beans is a great blend of flavors paired with jambalaya. Although not the most traditional accompaniment, it’s delicious! Add in some chiles or jalapenos for a true Texas take on alongside a New Orleans classic.
– Okra
Want another veggie to throw on the table? Make it okra! While the texture may be questionable to some, it can always be prepared in a way that’s less slimy. You can fry okra for a crispy side that bursts with a juicy interior and serve it with a remoulade sauce for dipping.
A couple of favorite ways to enjoy okra is simmered with stewed tomatoes, or cooked in bacon grease. Be sure to save some of the bacon to chop up in the okra to complete this side dish for jambalaya!
– Corn Maque Choux
This corn side dish has all kinds of beautiful flavors that can make an otherwise simple side dish even more special. With corn, red and green peppers, sweet onions, and garlic simmered in heavy cream, it’s an elevated version of creamed corn. Take it up another notch with some creole seasoning. If you’re without those other aromatics though or you used them all up in your jambalaya, there’s nothing wrong with making creamed corn as your side. Want to lighten it up more? Use half and half instead of the heavy cream and you’ll still get that rich flavor with less guilt.
– Air-Fried Zucchini Chips
And finally, you can let your air fryer handle another side if you’d like. Zucchini chips are so easy to make in your air fryer. You’ll get that perfect crispy crunch that will go great with your jambalaya. When you can’t find fresh zucchini, you can use this method to make crispy fried green beans, sweet potato chips, or even kale chips. Any of those would work great to round out your side dish options.
Now that you know what goes with your jambalaya, it’s time to get cooking and gather everyone around the table!