Zesty Cajun Style Chicken and Sausage Stew Recipe: Hearty Magic

Hearty and bold, this Cajun style chicken and sausage stew bursts with layers of spicy Southern comfort.

Robust flavors dance across your palate with every steaming spoonful.

The rich, aromatic blend of tender chicken and smoky sausage captures the essence of Louisiana cuisine.

Simmering with traditional spices and deep-rooted culinary traditions, this stew promises a meal that warms both body and soul.

Each ingredient tells a story of heritage and passion.

Peppers, onions, and seasonings meld together in a symphony of taste that transports you straight to the heart of New Orleans.

Dive into this soul-satisfying recipe and experience a true taste of Cajun magic.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Calories: 420 kcal

Servings: 7

Cajun Style Chicken and Sausage Stew Ingredient List

• Chicken: Tender meat that absorbs Cajun spices beautifully, choose boneless chicken thighs for richer flavor and juiciness.
• Sausage: Adds smoky depth and spicy kick, opt for andouille sausage for authentic Cajun taste.

• Vegetable Oil: Creates smooth roux and prevents sticking, use high-smoke-point oil for best results.
• Flour: Thickens and enriches stew's texture, all-purpose flour works perfectly.
• Cajun Seasoning: Delivers signature Louisiana heat and complexity, look for blends with paprika, cayenne, and herbs.
• Chicken Broth: Builds foundational flavor, choose low-sodium for better seasoning control.
• Black Pepper: Provides subtle warmth and aromatic sharpness.
• Hot Sauce: Intensifies spiciness, select Louisiana-style hot sauce for traditional profile.
• Gumbo File Powder: Traditional thickener with sassafras flavor, unique to Cajun cuisine.
• Salt: Balances and enhances overall taste, add gradually to control intensity.

• Bell Peppers: Adds sweetness and color, mix red and green for visual appeal.
• Celery: Provides subtle earthy undertone, choose crisp and fresh stalks.
• Onions: Creates flavor base, white onions offer clean, sharp taste.
• Garlic: Delivers robust, pungent notes, fresh cloves recommended.
• Okra: Introduces traditional Southern texture and slight earthiness, select young, tender pods.

Tools for One-Pot Cajun Chicken Stew

• Large pot: Essential for cooking the entire stew, provides ample space for mixing ingredients.
• Wooden spoon: Perfect for stirring roux and mixing ingredients without scratching the pot.
• Cutting board: Needed for chopping vegetables and preparing ingredients cleanly.
• Sharp knife: Crucial for slicing sausage, chicken, and chopping vegetables precisely.
• Measuring cups: Helps accurately measure oil, flour, and broth for consistent results.
• Measuring spoons: Ensures correct seasoning amounts for balanced flavor.
• Ladle: Useful for serving the stew over rice smoothly.

Simmering Instructions for Flavorful Cajun Stew

• Flavor Foundation

Create a bold Cajun spice blend that transforms ordinary chicken and sausage into a vibrant Louisiana-inspired dish. The key is layering deep, rich seasonings that awaken your taste buds.

• Searing Magic

Heat a large pot and caramelize the meat until it develops a gorgeous golden-brown crust. This step locks in incredible flavor and sets the stage for an amazing stew.

• Roux Creation

Craft a dark, nutty roux by slowly cooking flour and oil together. This technique is the secret heart of authentic Cajun cooking, creating a complex base that gives the stew its signature depth.

• Vegetable Symphony

Introduce a medley of bell peppers, onions, celery, and garlic into the roux. These vegetables dance together, releasing their aromatic oils and building a rich flavor foundation.

• Liquid Harmony

Pour in chicken broth, blending it smoothly with the roux and vegetables. Allow the mixture to simmer gently, transforming into a luxurious, velvety stew.

• Final Touches

Add okra, spices, and return the seared meat to the pot. Let everything mingle and develop intensity over low heat for about an hour.

• Serving Celebration

Ladle the steaming stew over fluffy white rice, creating a hearty meal that transports you straight to the bayous of Louisiana.

Heat Adjustments and Add-In Options

• Roux Mastery: Perfect your roux technique by stirring constantly and watching the color carefully. Dark brown means deep, rich flavor that defines authentic Cajun cooking.
• Spice Level Control: Adjust the heat by varying the amount of hot sauce or adding cayenne pepper. Start mild and gradually increase for personal preference without overwhelming the dish.
• Protein Swap Magic: Replace chicken and sausage with shrimp, crab, or even plant-based alternatives for a unique twist. Each protein brings its own character to this hearty stew.
• Make-Ahead Brilliance: This stew tastes even better the next day as flavors continue to develop and meld. Store in an airtight container and gently reheat for a quick, delicious meal that gets more delectable with time.
• Veggie Boost Options: Experiment by adding diced tomatoes, corn, or additional vegetables like okra to enhance nutrition and create more texture. Fresh herbs like thyme or parsley can brighten the overall flavor profile and add a fresh touch to the rich stew.

Serve This Stew with Rice, Cornbread, or Biscuits

• Hearty Rice Bed: Serve this spicy stew over fluffy white rice to soak up all the rich, robust flavors. The rice acts like a delicious sponge, capturing every drop of the savory sauce.
• Zesty Garnish Party: Top the stew with fresh chopped green onions, a sprinkle of parsley, or a dash of extra hot sauce for added brightness and personal flair. These quick garnishes elevate the dish from great to absolutely spectacular.
• Southern Comfort Sides: Complement the stew with classic Southern sides like buttery cornbread, crispy buttermilk biscuits, or a tangy coleslaw. These accompaniments provide perfect texture contrast and round out the meal with authentic Louisiana-style charm.
• Cool Drink Pairing: Balance the stew's spiciness with a cold beer, crisp white wine, or refreshing sweet tea. These beverages help cut through the richness and cleanse the palate between each delicious, hearty bite.

Refrigerate and Reheat Without Losing Flavor

• Quick Refrigeration Strategy: Store leftover stew in airtight containers within two hours of cooking, keeping it fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Cooling quickly prevents bacterial growth and maintains delicious Cajun flavors.
• Freezer-Friendly Batch: Portion the stew into freezer-safe containers, leaving slight space for expansion. Freeze up to 3 months for convenient future meals. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating gently.
• Smart Reheating Technique: Warm stew slowly in a pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to distribute heat evenly. Add splash of chicken broth if mixture seems dry to restore original consistency and prevent scorching.
• Ingredient Separation Tip: Keep rice separate from stew when storing to prevent soggy grains. Store rice in another container and add fresh rice when reheating for best texture and flavor experience.

Hearty Cajun Style Chicken and Sausage Stew Recipe

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4.8 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
• Yield: 7 1x

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Description

Hearty Cajun-style chicken and sausage stew combines spicy Louisiana flavors with rich, robust ingredients. Simmered slowly, this comforting dish brings regional culinary traditions directly to your table.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 lb (0.45 kg) chicken
• 12 oz (340 g) andouille sausage
• 1 cup bell pepper, chopped
• 1 cup celery, chopped
• 1 cup onion, chopped
• 1 cup okra, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) vegetable oil
• 1 cup vegetable oil for roux
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp Cajun seasoning
• 1 tsp hot sauce
• 1 tsp gumbo file powder
• Salt to taste
• Cooked white rice for serving

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Instructions

1. Seasoning Preparation: Lavishly coat chicken and sausage with potent Cajun spice blend, ensuring complete flavor coverage.
2. Meat Searing: Ignite heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat, strategically browning proteins until achieving deep golden crust, then carefully extract and reserve.
3. Roux Development: Transform remaining oil and flour into rich mahogany-colored roux through continuous, precise whisking, preventing scorching while building complex flavor foundation.
4. Vegetable Infusion: Introduce trinity of bell peppers, celery, and onions with minced garlic, sautéing until tender and releasing aromatic essence into developing roux.
5. Liquid Integration: Gradually pour chicken broth, smoothly blending with vegetable-roux mixture, creating velvety, lump-free base for stew.
6. Seasoning Symphony: Incorporate okra, black pepper, hot sauce, and gumbo file powder, stirring to distribute spices uniformly and enhance overall flavor profile.
7. Protein Reunification: Gently reintroduce seared meats into simmering liquid, allowing proteins to absorb surrounding aromatics and develop depth.
8. Simmering Transformation: Allow stew to leisurely simmer uncovered for approximately one hour, occasionally stirring to prevent bottom adhesion and promote flavor melding.
9. Final Refinement: Taste and calibrate seasoning with salt, ensuring balanced and vibrant culinary experience.
10. Serving Presentation: Ladle luxurious, fragrant stew over pristine white rice, creating quintessential Cajun-inspired comfort dish.

Notes

• Master Spice Coating: Generously rub Cajun seasoning into every meat surface for explosive flavor penetration.
• Roux Technique: Continuously whisk flour in oil, watching for rich mahogany color without burning to create authentic Cajun base.
• Vegetable Timing: Add bell peppers, celery, onions, and garlic precisely after roux development to unlock maximum flavor complexity.
• Simmering Secret: Low and slow cooking allows meats to tenderize and absorb surrounding spices, transforming simple ingredients into a robust, soulful dish.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Cajun

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 7
• Calories: 420
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 890 mg
• Fat: 28 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 24 g
• Cholesterol: 75 mg