When it comes to preparing meals, I gotta admit I’m a bit lazy.
I can’t imagine life without my two best friends: George Foreman and Crock Pot.
Sure I have my moments of inspiration where I find the most extravagant recipe and spend hours in the kitchen trying to recreate it. But those moments are few and far between. Definitely not on a weeknight.
Most days I’m just looking for a shortcut to a delicious, budget friendly, and healthy home-made meal.
This is it.
It gives George and Crock a break, but it’s just as quick and easy.
All the credit for enlightening me with this genius shortcut for a delicious jambalaya recipe goes to my girl, Shanna. She calls it the tired girl’s jambalaya, but for me, it’s the lazy version. It’s what we made on a Saturday, when we weren’t tired. Just preferred spending our time relaxing, watching bad movies on Netflix than simmering jambalaya for hours.
This is my version based on what I had in my cupboards.
I’ve made jambalaya from scratch before and it took me hours, and didn’t even end up tasting nearly as good as this one.
Ingredients:
- 1 box of New Orleans style jambalaya rice mix
- 1 lb sausage
- 1 small onion
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 1 package of frozen shrimp
- 3 large carrots
- 1 can of diced tomatoes
- salt, pepper, paprika, garlic seasoning
- fresh parsley, chopped
Directions:
1. Start with the box of rice, and cook as directed on the box.
2. In a saute pan, start cooking your sausage. Add salt, pepper, garlic, and paprika seasonings.
3. While it is browning, chop up the onion and garlic. Add it to the sausage once the sausage is starting to crisp up to your liking.
4. Add shrimp.
5. Add carrots.
6. Add diced tomatoes and simmer on low heat for 5-10 minutes while the rice finishes cooking.
7. Serve the meat and vegetable mixture over the rice. Garnish with parsley.
8. Enjoy spending all that extra time you gained by not standing over the stove, but doing other things instead.
Do you know any other shortcut versions of more complex meals? Please share 
Also, I’m guest posting today on “A Couple of Crumbs” with my list of tips for planning a Staycation. Check it out here!
YAY! Glad you liked it — it’s one I’d definitely make again and again. I think it’s starting with a already spiced up (yummy) rice base.
Yeah i think you are definitely right, starting with a spicy base helps because then you don’t risk it being bland if you can’t season it right on your own!
Easy meals are the best! I’m going to be swiping this recipe for sure.
Looks delish!
do it! it is delish
I love using that rice mix. I haven’t bought it in ages though b\c I forgot about it. One of my clients was going to make jambalaya from scratch and got me craving it a few weeks back. I def. like the quick and easy way to make things so I don’t need to be spending hours in the kitchen especially when just my husband and I are going to eat it!
Yes definitely give it a try it’s a great weeknight meal!
It’s so funny. Because when I bake, I rarely do the “shortcut” (except for what I’m baking tonight-shhhh). But cooking? It’s another story. I make it as easy as I possibly can!
You know what… that’s a good point because I’m the same way! Baking is just more fun…
Nothing wrong with a little crock pot action! I love mine to bits.
Yes absolutely. I took some time off from it this summer, but it’s coming back in full force this fall
this looks so good! I am definitely going to give this a try, thanks for sharing
it is good! let me know when you try it!
The truth is that your lazy girl version is a lot of effort for me! You should see some of the sad stuff that comes out of my kitchen.
haha that’s funny, but it sounds like you are hiding some lazy girl kitchen secrets
this would have been perfect last night to watch with TRUE BLOOD!
no worries, there’s still time to make it for the Bachelor Pad premiere tonight!
This looks so good!!!!
thank you! it is