Gumbo Recipes

This Authentic New Orleans Gumbo is made with a dark roux, vegetables, chicken, sausage, and shrimp, and served over rice. This is a beloved recipe shared with me by a native New Orleanian.

As you probably have gathered, I love making comfort food style recipes that use lots of fresh produce and real ingredients. This gumbo is no exception, and if you like this then I know you’ll love Jambalaya and Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice.

We had a really fun neighbor growing up who was from New Orleans and made a fantastic homemade Gumbo! I’m so thankful my Mom took him up on his offer to teach her how to make a true, authentic Gumbo! Decades later it is a beloved recipe that has become a staple in our family and we have made it hundreds of times! It is definitely in my top favorite meals of all time! Nothing tastes better on a cold winter day.

gumbo recipes

Authentic New Orleans Style Gumbo

gumbo recipes

This Authentic New Orleans Gumbo is made with a dark roux, vegetables, chicken, sausage, and shrimp, and served over rice.

Prep: 20min

Total: 80min

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 464 kcal, Carbohydrate 5 g, Protein 12 g, Fat 29 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Cholesterol 116 mg, Sodium 1303 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 1 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 1 heaping cup all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup oil ((vegetable or canola oil))
  • 1 bunch celery (, diced, leaves and all)
  • 1 green bell pepper (, diced)
  • 1 large yellow onion (, diced)
  • 1 bunch green onion (, finely chopped)
  • 1 bunch fresh chopped parsley (, finely chopped)
  • 2-3 cloves garlic
  • 1-2 Tablespoons cajun seasoning (*)
  • 6-8 cups Chicken broth (*)
  • 12 ounce package andouille sausages (, sliced into ‘coins’ (substitute Polska Kielbasa if you can’t find a good Andouille))
  • Meat from 1 Rotisserie Chicken*
  • 2 cups Shrimps (, pre cooked)
  • cooked white rice (for serving)

Instruction:

  1. Make the Roux*: In a large, heavy bottom stock pot combine flour and oil. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring constantly for 30-45 minutes. This part takes patience–when it’s finished it should be as dark as chocolate and have a soft, “cookie dough” like consistency. Be careful not to let it burn! Feel free to add a little more flour or oil as needed to reach this consistency.
  2. Brown the sausage. In a separate skillet on medium-high heat place the sausage slices in one layer in the pan. Brown them well on one side (2-3 minutes) and then use a fork to flip each over onto the other side to brown. Remove to a plate.
  3. Cook the vegetables in broth. Add 1/2 cup of the chicken broth to the hot skillet that had the sausage to deglaze the pan. Pour the broth and drippings into your large soup pot.
  4. Add remaining 5 1/2 cups of chicken broth. Add veggies, parsley, garlic and roux to the pot and stir well.
  5. Bring to a boil over medium heat and boil for 5-7 minutes, or until the vegetables are slightly tender. (Skim off any foam that may rise to the top of the pot.) Stir in cajun seasoning, to taste.
  6. Add meat. Add chicken, sausage, and shrimp.
  7. Taste and serve. At this point taste it and add more seasonings to your liking–salt, pepper, chicken bullion paste, garlic, more Joe’s stuff or more chicken broth–until you reach the perfect flavor. Serve warm over rice. (Tastes even better the next day!)

Shrimp & Sausage Gumbo

gumbo recipes

This easy seafood gumbo recipe features shrimp and sausage and starts off with an extremely flavorful roux.

Prep: 20min

Total: 1h20min

Yield: 4 serving(s)

Nutrition Facts: calories 634 Calories, Fat 39 g, Saturated Fat 16 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Cholesterol 262 mg, Sodium 1597 mg, Carbohydrate 28 g, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 5 g, Protein 42 g

Ingredients:

  • 4 tbsp. butter
  • 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
  • 1 small yellow onion
  • 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 celery ribs, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 12 oz. andouille sausage, sliced into 1/2″ pieces
  • 1 tbsp. cajun seasoning (without salt)
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 (15-oz.) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
  • 4 c. low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 3 green onions, sliced
  • cooked white rice, for serving

Instruction:

  1. In a large, deep skillet over medium-low heat, melt butter, then add flour. Cook, stirring constantly, until dark caramel colored, about 10 minutes.
  2. Add onions, peppers, and celery, and stir until softened, about 5 minutes more. Stir in garlic and sausage, then season with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir in bay leaf, diced tomatoes, and chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until thickened, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.
  3. In the last 10 minutes of cooking, add shrimp. Once shrimp is pink and cooked through, taste and adjust seasonings. Stir in green onions, reserving some for garnish.
  4. Serve spooned on top of white rice.

Chicken Andouille Sausage Gumbo

gumbo recipes

Get a taste of New Orleans cuisine at home with this delicious gumbo. Smoky sausage, okra, and aromatic vegetables make this a recipe perfect for sharing.

Prep: 15min

Total: 135min

Yield: 6

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 615 kcal, Carbohydrate 26 g, Protein 29 g, Fat 44 g, Saturated Fat 18 g, Cholesterol 142 mg, Sodium 1097 mg, Fiber 5 g, Sugar 6 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast (or thigh)
  • 2 quarts water (to cook the chicken)
  • 1 pound okra (1″ pieces, or frozen)
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cup yellow onion (¼” dice)
  • 1 ½ cup bell pepper (¼” dice, green and red)
  • ⅓ cup celery (¼” dice)
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 2 cups diced canned tomatoes
  • 12 ounces andouille sausage (cooked, ½” slices)
  • 1 dried bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon gumbo filé (Zatarain’s)

Instruction:

  1. Cook the Chicken – In a medium-sized pot, add chicken and cover with 2 quarts of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer until fully cooked, about 20 to 25 minutes. The internal temperature should reach 160ºF (71ºC). Strain the chicken broth and reserve.
  2. Shred the Meat – Remove cooked chicken from the pot. Allow it to cool, then shred into small pieces. Cover and set aside.
  3. Cook the Okra – In a medium-sized pot, add okra and ½ cup of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cover. Simmer, occasionally stirring, until tender, about 7 to 9 minutes. Transfer to a colander, drain and set aside.
  4. Make the Roux – In a large dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot, combine butter and flour. Cook over medium heat, frequently stirring with a whisk, until a dark brown roux forms, about 15 minutes. If needed, increase the heat if you do not see a substantial color change. In the last 5 minutes, continuously stir, so the roux does not burn.
  5. Saute the Vegetables – Add onion, bell peppers, celery, and garlic to the pot. Sauté until vegetables are tender, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  6. Cook the Sausage – Add cooked okra, tomatoes, and sliced sausage. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  7. Add the Seasonings – Add bay leaf, thyme, basil, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
  8. Simmer – Stir in 4 cups of the reserved chicken broth. Loosely cover the pot and simmer over medium-low heat, occasionally stirring until the gumbo thickens, about 30 minutes.
  9. Simmer the Chicken – Add the cooked shredded chicken and simmer for an additional 15 minutes.
  10. Add the Gumbo Filé – Turn off the heat and slowly stir in the gumbo filé. Do not reboil after adding, as this tends to make the gumbo stringy—taste and season with more salt and pepper as desired. Add more chicken broth if you want a less thick consistency.
  11. To Serve – Scoop and serve over steamed rice.

Authentic Cajun Gumbo Recipe

gumbo recipes

You’ll love this delicious authentic Gumbo recipe jam-packed with chicken, andouille sausage, and okra in a homemade chicken stock.

Prep: 25min

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 449 kcal, Carbohydrate 19 g, Protein 16 g, Fat 35 g, Saturated Fat 9 g, Trans Fat 0.3 g, Cholesterol 59 mg, Sodium 592 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 4 g, unSaturated Fat 25 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • pound Whole chicken
  • 1 gallon water
  • 2 large peeled small diced yellow onions
  • 1 ½ pounds andouille sausage cut into ¼” thick slices
  • ¾ cup vegetable oil + 3 tablespoons
  • 4 ribs small diced celery
  • 1 seeded and small diced red bell pepper
  • 1 seeded and small diced green bell pepper
  • 5 finely minced cloves of garlic
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons Cajun seasonings
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1- pound thick cut sliced fresh or frozen Okra
  • gumbo file for garnish
  • cooked long grain rice for garnish
  • optional potato salad for garnish
  • sea salt and pepper to taste

Instruction:

  1. Add the whole chicken to a large pot and cover it with 1 gallon of water and simmer on low to medium heat for 75 to 90 minutes or until the chicken is completely cooked.
  2. In the meantime, add some 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil to a large pot over medium heat and sauté the sausage slices for 5 to 6 minutes, or until they have sear marks. Set them aside in a bowl or on a plate.
  3. Add the onions to the pot and cook over low heat until very well caramelized, which usually takes 45 to 60 minutes.
  4. Next, add the celery and bell peppers and sauté over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes or until the vegetables are a little brown and tender.
  5. Stir in the garlic and cook just until it’s fragrant, which takes 45 to 60 seconds.
  6. Set the sauteed vegetables to the side on a plate or in a bowl and then return the pot to the burner but do not turn the heat on just yet.
  7. Go Back to the pot with chicken and carefully remove the chicken and set it to the side on a large plate. Cool it slightly.
  8. Strain the chicken stock through a chinois or fine-mesh strainer. Return the chicken stock to the cooktop and keep it warm over low heat.
  9. Remove the skin from the cooked whole chicken and then remove as much meat as possible from the breasts, wings, thighs, and drums. Roughly chop the pulled chicken and set it to the side.
  10. Next, go back to the pot where the trinity vegetables were cooked and add in the oil over low to medium heat and heat for 2 to 3 minutes.
  11. Slowly sprinkle in the flour while continuing to whisk until combined.
  12. Frequently whisk or stir the roux in the pot until it reaches the dark roux stage. It should be the color of a dark penny. This will take around 30 minutes to achieve.
  13. Add back in the cooked vegetables and stir until combined. Sprinkle in the Cajun seasonings and stir to combine.
  14. Pour in 2 to 3 ladles of warm chicken stock into the pot and mix it with the vegetables, spices, and roux until it becomes dark and creamy.
  15. Now pour in all the chicken stock along with the roughly chopped chicken and seared sausage slices. Next, add in the bay leaves and sliced okra and stir it well.
  16. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat to help activate the roux to help thicken the stock. Once boiling, turn the heat down to low medium and on a lid and cook it for 1 hour.
  17. Adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper. Serve, store, or keep it warm over low heat

How To: Make Chicken and Sausage Gumbo with Isaac Toups

FAQ

What is the secret ingredient in gumbo?

Garlic Is the Ingredient That Makes a Superb Gumbo

Ted Daigle says the secret to really tasty gumbo is granulated garlic. As a fan of garlic, I couldn’t agree more. I love garlic, and I find it’s flavor gives a punch to any dish.

What are the 2 rules of gumbo?

Here are some handy rules from a gumbo expert: Brown your sausages. ABSOLUTELY NO wieners/hot dogs/franks in the pot. Don’t put whole, undressed crabs in the pot.

What are the three types of gumbo?

Common Types of Gumbo

Traditional favorites usually include seafood gumbo, sausage gumbo, and chicken gumbo, but it’s incredibly versatile.

What is typically in gumbo?

Gumbo consists primarily of a strongly flavored stock, meat or shellfish (or sometimes both), a thickener, and the Creole “holy trinity” ― celery, bell peppers, and onions. Gumbo is often categorized by the type of thickener used, whether okra or filé powder (dried and ground sassafras leaves).

About the author

Helen is an author and editor at helenbackcafe.com, who has a passion for writing about recipes. She loves to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create delicious and unique dishes.

Among all the foods, pizza holds a special place in her heart, and she loves exploring different variations and toppings to create the perfect slice. Through her writing, Helen hopes to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen and share their love for food with the world.

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