Spice up your weeknight meals with the best Gumbo Recipe in town! This chicken, sausage, and seafood stew is bursting with authentic Cajun flavors from Creole Seasoning, paprika, and gumbo file. And it’s cooked in a richly-flavored broth and roux, making every spoonful of this gumbo is simply delicious and comforting.
If you’re looking for the best Louisiana Gumbo recipe, then you’ve come to the right place. (Ahem!) Many years of trial and error have finally led this gumbo lover to the perfect recipe. And now, I can proudly share this recipe with you. Not to brag, but this gumbo will surely be your new favorite! 😉
Contents…Recipe Ingredients |
Cajun Gumbo Recipe
Gumbo has always been my favorite Southern dish (along with Baked Mac and Cheese, Southern Fried Chicken, Buttermilk Biscuits, oh, the list goes on! I guess, I just love food. 😁).
This one became my favorite because it has the right amount of heat from Creole Seasoning and sweet tartness from tomatoes. It is also highly seasoned with herbs and spices, such as paprika and thyme.
And, of course, the holy trinity – bell pepper, celery, and onion, which gives the most authentic flavor to our easy gumbo recipe.
All these flavors simply blend in perfect harmony. You’ll fall in love with this fantastic dish in no time. 💖
Recipe Ingredients
Our easy gumbo recipe here requires several ingredients, but you don’t need to worry because most of them are pantry staples. And the rest are readily available in your local grocery store. Despite the long list of ingredients, this recipe is surprisingly easy to make. 😉
- Chicken – I usually go for skinless chicken thighs because it’s more tender and flavorful. Of course, you can always use any chicken cut you prefer. You could even use any poultry, like turkey or quail.
- Smoked Sausage – This adds meaty, spicy, and peppery flavors to our gumbo. I used Andouille sausage for this recipe; other choices are Kielbasa and Spanish or Mexican chorizo.
- Crab Legs and Shrimp – Their natural oceany and seafoody flavor add an iconic touch to our gumbo recipe, making it genuinely delicious. Oh yes! 😋
- Butter and Flour – We need these two to make our dark roux, which is essential to make our gumbo nice and thick while adding a sensational buttery flavor as well. While butter adds a special touch, any neutral-flavored oil will do the trick. And if you need gluten-free, try your favorite gluten-free all-purpose flour.
- Seasonings – It’s no secret that the holy trinity in cooking is the foundation of our sumptuous Southern dish. And together with garlic and onion, they add marvelous fragrance and fantastic flavor. For authentic Cajun flavors, my homemade Creole Seasoning is perfect. Oh yes!
- Tomatoes – Technically, Cajun gumbo doesn’t have tomatoes, but I’m adding them anyway. ✌ Their natural sweetness and tartness add another layer of deliciousness to our dish. Plus, it gives our gumbo broth a nice color and consistency, too.
- Gumbo File – Also known as file powder, this quintessential gumbo ingredient enhances flavor and thickens soups. Unlike other seasonings added before simmering to deepen the flavor, file powder is added to gumbo, together with green onions and parsley, just in time to serve.
How to Make Gumbo
Sear the Chicken and Sausage
- Season – Lightly season the chicken with salt and pepper. (Photos 1-2)
- Sear – Heat the oil over medium heat in a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven. Then cook the chicken until browned on both sides, remove, and set aside. Add the sausage and brown, and then remove. Set aside. (Photos 3-4)
Make the Roux
- Combine – Melt the butter and oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed saucepan, then add the flour and stir until smooth. (Photo 5)
- Stir Continuously – Cook on medium heat, stirring continuously, for about 20-30 minutes or until it turns a rich dark brown color – just like chocolate. Don’t walk away from the stove during this process, or it could burn. (Photo 6)
- Let It Cool – When you have achieved your desired color, remove the Dutch oven from the stove and let it cool.
Cook and Simmer
- Saute – Return the Dutch oven to the stove. Add the onion, garlic, green pepper, and celery, and cook for 8-10 minutes–stirring frequently. (Photos 7-8)
- Simmer – Then add chicken, sausage, crab legs, Creole seasoning, chicken bouillon or cubes, paprika, thyme, bay leaves, and let it cook for 5 minutes. Follow with the canned tomatoes and about 6 cups of chicken stock, then bring it all to a boil and simmer it for 45-50 minutes. After that, add the shrimp and simmer 5 more minutes. (Photos 9-10)
- Adjust Soup Consistency – Stir in file powder, green onions, and parsley. Adjust the soup’s thickness and flavor with broth or water and salt.
Recipe Variations
- Seafood Delight – Enjoy our gumbo packed with more seafood such as oysters, mussels, crawfish, and squid. Seafood Gumbo has never been this tasty! Oh yes!
- Heat-Seeker – More heat and more fun for heat rebels like me. Oh yes! Throw a flame-throwing party with Scotch bonnets, serrano peppers, jalapenos, or habaneros. Or a dash of cayenne adds a kick of heat that’s not too overpowering.
- Vegetarian Gumbo – Replace meat with more veggies, like mushrooms, cauliflower, carrots, zucchini, and potatoes, for a more nutrition-packed gumbo. Yay! (Or just throw in some sliced okra like this Okra Gumbo.)
- Low-Carb and Keto-Friendly Gumbo – Enjoy a gluten-free gumbo thickened with chopped okra instead of roux. Guilt-free yet equally delish! 👌
Tips and Tricks
- There is no shortcut to a good roux. Take your time and cook your flour-fat mixture until it’s beautifully dark and smooth.
- Keep your eye on the roux and stir continuously when cooking it because it burns quickly. If available, use a wooden spoon to mix your roux.
- If using okra to thicken the soup base, chop the okra and add it to your gumbo 10 minutes before it’s done.
Make-Ahead Instructions
Oh, you bet our gumbo here tastes even better the next day. So, if you want to save time before the big event, cook the gumbo the day before and reheat it when you’re ready to serve. Relax and enjoy!
If making ahead, don’t add the shrimp just yet because they tend to get rubbery and tough when overcooked, which may happen while reheating. So I highly suggest cooking the shrimp separately and adding them just before serving.
Serving and Storage Instructions
Good thing our classic gumbo recipe here freezes well, so leftovers are not a problem, too. So make a big batch, and you’ll never need to worry about your sudden cravings. Woohoo!
- Store – Transfer the gumbo into a clean and dry airtight container once cooled. And if you’re planning to freeze it, I highly suggest transferring it into heavy-duty freezer-safe resealable bags in individual portions for easy thawing and reheating. Perfect for a small family or to satisfy sudden cravings. 😉
- Refrigerate – It will stay fresh in the fridge for up to three days.
- Freeze – It’s good for up to 6 months in the freezer if properly stored.
- Reheat – Heat thawed gumbo to a deep pot on medium-low, covered, when ready to serve. Stir occasionally to prevent scorching, adding more broth or water as needed. If reheating a small portion, you can reheat it in the microwave instead.
Tip: Reheat leftovers the same way. To be safe, reheated leftover gumbo should be eaten the same day, and any leftover leftovers should be discarded.
FAQs
Gumbo is a popular dish in Louisiana featuring various kinds of meat such as seafood, chicken, and pork cooked in a thick broth with fantastic flavors from the holy trinity of cooking – onion, bell pepper, and celery. Some use a brown roux to thicken their soup base, while the others use okra or gumbo file. It all comes down to what you like most. 😉
Roux is made with equal parts of oil and flour, then carefully cooked to eliminate the raw flour taste. And in the case of gumbo, it takes about 22-25 minutes of continuous stirring to achieve its gorgeous dark brown color.
You can check out this post about how to make roux and learn about different types of roux and their uses.
You have to have either okra or gumbo file (or both) to be true gumbo. Otherwise, it’s not authentic. Sorry guys! That said, homemade seafood stock, hands down, makes the best gumbo ever.
Gumbo filé is usually available in the ethnic section of your local supermarket. I know Amazon has it if you can’t find it where you are.
What Goes Well with Gumbo
Serving gumbo topped with a cup (or more!) of steaming hot rice will always be my favorite pairing. But sometimes, I also love wiping my bowl clean with these delicious bread recipes below to go with my favorite gumbo recipe.
More Southern Comfort Food to Try
Watch How to Make It
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Fe Varian says
looks GREAT!!!! i’m going to make this one for my husband, he’s been requesting this recipe, it’s my first time to cook Gumbo!, i’m glad i found this recipe! thank you for sharing it.. god bless you! *^_^*
ImmaculateBites says
Awesome! Do let me know how it works out for you. Thanks
Kristen Fox says
I love to cook but have never made gumbo before, even though I love it. I decided to give this recipe a try last week and it was absolutely delicious! This definitely went straight to the top of my favorite recipes list! Thank you so much for sharing it.
ImmaculateBites says
Fantastic! Thanks for letting me know .
Neville Burrows says
These receipts look good, I want to try.
ImmaculateBites says
You should it tastes AH-MaZing!!!
Natasha M says
Loved the way it tasted. I actually enjoyed the broth before I added the gumbo file. I may use half of the recommendation. But it was my first time making gumbo and definitely not my last thanks to you! Thanks!
ImmaculateBites says
My pleasure ! Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.
william says
in regards to step #6 –
“Then add chicken, sausage, crab legs, creole seasoning, chicken bouillon or cubes, paprika, thyme, bay leaves and let it cook for 5 minutes. Followed by can tomatoes about 6 cups of chicken stock, bring to a boil and let it simmer for about 45 โ 50 minutes .Add the shrimp, simmer for 5 more minutes.”
you dont mention 6 cups of chicken stock in the ingredients list. So should i include 6 cups of chicken stock or was this a typo ?
ImmaculateBites says
Yes include 6 cups of stock. I have updated recipe.
Lisa says
Do you have a cookbook?
ImmaculateBites says
Not at the moment. Definitely by the end of the year.
Teleauba says
It’s the end of the year….cookbook? Lol. Trying this gumbo Wednesday night!
ImmaculateBites says
Oh my! LIFE! It got to me. Just couldn’t bring myself to accomplish this. Keeping my fingers crossed for 2018. Happy Cooking !
Wishing you all the best of 2018.
Dawn says
My only comment is….there is no mention of chicken stock as part of the ingredients needed. Had to go back out to get it. Once I got to the part where is says add 6 cups. ๐
ImmaculateBites says
So sorry about the confusion . Hope you enjoyed it .
Lisa says
This gumbo looks so good! I’m definitely going to try it. Do you shred the chicken or leave it whole?
ImmaculateBites says
I leave it whole. At the end the chicken is falling apart- depending on the size of chicken.
ChiChi says
I am drooling at this gumbo. I need to make this soon.
ImmaculateBites says
You are going to love it chi-chi!!!
LaGeishaN says
Hello. Got all the ingredients but couldn’t find the gumbo file. But from reading the comment and your responses you said sub with okra. No one in my household don’t like orkra. So what can I do if I don’t have either one.
ImmaculateBites says
Just make the gumbo without the file. If you are including everything else it’s still going to be fabulous!
Happy Holidays!!!
LaGeishaN says
Ok. Thanks.
Michael Montgomery says
Thanks for clarifying that your recipe is for Gumbo Filรฉ and not a straight gumbo. The powdered sassafras leaves give it a distinctive flavor and texture. I keep some on hand for times that I wish to make the variation. In my house, and for my money, if a gumbo doesn’t have okra and a roux – it isn’t gumbo. It’s just a soup or stew.
ImmaculateBites says
Thanks for taking the time to share with us.
Kim LaTessa says
Do you cook or steam the crab legs first before you add or do you just add them uncooked?
Kim LaTessa says
Also, why do you have to let the roo cool?
ImmaculateBites says
So everything should be at the same temperature. Not a Biggie though. It works just fine without letting it cool.
ImmaculateBites says
I just add them. No steaming required.
Michelle says
I want to try this, my family is from Louisiana, and it’s hard to get that gumbo that I’m used to, the real deal, this seems pretty close, minus the tomatoes. Anyway, my question is- since we don’t like the crab, and only because it requires wrk breaking through the shell for the meat. I was thinking of real lump crab meat (not the canned stuff) instead. So by using that, would I still need to add it in at the last minute, or can it cook along with the other ingredients?
Thanks
ImmaculateBites says
Hi Michelle! Add it at the last minute- about 5 minutes towards the end.
Stacy says
This gumbo was delicious!! Even my extremely picky husband said it was good. This was my 4th recipe and I haven’t been disappointed yet. I am trying 2 more tonight. I am looking forward to it.
Thank you so much for sharing your recipes.
Olivia says
This was Sooooooooo delicious! I made it twice in two weeks! I added scallops and it was a hit! Thanks for sharing!
ImmaculateBites says
My pleasure! Nice touch with the scallops.
Tonya says
Did you com the scallops first before you added them? I love this recipe and I think scallops would be great in it!
ImmaculateBites says
I did not use scallops here. If using scallops I would add it at the very end- about 3-4 minutes , before turning the stove off.