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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Lashun Hollis says
What size Dutch oven is needed for this recipe?
ImmaculateBites says
I used a 7quart Dutch Oven.
Trinity Westlake says
Hi! Looking to try this recipe out but wanted to know how many quarts the Dutch oven is that you used?
ImmaculateBites says
Hi Trinity,
I used a 7 quarts Dutch oven.
ImmaculateBites says
Hi Tessa,
It’s All purpose flour .
Keiana says
If I donโt have a Dutch oven and use a stock pot instead. Will this affect the recipe?
ImmaculateBites says
Hello Keiana. Yes, you could use a stock pan. Just make you are constantly stirring to avoid it from burning at the bottom.
Kenneth Thiessen says
First off, Imma, thank you. Great site with loads of new and tasty recipes!
Wife and I have had NOLA on our bucket list for ages so a couple years back she surprised me for my birthday and planned a trip to finally go. The food, the architecture, the music, the art, the history… plus it was the 300th anniversary of the city so there were fireworks nightly!
Among the list of memories is a meal we ate to the sound of jazz, cool April breeze blowing through the Market, popcorn crawfish, a couple hurricanes, and the most amazing gumbo ever.
I came home with a passion for Creole and Cajun food and I wanted it here in Iowa! I couldn’t wait, I had to find a way to unlock what secrets had been whispered.
I do love living in the modern age, despite what troubles we may have handed ourselves. After reading through recipes, I came across this one, and I do believe I have been making your Jamaican Peas n Rice recipe for a grip now, so yeah, I’ll go with this one.
All I can say, which obviously is plenty, is thank you, truely. This is now a staple recipe in our family’s book.
Sure, I double the rue, double the veggies, add an extra can of tomates, leave out the crab, leave out the file’ powder (which isn’t bad, just not my thing), stew it a bit longer and absolutely have to serve it with a loaf of crusty french bread. Still, at the core, it is this wonderful recipe.
Only note I’d change is about the rue color. Chocolate is great, but for first timers, aim for pumpkin pie. If it smells like burnt popcorn and looks like pumpkin pie, you’re golden from there on. Lower temp mean it’ll take longer, but it’s harder to burn at a lower heat. I give myself 30 to 45 minutes to get my rue on. Also helps heaps to have everything chopped, opened, measured and ready to go before you even put oil in the Dutch oven.
From the banks of the Mississippi, 900 miles north of NOLA, our family thanks you again, Imma. Every time i eat this meal I’m transpoted to those crooked little streets. Our pot of gumbo is done so that’s about all I have to say. ๐
ImmaculateBites says
Hi Kenneth ,
Thanks for taking time out to share such detailed background information about gumbo. Also love all the tips you shared here . Can’t wait to make a pot of gumbo . Thanks Again
Cho Lao says
Sounds like an รฉtouffรฉe
Rae says
I made this recipe this morning and it was out of site. I did cheat using Tony Chachere’s already made roux. I have charpel tunnel so can’t stand stirring too long. Delish thanks!
Dr. Anthony says
My go-to recipe for gumbo! My best friend from Thibodaux LA sent me the link and I’ve used it every since!
Philip Tavano says
Maybe you know.How come the same herbs and spices are used that are already in the creale seasoning?
Jonathan Booker says
One of my favorite recipes everything was great thanks
Jody says
Thia is my s/o favorite dish. I’m so in love with this dish, it’s so easy to make. I make my roux dor 45 minutes tops, I love when it is really dark. I’ve always used blue crabs when I make this dish, and then cut it in half. This is truly a keeper. So delicious
ImmaculateBites says
You add them in the pot and crack open after serving. This is how it’s serve, feel free to switch it up to suit the needs of your family.
Cho Lao says
You can also cut the shell on raw legs with a pair of scissors and push the meat into the gumbo same time as you put shrimp in
ImmaculateBites says
Really appreciate your input . Thanks for taking time out to share this with us.
jo mamma says
Can you post a final serving picture of this? I would rather see you outcome rather than the other recipe you linked.
ImmaculateBites says
No you do not have to add tomatoes . Yes, you may boil and shred chicken and add to gumbo.
Jenny says
This is delicious! Iโve made it probably 10 times now! It is my husbandโs favorite recipe! We use spicy Italian sausage instead of smoked, and I shred the chicken after I brown it. Thank you for sharing this!
SHILBA says
GREAT RECEIPE …I ENJOY THIS MEAL …THANKS FOR SHARING …..
ImmaculateBites says
No, I don’t . I just serve it with chicken as is.