Description
A hearty, one-pan meal that combines the bold flavors of Cajun cooking with budget-friendly ground beef, smoky sausage, and nutritious cabbage. This twist on traditional jambalaya is perfect for busy weeknights, featuring protein and vegetables in a comforting dish that’s ready in under an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb smoked sausage, sliced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 head of cabbage, chopped (about 4–5 cups)
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes (with juice)
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning (use more or less to taste)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups cooked white rice
- Optional: chopped green onions for garnish
- Optional: hot sauce for serving
Instructions
- Brown the Meats: Heat a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the sliced smoked sausage and cook for 3-4 minutes, until it’s starting to brown and render out some fat. Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon and set it aside. Add the ground beef to the skillet. If there’s not enough fat left, drizzle in a teaspoon of oil. Crumble and brown the beef until no pink remains, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
- Sauté the Veggies: Add the diced onion and green bell pepper to the same pan with the browned beef. Cook over medium heat until the veggies are softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and sauté another minute, just until fragrant.
- Simmer with Tomatoes and Cabbage: Return the cooked sausage to the pan. Stir in the chopped cabbage, canned diced tomatoes (with all their juices), Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix everything well to combine. Cover and let it cook over medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is tender but still has bite, and the flavors have melded.
- Add Rice and Finish: Uncover and add the cooked white rice. Fold it into the jambalaya mixture until evenly distributed and heated through, about 2-3 minutes more. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more Cajun seasoning or hot sauce as desired.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle with chopped green onions and another dash of hot sauce for a true Cajun flair. Serve hot, straight from the skillet.
Notes
- Don’t rush browning the meat—golden, crispy edges add great flavor!
- Slice the cabbage into bite-size pieces so it cooks evenly and is easy to eat.
- If you love extra spicy jambalaya, add cayenne pepper or a splash of hot sauce while simmering.
- Leftover jambalaya tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld—perfect for meal prep.
- Make sure to use fully cooked white rice so it doesn’t get mushy. Day-old rice is ideal for texture!
- Try topping with fresh parsley or a squeeze of lemon for a fresh pop at serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: One-Pan
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: cajun jambalaya, cabbage jambalaya, ground beef jambalaya, one-pan meal, budget-friendly dinner, easy cajun recipe, cabbage recipes, sausage recipes