How to make the best Jambalaya in a crockpot, yes crockpot Jambalaya!

If you love Cajun style foods but don’t love all the work and time it takes to make it, you need to try this crockpot Jambalaya recipe!  It’s so easy the ingredients come together in minutes, and then you are off to start your day.  When you return home, the enticing aroma of the best crockpot Jambalaya will greet you!  And best of all, dinner is ready to put on the table!

Recently, I’ve been having a love affair with my crockpot and I found that I could make all sorts of dinners that will ready when I get home.  This is a lifesaver for a busy life.

Ingredients:

2 cans fire roasted diced tomatoes

1 lb. smoked sausage cut in ½” pieces

1 large onion, chopped

Large green bell pepper, chopped

1 cup uncooked long-grain converted rice

2 stalks of celery sliced

3 cloves of garlic, minced

One tablespoon of dried parsley

One teaspoon dried thyme

Lb. of peeled uncooked Shrimp

1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper, more or less depending upon how spicy you like your Jambalaya

½” cup of tomato paste

2 bay leaves

¼ cup water

Instructions:

Mix all the ingredients together and place in the crockpot.  Cover and cook 8-10 hours on low.

One hour before serving turn the crock pot to high and stir in the uncooked shrimp.  Cover and cook until the shrimp are pink and tender. 

I just love easy recipes like this one.  If you are like me, you are cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving and have leftover turkey.  Try this chicken salad recipe which is just as delicious if you make it with Turkey and have nice lunch after Black Friday is over and done with!

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Make awesome pasta sausage bake in the crockpot quick and easy

If you are like me, you are always running around trying to get things done.  This pasta sausage bake is so quick and easy because you make it in the crockpot!  No boiling the noodles and the only thing you have to pre-cook is the sausage!  In about 4 hours you will have a delicious pasta sausage bake that looks like it came right out of the oven! 

Just brown the sausage and drain and then assemble the ingredients.  Go get your errands run, or take the kids to soccer practice and when you come back your dinner will be ready to bring to the table! 

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground hot or mild Italian sausage (browned and drained)

1 lb. box of pasta, any kind (I used cellentani but penne, ziti would be just as good)

2 jars spaghetti sauce

1 egg

1 15-ounce container of ricotta cheese

2 cups mozzarella divided in half

1 cup grated Parmesan divided in half

1 tsp. Italian seasoning

1 tsp. parsley

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

1 clove garlic finely chopped

Pam or non-stick spray

Instructions

In a small bowl mix ricotta, egg, ½ mozzarella cheese, ½ Parmesan, garlic, Italian seasoning, parsley, and salt and pepper.  Stir to blend all the ingredients together.

Next, spray your crockpot liberally with the non-stick spray. Add half the uncooked noodles into the crockpot.  Pour about ¾ of a jar of sauce on the noodles, stir together to make sure every they are completely covered.  Press down into an even layer.

Now add half the ricotta on top of the noodles.  Next, sprinkle half the sausage on top.  Add the other third of the jar of sauce on top of the sausage.

Repeat all the layers with the rest of the ingredients.  Cover and turn the crockpot on low for 4-6 hours.  After four hours test the noodles to see if they are done.  If not, continue cooking till the noodle reach your preferred level of doneness. 

Add the rest of the cheese on top and cook for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Cut the pasta sausage bake as you would lasagna into squares and serve with a salad and some Italian bread.  Yummy and so easy!