Slow Cooker Gumbo with Chicken and Sausage

Slow Cooker Gumbo is a hearty, filling stew inspired by the Gulf Coast. There are debates about what exactly makes the best gumbo, but in my opinion this recipe is great because of how effortless it is to throw together.

If you can spare 10 minutes in the morning to prepare everything, you’ll have a tasty, easy gumbo on the table by dinner!

With smoky, spicy andouille sausage, tender chicken, cajun seasoning, and what's known as the holy trinity of vegetables (onion, bell pepper, and celery), this recipe uses the power of the Crock Pot to make a restaurant-quality gumbo from the comfort of home. 

If you love easy Southern Crock Pot dinner recipes, you’ll also want to try my slow cooker jambalaya, crockpot pork ribs, crock pot red beans and rice, and this zesty Cajun chicken pasta.

Ingredients

• Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs: You could also use boneless, skinless breasts, but I like the rich flavor from dark meat for this sausage chicken gumbo.
• Andouille Sausage: Andouille gives a lot of flavor and spice to this dish. If you can't find andouille or you prefer something more mild, you can substitute smoked pork sausage, spicy chorizo, or Polish kielbasa.
• Yellow Onion, Green Bell Pepper, and Celery: These veggies go straight into the Crock Pot for this recipe and give it classic gumbo flavors.
• Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes: Tomatoes are commonly used in Creole-style gumbo but not as often with Cajun gumbo. These tomatoes have a slightly smoky flavor after being roasted and add a lot of great depth to the gumbo base. 
• Minced Garlic: I love using fresh garlic for this Cajun gumbo. If you’re short on time, you could also use garlic from the jar.
• Paprika, Onion Powder, Cajun Seasoning, and Cayenne Pepper: A great gumbo is all about the spice mix and we’ve got this one down. You can adjust the heat level and make it spicier if you prefer.
• Low-Sodium Chicken Broth: I like salting this dish to taste, so using low-sodium broth makes it easier to control how salty it is. Vegetable broth could also work.
• Bay Leaves: Bay leaves add a delicate warmth to the dish. If you don’t have any on hand, you could use a sprinkle of oregano and thyme instead.
• Cornstarch: Used to thicken the sauce. Many gumbo recipes call for a roux made with flour but for this Crock Pot gumbo, we’re keeping it simple with a cornstarch slurry.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

Variations

• Add Okra: Okra is a classic southern vegetable to include in this dish. You could use fresh, canned or frozen okra. Add it towards the end of the cooking time when you’re making slow cooker chicken and sausage gumbo. It will thicken the broth so you might want to use a little less cornstarch for the slurry.
• Add Shrimp or Crab: During the last 20-30 minutes of cooking, you could add shrimp or lump crabmeat to give more of the classic seafood flavors in gumbo.
• Add More Spiciness: Extra cayenne, sliced jalapenos, or Louisiana hot sauce on top would add more of a kick to this gumbo.
• Use Red Pepper: Green pepper is considered a classic ingredient in traditional gumbo, but red bell pepper works great, too!

How to Make Gumbo in the Crock Pot

Here’s how to make gumbo in the crock pot. 

1. Step 1: Assemble the Ingredients in the Slow Cooker. Go ahead and dump everything in the Crock Pot, except the bay leaves and cornstarch, and stir it well. Then, add the bay leaves on top.

2. Step 2: Cover and Cook. Cook on high for 2 ⅓-3 ½ hours or low for 4-6 hours.

3. Step 3: Make a Slurry. Remove the bay leaves and a ½ cup of broth. Mix the cornstarch into the broth, stir it up, then add it back into the slow cooker. Let everything simmer for another 15 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.

4. Step 4: Serve Hot. You can serve gumbo with rice and fresh parsley as the garnish.

Serving Suggestions

This is the best slow cooker gumbo recipe to make for a family dinner or potluck on a cozy fall or winter night. If you like this, check out my Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala.

• We love this easy gumbo served with a scoop of slow cooker white rice or brown rice, and a garnish of finely chopped fresh parsley on top.
• You could also serve it with homemade cornbread in the crockpot, crockpot corn casserole, hush puppies, or buttermilk biscuits. 
• Have a piping hot bowl of gumbo with side dishes like collard greens, green beans, or slow cooker focaccia.

More Delicious Chicken Dishes 

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