Jambalaya is one of the most delicious and easily prepared weeknight dishes out there. It takes you regular old chicken and rice to a whole new level, and feels like you’re tasting a piece of culture.
It combines elements of Spanish, French, and African cuisine, using the best of each to create something beautiful.
Because jambalaya combines all of the different elements that we tend to put on our plate already, including carbohydrates in the form of rice, meat in the form of chicken or sausage, and vegetables in the form of peppers and onions, you can enjoy it on its own.
But what’s the fun in that?
If you want to spice up your jambalaya with some delicious side dishes that will make the meal even better, we’ve got you covered. Simply keep reading, as we take a look at some delicious side dishes for your weeknight jambalaya.
1. Caesar Salad
Let’s get started with something light and delicious, which will compliment your jambalaya beautifully. Caesar salad is an absolute classic of a side dish, and this recipe shows you how to make the best possible version of this Greek marvel.
Caesar salad is well known for being the perfect complimentary side dish for pasta, and the rice in jambalaya is no exception. Go ahead and whip up this easy side dish for dinner this evening.
2. Savory Crepes
We bet that you never thought that crepes could make the perfect side dish to go with your jambalaya, but this recipe is here to prove you wrong. If you’ve never tried savory crepes before, then you’re in for a massive treat.
They are incredibly easy to make, and you’ll most likely have all of the ingredients already stored in your pantry. If you’re willing to put in a little extra prep time, these crepes are really worth it.
3. The Very Best Cornbread
This Southern classic makes an excellent pairing with jambalaya, and just about everything else, for that matter. This cornbread recipe is the most flavorsome, chewy, and fluffy that we’ve come across on the whole of the internet.
If you want to add some more carb filled goodness to your weeknight meal, then whip up these little morsels of deliciousness.
4. Hush Puppies
What are these little balls of goodness we hear you asking? Well, they’re little pieces of heaven, we’ll have you know. They are another Southern classic, but they take the traditional cornbread recipe to new heights.
They are essentially the same as cornbread, but they are deep fried for added extra golden goodness. They’re great as a neutral tasting snack for balancing out the spicier flavors of your jambalaya.
5. Okra
If you want to prepare something that’s both delicious and nutritious to go with your jambalaya this evening, then this recipe for cooking the perfect okra is just for you.
Although okra can have a slightly strange texture when cooked improperly, this one shows you how to get it just right.
If you want to make it even more luxurious and slightly devilish, you can fry your okra up in bacon fat, and toss in some onions, peppers, and tomatoes. Absolutely delicious!
6. Cheddar Biscuits
We all love a hearty biscuit as a side dish for many of our weeknight meals, and these cheddar biscuits are simply the best. Soft, chewy and perfectly tangy, these biscuits are to die for.
The best thing about this biscuit recipe is that they freeze really well, so you can prepare these ahead of time to save you fussing over them when you’re making dinner.
7. Garlic Bread
Who would have thought that garlic bread would make such a delicious side dish for jambalaya? This recipe for the perfect garlic bread is truly one of the best around. This one is particularly cheesy, buttery, and of course, garlicky!
It’s baked in the oven until the edges are golden brown and crispy, the ideal texture for this delicious bread.
8. Creamed Corn
Why have boring old corn on the cob when you can have this delicious and creamy corn recipe instead? This one is one of the best in terms of flavor pairings with jambalaya, because it balances the spices out perfectly.
Don’t be fooled by its appearance, it’s actually incredibly easy to prepare. All you need to do is purchase some frozen corn from the supermarket, as well as some flour, salt, sugar, and some half and half.
You can make it as savory, or as sweet as you like, depending on the amount of salt and sugar you add to the dish.
9. Swiss Chard
Another green vegetable that goes perfectly with jambalaya. It can sometimes be difficult to figure out what to pair this leafy green with, but we guarantee that jambalaya is one of the best.
This one is incredibly easy too, for when you don’t have much time to prepare an elaborate side dish.
All you need to do is gently sautee the swiss chard in a pan along with some oil, salt, and pepper. How could it get any easier?
10. Creamy Cucumber
This recipe resembles a potato salad to some degree, but is far lighter because it contains chopped cucumber as the filling instead.
Incredibly fresh, yet creamy, this recipe uses cucumbers and onions along with a sour cream dressing to achieve that gorgeous texture.
The secret is to add a little bit of sugar into the mix to give it that added sweetness which makes it oh so delicious! The cooling cucumber is perfect for a particularly hot jambalaya dish.
11. Baked Zucchini Bites
These bites are little morsels of heaven. They also look like they’ve taken a long time to prepare, but in actual fact, they’re incredibly easy to make. They’re made from bisquick mix, along with cheese and vegetables.
You can serve these either as a side dish for your jambalaya, or, why not bring them out ahead of the meal as an appetizer? A great way to make a weeknight meal feel a little fancier.
12. Rainbow Salad
As well as being absolutely beautiful to look at with all of the different colors, this fruit based salad is incredibly sweet and refreshing.
All you need to do for this dish is take the time to chop up all of your different fruits, and then go ahead and put a refreshing lime, honey, and zest based dressing on top.
This one is again perfect if you’re somebody who prefers to make a spicier jambalaya, as it will balance out the intensity perfectly.
13. Grilled Oysters
If you really want to impress your family, or you’re having people over to eat your jambalaya, this recipe makes the perfect fancy appetizer to accompany the dish.
The flavors are the perfect combination of briny, buttery, and sweet, making them a great side.
You can also whip up a delicious remoulade sauce to go with these delicious oysters.
14. Crab Dip
Another seafood based side that is absolutely heavenly when paired with jambalaya. This dip tastes incredibly cheese, and has the perfect creamy texture that makes our mouths water immediately.
It’s incredibly flavorful and contains lots of worcester sauce, dijon mustard, hot pepper sauce, and jalapenos. If you want to make your weeknight jambalaya even spicier, then you have to whip up this amazing recipe.
15. Cajun Cauliflower Rice
If you’re looking for a side dish that isn’t carb heavy, then this one is absolutely perfect for you. This cauliflower rice dish is one of the best recipes of its kind, packing plenty of flavor, and healthy ingredients.
With yellow, green, and red pepper, along with lots of tender cauliflower, this recipe has lots of cajun seasoning to spice things up.
What Are Some Delicious Side Dishes to Serve with Coconut Shrimp?
Looking for ideas for coconut shrimp? Look no further! Some delicious side dishes to serve with coconut shrimp include tangy pineapple salsa, creamy coconut rice, fresh cucumber salad, or crispy sweet potato fries. These delectable additions will perfectly complement the coconut shrimp, creating a flavorful and satisfying meal.
Final Thoughts
There are so many delicious side dishes that you can prepare to accompany your jambalaya. Although this dish is tasty by itself, the sides listed above bring this meal to a whole new level.
Impress your family by making something different this evening. Simply take a look at the recipes we’ve recommended, and choose your favorites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that we’ve covered some of the best side dishes that you can prepare to go with your jambalaya, let’s take a look at some of the frequently asked questions you all had regarding this dish.
Those of you who are not familiar with either jambalaya or gumbo may feel slightly confused as to what the difference is between these two dishes. After all, they look incredibly similar on the surface.
The key difference between them is that gumbo is essentially a stew or a soup type dish, and so is served over a portion of rice. Jambalaya, on the other hand, is cooked with the rice already in the mix, and is an incredibly important ingredient.
Traditionally, jambalaya is supposed to be a spicy dish, but you can accommodate your own preferences with this meal.
If you’d like to make a slightly milder version of this dish, then we recommend that you don’t add in some of the hotter kinds of spices, like cayenne pepper.
You can also make sure that the variety of sausage that you’re using in the meal isn’t a spicy variety.
You should always aim to cook your jambalaya adequately so that it is not runny when it’s ready to be served.
All good jambalaya actually has a crust that’s been formed at the bottom of the pan to give it that added crispy texture that we all know and love.
If you’re wondering what the best kind of rice to use for jambalaya is, we recommend that you always use a white rice that is long grain.
Basmati works particularly well too if you don’t have any white long grain rice available. Just avoid using short grain rice.
12 + Yummy Side Dishes To Serve With Jambalaya
Ingredients
Directions
- Pick a recipe from the list above
- Click the recipe name and visit the website
- Collect the ingredients and cook the food
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Recipe Video
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