12 Mouthwatering Dishes to Serve with Jambalaya

published Jan 16, 2023
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jambalaya in a pot with a metal spoon
Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Styling: Anna Stockwell

I adore jambalaya and everything it has to offer in one bowl. A dish integral to the culinary traditions of New Orleans, jambalaya is a uniquely delicious rice dish with West African, French, and Spanish influences. It begins with an aromatic base of celery, onion, and peppers, and from there, cooks have the freedom to riff and add in a slew of vegetables and proteins. Did I mention jambalaya is typically a one-pot dinner (break out your Dutch oven!)? And it’s that jumbled concoction of ingredients that truly keeps on giving.

Nothing against jambalaya eaten on its own — I do it all the time. But putting even the simplest side on the table really rounds the meal. The part that often stumps us, though, is what to serve with jambalaya? That’s why I’ve rounded up 12 of the very best side dishes and other pairings to serve with your jambalaya for those times when you want to amplify the flavor of your meal.

Our Best Jambalaya Recipes

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Roasted Okra

If you need a simple and easy way to prepare okra, try roasting the long green pods in the oven.

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Field Greens, Poached Pear, and Black-Eyed Pea Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

This versatile salad bursts with poached pears, black-eyed peas, and a bright citrus vinaigrette. It's perfect to eat between bites of hearty jambalaya.

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Cornbread

Jambalaya quickly becomes a complete meal with enough cornbread. Our classic recipe has crispy edges and a moist and fluffy center, and is packed with rich, buttery flavor.

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Creamy Cucumber Salad
The best cucumber salad is made with crisp slices of cucumber tangled with mellow, sweet red onion and wisps of fresh dill, and blanketed with a tangy, creamy dressing.
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Air Fryer Corn on the Cob

Corn on the cob and jambalaya are a match made in heaven. Cooking corn in the air fryer results in the most tender-crisp kernels with some lightly charred edges in every sweet bite.

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Kale Slaw

This easy slaw features shredded cruciferous vegetables, almonds, and dried cherries in a tangy honey-mustard dressing.

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Oven-Caramelized Cabbage Wedges

Cabbage wedges are tossed with olive oil and seasoned simply with salt, then roasted in a hot oven until darkly caramelized and tender, with extra-crispy edges.

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Easy 10-Minute Garlic Broccolini

This easy recipe for sautéed Broccolini with garlic and red pepper flakes is the ideal vegetable side dish for jambalaya.

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Fried Oysters

This seafood delight is a great way to bring the local flavors of New Orleans right into your kitchen. You just need a dozen oysters and a few simple ingredients for breading and frying.

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Sweet Potato Biscuits with Ham

This is a fairly standard biscuit recipe, but what makes it extra special is the full cup of sweet potato and subtle warm spice of the cinnamon. Make them your go-to bread vessel to accompany your next pot of jambalaya.

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Cheddar Biscuits

These flaky buttermilk biscuits are studded with sharp cheddar, smoky bacon, and fragrant green onion. Using grated cold butter makes them so easy to make.

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Crêpes

When crepes come into the picture, we typically imagine them to be sweet, but the thin French pancake can indeed swing the savory direction and, when that happens, it becomes a fantastic partner for jambalaya.

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