Using your Instant Pot, you can make a full Cajun dinner in less than 30 minutes! This recipe is a great one for weeknights.
This quick and easy Cajun Instant Pot meal is loaded with juicy chicken, veggies and long grain white rice. It’s delicious and is sure to be a hit with the whole family!
1. Cajun Chicken and Rice
Cajun instant pot recipes are a fantastic way to cook a quick and delicious meal. They are a great option for busy families because they can be made quickly and are super easy to prepare.
One of the best meals to make in an Instant Pot is this one-pot Cajun Chicken and Rice recipe. It’s a classic combination that gets a kick of flavor from a mixture of spices and black pepper.
It’s also a great option for meal prep because it holds well in the refrigerator for up to a few days. The leftovers are perfect for lunches or for a quick dinner the next day!
This Cajun chicken and rice recipe is packed with flavor and veggies. It’s also one of the easiest meals to make in an Instant Pot!
You can make this a vegetarian meal by using boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of regular chicken. These thighs are tender and juicy, making them a great choice for an instant pot recipe.
The chicken in this dish is seasoned with Cajun seasoning, which has a robust flavor and a hint of spice. It’s a blend of dried thyme, oregano, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
Once the chicken is browned, add bell peppers and onions to the pan. Sautée them until they are soft and begin to develop flavors. Stir in more of the Cajun seasoning, then add the broth.
2. Cajun Sausage and Dirty Rice
Dirty rice is a classic Southern dish that is often served as a side to main dishes, such as fried okra or yellow cornbread. This recipe is a simple, one-pot dish that is full of flavor and perfect for a quick dinner.
It’s a favorite among Southerners and has roots in Louisiana Cajun cooking. It’s made with white rice that turns brown “dirty” when cooked in a savory mixture of fine pieces of meat, onion, bell pepper and celery, along with a mix of spices.
This is a delicious and easy Cajun dish that is sure to please the whole family. It’s also a perfect dish to make for parties, since it can be made ahead of time and reheated in the microwave.
Traditional dirty rice is usually made with chicken livers and gizzards, but you can substitute these ingredients with pork sausage if you prefer. If you do use these proteins, be sure to cook them for a while in the pressure cooker until they are tender and cooked through.
This dish is a great choice for a quick weeknight meal and can be easily adapted to vegetarians by using vegetable-based sausage or omitting the meat all together. You can also serve it with a variety of sides to create an epic Cajun feast! Try adding some grilled corn on the cob, or slow simmered red beans to your plate.
3. Cajun Gumbo
Gumbo is a traditional Creole and Cajun stew that uses a variety of ingredients. It is usually a savory mixture of chicken and sausage, vegetables, meat or shellfish, stock and a thickener. The key is to use a variety of spices and seasonings, and to make sure it is seasoned well enough to be able to stand on its own.
The base of a good gumbo is a roux, which is a combination of flour and fat. The roux should be cooked until it develops a golden color. This can take 10 to 15 minutes, so be sure to stir it often!
Once the roux has been cooked, add garlic, onion and green pepper. Once these veggies are soft, add a cup of peanut oil (or lard), the browned sausage and file powder. This is a type of dried spice made from sassafras leaves that thickens the gumbo slightly.
When all the ingredients are added to the Instant Pot, it is time to cook. Turn the Instant Pot to saute mode and let it heat up.
As soon as it reaches a temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit, turn the pressure cooker to high and close the lid. Set the PRESURE COOK option to 8 minutes and allow natural release for 5 minutes.
This recipe will make a lot of gumbo, so you can freeze it in containers for up to three months. It will also store for up to five days in the refrigerator.
4. Cajun White Chili
If you love a little spice and a big bowl of comfort, this Instant Pot Cajun White Chili recipe is the perfect choice. It’s filled with cubed chicken, white beans, veggies, and a blend of spices. It’s a healthy, dairy-free, kid-friendly meal that comes together in a snap.
This savory dish is made using an easy-to-make Cajun seasoning blend that includes paprika, peppercorns, cayenne pepper, garlic, onion, salt, and herbs. You can use it in a wide range of dishes, from pasta and vegetables to meats and even seafood.
To make the base of this delicious Instant Pot (paid link) recipe, saute diced onions, green peppers, and celery in a bit of oil until tender. Add unrinsed long grain rice, and mix well until it begins to toast slightly.
Next, pour in chicken broth and milk, then dry pasta, and stir to combine. Press the “Manual” button and set the timer for 4 minutes.
Once the timer goes off, allow the pressure to naturally release for about 15 minutes. After that, you’ll want to turn the valve to vent to release any remaining pressure.
This Instant Pot Cajun White Chili recipe is a great option for Mardi Gras parties, potlucks, or whenever you need to feed a crowd! Leftovers are also delicious reheated on the stovetop. And since it’s a crockpot (paid link) recipe, you can even prep this ahead of time and keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months!
5. Cajun Meatballs
If you’re a lover of meatballs and cajun spice, this recipe is for you. It’s a super easy, quick and delicious meal that can be made in your Instant Pot!
The sauce is loaded with smoky spices and fire roasted tomatoes, and it’s topped with tender, juicy meatballs. This is one of our favorite dinners to make in the Instant Pot.
To prepare the sauce, you’ll first need to saute some onion and garlic in oil. Once they’re soft and fragrant, add the rest of the ingredients.
Once you’ve sauteed everything, turn off your saute mode and put your Instant Pot on manual HIGH. Cook on this setting for 4 minutes and let the pressure release naturally before removing the lid.
For a vegetarian version, simply omit the shrimp. You can also substitute the ground turkey for beef if you prefer.
This is a great meal to serve on football game day or whenever you’re hosting friends! It’s a hearty, comforting stew that can be served over rice or pasta.
This is a great Cajun dish that will last in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months! The meatballs are seasoned with a variety of powerful cajun spices, and they’re topped with a cheesy cream sauce.
6. Cajun Shrimp and Dirty Rice
Cajun recipes are a great choice for anyone looking for an easy and flavorful meal. This one pot shrimp and rice recipe is an instant classic and perfect for any time you need a quick dinner that will satisfy your appetite and leave you with plenty of leftovers to take home!
It’s a one pan, meal-in-one that only takes 30 minutes to make and is so satisfying. Plus, it’s full of cajun flavour that will have everyone asking for seconds!
This is a very versatile dish, so you can easily swap out the shrimp for other proteins such as chicken or andouille sausage. Just be sure to adjust the seasonings and add more or less cayenne pepper as desired.
To prepare the recipe, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 3.5 qt (or larger) braiser or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When hot, add the shrimp and saute just until opaque. Once the shrimp are cooked, remove them from the pan and set aside.
Next, add the onion and all remaining Cajun seasoning and saute for 3 minutes. Then, add the bell pepper and celery and saute for another 3 minutes. Finally, stir in the garlic and saute for 30 seconds.
Once the mixture has cooked, add the chicken broth, diced tomatoes and tomato paste and stir. Bring the mixture to a simmer, cover and reduce heat to LOW. Simmer for 6-10 minutes, until the rice is tender. Serve the dish with a side of lemon wedges and garnish with fresh parsley.