Wondering What to Serve with Jambalaya? 33 Appetizers, Sides and Desserts to Try

By Katherine Gillen

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Published Aug 5, 2022

So you whipped up a big batch of jambalaya, complete with andouille, chicken and shrimp—we’re totally impressed. But a feast wouldn’t be complete without a few appetizers and sides, right? (And don’t forget dessert.) From side dishes like cornbread, collards and corn salad to sweet treats to end the night (mmm, banana pudding), these 33 delicious recipe ideas will help you finally stop wondering what to serve with jambalaya and get cooking. Plus, if you pick a couple sides and a dessert from our list, you’ll have a complete meal.

Appetizers and Side Dishes

what to serve with jambalaya sweet spicy cornbread recipe

Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell

1. Sweet And Spicy Cornbread

Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser

We know Southerners might scoff at the addition of sugar, but we just can’t get enough of the swicy flavor combination. (That’s sweet + spicy, FYI.)

what to serve with jambalaya smoky barbecued corn recipe

Kristin Perers/Round Ours

2. Smoky Barbecued Corn

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, ready in <30 minutes, vegetarian

Corn on the cob? Great. Grilled corn on the cob? Even better. And if you slather it in spices and cheese, we just might marry you.

what to serve with jambalaya creamy oven polenta recipe

Kristin Teig/Mediterranean Every Day

3. Creamy Oven Polenta

Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, gluten free, low sugar

It’s creamy, comforting and just the thing to soak up all that saucy goodness from your jambalaya. Use white cornmeal to make it more akin to grits.

what to serve with jambalaya marinated white bean and tomato salad recipe

Chelsea Kyle/For the Table

4. Marinated White Bean And Tomato Salad

Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
Why We Love It: low sugar, make ahead, <10 ingredients

When you’re already sweating over a pot of stew, the last thing you need is a bunch of steamy sides to stress about. This marinated dish basically makes itself—that hour time commitment is mostly hands-off.

what to serve with jambalaya easy 5 ingredient corn soup recipe

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

5. Easy 5-ingredient Corn Soup

Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, gluten free

There’s something about serving a cup of soup before a meal that feels fancy and restaurant-like. This corn soup calls for just a handful of ingredients but tastes like a summertime dream.

what to serve with lamb: coconut creamed spinach

6. Coconut Creamed Spinach

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, dairy free, vegetarian, beginner-friendly

Switch up your usual greens with this dairy-free take on creamed spinach. Even better, it’s a one-skillet deal.

what to serve with jambalaya sprightly biscuits recipe

Robert S. Coober/A Real Southern Cook

7. Sprightly Biscuits

Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients

These fluffy biscuits get their irresistible texture (and name) from none other than a can of lemon-lime soda. Even if you’re not a baker, you can make ’em.

what to serve with jambalaya sweet potato biscuit rolls recipe

Renée Kohlman/Vegetables: A Love Story

8. Sweet Potato Biscuit Rolls With Honey Butter Glaze

Time Commitment: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, <500 calories, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser

And if you are a baker, these biscuit-meets-bun rolls have your name on them. The sweetness will be the ideal foil to a spicy bowl of jambalaya.

what to serve with jambalaya fried green tomatoes recipe

9. Fried Green Tomatoes

Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser

Gardeners, listen up: When faced with a plethora of unripe tomatoes, transform them into these crispy, juicy bites. One dip in the garlic aioli and you won’t be able to stop.

what to serve with jambalaya buttermilk skillet cornbread with tomatoes and scallions recipe

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

10. Buttermilk Skillet Cornbread With Tomatoes And Scallions

Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy

This is a lesson in how to turn an otherwise simple side dish into something entertaining-worthy. You could easily swap in another favorite summer vegetable, like corn, zucchini or bell pepper, too.

what to serve with jambalaya corn and tomato salad recipe

Photo: Tyler Mauk/Styling: Anne Mauk

11. Corn And Tomato Salad With Feta And Lime

Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, ready in <30 minutes, beginner-friendly

Speaking of corn, we’re not afraid to admit we have a crush on this effortless salad. Skip the feta if you want a more Southern vibe, but don’t skimp on the lime.

what to serve with jambalaya cajun oven roasted okra fries recipe

The Defined Dish

12. Cajun Oven-roasted Okra Fries With Lemon-garlic Aioli

Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, vegetarian

Who needs potatoes when you have okra? When roasted in the oven, it becomes crispy and dippable.

what to serve with jambalaya succotash recipe

Grandbaby Cakes

13. Succotash

Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: <500 calories, gluten free, dairy free

This savory mix of corn and beans is a Southern staple that celebrates the produce of summer, so you can bet it’s on our table.

what to serve with jambalaya southern hushpuppies recipe

The Recipe Critic

14. Southern Hushpuppies

Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, ready in <30 minutes, <500 calories

These cornmeal cuties are crisp on the outside, tender on the inside and begging to be dipped in the condiment of your choice. (Remoulade—a mayo-based dressing that’s like tartar sauce—is a classic choice.)

what to serve with jambalaya cast iron cornbread recipe

Katherine Gillen

15. Cast Iron Cornbread

Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, vegetarian, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients

Whether you’re in the savory cornbread camp or you like it on the sweet side, we can all agree on one thing: It’s at its finest when baked in a cast iron skillet—the magic ingredient to a crisp, toothsome edge.

what to serve with jambalaya southern collard greens recipe

Grandbaby Cakes

16. Southern Collard Greens

Time Commitment: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pot, dairy free

With a little TLC (OK, and a ham hock), you can transform a big bunch of greens into a tender, silky side dish.

what to serve with jambalaya zesty chargrilled broccolini recipe

Simon Pask/The Happy Balance

17. Zesty Chargrilled Broccolini

Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <15 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegan

If you’re short on time, skip the slow-braised sides in favor of this lightning-fast vegetable. It’s fresh, simple and never a bad idea.

what to serve with jambalaya brussels sprouts skillet crispy pancetta garlic breadcrumbs recipe

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

18. Brussels Sprouts Skillet With Crispy Pancetta-garlic Breadcrumbs

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, <10 ingredients, low sugar, <500 calories

It can be tricky to get Brussels sprouts crispy without the help of an air fryer or a long stint in the oven. Here, the aromatic topping brings that extra crunch we crave.

what to serve with jambalaya southern baked mac and cheese recipe

Butter Be Ready

19. Southern Baked Mac And Cheese

Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, kid-friendly

Step away from the boxed stuff. This homemade mac is richer, cheesier and worth the extra effort.

what to serve with jambalaya fresh black bean salad recipe

Cookie and Kate

20. Fresh Black Bean Salad

Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, ready in <30 minutes, vegetarian, make ahead

Aside from being light and quick to make, this salad keeps in the fridge for a few days, so you can make it ahead of time.

what to serve with jambalaya crisp green salad with benne seed ginger dressing recipe

Emily Dorio/The Saltwater Table

21. Crisp Green Salad With Benne Seed Ginger Dressing

Time Commitment: 15 min
Why We Love It: no cook, ready in <15 minutes, vegetarian

Not tonight, bottled dressing. This homemade version comes together easily in a blender, and its bright, complex flavor pairs fabulously with the bitter salad greens.

what to serve with jambalaya dirty rice recipe

Grandbaby Cakes

22. Dirty Rice

Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories

The sausage and chicken are key to the deeply smoky flavor of this dish, but you could swap in mushrooms to make it vegetarian.

what to serve with jambalaya cheddar scallion biscuits recipe

Butter Be Ready

23. Cheddar Scallion Biscuits

Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients

Why have a plain biscuit when you could have one laced with cheese and savory herbs? Good thing this recipe makes a batch of 12.

Desserts

what to serve with jambalaya banana pudding cups recipe

Katherine Gillen

24. Banana Pudding Cups

Time Commitment: 4 hours, 20 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients

There are a lot of ways to make banana pudding, but to keep things quick and easy (and to let the fresh fruit shine), this version starts with a cornstarch-thickened pudding instead of an egg-based custard. The hardest part is waiting for it to chill.

what to serve with jambalaya blackberry raspberry skillet cobbler recipe

Robert S. Cooper/A Real Southern Cook

25. Blackberry-raspberry Skillet Cobbler

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients

You get all the summery-sweet perks of pie (juicy berries! perfectly sweet crust!) without so much effort—it’s ready in all of half an hour. Pass the vanilla ice cream.

thanksgiving desserts that aren't pie: Caramel Pecan Pies with Cinnamon Roll Crust

Photo: Jon Cospito/Styling: Erin McDowell

26. Mini Caramel Pecan Pies With Cinnamon Roll Pie Crust

Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser

Everyone will ooh and ahh, but you don’t have to tell them these bites start with store-bought cinnamon rolls. Plus, we’re suckers for a mini dessert. (What can we say? They’re cute.)

what to serve with jambalaya mini key lime pies recipe

Katherine Gillen

27. Mini Key Lime Pies

Time Commitment: 40 minutes (plus chilling time)
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, beginner-friendly

These minis come together in a muffin tin and are quicker to bake and chill than the original full-size recipe for key lime pie, which means they’re in your mouth in less time too.

what to serve with jambalaya hummingbird cupcakes with pineapple flowers recipe

Katherine Gillen

28. Hummingbird Cupcakes With Pineapple Flowers

Time Commitment: 4 hours
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, kid-friendly

As it turns out, a canned of crushed pineapple and the overripe bananas crying from your kitchen counter make one hell of a good cupcake. They’re sweet, moist and, best of all, topped with cream cheese frosting.

what to serve with jambalaya skillet peach cobbler recipe

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

29. Skillet Peach Cobbler

Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, beginner-friendly, <500 calories

With your handy-dandy cast iron skillet, a saucy peach dessert is a little over an hour away. (And without any kneading or rolling.)

what to serve with jambalaya magic chocolate chess pie recipe

Sally’s Baking Addiction

30. Magical Chocolate Chess Pie

Time Commitment: 7 hours (includes cooling time)
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy

Caramelly sweet cheese pie meets fudgy chocolate brownie. Even so-called chocolate haters (we see you) will have a hard time resisting this one.

what to serve with jambalaya pecan pie brownies recipe

A Cookie Named Desire

31. Pecan Pie Brownies

Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser

Confession: We typically steer clear of nuts in cookies and brownies. But this batch has a gooey topping just like the pie, and gooey toppings are our weakness.

what to serve with jambalaya lemon key lime pie bars recipe

Half Baked Harvest

32. Lemon Key Lime Pie Bars

Time Commitment: 2 hours
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories, beginner-friendly, make ahead

A touch of lemon juice takes the custard to a new level of tanginess, with a generous swoop of whipped cream to balance everything out.

what to serve with jambalaya bourbon sweet potato pie with marshmallwo topping recipe

Sally’s Baking Addiction

33. Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie With Marshmallow Topping

Time Commitment: 7 hours (includes cooling time)
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy

If you’re going all out, you might as well do it with marshmallow topping. Bust out the blow torch.

_{Katherine Gillen is a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City restaurants. She used to sling sugary desserts in a pastry kitchen, but now she's an avid home cook and fanatic baker.}

Katherine Gillen

Senior Food Editor

Katherine Gillen is PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...