Instant Pot Gumbo Recipe

By
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
An internationally recognized culinary authority, Kristina Vanni is well-known for her recipe development, food photography, and experience as a TV show host.
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Updated on 01/29/23
Instant Pot Gumbo

 The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 35 mins
Pressure Build/Release: 35 mins
Total: 85 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Yield: 6 bowls

Gumbo is the official state food of Louisiana and one of the most iconic recipes in traditional Cajun and Creole cuisine. It consists of a flavorful stock, some sort of meat, sausage, or shellfish, and the "Holy Trinity" of vegetables: onion, celery, and bell peppers. Gumbo is thickened by adding sliced okra to the stew as it cooks or filé powder to the finished recipe just before serving. Filé powder is ground from the sassafras tree leaves and acts as a thickener in gumbo. It also adds a signature distinctive earthy flavor to the classic Southern stew. It can be found in specialty stores and ordered online.

Instead of simmering the stew on the stovetop, this Instant Pot version is ready to enjoy in no time.

Ingredients

For the Instant Pot Rice:

  • 2 cups long-grain white rice

  • 2 cups water

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

For the Chicken and Sausage Gumbo:

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil

  • 3/4 cup onion, chopped

  • 3/4 cup green bell pepper, chopped

  • 3/4 cup celery, chopped

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth

  • 1 (14-ounce) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes

  • 1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces

  • 12 ounces andouille sausage links, sliced 1/2-inch thick

  • 5 ounces okra, sliced

  • 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

  • 1 teaspoon dried basil

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

  • 1 bay leaf

  • 1 teaspoon filé powder, for garnish

  • Chopped parsley, for garnish

  • Sliced green onion, for garnish

  • Hot sauce, optional, for serving

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Instant Pot Gumbo ingredients
     The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  2. To prepare the rice, stir the rice, water, and kosher salt in the Instant Pot. Follow the manufacturer's guide for locking the lid and preparing to cook. Set to pressure cook on high for 10 minutes. After the pressure cook cycle is complete, follow the manufacturer's guide for natural release and wait until the natural release cycle is complete. This will take about 10 minutes.

    Rice and water in pressure cooker
     The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  3. Be careful of any remaining steam and unlock and remove the lid. Using the tines of a fork, fluff the rice to separate the grains. Set aside the rice and cover until ready to serve. Clean the insert of the Instant Pot before preparing the gumbo. 

    Rice in Instant Pot
     The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  4. To prepare the gumbo, stir together the flour and oil until smooth. Use the sauté setting to cook over medium heat 5 to 7 minutes until the roux is the color of peanut butter, stirring constantly. 

    Flour and oil in the Instant Pot
     The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  5. Add the onion, green bell pepper, celery, and garlic. Sauté until softened, about 8 minutes.

    Vegetables in the Instant Pot
     The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  6. Add the chicken broth, diced tomatoes, chicken, sausage, okra, Creole seasoning, oregano, thyme, basil, salt, pepper, and bay leaf.

    Lock the lid in place. Set to cook at high pressure for 8 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes to release the pressure naturally. Release any remaining pressure manually and open the lid carefully.

    Instant Pot Gumbo ingredients in Instant Pot
     The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  7. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Spoon each serving into bowls. Add about 1 teaspoon of filé powder and stir to combine. Top each serving with hot cooked rice and garnish with fresh parsley and sliced green onion. Serve with additional hot sauce, if desired.

    Instant Pot Gumbo in pot
     The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  8. Enjoy.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
644 Calories
42g Fat
32g Carbs
36g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 644
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 42g 54%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Cholesterol 150mg 50%
Sodium 1722mg 75%
Total Carbohydrate 32g 12%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 36g
Vitamin C 26mg 132%
Calcium 100mg 8%
Iron 3mg 19%
Potassium 918mg 20%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)