Name: Instant Pot Gumbo
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 red bell pepper (diced); 1 green bell pepper (diced); 1 onion (diced); 1 cup celery (chopped); 3 cloves garlic (minced); 13.5 ounces Andouille sausage (cut into rounds); 1/3 cup flour; 1/3 cup butter; 3 cups chicken broth; 1 pound chicken (cubed); 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning ((or to taste, we used Tony Chachere's)); 10 ounces diced tomatoes with green chiles ((aka Rotel tomatoes)); 14 ounces fire roasted diced tomatoes; 2 bay leaves; 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt ((or to taste)); 1/4 teaspoon black pepper ((or to taste)); 1 cup okra (sliced); 1 pound shrimp (peeled, deveined); 4 cups cooked rice

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Instant Pot Gumbo is so easy to make! Loaded with sausage, chicken and shrimp, this gumbo is BURSTING with Creole flavors!

Instant Pot recipes are all the rage right now, and for good reason! They make dinner SO easy! Be sure to try our Easiest Instant Pot Meatballs, Sunday Pot Roast (Instant Pot Recipe), and for dessert, try our Instant Pot Chocolate Lava Cake!

Instant Pot Gumbo

Instant Pot Gumbo is the perfect meal for a cold day. Thick and hearty with a kick of Creole spice that warms your insides. The Southern comfort food originates in Southern Louisiana. It can be made so many different ways most gumbo dishes start with a basic roux, peppers, onions, and celery. You can add a protein such as sausage, chicken, or shrimp as well. Or all three. I’ve tried several different varieties of gumbo over the years, but my favorite includes chicken, sausage, and shrimp. I simply can’t pick a favorite meat to put in; I love them all! True gumbo is usually thickened with okra and/or filé powder in addition to the roux. It really depends on your taste. Try it and see for yourself. You will love this recipe!

Gumbo in an Instant Pot being scooped with a ladle.

Additions and Substitutions for Instant Pot Gumbo

Instant Pot Gumbo can be changed up a million different ways, depending on your tastes and preferences. Follow the recipe as directed below for a spicy flavor and all the meats! But you can experiment with spices and other ingredients to make it exactly how you and your family like it.

Feel free to omit one or more of the meats. Sausage only, just chicken and shrimp, etc. Or go all out and add crab meat, lobster, whatever you like!
Some may argue that tomatoes do not belong in gumbo when others love the added flavor of tomatoes. I really think there is no wrong way. Personally, I am not the biggest fan of okra, so it is something I usually leave out. Make it according to your tastes, be creative, and you won’t be disappointed.
You can make this recipe in a pressure cooker too. If your cooker doesn’t have a saute function, just saute your veggies and sausage in a separate pan, then add to the pressure cooker and follow the directions as listed below.

A bowl of Instant Pot Gumbo with chicken, sausage, shrimp, peppers, onion, and okra with rice on the side

How To Get A Dark Roux

You can make this gumbo recipe with a simple roux (we made this recipe with a simple, light roux) or if you prefer your gumbo to have that rich, dark color, you can make a “dark roux”. Keep in mind, that by making a “dark roux” you are adding another 35-40 minutes to your cook time. To make a dark roux, simply cook your roux longer until it gets to be a deep, golden brown color and this takes time. Keep a close eye on it and stir it constantly because you want it to be dark, but not burnt. Follow the rest of the recipe as indicated below.

Avoid The Instant Pot “Burn” Notice

Because you are making the roux first instead of adding a thickener at the end, you may be more likely to get the dreaded “burn” warning on your Instant Pot. If you notice your gumbo is really thick (like gravy) after adding all the rest of the ingredients you may want to add up to 1 cup more broth. Don’t worry if you think it is going to be too thin, you can always thicken it again before serving by adding 3 Tbsp of cornstarch to 1/4 cup cold water and stirring it into your gumbo after releasing pressure.

Instant Pot Gumbo with sausage, chicken, and shrimp being scooped from an Instant Pot in a ladle.

Gluten Free Gumbo

To make this gumbo gluten-free the most obvious choice would be to use a gluten-free flour in the place of regular all-purpose flour in the roux. We use Namaste flour from Costco or a homemade flour blend when substituting flour. If you want to avoid making a roux, you can always use filé powder and/or okra to thicken instead. The Tony Chachere’s seasoning is gluten-free so you should be good using that as your Creole seasoning in this recipe.

More Delicious Instant Pot Recipes

How to Make Instant Pot Gumbo

Instant Pot Gumbo

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Instant Pot Gumbo is so easy to make! Loaded with sausage, chicken and shrimp, this gumbo is BURSTING with creole flavors! See gluten free substitutions in recipe notes.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total: 45 minutes

Serves: servings

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 red bell pepper diced
1 green bell pepper diced
1 onion diced
1 cup celery chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
13.5 ounces Andouille sausage cut into rounds
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup butter
3 cups chicken broth
1 pound chicken cubed
2 teaspoons Creole seasoning (or to taste, we used Tony Chachere’s)
10 ounces diced tomatoes with green chiles (aka Rotel tomatoes)
14 ounces fire roasted diced tomatoes
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
1 cup okra sliced
1 pound shrimp peeled, deveined
4 cups cooked rice

Instructions

Set Instant Pot to "Saute" function and add olive oil. Add peppers, onion, celery, garlic, and sausage.
Saute for 3-5 minutes or until vegetables become soft. Remove all vegetables and sausage. Set aside.
Immediately add butter to instant pot and stir, scraping up any cooked bits from the bottom of the pot. When butter is melted, add flour.
Cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly forming a light roux. If you want to make a "dark roux", cook for 30-40 minutes until the roux becomes a dark, golden brown color. Turn cooker off.
Add chicken broth, cooked vegetables and sausage, chicken, Creole seasoning, diced tomatoes with chiles, fire roasted tomatoes, bay leaves, salt and pepper.
Close and lock the lid of the Instant Pot. Turn the steam release handle to “Sealing” position (see notes above about avoiding the "burn" notice).
Press "Manual" and select “High Pressure." Set time to 20 minutes. When time is up, turn cooker off. Quick release by turning valve to "venting".
When pressure is fully released, remove lid and stir in okra. Press "Saute", and cook uncovered for 5 minutes.
Add shrimp and cook an additional 5 minutes or until shrimp is cooked through.
Remove and discard bay leaves. Serve with rice.

Equipment

6-Quart Instant Pot Pressure Cooker (See Instant Pot Note Below)

Notes

To make this gumbo gluten-free, use a gluten-free flour in the place of regular all-purpose flour in the roux. We use Namaste flour from Costco or a homemade flour blend when substituting flour. If you want to avoid making a roux, you can always use filé powder and/or okra to thicken instead.

Instant Pot Note: We use a 6-quart Instant Pot brand pressure cooker that we bought in 2016. Different or newer versions may be more sensitive to the “BURN” notice. If you are concerned about the burn notice, please refer to the Instant Pot webpage about Overheat Protection, found HERE.

Recipe Video

Nutrition

Course: Main Course, Dinner

Cuisine: American, Cajun/Creole

Instant Pot Gumbo, Instant Pot

Recipe by: Erica Walker

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Instant Pot Gumbo

Instant Pot Gumbo

Additions and Substitutions for Instant Pot Gumbo

How To Get A Dark Roux

Avoid The Instant Pot “Burn” Notice

Gluten Free Gumbo

More Delicious Instant Pot Recipes

How to Make Instant Pot Gumbo