Instant Pot Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo Recipe

Last Updated on February 18, 2025

This Instant Pot Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo Recipe is full of color and delicious flavors.

Thanks to the magic of pressure cooking, it’s ready in half the time when you make it in your Instant Pot. If you’re feeling inspired to use your Instant Pot, you might want to also try my Instant Pot Kale Sausage Bean Soup.

This Instant Pot Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo has so many things I love, that I’d make it every week if I could get away with it. However, my seafood-hating daughter, my vegetable-averse son, and my loves-bland-food youngest daughter would protest so it’s a rare treat (for me).

Given that half my family grumbles about this meal, I can’t in good conscience call it family-friendly, but, if you’re a better parent than I am and have raised non-picky eaters, this will be a hit. Maybe you can serve air fryer naan bread pizza along with it as motivation to encourage your kids to try a bite of the gumbo.

Jump to:

• What is in a Traditional Gumbo?
• Why I Make Gumbo Without a Roux
• SAVE THIS RECIPE!
• ❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• 🥘 Ingredients
• 🔀 Substitutions
• 🌈 Variations / Options / Add-Ins
• 🥄 Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools
• Tired of Ads?
• 🔪 How to Make Instant Pot Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo
• 👩‍🍳 Pro Tips
• ❓ Recipe FAQs
• 🙏 Pairing
• SAVE THIS RECIPE!
• 📋 Recipe
• Pro Tips
• Recipe FAQs
• More Instant Pot Resources

What is in a Traditional Gumbo?

Gumbo is the cornerstone of Louisiana cooking, merging the influence of the French in its roux and deriving its name from a West African word for okra. There are many varieties of gumbo and each is considered authentic Cajun or Creole cooking.

It almost always has one or more of the following main ingredients: sausage, chicken or shrimp. Many incorporate other types of seafood (e.g. crab, oysters) and meats (ham, beef) — personally, I find more than two different meats overkill, so I typically use only two of the standard main choices.

Traditional gumbo also allows for some variation in the vegetables, though authentic gumbo always includes the “Holy Trinity” of vegetables — celery, bell peppers, and onions. Tomatoes are also pretty common ingredients in gumbo, though you will find some Cajun cooks who refuse to let a tomato come near their gumbo — I’ve had tomato-free gumbo and I very much prefer mine WITH tomatoes.

The most important part of a traditional gumbo is the roux; it’s the base that gives gumbo it’s distinct texture and flavor. Roux is made from oil and flour, cooked over medium-high heat until it turns dark brown.

Why I Make Gumbo Without a Roux

So, before we get to my Instant Pot Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo Recipe, I have to confess that this isn’t a traditional gumbo. There is no roux (or the only other Creole-accepted alternative, filé) in this recipe.

There are a couple of reasons I forego the roux step.

First, it’s super time consuming and requires standing over the pot stirring constantly; don’t be fooled by the online recipes that tell you it takes 5 minutes. I’ve tried to make authentic gumbo a few times and it has never taken as little as 5 minutes to get my roux to the right shade of brown.

As I’ve explained on my Instant Pot resource page and in most of my Instant Pot recipes, one of the main reasons I love my Instant Pot is because it doesn’t hold me captive. I can toss things in and let the Instant Pot do all the work and I don’t have to stand there forever.

Also, I hope I don’t offend any Cajun cooks, but I don’t like the taste any better when gumbo is made with a roux. I can taste a difference, but it’s not better or worse in my opinion, so, I skip the trouble.

And as long as I’m admitting to deviating from traditional gumbo, I should probably mention that I violate the “Holy Trinity” of vegetables too. I’m not a fan of celery in my gumbo so you won’t’ find that in my Instant Pot Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo either.

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Instant Pot Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo Recipe has a colorful variety of ingredients and is very flavorful.

• Ready in under 30 minutes: You can be enjoying this delicious gumbo in less than 30 minutes. So, if you’re hungry you won’t have long to wait.
• Easy to make: The ingredients are easy to prepare and since the Instant Pot does the cooking, it’s not a complicated recipe to make.
• Leftovers make great lunch: Gumbo is really easy to reheat so it’s perfect to have for lunch at work or at home.

If you love dishes made with shrimp, then give this Instant Pot shrimp scampi a try next time.

🥘 Ingredients

All the ingredients for this recipe are easy to find at your local grocery store.

• Kielbasa sausage: This adds a deep, smoky, and savory flavor to the gumbo and provides a meaty, chewy texture that contrasts with the shrimp, making the dish heartier and more satisfying. It doesn’t matter what flavor or brand of kielbasa that you buy.
• Ground cayenne pepper: It adds a gentle but noticeable heat that enhances the overall flavor without overpowering the dish, giving it an authentic kick.
• Diced tomatoes: The tomatoes provide a slight tanginess that balances the richness of the sausage and shrimp, preventing the dish from feeling too heavy. This recipe uses canned tomatoes for convenience.
• Frozen raw shrimp: Shrimp brings a distinct, briny seafood taste that enhances the overall depth of the gumbo and pairs well with the smoky sausage and spices. If you purchase the shrimp already shelled and deveined it will save you some time.

See recipe card for complete list of ingredients and quantities

🔀 Substitutions

If you don’t have the ingredients you need, or if you have different dietary needs/preferences, see if you have these instead:

Kielbasa sausage: You can use Andouille sausage for a more traditional, spicier option for gumbo. Smoked turkey sausage will still give you the smoky flavor, but with less fat.

Ground cayenne pepper: Use smoked paprika or chili powder if that’s what you have instead — they still add warmth but without as much heat. If you want to maintain the heat level, but add a more subtle flavor use red pepper flakes.

Diced tomatoes: You can just leave these out if you want a Cajun-style gumbo that skips tomatoes. Or, try chopped roasted red bell peppers which adds sweetness without acidity.

Frozen raw shrimp: Other seafood options for a similar taste are crab, crawfish or scallops. If you want a more mild seafood flavor because your kids might prefer that, then try a white fish like cod or tilapia.

🌈 Variations / Options / Add-Ins

This gumbo can easily be customized to fit your personal tastes.

• Vegetarian: Use mushrooms, okra, and white beans instead of meat and seafood.
• Herbs: If you like your food to have some flavor from herbs, add fresh thyme or bay leaves
• Additional vegetables: Add red or yellow bell peppers for sweetness, celery and carrots for more traditional gumbo aromatics, and corn or sweet potatoes for a hint of sweetness and texture.

If you want another Cajun dish made with sausage and rice, try this Instant Pot jambalaya.

🥄 Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools

You only need a few kitchen tools to help you make this easy recipe. So, gather these tools and get ready to enjoy this tasty dinner.

• Instant Pot: A 6 quart Instant Pot is a good size to use to make this recipe.
• Knife and cutting board: You’ll need this for cutting the sausage and vegetables.
• Measuring cups and spoons: These will be used for measuring oil, spices and water.

🔪 How to Make Instant Pot Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo

If you made it past my confession that I’m breaking a couple of gumbo cardinal rules then welcome to an easy and tasty version I hope you’ll love all the same. This version is so much faster and easier than the traditional version.

Step 1: Sauté Sausage and Onion

First, you need to pull out some of that yummy flavor from the sausage and onion by sautéing them. Set your Instant Pot to sauté mode, add 3 tablespoons of oil and wait for the display to read “Hot.”

Add the sausage and onion to the pot and stir occasionally for three minutes, just long enough to soften the onions and release some of the flavors.

Step 2: Add Bell Peppers

If you were making traditional gumbo, you’d still be stirring the roux; but since you’re making this version instead, now you just need to add the remaining ingredients before pressure cooking.

Add some diced bell peppers. You can use just green bell peppers if you want, but I like red bell peppers so I added those too.

Step 3: Add Seasonings

On top of the diced peppers, add some minced garlic, salt, and a little cayenne pepper and black pepper. In the recipe card below it says to add 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper, but if you like your food with some kick, you can go a little crazy — for reference, I prefer mine with a full teaspoon of each.

Step 4: Pour in Diced Tomatoes

Top the garlic and pepper with a can of diced tomatoes. Don’t drain the tomatoes first, just open the lid and pour all of the contents of the can right in the pot.

Step 5: Add the Shrimp

Add a 12-ounce package of uncooked frozen shrimp. Make sure the shrimp has been shelled and deveined.

Step 6: Pour Water

Finally, pour one cup of water over the other ingredients.

Step 7: Pressure Cook

Now, you just need to let the Instant Pot work its magic. Secure the lid, set the valve to sealing, press the “Manual” button and set the time for 6 minutes.

Step 8: Quick Release

When the cook time ends and the pot beeps, perform a quick release of the pressure. When the pin drops indicating all the pressure has been released, remove the lid.

Step 9: Thicken the Gumbo

Press Cancel, then Saute. In a small bowl, stir together some cornstarch and water. Add the mixture to the pot.

Cook, stirring occasionally, until the gumbo thickens to your desired consistency.

Step 10: Serve and Enjoy

Your Instant Pot Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo is ready to serve!

Traditionally, gumbo is served over rice. If you want to skip the carbs you can spoon it over cauliflower rice or eat it right out of the bowl on its own.

My kids prefer it with a side of cornbread. You can also look at this What to Serve with Gumbo post for more ideas.

👩‍🍳 Pro Tips

Here are a few tips that you can use to make sure that your shrimp and sausage gumbo turns out perfectly.

• Sauté the sausage until well browned before adding other ingredients. This helps release its smoky, savory oils, for a richer gumbo base.
• Since shrimp cooks quickly, if you prefer a firmer texture, you can add the shrimp after pressure cooking and let them cook on sauté mode for a few minutes instead.
• Swapping the water for broth (seafood, chicken, or vegetable) will add even more depth of flavor.
• If you prefer a thicker gumbo, use less water to start or add a bit more cornstarch slurry.

❓ Recipe FAQs

🙏 Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Instant Pot Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo:

Ready to get cooking? Print off the recipe card below or toggle on Cook Mode to keep your screen from going dark while you follow along on your phone or tablet.

📋 Recipe

More Instant Pot Resources

Love your Instant Pot? Find more Instant Pot Recipes here. And check out my favorite Instant Pot Hacks.