Quick and Easy Sausage and Chicken Gumbo

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup frozen chopped onions
• 1 cup frozen green bell peppers
• 1 cup frozen cut okra
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 2 teaspoons garlic , minced
• 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning , or to taste
• 0.5 teaspoons dried thyme
• 0.5 teaspoons cayenne pepper , or to taste
• 0.5 teaspoons salt , or to taste
• 0.5 teaspoons ground black pepper , or to taste
• 1 bag boil-in-bag rice , 3.5 ounce
• 2 cups chopped roasted chicken
• 8 ounces kielbasa sausage , cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 can diced tomatoes with green peppers and onions , 14.5 ounce
• 1 can chicken broth , 14.5 ounce

Instructions

1. 1

   Combine flour and oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until it forms a thick paste the consistency of cake frosting. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until the flour turns dark golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. The darker the roux, the more depth of flavor, but don't burn it.

2. 2

   Add onions, bell peppers, okra, celery, garlic, Creole seasoning, thyme, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Cook until vegetables are tender, 3 to 6 minutes.

3. 3

   While vegetables are cooking, bring 4 cups water to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan. Add unopened bag of rice and boil, uncovered, until rice is tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove bag from water and drain. Cut open bag, pour rice into a bowl, and fluff.

4. 4

   Stir chicken, kielbasa, diced tomatoes, and chicken broth into the cooked vegetables. Cook until thoroughly heated, about 10 minutes. Serve gumbo over warm rice.