jambalaya
noun
jam·ba·laya
ˌjəm-bə-ˈlī-ə 
1
: rice cooked usually with ham, sausage, chicken, shrimp, or oysters and seasoned with herbs
2
: a mixture of diverse elements
… curious jambalayas of competing elements …—
Neil Hickey
Neil HickeyExamples of jambalaya in a Sentence
its jambalaya of widely diverse nationalities and races gives the urban neighborhood a rich vitality
Recent Examples on the Web
Savory staples here include po’boys from local fave Sammy's, jambalaya from Mother’s, gumbo by the Gumbo Shop, crawfish étouffée by Creole House, and muffuletta sandwiches fresh from Verti Marte, which is open 24/7—all best paired with live jazz.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2026
One of the hallmarks of Creole cooking, jambalaya makes a play for most popular.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2026
Her pixie haircut, her irresistibly cheeky attitude behind the gas mask — the photo made its way everywhere, even to her home in Louisiana, to her grandfather’s general store in Gonzalez — the jambalaya capital of the world.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
There will be homemade goods like gumbo and jambalaya, and kids can enjoy watching educational shows and play in the carnival.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
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Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2026
One of the hallmarks of Creole cooking, jambalaya makes a play for most popular.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2026
Her pixie haircut, her irresistibly cheeky attitude behind the gas mask — the photo made its way everywhere, even to her home in Louisiana, to her grandfather’s general store in Gonzalez — the jambalaya capital of the world.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
There will be homemade goods like gumbo and jambalaya, and kids can enjoy watching educational shows and play in the carnival.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for jambalaya
Cite this Entry
“Jambalaya.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jambalaya. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
jambalaya
noun
jam·ba·laya
ˌjəm-bə-ˈlī-ə
: rice cooked with ham, sausage, chicken, shrimps, or oysters and seasoned with herbs
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