• Place the chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker, then top with the sausage.
• In a medium bowl, mix the diced tomatoes, chicken stock, tomato paste, and seasonings. Stir in the diced vegetables until well combined.
• Pour the mixture evenly over the chicken and sausage. Cover and cook on Low for 7-8 hours or High for 3-4 hours.

How to Cook the Rice

• Option 1: Cook the Rice Separately

  Carefully ladle out the liquid from the slow cooker until all the liquid is removed or carefully pour the liquid out of the crock pot, through a large strainer, into a bowl. You should have about 2-3 cups of liquid to cook the rice with. Use that liquid to cook the rice separately on the stove according to the package instructions.

  Once the rice is cooked, add it to the slow cooker and mix in and serve.
• Option 2: Cook the Rice in the Slow Cooker

  Remove the lid from the slow cooker and add the rice. Make sure that the rice is fully submerged. Quickly replace the lid and set the slow cooker back to high.

  Let the pot continue to cook on high for 20-25 minutes, or until the rice has absorbed most of the liquid. Check the rice and test the rice to see if it's tender and has absorbed the liquids. When done, stir with a fork to fluff the ingredients. Serve.
• Garnish with chopped green onions, serve with warm French bread; offer hot sauce and Creole Seasoning at the table. Enjoy!
• {Optional Step} After the rice is added, with 30-minutes of cooking time remaining, this is the point you would add thawed shrimp to the slow cooker.