They are both rice dishes made in one pot or pan, but paella is a Spanish dish while jambalaya is a Creole/Cajun recipe. One of the main differences is that paella is seasoned with saffron, while Cajun seasoning is used for jambalaya. In addition, paella is often made with short-grain bomba rice while jambalaya uses long-grain rice. If you’re looking for a paella recipe, check out this Instant Pot paella.