Slow Cooker Seafood Gumbo

Ingredients

• 1 pound smoked sausage, sliced, such as Conecuh
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chopped yellow onion
• 2 cups chopped celery
• 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic (about 4 cloves)
• 1 jalapeño, minced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme, divided
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 bay leaves
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can fire-roasted tomatoes, undrained
• 2 pounds medium fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails left on
• ¾ pound fresh steamed crab claws
• 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning
• Cooked rice, to serve