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Tender shrimp simmered in a rich tomato-based Creole sauce create a comforting Louisiana classic that’s easy to make and full of bold Southern flavor.

If you’ve already wasted time on so-called Louisiana shrimp creole recipes only to find out none of them satisfy your taste buds, I’ve got the best shrimp creole recipe I learned from my grandmother. A recipe passed down from generation to generation always hits different.  Over the years, I’ve discovered the dos and don’ts I’m going to share in this guide.

Table of Contents

Whether you’re treating yourself to good food or hosting a party, consider this New Orleans shrimp creole recipe or any of its variations! You might’ve heard of a Creole shrimp pasta recipe. However, for a complete meal, I’d prefer you go with the recipe for shrimp creole with rice. It’s easy and makes you feel full!

Shrimp Creole Recipe

Bold Louisiana flavor in every bite! Tender shrimp simmered in a rich, savory Creole sauce make this recipe impossible to resist.
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 30–35 mins
  • Total Time: 45–50 mins
  • Servings: 4
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 30–35 mins
  • Total Time: 45–50 mins
  • Servings: 4

Shrimp Creole Ingredients

Bold flavors don’t require a long list of ingredients. This recipe proves it. Besides, chances are that you already have these ingredients at home. But if you don’t, no worries. Get them from your nearest grocery store. I’ll keep it simple and detailed to avoid confusion.

Shrimp

Shrimp is the star ingredient of this easy shrimp creole recipe:
  1. Large shrimp – 1 ½ lb.
Thinking about whether it should be raw or pre-cooked frozen? You can use both. However, I’d use raw shrimp that are peeled and deveined. Here’s why:
  • Raw shrimp cook in 3 to 5 minutes. Simmering them in tomato sauce and Creole spices helps absorb the seasonings well.
  • If you use pre-cooked frozen shrimp, it’ll take comparatively less time to simmer in hot sauce. Why? Shrimp is cooked already and overcooking makes it tough. With less simmering time, it might not absorb the seasoning as raw shrimp
If you’ve only pre-cooked frozen shrimp available, stir them in the tomato sauce at the end. Warm them for about a minute or two. Or else, overcooking makes them rubbery.
Shrimp
Creole Sauce and Base

Creole Sauce and Base

Besides shrimp, the following shrimp creole sauce recipe ingredients make every bite indulgent:

  1. Medium onion – 1, chopped.
  • You can use yellow or red, whichever suits your taste buds. I prefer yellow onion.
  1. Green bell peppers – ½, chopped.
  2. Celery – 2 to 3 stalks, diced.
  3. Tomatoes – 1 can (1 lb.), diced.
  4. Olive oil – 2 tbsp.
  • If olive oil is unavailable, use 2 tbsp. of melted butter.

Seasonings and Aromatics

Add the following ingredients for a mouthwatering aroma and bold flavors.

  1. Creole seasoning – 2 tbsp.
  2. Garlic – ½ tsp, minced.
  3. Pepper – 1/8 tsp.
  4. Sugar – just a pinch.
  • It’ll balance tomato acidity.
  1. Salt – to taste.
  2. Bay leaf – 1, dried.
Seasonings and Aromatics
Seasonings and Aromatics

Although Creole seasoning is easily available if you want to make it at home, you need:

  1. Onion powder – 2 tbsp.
  2. Garlic powder – 2 tbsp.
  3. Dried oregano leaves – 2 tbsp.
  4. Dried sweet basil – 2 tbsp.
  5. Dried thyme leaves – 1 tbsp.
  6. Cayenne pepper – 1 tbsp.
  7. White pepper – 1 tbsp.
  8. Black pepper – 1 tbsp.
  9. Celery seed – 1 tbsp.
  10. Sweet paprika – 5 tbsp.

Take a bowl. Whisk the ingredients together.

Optional Additions

For extra depth in the New Orleans shrimp creole recipe, you can add the following.

  • Whole Cloves – 2
  • Tomato paste – 1 to 2 tbsp.

How to Make Shrimp Creole?

To make this Louisiana shrimp creole recipe, you don’t need any fancy equipment. All you need is a deep skillet, a cutting board, measuring cups and spoons. Once you get these, you’re ready to cook shrimp creole step by step. It includes the shrimp creole sauce recipe as well.

Sauté the Vegetables

  1. Take a large skillet. Place it over medium heat.
  2. Heat the olive oil.
  3. Sauté holy trinity: green bell pepper, celery and onion until soft. It takes about 5 to 7 minutes.
  4. Stir in the garlic (minced), Creole seasoning, bay leaf, pepper, salt and sugar. (I add whole cloves too; however, many people find it odd.)
  5. Cook for a minute, and you’ll smell the aroma.
Sauté the Vegetables
Simmer the Creole Sauce

Simmer the Creole Sauce

  1. Pour in the tomato can.
  2. Stir everything together.
  3. Turn the heat down to low.
  4. Let the sauce simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Watch out when it thickens.

Add the Shrimp

  1. After the sauce thickens, add peeled and deveined shrimp to the simmering sauce.
  2. Stir gently and cook until the shrimp are opaque and pink. It takes 3 to 5 minutes.

Finish and Season

  1. When the shrimp is ready, remove the skillet from the heat.
  2. Take a slotted spoon to remove the cloves (if using) and bay leaf.
  3. Transfer the creole to a large bowl.
  4. Garnish with fresh parsley. Drizzle with some fresh lemon juice and serve!
Add the Shrimp, finish, and season

Shrimp Creole with Rice

For a classic New Orleans shrimp recipe, try it with rice. Don’t worry, the recipe that we discussed earlier won’t change. It’s just that you’ll be adding rice.

Wondering about the rice quantity? In the recipe for shrimp creole with rice, take 2 cups cooked white rice. Shrimp Creole served over white rice can serve approx. 4 people.

Shrimp Creole with Rice

Serving Shrimp Creole Over Rice

Shrimp tossed in a perfectly seasoned tomato sauce, served over a bed of hot rice, makes a complete, flavorful meal. Since the creole sauce has a bit of an intense and acidic profile due to seasoning and tomato, serving with rice balances it. For an elevated experience, you can even season the rice while cooking!

White Rice and Other Rice Options

Shrimp creole with white rice is more of a Louisiana shrimp creole recipe. However, if you’re seeking alternatives, you can go with cauliflower rice. It’s low-carb. Also, try whole grain choices like Quinoa or brown rice. You can also swap the rice for pasta without changing a thing in the other recipe ingredients.

Shrimp Creole Recipe Variations

When it comes to the best shrimp creole recipes, people try varieties! You’ll find shrimp creole recipes with different seasonings and ingredients. To make sure you don’t face trouble trying this recipe at home, I’ve listed some easy shrimp creole recipes.

Cajun Shrimp Creole Recipe

People often confuse Cajun and Creole, with no clear distinction between them. Plenty of things overlap. That’s why, while focusing on the Cajun shrimp creole recipe, here’s how I differentiate both:

The shrimp creole recipe uses a rich tomato base. In the Cajun shrimp creole recipe with roux, you make a roux-thickened foundation that’s focused on heat. Besides, while Creole uses fresh herbs like oregano and thyme in seasoning, Cajun includes hot peppers like cayenne pepper. Everything else stays the same, though, from cooking procedure to serving.

Cajun Shrimp Creole Recipe
Shrimp and Sausage Creole Recipe

Shrimp and Sausage Creole Recipe

The shrimp and sausage creole recipe is another Louisiana shrimp creole recipe – a treat for those who like smoky flavor in their meals. To make this, you’ll need the same ingredients we discussed earlier. Adding ½ lb. of andouille or smoked sausage will make it a shrimp and sausage creole recipe.

While preparing this dish, you need to toss the sausage before the shrimp. Let it simmer for 10 minutes. Then, add shrimp and stir gently. Remove them from the heat when opaque and pink.

Creole Shrimp and Grits Recipe

Creole shrimp and grits recipe is a bit different from the other Louisiana shrimp creole recipes. How? It isn’t served over rice but cheese grits. You need 2 cups of stone-ground or regular grits. Cook them in 4 cups of water and 4 cups of milk or stock. Cover and let it simmer on low heat for 15 to 30 minutes. For finishing, add 2 tbsp. of butter and 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese.

Preparing shrimp creole in the creole shrimp and grits recipe stays the same. When ready, you’ll spoon the grits into the bowl first. Then add shrimp sauce over it and serve!

Creole Shrimp and Grits Recipe
Creole Shrimp Pasta Recipe

Creole Shrimp Pasta Recipe

For a quick and easy shrimp creole recipe, creole shrimp pasta never disappoints! Take ¾ lb. of shrimp (medium or large, peeled and deveined), 8 oz. pasta (penne), ½ onion (finely diced), 5 garlic cloves (minced), 1 ¼ tsp. Creole seasoning, 1 tbsp. tomato paste, ½ can of tomato (crushed), ¾ cup chicken broth, and ¾ cup heavy cream.

Coming to the cooking process, cook the pasta. Season and sear the shrimp. Since shrimp cook quickly, keep them aside and make the Creole sauce separately. Once the sauce is ready, add pasta and shrimp to serve. When done right, you might find it to be the best shrimp creole recipe!

Tips for the Best Shrimp Creole

You might be preparing an easy shrimp creole recipe. However, a minor mistake can ruin the whole meal. That’s why, to make the best shrimp creole recipe, take care of these things:

  • For those who like a shrimp creole recipe with roux, use oil if you intend to cook the roux longer. Canola or vegetable oil resists burning better compared to butter.
  • When sautéing chopped onion, bell pepper, and celery, make sure they’re soft enough to melt into the rich tomato sauce before you add anything else.
  • In the shrimp creole sauce, you don’t add cornstarch or flour to thicken it. It thickens on its own as it simmers.
  • Before you add shrimp, make sure you’ve simmered the sauce enough to thicken it.
  • As shrimp turn opaque and pink, remove them from heat. Otherwise, the rubbery shrimp might ruin the dish.

Serving Suggestions for Shrimp Creole

The best shrimp creole recipe isn’t the best until you serve it well! So, I’ve got some serving suggestions for shrimp creole.

Rice and Grain Options

Serve shrimp creole over rice or grains. It’ll balance its intense flavor.

Vegetable Side Dishes

Serving shrimp creole with steamed or roasted green vegetables, like spinach or okra, is a healthy option. To make it refreshing, you can also serve steamed corn on the cob or a crisp salad.

Bread and Garnishes

Even when you serve shrimp creole over rice, you can serve bread alongside. It tastes delicious when soaked with rich tomato sauce.

Serving Suggestions for Shrimp Creole

Storing and Reheating Shrimp Creole

Storing and Reheating Shrimp Creole

You made an easy shrimp creole recipe. Ate it well, to the fullest, and yet you’ve got leftovers! Almost everyone has been through that situation. So, you don’t need to worry. You can save the leftovers to have later.

Store the leftovers in an airtight container. Refrigerate them for 3 to 4 days. If you’ve got the sauce without shrimp, you can freeze it for 3 months.

For reheating, follow these steps:

  • Heat the frozen creole in a saucepan over a medium-low heat.
  • Stir gently until it’s warm.
  • If the sauce is thick, you can add a splash of water.
  • Don’t boil it with shrimp. Otherwise, the shrimp

Enjoy More Seafood Flavor at Red Crab

If you tried the shrimp creole recipe and liked it, there are chances that you’ll like the shrimp pasta recipe and shrimp grits as well! However, if you aren’t in the mood to cook, don’t waste time searching ‘seafood near me’. Visit well-known seafood places like Red Crab Juicy Seafood.

At Red Crab, guests order from a seafood menu that features bold flavors. From crab legs to shrimp and lobsters, everything’s made fresh and shareable! You can enjoy seafood favorites in a fun environment!

Enjoy More Seafood Flavor at Red Crab
Visit Red Crab Seafood Boil Restaurant
Visit Red Crab Seafood Boil Restaurant

frequently asked questions

What is Shrimp Creole made of?

Shrimp Creole is made of shrimp, tomato sauce, Creole seasoning, holy trinity (onion, bell pepper, and celery), garlic, and oil or butter.

In shrimp creole, the sauce is thinner compared to shrimp étouffée. The sauce in shrimp étouffée is thickened through a roux made from flour and butter.

Absolutely. You can use raw frozen or pre-cooked frozen shrimp in shrimp creole recipe. However, for raw frozen shrimp, you must thaw and pat it dry before adding it to the sauce. Pre-cooked frozen shrimp must be thawed, dried, and added only near the end.

You can serve bread, rice, pasta, and vegetables (steamed or roasted) with shrimp creole.

Yes. You can make shrimp creole ahead of time. Prepare the tomato sauce and vegetable base. Add the shrimp before serving.

Love the bold flavors of Louisiana-inspired seafood?

Explore Red Crab Juicy Seafood for flavorful seafood favorites, fresh seafood combinations, and signature sauces made for seafood lovers.

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