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    Recipes » Main Course Recipes » Southern Main Courses

    Shrimp Creole

    Published: Mar 1, 2019 · Modified: Aug 12, 2020 by Marissa Stevens · 36 Comments

    Gluten FreeQuick MealsPescatarian

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    My favorite Shrimp Creole recipe is delicious and so easy to make that you'll be sitting down to eat in about 30 minutes. A classic dish of Louisiana Creole origin where buttery shrimp are tossed in a zesty sauce of tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, celery, garlic and spices, all served over hot cooked rice.

    Shrimp Creole served over rice in a white bowl

    It took several tries to come up with a recipe for Shrimp Creole that I felt was worthy to share with you. One that rivaled what I enjoyed in New Orleans. Some were too salty or too bland, others had so much sauce that you couldn't taste the shrimp. This version thickens naturally (no cornstarch required) and is easy to modify to suit your taste.

    Jump to:
    • How is shrimp creole different from Gumbo, Jambalaya and étouffée?
    • Recipe Options
    • More Classic Southern Recipes
    • How to make Shrimp Creole
    • Recipe video
    • Shrimp Creole
    • 💬 Comments

    How is shrimp creole different from Gumbo, Jambalaya and étouffée?

    Though you'll find many of the same flavors and ingredients in shrimp creole (like the 'holy trinity' of onion, green peppers and celery in Cajun and Creole cuisine) that you do in gumbo and jambalaya, creole dishes are typically thicker, spicier and served on top of hot rice rather than having the rice cooked and or stirred in to the dish. Shrimp Étouffée is another similar dish, but made with a roux (flour and fat cooked together to use as a thickener) base instead of a tomato base.

    Recipe Options

    • Kick up the heat with additional hot pepper sauce, cayenne pepper, or hot paprika.
    • Serve over creamy grits instead of rice.
    • Add some sweet red pepper along with the green for added flavor depth.

    More Classic Southern Recipes

    • Slow Cooker Jambalaya
    • Skillet Cornbread
    • Sweet Potato Bread
    • Cornbread Pudding
    • Fried Green Tomatoes
    • Brabant Potatoes
    • Cajun Potato Salad
    • Cajun Potatoes
    • Remoulade Sauce
    • Shrimp Remoulade
    • Crab Cakes

    How to make Shrimp Creole

    Step 1: In a large skillet, soften onion, celery, bell pepper and garlic in melted butter.

    softening shrimp creole vegetables in butter

    Step 2: When vegetables are soft, add tomatoes, Creole seasoning, bay leaf and Worcestershire sauce. Stir and simmer 5 minutes.

    adding tomatoes and spices to shrimp creole vegetables

    Step 3: Add raw shrimp to tomato mixture; cook and stir until pink and cooked through.

    adding tomatoes and spices to shrimp creole vegetables

    Step 4: Serve over hot, cooked white rice.

    Shrimp Creole Ready to Serve

    Recipe video

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    Shrimp Creole over rice served in a white bowl square image

    Shrimp Creole

    Marissa Stevens
    An easy recipe for classic Louisiana-style Shrimp Creole! 
    5 from 10 votes
    Save Recipe Saved! Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Southern
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 402 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup long grain white rice
    • 3 tablespoons butter
    • 1 medium onion diced small
    • 2 ribs celery diced small
    • 1 medium green bell pepper diced small
    • 3 large cloves garlic minced
    • 14 ½ ounce can diced tomatoes with juice
    • 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning or more
    • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 bay leaf
    • Louisiana-style hot sauce such as Tabasco brand, to taste
    • 1 pound medium shrimp or large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed
    • chopped fresh parsley to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Cook rice according to package directions.
    • Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, green bell pepper, celery and garlic; cook and stir for 7-10 minutes until tender.
    • Reduce heat to medium-low and add tomatoes with juice, Creole seasoning, Worcestershire sauce and bay leaf; stir and simmer 5 minutes, allowing flavors to meld. If desired, add more Creole seasoning and hot sauce to taste.
    • Increase heat to medium-high and add shrimp; cook and stir until shrimp is pink and cooked through. Serve over hot white rice, sprinkled with desired amount of chopped fresh parsley.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 402kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 28gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 308mgSodium: 1138mgPotassium: 522mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1000IUVitamin C: 42.2mgCalcium: 233mgIron: 4.1mg
    Keyword date night, easy, Mardi Gras, pescatarian, spicy
    Tried this recipe?I'd love to see it! Tag me on Instagram at @pinchandswirl or leave me a comment and rating below.

    More Southern Main Courses

    • The Best Leftover Pulled Pork Recipes
    • Easy Crab Cake Recipe
    • Slow Cooker Jambalaya
    • Easy Corn Cakes

    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Katherine | Love In My Oven says

      March 04, 2019 at 7:55 pm

      I'm still working on getting the boys to like shrimp, but hubby and I love it!! I know we'd be all over this dish, it would be gone in no time!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 06, 2019 at 4:46 pm

        haha, they'll come around, Katherine! 😉 Thank you!

        Reply
        • Johannah says

          June 30, 2019 at 5:56 pm

          This is excellent I doubled the recipe so I could share with family! This is definitely a keeper.

          Reply
          • Marissa says

            July 02, 2019 at 9:17 am

            That's wonderful, Johannah! Thank you for letting me know!

            Reply
    2. Ben|Havocinthekitchen says

      March 04, 2019 at 5:07 pm

      I'm not quite familiar with the Louisiana cuisine (Except probably jambalaya). And while I've tried similar shrimp combinations, I have to try Shrimp Creole yet. This recipe sounds delightful!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 06, 2019 at 4:46 pm

        Thanks, Ben!

        Reply
    3. Leanne | Crumb Top Baking says

      March 04, 2019 at 4:01 pm

      5 stars
      When it comes to seafood, shrimp is my favourite. So I can't believe I have never tried shrimp creole! It looks so spicy and flavourful, and I bet it is so hearty and filling on top of that bed of rice!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 04, 2019 at 4:15 pm

        Shrimp really is SO good and versatile! I hope you give this a try, Leanne! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says

      March 04, 2019 at 12:44 pm

      This shrimp looks absolutely DEEEEELISH, Marissa!!!! I'm a huge fan of shrimp anything, and I'm loving the creole flavors here! Those shrimp look so buttery and succulent! Tossed in that zesty sauce with plenty of veggies?! YUM! I need this in my life! Pinned!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 04, 2019 at 4:15 pm

        aww...thanks so much, Cheyanne!

        Reply
      • Lynn says

        April 10, 2019 at 5:37 pm

        Made this according to the recipe but added 8 oz. can of spicy tomato sauce. So good! Normally make a roux for Shrimp creole but this was really good for a week night dinner. Thanks.

        Reply
        • Marissa says

          April 10, 2019 at 7:22 pm

          That's so great to hear, Lynn. I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for coming back to let me know.

          Reply
    5. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

      March 04, 2019 at 8:57 am

      5 stars
      We LOVE Creole dishes Marissa! So much flavor! And shrimp is always on our menu. Can't wait to try this.

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 04, 2019 at 4:16 pm

        Fantastic! Thanks, Mary Ann!

        Reply
    6. Valentina says

      March 04, 2019 at 8:40 am

      5 stars
      This is such a fantastic, healthy, packed-with-flavor meal. After all that testing to perfection, I'm sure it's amazing. So much flavor in so little time! It's also so vibrant and pretty -- makes me want to dive right in.

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 04, 2019 at 4:16 pm

        Thank you, Valentina! I love how you put that: "So much flavor in so little time!"

        Reply
    7. annie@ciaochowbambina says

      March 04, 2019 at 8:05 am

      5 stars
      Such a fun dish! My mouth is watering just thinking about those zesty flavors!! Yum!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 04, 2019 at 4:17 pm

        Thank you, Annie!

        Reply
    8. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

      March 04, 2019 at 5:11 am

      5 stars
      I've never had shrimp creole before, but would certainly love to try! Love how rich the sauce is! And you really can't beat meals that come together in 30 minutes that look this good 🙂 Happy Monday to ya!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 04, 2019 at 4:17 pm

        Thank you! I think you'd love it, Dawn!! Have a great week!

        Reply
    9. David @ Spiced says

      March 04, 2019 at 4:57 am

      5 stars
      You had me at Shrimp Creole! I love Cajun and Creole food, and I'm always looking for fun ideas to make around Mardi Gras time. I haven't made Shrimp Creole in years, and I totally need to fix that problem. This version sounds (and looks) fantastic!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 04, 2019 at 4:18 pm

        Love to hear that, David! Thank you!

        Reply
    10. Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says

      March 03, 2019 at 4:34 pm

      5 stars
      Love how easy this is! And how full of flavor! Have a great week, Marissa!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 04, 2019 at 4:18 pm

        Thanks so much, Kelsie! You too!

        Reply
    11. Liz says

      March 03, 2019 at 3:41 pm

      5 stars
      Oh, how delicious! Perfect for Fat Tuesday and leftovers work well for Ash Wednesday!!! Love the Creole flavors.

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 04, 2019 at 4:19 pm

        Thanks, Liz! Creole flavors are addictive!

        Reply
    12. Dorothy Dunton says

      March 03, 2019 at 12:01 pm

      Hi Marissa! This will be on my plate very soon! I always have all these ingredients on hand which makes it an easy last minute dinner! My favorite hot sauce is Tabasco. I also like Frank's Red Hot but I usually use that on chicken or nachos. Unlike some dishes that are holiday specific, Cajun and Creole are on constant rotation here!.

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 04, 2019 at 4:20 pm

        Hi Dorothy! I bet you make some fabulous Cajun and Creole dishes!! Thanks so much, my friend!

        Reply
    13. angiesrecipes says

      March 03, 2019 at 1:11 am

      The shrimp look so succulent and delicious. I always love tomato based sauce, so this is definitely a must try.

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 04, 2019 at 4:21 pm

        Yay! Thanks so much!

        Reply
    14. Kevin says

      March 02, 2019 at 7:23 pm

      5 stars
      Add this to the menu for Mardi Gras! What a fabulous looking dish!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 04, 2019 at 4:21 pm

        Absolutely! Thanks, Kevin!

        Reply
    15. Kelly | Foodtasia says

      March 02, 2019 at 9:15 am

      5 stars
      Marissa, the flavors in this are so delicious! My family would love it! Thanks for your explanation of the difference between creole, gumbo, jambalaya and Étouffée. I recognized that they are very similar but wasn't sure about the differences.

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 04, 2019 at 4:21 pm

        My pleasure! Thanks so much, Kelly!

        Reply
    16. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

      March 02, 2019 at 6:27 am

      This would make a nice dinner for a Mardi Gras party.

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        March 04, 2019 at 4:21 pm

        It really would! I love how you think, Karen!

        Reply

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