Hailing from the Gulf Coast of the USA, Shrimp Creole is a multi-dimensional dish that’s typically made using shrimp, tomatoes, and onions (before being served on rice!).

If you’ve ever been to Louisiana or the bustling city of New Orleans, you’ll probably have seen Shrimp Creole gracing several menus. Adored for its rich flavors, simple ingredients, and delicious Cajun spices, it’s one of those dishes that you’ll be adding to your weekly recipe binder ASAP.

You can easily adjust the spice level in this dish to suit your palate. However, I like to keep things on the spicy side to get that classic Southern kick!

For this recipe, I also like to use cornstarch for thickening. You can leave it out, but I find that things get rather soupy if you do. If you’d prefer to use a substitute, you can use a little bit of flour, but don’t go overboard or you risk upsetting the balance of the dish. In my opinion, cornstarch is king here!

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Buying fresh shrimp for this Creole can quickly add up, so I suggest buying frozen uncooked shrimp that’s already deveined with tails removed. Not only is this way cheaper (it’s what I always do, and it works great!), but it’ll save you a bundle of cash too.

Oh – and did I mention that this dish can be made all in one pot? 

Score!

Overall, this Shrimp Creole is a hearty and filling meal that offers a great way to use up leftover shrimp in your freezer. As most of the other ingredients are pantry staples or easy to purchase on a whim, you can easily whip this up when you’re not sure what to cook.

Why You’ll Love Shrimp Creole

• It’s hearty and delicious
• It channels the finest Cajun flavors for a spicy dish that isn’t overwhelming on the palate
• It features several vegetables that are easy to hide when cooking for children
• It’s ridiculously easy to cook and is one of the best dishes to make when you’re short on time

Ingredients

• Shrimp
• Butter
• Onion
• Green pepper
• Garlic
• Cayenne pepper
• Crushed red pepper flakes
• Salt
• Cornstarch
• Diced tomatoes
• Green onions
• Cooked rice

How to Make Shrimp Creole

• Step One: In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
• Step Two: Add in onion, green pepper, and garlic, and sauté for 10 minutes until onion is softened and translucent.
• Step Three: Stir in cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, diced tomatoes (with their juices), and cornstarch before bringing to a boil.
• Step Four: Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in shrimp. Simmer, covered, for 6 to 10 minutes or until shrimp is cooked.
• Step Five: Serve over a bed of rice and top with green onions, if desired.

Equipment Needed

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• Measuring cups and spoons
• Stainless steel pot
• Garlic press
• Sharp knives

What to Serve with Shrimp Creole

• Air Fryer Chicken Wings
• Curried Lentil Rice
• Air Fryer Cauliflower

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• This is an easy recipe to make ahead of time. If you’re looking to make this during the day to serve at night, I recommend cooking up the recipe and leaving the shrimp out for the time being. When you’re ready to serve, you can just add the shrimp, cook them through, and serve!
• Keep an eye on your shrimp! You don’t want to overcook your shrimp, or they’ll end up unpleasant and rubbery. To avoid this, keep an eye on cooking times and stir everything regularly.
• Don’t let your veggies burn! This may sound obvious, but don’t have your heat too high or you risk burning your veggies. You simply want to soften them, so adding them to a pot that’s way too hot will result in unpleasant, charred veggies that will draw attention away from your otherwise tasty dish.

Variations and Substitutions

• If you want to make your Shrimp Creole even spicier, I recommend adding more cayenne. This doesn’t mean tipping in tablespoons of the stuff, but you can experiment with a teaspoon at a time and see how it suits you!
• Switch things up entirely by adding chicken to the dish! Chicken Creole is a less popular variation of this recipe, but it’s an excellent alternative for anyone who doesn’t like shrimp.
• If you’re allergic to shrimp or don’t enjoy the flavor, you can spice up this Creole by adding lobster tails, scallops, or crayfish to the dish. Your choice of fish shouldn’t affect the integrity of the dish, so don’t be afraid to experiment! Just remember – check cooking times carefully to avoid rubbery seafood.
• For a more authentic Southern flavor, add sausage or spicy chorizo to your dish for more depth. Although this won’t be to everyone’s taste, it certainly won’t hurt the recipe!

Storage Instructions

This Shrimp Creole recipe will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Simply store the dish in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge.

When reheating, ensure that everything is piping hot before serving. I recommend heating it slowly on low heat to avoid the sauce losing its texture.

You can also prepare the sauce up to 3 days in advance if you’d like to cook it up later – just remember to consume everything by day 4!

Can I Freeze?

This Shrimp Creole freezes beautifully, and it can last for several months when stored properly. Simply put it in airtight freezer containers or sturdy freezer bags and consume it within 6 months.

Your shrimp will stay safe to consume for this long, but the dish may lose some of its flavor and texture over time.

So, we recommend consuming it within 3 months for the best results!

Shrimp Recipes

• Shrimp Chowder
• Garlic Shrimp with Chilli Pesto Pasta
• Chilli Coconut Shrimp Stir-Fry
• Curried Shrimp Rolls
• Zesty Shrimp Flatbread
• Shrimp Salad
• Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
• Air Fryer Shrimp

You’ll also like this Cajun Seasoning and Oven Baked Chicken Fried Rice.

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