Shrimp Creole

The best shrimp creole I ever had was in Louisiana, the birth place for it. It was so bomb y’all. I wanted to share a shrimp creole recipe with y’all that is simple and still gives all those bomb layered flavors. My version has plump shrimp, a perfectly seasoned creole sauce, plus it can be prepped and ready in about 30 minutes. This one is as close to perfection as can be, and it won’t take you all night to prepare.

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Shrimp creole in a tomato sauce on a wooden spoon

How to make shrimp Creole

Step 1: Sauté the veggies

  1. Start by melting your butter in a large skillet then sauté the vegetables, the chopped onion and green bell pepper and season with salt and pepper.  You want the vegetables to be tender and soft before moving forward in the recipe.

Step 2: Season it up!

  1. We add in our flavor enhancers like parsley, garlic powder, tomatoes, chicken stock, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce here to build. We stir everything then we bring everything to a boil to start marrying the flavors.  

Step 3: Thicken 

  1. Next we work on thickening the sauce and we will need to create a slurry, which is a combination of the cornstarch and water so the mixture doesn’t create lumps to our base. 
  2. We stir it in and let it thicken.

Step 4: Add the shrimp

  1. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper, then we add them directly to the sauce.  Shrimp can cook incredibly fast so it is important not to overcook them. 
  2. As soon as they start to turn pink, remove the sauce from the heat so they don’t continue cooking.
Creole shrimp sauce thickening with a slurry then shrimp being added.

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Step 5: Serve

Serve it up immediately with steamed white rice and a garnish with parsley.

Shrimp in a tomato sauce on a wooden spoon

Shrimp Creole Recipe

This Classic Shrimp Creole is so darn good! Shrimp, vegetables, incredible spices, and a rich tomato creole sauce. It's the best eva y'all!
5 from 7 votes
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course: Main Course
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley divided
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 16 oz canned chopped tomatoes undrained
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock
  • 1 tbsp hot sauce
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 lbs medium shrimp peeled and deveined
  • steamed white rice for serving

Instructions

  • Add butter to a large skillet over medium heat.  Add onion and bell pepper along with salt and pepper and cook until soft and tender, about 5-6 minutes. 
  • Next add 3 tablespoons of fresh parsley, garlic powder, tomatoes, chicken stock, hot sauce, and worcestershire sauce. 
  • Stir together and bring to a boil.
  • Next add cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water together in a separate small bowl and add to the liquid allowing it to thicken the sauce. Once it has thickened, turn the heat down between a low and medium heat.
  • Season the shrimp with salt and pepper and add to the sauce. Bring the temperature back up to a medium heat. Stir together and place a lid on the pot to continue to help the shrimp cook. As soon as shrimp turns pink, remove sauce from heat and top with remaining parsley and serve with rice.

Notes

What to do with leftovers

  • Fridge: Once cooled, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.
  • Freezer: If you’re using fresh shrimp, store the dish in a freezer-safe bag or container and it will last up to 3 months. It’s not recommended to re-freeze frozen shrimp, but you can freeze everything else.

Reheating

If frozen, thaw it in the fridge overnight. If not, heat everything for 5-10 minutes in a saucepan over low-medium, stirring occasionally, until warmed.

Nutrition

Calories: 159kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 352mg | Potassium: 380mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 903IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 2mg
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Recipe Tips

  • Grab the quality shrimp: The best shrimp is wild-caught but this isn’t always available. I recommend purchasing uncooked, frozen, tail-on shrimp for the best taste and quality if fresh isn’t available. 
  • Don’t Overcook!  Remember not to overcook your shrimp.  They will taste rubbery and will ruin all of your hard work.
Shrimp creole recipe over white rice on a white plate

Recipe Help

Is Shrimp Creole spicy?

It honestly depends. This recipe doesn’t have a ton of spice with just the addition of hot sauce but you can definitely make this milder by leaving it out. If you want more spice, think about adding a spicier hot sauce or some cayenne for kick.

Can I use frozen shrimp in Shrimp Creole?

Yep absolutely, just thaw under cold water, dry and use. But for leftovers, I would recommend you don’t freeze any as the shrimp won’t maintain its delicious texture.

Do I have to devein and peel the shrimp?

For this recipe, it requires deveined and peeled shrimp. If you don’t have the time, you can grab it already done at the grocery store.

Additional New Orleans recipes 

Filed Under:  Cajun and Creole Recipes, Dinner, Main Dishes, Mardi Gras, Seafood, Stovetop

Comments

  1. I made this for dinner with copy cat Chinese fried rice. My family love it. So delicious thank you for the idea.
    Stacey

  2. Jocelyn, my mouth is watering at the photos alone! What a beautiful and bright dish…this sounds so delicious and comforting. I know my family will love this. Thank you!

  3. I made this shrimp creole for dinner last night and my family raved about it! Definitely making it again soon!

5 from 7 votes

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