New Orleans Style Shrimp Creole

If you’re like me, you love everything with a bit of Creole seasoning. If you enjoy shrimp dinners, this one is a must-save. This best New Orleans style shrimp Creole recipe is perfect if you’re on a budget and if you’re crunched for time, but want to create a healthy, nutritious meal for you and your family.

It’s absolutely appetizing, whether you choose to make it for a lunch or if you’re prepping meals for the week ahead. There are plenty of homemade New Orleans style shrimp Creole ideas you can incorporate into this recipe to make it your own.

This New Orleans style shrimp Creole is a quick and simple shrimp dinner that’s perfect for holiday parties, game days, or even a light dinner! Give this easy New Orleans style shrimp Creole for beginners a try today.

I’m discovering that easy dinner recipes can be just as satisfying as those that take hours to prepare. And there’s no shame in taking a shortcut or two, as long as it doesn’t compromise the flavor.

This New Orleans style shrimp Creole is one of those fast dinner recipes, and though there are only four ingredients, there’s definitely no sacrifice in flavor.

Scroll to bottom for printable recipe card.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Simplicity–this quick New Orleans style shrimp Creole recipe is simple and to the point. With just 20 minutes of prep time, this recipe will be ready to eat within an hour of entering your kitchen.
• You can swap ingredients to make a low-carb version or to incorporate seasonings, rather than veggies, depending on your family’s preferences.
• Easy to prepare in advance, especially if you have a busy week ahead of you.
• It’s packed with flavor while still using ingredients you can likely find in your pantry and refrigerator!

Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 50-60 minutes | Servings: 6

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp. Butter unsalted

1 Tbsp. Olive oil

1 Onion chopped

1 C. Celery chopped

1 Bell pepper chopped

2 tsp. Minced garlic

3 Tbsp. All-purpose flour

14 oz. Chicken broth

8 oz. Tomato sauce

1 ½ lb. medium shrimp peeled and deveined

2 Bay leaves

Salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste

Rice to serve over

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Chopped onion and celery: If you have picky eaters who aren’t a fan of the texture of either onion or celery, you can substitute them for traditional onion powder and celery salt. Add the seasonings to taste, especially when using an added salt (as this recipe already calls for traditional salt).

Cayenne pepper: While this is recommended to add to taste, you can omit it if you prefer a creamier style Creole shrimp.

Bay leaves: Feel free to use pre-packaged, dried bay leaves if you don’t have any fresh bay leaves on hand. However, I recommend fresh bay leaves whenever possible for the aroma and the layer of flavor they add!

Minced garlic: Swap minced garlic for garlic paste, pre-made minced garlic, or even garlic powder. If you’re using garlic salt, do so sparingly as to not oversalt this simple New Orleans style shrimp Creole meal.

All-purpose flour: If you’re gluten-intolerant, you can choose to swap the all-purpose, or AP flour, for almond flour or unflavored protein powder. This will provide you with the flour-based coating without the glucose and without the added carbohydrates.

Rice (optional): If you’re searching for rice recipes for this meal, try our yellow rice or our easy sausage rice for the perfect pairing that goes well with this quick New Orleans style shrimp Creole recipe.

How to Make It

Step 1. Heat the butter and oil in a large deep-sided skillet on the stove over medium heat. Avoid heating your butter and oil on high, as this can cause them to burn and smoke before you begin cooking!

Step 2. Add the vegetables to the skillet and sauté them for 5 minutes.

Step 3. After 5 minutes of cooking, sprinkle the flour over the vegetable mixture and stir to combine. Continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes, careful not to burn the flour. This will provide the veggies with a delectable coating, which is perfect for this family friendly New Orleans style shrimp Creole meal.

Step 4. Whisk in the broth and tomato paste, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste. Simmer for 30 minutes.

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Step 5. Add the shrimp and bay leaves to the skillet, cover, and cook for another 20 minutes. This will allow all the flavors to meld and combine.

Step 6. Let rest for 10-15 minutes before serving over rice.

Enjoy!

Now, remember to save this recipe on Pinterest for later 🙂

Tips for Success

Prepare all the ingredients (by chopping veggies and organizing spices) called for in advance so you’re ready to go once you begin cooking.

Add cayenne pepper sparingly, as this can quickly provide plenty of heat to this recipe.

Storage & Reheating

Can I save this recipe for later?

Yes! You can store this New Orleans style shrimp Creole for up to 3 days in your refrigerator by placing servings into airtight containers (or classic Tupperware solutions with lids). You can also freeze this shrimp meal for up to 2 months with appropriate freezer-friendly Tupperware or containers.

How do I reheat this New Orleans style shrimp Creole meal?

Remove from your refrigerator or freezer and allow the shrimp Creole to come close to room temperature. To reheat, do so on a pan over medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes, or until it reaches the desired temperature. You can also reheat this shrimp dish in your microwave for 1-3 minutes, per serving. Be careful not to overcook your shrimp in the microwave, otherwise it may take on a chewy, rubbery texture.

Serving Suggestions

Serving this healthy New Orleans style shrimp Creole version is possible to do with traditional yellow rice or rice pilaf. You can also serve this shrimp dinner with Mexican rice or even coconut rice, if you’re feeling a bit experimental. If you want an even healthier side, we suggest making this Creole dish alongside fried rice with peas and bean sprouts! The options are endless as different rice types will add plenty of new flavor profiles to this meal!

Notes

Prepare your veggies before heating your skillet. This will ensure you’re ready to go once the butter and oil are melted. This recipe is perfect whether you’ve spent time in New Orleans or if you’re looking for a healthy, go-to shrimp-based meal for your family during the week.

New Orleans Style Shrimp Creole

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

4.50 from 8 votes

Review Recipe

Ingredients 

• 2 Tbsp. Butter unsalted
• 1 Tbsp. Olive oil
• 1 Onion chopped
• 1 C. Celery chopped
• 1 Bell pepper chopped
• 2 tsp. Minced garlic
• 3 Tbsp. All purpose flour
• 14 oz. Chicken broth
• 8 oz. Tomato sauce
• 1 ½ lb. Medium shrimp peeled and deveined
• 2 Bay leaves
• Salt, pepper and cayenne pepper to taste
• Rice to serve over

Instructions

• Heat the butter and oil in a large deep sided skillet on the stove over medium heat.
• Add the vegetables to the skillet and saute for 5 minutes.
• Sprinkle the flour over the vegetable mixture, and stir to combine. Continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes, careful not to burn the flour.
• Whisk in the broth and tomato paste, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste. Simmer for 30 minutes.
• Add the shrimp and bay leaves to the skillet, cover, and cook for another 20 minutes.
• Let rest for 10-15 minutes before serving over rice.

Author: Laura