• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Kenneth Temple logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Shop
    • Contact
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Winter

    March 15, 2023

    Easy Creole Sauce

    This post may contain Affiliate Links. Please see my Disclaimer for more details.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Easy Creole Sauce recipe is made with just a few staple ingredients and is the best way to spice up everything from chicken and fish to rice and pasta. Ready in just 10 minutes, this bold and flavorful sauce is as easy to make as it is delicious.

    If you’re looking for more great sauces for your dish, check these out: Honey BBQ Sauce, Sweet Thai Chili Sauce, Alabama White BBQ Sauce, Thai Peanut Sauce, or Citrus Agave Glaze. 

    Overhead shot of creole sauce in a bowl

    Latest Recipe Video:

    Jump to:
    • Latest Recipe Video:
    • Creole Sauce Ingredients
    • How to Make Easy Creole Sauce Recipe
    • How to Store Creole Sauce?
    • Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks
    • Easy Creole Sauce FAQs
    • More Delicious Creole Recipes
    • Before You Begin
    • 📖 Recipe

    Have you ever tried creole tomato sauce, aka creole sauce? If the answer is no—well, first of all, I’m sorry. Second, you are in for a serious treat. This easy creole sauce recipe takes around 10 minutes to make and is loaded with mouthwatering flavors. It’s a staple in Cajun and Creole cuisine and can be paired with pretty much anything.

    I’m sure if you’ve ever had shrimp creole, then you’ve definitely had it before.

    I love making a batch of creole red sauce to use throughout the week. It’s great for serving on top of grilled fish, chicken, and steak. It’s also the perfect way to flavor a basic bowl of rice or pasta to instantly turn it into a restaurant-worthy dish. Down in New Orleans, you’ll see creole sauce everywhere you turn. With the heavy Creole influence in the area, this delicious sauce is practically running through our veins.

    This sauce starts the same way most traditional Creole dishes do—with the Holy Trinity, aka the combination of onions, celery, and bell peppers. You’ll then add a base of diced tomatoes, butter, Worcestershire sauce, and white wine. We flavor it with Cajun seasoning and fresh parsley, then finish top it off with green onions. The flavor is absolutely insane; you’re going to love it!

    Creole sauce in a pot with a wooden spoon

    Creole Sauce Ingredients

    Let’s talk about the ingredients you’ll need to bring this Cajun creole sauce to life.

    Holy Trinity

    As I mentioned above, the Holy Trinity is a Creole staple that consists of onions, green bell peppers, and celery. Make sure to use yellow onions, not Vidalia onions which would be too sweet.

    Diced Tomatoes

    Quality canned tomatoes reduce the prep and cooking time, but feel free to use two fresh tomatoes instead if preferred. Creole tomatoes would be great!

    Cajun - Creole Seasoning

    You can make your own from scratch. For a high-quality and low-sodium blend, I recommend using Savory Cajun Seasoning.

    Italian Parsley

    For the best flavor, make sure to use fresh Italian parsley in this dish. Curly parsley is more for garnish and really doesn’t add much flavor.

    Bay Leaves

    This adds an earthy and herbal flavor that works great in Creole recipes like this one.

    Worcestershire Sauce

    This is one of my go-to ingredients for adding flavor to many sauces.

    Creole Sauce Ingredients on baking sheet

    How to Make Easy Creole Sauce Recipe

    Not only is this creole sauce packed with flavor, but it’s also effortless to make. You only need a few basic ingredients and around 10 minutes on the stove. Follow the simple steps below, and check out the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements.

    Step 1: Holy Trinity

    Heat a medium pot on the stove over medium heat with oil, then add onion, bell pepper, and celery. Cook for 3-4 minutes until translucent.

    Step 2: Make Creole Sauce

    Add the Cajun seasoning, garlic, bay leaf, and dried thyme. Cook for 20 seconds, then add tomatoes, remaining Cajun seasoning, white wine, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring the mixture to a boil, then simmer for 6 minutes.

    Step 3: Finishing Touches

    Stir in the butter, green onions, and fresh parsley. Serve over fish, chicken, steak, rice, vegetables, or pasta. Enjoy!

    Creole sauce in a bowl

    How to Store Creole Sauce?

    Allow your creole sauce to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container or jar. Then, you can store it in the fridge for up to a week. To reheat your sauce, add it to a pot over medium heat and cook until warmed through.

    Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks

    Here are some of my top tips and tricks to help you make the best creole sauce recipe:

    • Add a pinch of cayenne pepper, a few shakes of your favorite Louisiana hot sauce, red pepper flakes, or diced jalapeno peppers to make a spicy creole sauce.
    • For a thicker red creole gravy, start with a roux made with equal parts flour and butter; cook until peanut butter brown. Once you’ve done that, proceed with the recipe as instructed.
    • The longer you cook the sauce, the more the tomatoes will break down. Keep this in mind to get the consistency you’re looking for.
    • Taste your sauce before serving it so you can adjust the seasoning as needed.
    • Some people add vinegar or lemon juice to brighten their creole sauce and add flavor. I like to leave it as is because the white wine provides that, but you’re more than welcome to hit it with some acid if you want!
    • If you don’t consume alcohol, swap the white wine for chicken broth or chicken stock.
    • Use this creole sauce for fish, chicken, sausage, rice, pasta, or vegetables.
    • For a vegan creole sauce, swap the butter for olive oil.
    • There’s plenty of salt in Cajun seasoning, so make sure to use unsalted butter and low-sodium stock.
    • For a quick shortcut, use 10 oz. thawed Seasoning Blend. Cook in the pot without oil for 2 minutes to remove excess moisture, then follow the recipe as instructed.
    Chicken thighs with Creole sauce

    Easy Creole Sauce FAQs

    Here are the answers to some of the most common questions about this easy creole sauce recipe: 

    What is creole sauce?

    Creole sauce, also known as red gravy, is a staple in New Orleans, Creole, Cajun, and Haitian cuisine. It’s a tomato-based sauce made with vegetables and seasonings cooked in butter and olive oil. This flavorful sauce is commonly used to coat meats, rice, pasta, and vegetables.

    Can you make this dish ahead of time?

    Absolutely. I think the creole sauce tastes even better when you give it a few hours for the flavors to really come together before using it. For the best results, store creole sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours beforehand.

    Creole sauce in a medium bowl

    What do you serve with creole sauce?

    You can serve creole sauce with meats like sausage, shrimp, chicken, fish, and steak. You could also serve it with rice or pasta or mix it with roasted vegetables. The options are pretty much endless, so add it to whatever you like.

    Southern Creole Banner Ad-1

    More Delicious Creole Recipes

    Looking for more Creole-inspired dishes? Check these out:

    • 20-Minute Creole Jambalaya
    • Creole Cream Cheese Remoulade
    • Jamaican Oxtails
    • Creole Oxtails Stew
    • New Orleans Seafood File Gumbo

    Before You Begin

    Before getting started, here are the steps I use to get organized. 

    Step 1: Get all ingredients for the Creole sauce on the counter.

    Step 2: Measure everything out.

    Step 3: Start following the recipe and get ready for the best creole sauce you’ve ever enjoyed.

    I hope you have fun following my creole sauce recipe and find it easy and delicious! If you did, please leave a comment or 5-star rating to let me know how it turned out. And don’t forget to share it with your friends and family on social media so they can enjoy this delicious creole sauce too.

    Click here to subscribe to MY Weekly Recipes for easy and free recipes right into your inbox! 

    To pin this recipe and save it for later, you can use the Pin button on the recipe card, the sharing buttons above or below this post, or any of the photos above. 

    Tag me @kennethtemple_ and use #LezEat on Instagram to share your remakes with me, and don't forget to leave a star rating and comment below. 

    📖 Recipe

    Overhead shot of creole sauce in a bowl

    Easy Creole Sauce

    Kenneth Temple
    Spice up any dish with this easy creole sauce recipe! Ready in just 10 minutes, it's the perfect way to add flavor to your favorite meals.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Sauce
    Cuisine Cajun, Creole
    Servings 16 persons
    Calories 38 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
    • ½ medium yellow onion chopped medium
    • ½ bell pepper chopped medium
    • 2 celery stalks chopped medium
    • 4 garlic cloves chopped fine
    • 1 bay leaf
    • ¼ teaspoon dry thyme
    • 28 oz. diced tomatoes
    • 2 teaspoons Cajun Seasoning divided
    • ¼ cup white wine
    • 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
    • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • 2 green onions sliced
    • 1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley

    Instructions
     

    • Turn the heat to medium in a medium pot heat oil, add onion, bell pepper and celery cook for 3-4 minutes until translucent. Add 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning, garlic, bay leaf and dry thyme, cook for 20 seconds. Add tomatoes, remaining Cajun seasoning, white wine and worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 6 minutes. Stir in butter, green onions and parsley. Serve over fish, chicken, steak, rice, vegetables or pasta.

    Notes

    Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks  
    Here are some of my top tips and tricks to help you make the best creole sauce recipe: 
    • Add a pinch of cayenne pepper, a few shakes of your favorite Louisiana hot sauce, red pepper flakes, or diced jalapeno peppers to make a spicy creole sauce.
    • For a thicker red creole gravy, start with a roux made with equal parts flour and butter; cook until peanut butter brown. Once you’ve done that, proceed with the recipe as instructed.
    • The longer you cook the sauce, the more the tomatoes will break down. Keep this in mind to get the consistency you’re looking for.
    • Taste your sauce before serving it so you can adjust the seasoning as needed.
    • Some people add vinegar or lemon juice to brighten their creole sauce and add flavor.
    • I like to leave it as is because the white wine provides that, but you’re more than welcome to hit it with some acid if you want!
    • If you don’t consume alcohol, swap the white wine for chicken broth or chicken stock. Use this creole sauce for fish, chicken, sausage, rice, pasta, or vegetables.
    • For a vegan creole sauce, swap the butter for olive oil.
    • There’s plenty of salt in Cajun seasoning, so make sure to use unsalted butter and low-sodium stock.
    • For a quick shortcut, use 10 oz. thawed Seasoning Blend. Cook in the pot without oil for 2 minutes to remove excess moisture, then follow the recipe as instructed.
    Storage:
    Allow your creole sauce to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container or jar. Then, you can store it in the fridge for up to a week. To reheat your sauce, add it to a pot over medium heat and cook until warmed through.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 38kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 1gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 11mgPotassium: 128mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 359IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword Creole sauce, what is creole sauce, creole sauce recipe, creole tomato sauce, how to make creole sauce, creole tomato sauce,
    Cooked this recipe?Let me know how it was!
    « King Cake with Cream Cheese Filling
    Texas Sheet Cake with Buttermilk »

    Reader Interactions

    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Chef KENNETH Temple

    Let's Eat! I'm Kenneth!

    I am a "Food Networks Chopped Champion" from New Orleans, Louisiana, and I love cooking the best Southern Creole classics from scratch.

    Read More

    As Seen On

    Trending Recipes

    • Hot Honey Sauce in a bowl
      3-Ingredient Hot Honey Sauce
    • Homemade Creole Seasoning Recipe in a plate.
      Homemade Creole Seasoning

    Buy My Cookbook!

    Winter Recipes

    • Turnip Greens in a bowl
      Southern Turnip Greens
    • Southern Smothered Cabbage in a pot
      Southern Smothered Cabbage
    • Close up of cooked hoppin john
      Hoppin' John
    • Root Beer Braised Short Ribs2
      Root Beer Braised Short Ribs

    Healthy Recipes

    • Lamb Meatballs with Roasted Veg
      Mediterranean Lamb Meatballs Bowl
    • Yassa Chicken Bowl
    • Glazed Lemon Pepper Salmon on a plate
      10-Minute Lemon Pepper Salmon
    • Fajita Bowl with Cilantro Rice2
      Steak Fajita Bowl With Onions, Peppers And Cilantro Rice

    Party Recipes

    • Cajun Deviled Egg in a hand.
      Cajun Deviled Eggs
    • Spinach dip with cheese pull
      Spinach Artichoke Dip without Cream Cheese
    • Garlic Parmesan Wings being held in hand
      Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
    • close up of bbq meatballs
      Oven BBQ Meatballs

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! to receive new recipe ideas

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Brunch Pro on the Feast Plugin

    Shop my kitchenware!

    Chef 8-inch Knife Oven Thermometer Glass Bowls XL Air-Fryer 8-Quart Instant Pot Measuring Cups and Spoons Cast Iron Skillet Digital Food Scale

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.