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Creole seasoning is the backbone of Cajun and Creole cuisine. It's an incredible blend of herbs and spices, making it the perfect seasoning for anything you put on it.
Here are a few recipes to use it on: Parmesan Crusted Chicken in Air Fryer, Yellow Squash Fritters, Air-Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs, Southern Fried Fish, Dirty Rice, and Crawfish Etouffee.
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Creole cuisine is all about simple cooking techniques that add flavor. Too many times when I travel outside of my home state, I notice that people are overthinking this great food culture.
There's no real difference between a Cajun seasoning blend and a Creole seasoning blend. I would say people outside of Louisiana generally use the term Cajun for everything. While we locals use the phrases to discern city (Creole) from country (Cajun) cooking.
As a New Orleanian, I've been eating, cooking, and tasting a variety of creole seasoning blends over the years. Some cost a little and are higher in sodium, some are fairly priced and have a little bit of a kick, and others cost more because they don't have any preservatives, msg, or any fillers in them.
The main thing you should be looking for in any Cajun seasoning or Creole seasoning is flavor! You can use creole seasoning on steamed vegetables, salad, chicken, fish, or burgers.
I take my homemade seasoning blends seriously because I want to enjoy whatever I eat. There are too many wonderful herbs and spices worldwide to serve or eat bland food.
I will show you how to make an incredible homemade creole seasoning recipe that will rival anything you can buy off the grocery shelf, so you can make it anywhere in the world with these simple ingredients.
Key Ingredients
Here are the ingredients for a delicious spice blend of homemade creole seasoning. You should already have most of these in your spice cabinet at home.
Paprika
Paprika will provide the signature red color that the creole seasoning blend has.
Kosher Salt
I love to use kosher salt because the coarse texture allows me to use less salt than if I were to use table salt.
Ground Peppers
You'll need black pepper, white pepper, and cayenne. Black pepper adds a warm spice note, white pepper provides a subtle but noticeable pepper flavor, and cayenne brings the spicy. These three work together and deliver what the Late Legendary Chef Paul Prudhomme would call an "after-glow" when consumed.
Cayenne Pepper
This may be one of the best peppers that one can consume because of all the health benefits for blood pressure; it gets a bad rap because of how spicy it is, but it really does balance out the flavor of the spice mix.
Dried Herbs
The two essential herbs are dried thyme and dried oregano. Dried basil isn't considered "traditional" but is an excellent addition to seafood dishes.
Garlic Powder & Onion Powder
The right amount of garlic powder will balance the flavors in the creole seasoning blend. It'll also keep you from needing more salt. Onion powder adds that flavor profile from the Holy Trinity (onion, celery, and bell pepper).
How To Make Creole Seasoning Recipe
The correct ratio of herbs and spices is the key to a successful Cajun and Creole seasoning recipe. A little bit of one can overpower the flavor instead of complementing it. It's an easy recipe with readily available spices.
In a medium bowl or food processor, combine paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, white pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, and dried oregano until blended. Store in an airtight container.
How To Store Creole Seasoning
Store Creole seasoning in an airtight container, mason jar, or a clean spice container in a cool dark space for 6 months.
Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks
Here are a few notes on substitutes, and flavor builders, I had after making this seasoning blend.
- We NEVER use chili powder in an authentic creole seasoning mix. The "chili powder" comes from using white, cayenne, and black pepper.
- Using kosher salt allows you to use less salt compared to table salt.
- Use granulated onion powder and garlic powder for the best flavor. Powder versions can leave a chalky aftertaste.
- Use smoked paprika for a subtle smoky flavor. If you use Hungarian Paprika, omit the cayenne pepper because it'll provide the spicy competent to the spice blend.
- I like using a coarser ground black pepper; fine or freshly ground black pepper will work.
- I would not recommend using red pepper flakes as a swap for cayenne; the flavor profiles are different. However, red pepper is cayenne.
- The best dry oregano on the market is Mexican oregano.
- All spices are not created equal, so find a brand you trust and love to get the best flavor out of any homemade seasoning mix you make. For instance, Great Value, Costco, and McCormick seasoning paprika will all taste slightly different.
FAQs
Here are the top questions readers have about making Cajun and Creole seasonings.
Cajun seasoning and Creole seasonings are made with paprika, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, black pepper, white pepper, and cayenne pepper.
The only thing that can be substituted for a Creole seasoning blend is a Cajun seasoning blend since both have the same mix of spice and herbs.
The difference between Creole and Cajun seasoning is absolutely nothing. They're the exact same thing and can be used interchangeably.
Absolutely not! Using Old Bay seasoning in place of creole seasoning is a cardinal sin. Old Bay's overpowering celery salt flavor doesn't have the same balance of herbs, heat, and spices that you'll find in a Cajun seasoning recipe or a creole seasoning blend.
The combination of cultures in New Orleans, from the Native American Indian, African, French, Spanish, Italian, German, and English, helped create Creole seasoning.
New Orleans, Louisiana, is known for Creole cooking. The unique combination of flavors, traditions, and home cooking can be found from the bayou to the city.
The term "Cajun" has become synonymous with spicy. However, we believe in seasoning our food in Cajun and Creole cuisine. Depending on how you were raised, it can taste incredible and balanced or "spicy" from the good amount of ground peppers added to the food.
Now, I will say that because the Cajuns are known for cooking more gamey food (gator, raccoon, and squirrel), to name a few, they use generous amounts of cayenne pepper to help mask the gamey flavor.
Creole and Cajun seasoning blends use garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, cayenne, white pepper, paprika, dried oregano, dried thyme, and salt.
More Creole Recipes
Add these recipes to your dinner table if you love Cajun food/ Creole dishes.
- Red Beans and Rice
- Corn Maque Choux
- Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
- Blackened Salmon Pasta
- Blackened Chicken Po-Boys
- Classic New Orleans Beignets
- Trout Meuniere
- Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya
Before You Begin
Before getting started, here are the steps I use to get organized.
Step 1: Make sure that your spices and dried herbs are still fresh.
Step 2: Start following the recipe and get ready for the best Creole seasoning recipe you've ever enjoyed.
Combining a medley of herbs and spices allows you to level up your dishes with the vibrant and bold flavors of Creole cuisine. Whether you add it to your gumbo, jambalaya, or even grilled meats and vegetables, this homemade creole seasoning is guaranteed to add a delicious kick to your meals!
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📖 Recipe
Homemade Creole Seasoning
Ingredients
- ½ cup paprika
- 3 tablespoons kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons granulated onion powder
- 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons granulated garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons white pepper
- 2 tablespoons black pepper
- 2 teaspoons dry thyme
- 2 teaspoons dry oregano
Instructions
- In a medium bowl or food processor, combine all ingredients until blended.
Notes
- We NEVER use chili powder in an authentic creole seasoning mix. The "chili powder" comes from using white, cayenne, and black pepper.
- Using kosher salt allows you to use less salt compared to table salt.
- Use granulated onion powder and garlic powder for the best flavor. Powder versions can leave a chalky aftertaste.
- Use smoked paprika for a subtle smoky flavor. If you use Hungarian Paprika, omit the cayenne pepper because it'll provide the spicy competent to the spice blend.
- I like using a coarser ground black pepper; fine or freshly ground black pepper will work.
- I would not recommend using red pepper flakes as a swap for cayenne; the flavor profiles are different. However, red pepper is cayenne.
- The best dry oregano on the market is Mexican oregano.
- All spices are not created equal, so find a brand you trust and love to get the best flavor out of any homemade seasoning mix you make. For instance, Great Value, Costco, and McCormick seasoning paprika will all taste slightly different.
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