Spice up your favorite meals with the vibrant flavors of homemade Creole seasoning. Creole fare comes from the rich, cultural tapestry of Louisiana.
And in true Creole fashion, this aromatic blend will elevate your dishes to new heights.
It’s so easy to craft your own Creole seasoning. I’ll highlight its essential ingredients and even give you a few variations.
So keep reading if you want to spice up your life!
Creole Seasoning
I love making my own seasoning blends. Creole, Cajun, Mexican, or Italian… They all taste better when I make them myself.
This particular blend would make any New Orleans resident proud. It’s a robust mix of paprika, peppers, oregano, garlic, and more.
It adds a wallop of flavor to anything you use it on. By making it yourself, you can highlight the ingredients you like best.
You can also control how spicy the mix is. Plus, it lasts for up to 6 months if stored properly!
Creole Seasoning vs. Cajun Seasoning
People often use the terms “Creole” and “Cajun” interchangeably. In most cases, that’s okay. However, there are a few subtle differences between the two.
- Cajun uses fewer ingredients. It’s a simpler mix of spices, including paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Occasionally, chefs toss oregano into the mix. Creole seasoning, on the other hand, uses more ingredients.
- Creole is more herby. This distinction is mainly due to the extra ingredients in Creole seasoning. It uses more spices and herbs.
- Cajun is hotter. Creole seasoning uses lots of pepper but isn’t usually as hot as Cajun seasoning.
Still, you can easily substitute one for the other in a pinch.
Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make this homemade seasoning:
- Paprika – Use a blend of sweet and smoked paprika for color and flavor.
- Salt – Stick to sea salt or medium-grain Kosher salt. Table salt is too salty.
- Garlic powder – You can never go wrong with a little umami-packed garlic in a seasoning blend.
- Onion powder – Onion powder, too, is a go-to ingredient for most seasoning blends.
- Dried basil – Basil is peppery and sweet. It adds a richness to the blend with notes of anise or licorice.
- Dried oregano – Oregano brightens up the mixture and adds extra flavor. I prefer regular oregano to Mexican oregano for this blend.
- Dried thyme – Thyme adds a bit of minty freshness and earthiness.
- Peppers – You need three different peppers for this mix: black, white, and cayenne. Some people also add red pepper flakes. These ingredients give the seasoning its heat.
How to Make Creole Seasoning
Making homemade Creole seasoning is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
1. Measure. Gather and measure out the ingredients.
2. Mix. Mix the ingredients in a small bowl.
3. Store. Store the seasoning in an air-tight container for up to 6 months.
Tips and Variations
Follow these tips to make your blend even better:
- Fresh is best. If your spices aren’t fresh, your seasoning mix won’t be. When in doubt, purchase new spices with good sell-by dates.
- Customize your heat. Adjust the amount of cayenne to suit your desired spice level.
- Toss in extra herbs. Consider adding rosemary, bay leaf, and chili powder for an extra depth of flavor.
- Ditch the salt. If you’re watching your sodium intake, reduce or eliminate the salt. It still tastes great. If you leave the salt in, don’t salt your food when using this blend. It’s plenty salty enough.
- Invest in spice jars. If you like making DIY seasonings, buy a few glass spice jars for storage. They’re airtight but also have shaker lids for easy sprinkling. I recommend these Holdn’ Storage Spice Jars from Amazon.
Ways to Use Creole Seasoning
You can use Creole seasoning in various recipes, including ones that aren’t typically “Creole.” Try it in any of the following ways:
- Add it to marinades and spice rubs.
- Use it to season meats like pork chops, chicken, steak, or seafood.
- Use it liberally in classic Southern dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, and Southern-style grits.
- Add it to your morning eggs or omelet.
- Jazz up pasta dishes like shrimp scampi or fettuccine alfredo.
- Spice up your roasted or grilled veggies.
I even sprinkle it on my grilled cheese sandwiches occasionally. Use it on anything that could benefit from extra spice and flavor.
How to Store
Storing your DIY Creole seasoning is simple. Seal it tightly in an airtight container and put it somewhere dark, cool, and dry. In most cases, a pantry or cupboard is fine.
If neither is an option, store it wherever you keep your other spices.
Also, remember the seasoning will stay as fresh as its ingredients. You must use fresh, new spices to make the seasoning.
If your spices are already losing potency, so will the Creole blend.
Creole Seasoning (Homemade Recipe)
This homemade Creole seasoning is perfect for jazzing up your meals! The blend of garlic powder, salt, onion powder, oregano, basil, and more is too good to miss.
Ingredients
5 tablespoons paprika
3 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons onion powder
1 1/2 tablespoons dried basil
1 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano
1 1/2 tablespoons dried thyme
1 1/2 tablespoons black pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons white pepper
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a bowl and stir them well to combine.
- Store it in an air-tight container for up to 6 months.
