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Easy Shrimp Creole is a spicy, chunky tomato and green pepper mixture that coats tender shrimp to make a hearty family meal done right! Your family will be jazzing during dinner with this classic southern meal! 

Bring the taste of New Orleans into your home with this easy-to-make Shrimp Creole. The shrimp are simmered in a spicy tomato sauce and the dish is served over rice. For more shrimp recipes try this Sticky Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp, this delicious Cajun Garlic Butter Shrimp, and this comforting Cajun Garlic Shrimp and Grits.

Easy Shrimp Creole in a skillet.

Easy Shrimp Creole

This easy shrimp creole is my new favorite shrimp dish! I grew up in the north, so these delicious and heartwarming southern dishes are still new to me. As I’ve started branching out and trying new things, I’ve fallen in love with southern cuisine! This recipe originated in Southern Louisiana where gulf shrimp are famous there. I have enjoyed my time in Louisiana and have learned so much about their style of cooking.

Every time I travel I love to try the local foods. Traveling is where I have found some of my favorite recipes like my fish and chips recipe, Chicago-style deep dish pizza, and the best fried chicken I’ve ever had. There is nothing like experiencing life through other people’s food!

Ingredients

There are so many ingredients you can include in this easy shrimp creole! This is a list of the most basic ingredients, but you could also add bay leaves, thyme, cayenne pepper, cajun seasoning, the list goes on! However you fix it, you are going to love the blend of flavors in this dish. You can find measurements below in the recipe card.

  • Olive Oil: I prefer olive oil for the flavor and it can handle a lot of heat. You can use your favorite oil, or whatever you are used to cooking with
  • Green Bell Pepper: They are a little sweet, and add lots of flavor to this meal. They just get better over time!
  • Onion: They are great at adding lots of flavor to the dish, and help make all of the other flavors in the dish shine.
  • Celery Stalks: I like to cut off the tops and the white ends, and dice them into small pieces. You want them to cook quickly and be the perfect bite size.
  • Garlic Cloves: Fresh garlic adds a sweet and savory flavor. It makes for a great sauce.
  • Stewed Tomatoes: You can buy stewed tomatoes in a can in the canned tomato section. I don’t use a specific brand, and you should be able to find them at your local grocery store.
  • Tomato Sauce: I also buy this from a can.
  • Chicken Broth: You could also use vegetable stock or a shrimp stock.
  • Chili Powder: Chili powder adds a little kick. You can add more if you prefer more spice, or add hot sauce too.
  • Worchestershire Sauce: This sauce makes such an amazing base for any dish.
  • Shrimp: This is the key ingredient!
  • Cornstarch: This helps thicken up the sauce.
  • Water: Helps to make more sauce.
Steps to make Easy Shrimp Creole.

Easy Shrimp Creole Recipe

I love this easy shrimp creole recipe because it’s one pot that makes such a flavorful and delicious dinner. It’s so tasty with cauliflower rice and garnished with fresh parsley. This is a hearty and filling meal that the whole family will love. The best part is the cleanup is a breeze and the leftovers are incredible.

  1. Add Ingredients: In a medium sized skillet over medium high heat add the olive oil. Then add in bell pepper, onion and celery and then cook until tender.
  2. Cook: Add in stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, chili powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Add shrimp and cover and let simmer for about 5-7 minutes until the shrimp are cooked through. Mix together the cornstarch and water and stir into the sauce and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes to let the sauce thicken.

Tips for Making Shrimp Creole

I think you are going to love making this shrimp creole! It’s simple and delicious, and you only dirty one pot or large skillet. Seriously, easiest clean up and it makes great leftovers! Here are some tips for variations and ways to make it your own.

  • What to Serve It With: We love to serve this shrimp creole with white rice. You can enjoy it with mashed potatoes or a pasta, such as angel hair, if you are looking for something other than rice. It is best garnished with parsley and/or green onions. Lemon also adds a great sweetness and flavor to the overall dish because of the acid in it.
  • Alternative Proteins: If you are looking for other types of meat to serve with this, sausage or catfish are great substitutions. Catfish and shrimp also blend well with this meal.
  • Using Different Stock: If you prefer a more fish-flavored stock, such as shrimp or seafood stock, you can replace the chicken broth for that added flavor.
Close up on creole shrimp.

Storing Leftovers

Easy shrimp creole makes such good leftovers! The flavors just get better with time. The only thing you have to look out for is not overcooking the shrimp when you reheat it. I like to put it back on the stove and warm it really slowly and definitely don’t let it get too hot.

  • In the Refrigerator: You can keep your leftovers in an airtight container or the pot you cooked it in covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Easy Shrimp Creole in a bowl.

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Easy Shrimp Creole

4.60 from 5 votes
By: Alyssa Rivers
Easy Shrimp Creole is a spicy, chunky tomato and green pepper mixture that coats tender shrimp to make a hearty family meal done right! Your family will be jazzing during dinner with this classic southern meal! 
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • In a medium sized skillet over medium high heat add the olive oil. Add in bell pepper, onion and celery and cook until tender.
  • Add in stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, chili powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Add shrimp and cover and let simmer for about 5-7 minutes until the shrimp are cooked through. 
  • Mix together the cornstarch and water and stir into the sauce and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes to let the sauce thicken.

Notes

Originally Posted Feb 12, 2019
Updated Jan 16, 2023

Nutrition

Calories: 108kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 3gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 321mgPotassium: 287mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 718IUVitamin C: 29mgCalcium: 74mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

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Recipe Rating




8 Comments

  1. 3 stars
    Too much tomato flavor, the tomato sauce was really not needed. It wasn’t spicy enough so I added more.
    There is no way the prep time can be 5 minutes, with having to dice the vegetables, and peel shrimp.
    The recipe should be updated on where to add garlic.

  2. 5 stars
    I made it tonight and it was very good. You don’t mention when to add the garlic so I winged it and added with the stewed tomatoes.

  3. 5 stars
    I like this recipe. For us it was 2 generous servings without a lot of calories. I did dice about 30 grams of andouille and added to the celery, onion, bell pepper. It has a little more tomato per quantity of shrimp than some recipes, but that’s fine. I like that it uses olive oil rather than butter. I even like that it doesn’t start with a roux. For a weeknight supper I think adding a tablespoon of cornstarch and water at the end is just simpler and quicker than a roux. I thought it was interesting that it called for chili powder. I added about 1/4 tsp. salt, some black pepper, about 1/4 tsp. thyme, and several shakes of hot sauce. If I had thought about it I would have added a squeeze or two of lemon.