This Easy Shrimp Creole recipe puts dinner on the table in no time flat. Tender seasoned shrimp, cooked in a rich Creole tomato sauce takes minutes to prepare. Serve it over steamed white rice for a complete meal.

Easy Shrimp Creole Recipe

While shrimp may not come to mind when it comes to busy day meals, it’s a solid contender. Shrimp literally cooks in minutes whether we’re having crispy shrimp rolls topped with slaw, shrimp and grits or a spectacular shrimp salad, I know I can have it ready to eat quickly. One major difference between shrimp creole and shrimp jambalaya, both Louisiana classics, is the rice is cooked separately from the shrimp Creole. The rice serves as a bed for the cooked shrimp and spicy sauce. Shrimp Creole is also typically spicier than jambalaya or gumbo but, it can of course, be adapted to your personal preference. How to make simple Shrimp Creole Recipe: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

Vegetables – Cook onion, pepper and celery with butter over medium-high heat for 5 minutes until softened and beginning to brown. Add garlic, cook for 1 minute longer.
Sauce – To the skillet add remaining Creole seasoning, chicken stock, tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire, paprika, salt, cayenne, bay leaves and hot sauce. Simmer uncovered on medium-low for 10 minutes to reduce slightly.
Season Shrimp – Toss shrimp with Creole seasoning.
Cook – Heat a couple of drizzles of olive oil in a separate skillet. Add seasoned shrimp. Cook over medium-high until lightly pink.
Transfer – Add shrimp to Creole sauce.
Simmer in Creole sauce for 3-4 minutes or until shrimp is cooked through. You can thicken the sauce further adding additional tomato paste.
Serve immediately with cooked white rice garnished with green onion.

ingredients for shrimp creole in a skillet

How to Make the BEST Shrimp Creole Recipe

Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Shrimp Creole:
Kitchen tools you’ll need: Large skillet, medium skillet, sharp knife and cutting board, large spoon, measuring cups and spoons.
You can use shrimp with tails on or off for this dish, go with your personal preference.
Crushed tomatoes provide a rich stock for the shrimp and can easily be thickened to your taste. I typically begin with a small amount of tomato paste, then adjust the thickness of the sauce after it’s simmered and reduced a bit. The sauce isn’t meant to be gravy-like.
The amount of heat in this dish can also be adjusted by reducing or increasing the amount of cayenne and hot sauce used.
The purpose of browning the shrimp in a separate skillet before adding to the sauce, is to sear the seasoning onto the shrimp so, they don’t just poach in the liquid. It’s all about adding layers of flavor to this dish.
There are many brands of Creole seasoning on the market in addition to regional favorites found in Louisiana. Go with your favorite.
This dish is quite delicious served over white rice and a sprinkling of green onion or chives. Cornbread or garlic bread for dipping in the sauce would be a nice additions to the table. Stewed or fried okra would also complement this dish.
Store Shrimp Creole chilled in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Reheat gently, to avoid overcooking the shrimp.

What’s the Difference Between Creole and Cajun?

Both cuisines have been heavily influenced by the immigrants who settled in and around New Orleans. Not to over simplify but, since we’re talking shrimp creole today, I’ll address what makes this dish Creole. Creole cooking is said to use tomatoes and tomato based sauces more so than Cajun cooking. While they’re quite similar, there are notable differences but, both are incredibly delicious. You can read more about the differences between Creole and Cajun cooking on Louisiana Travel.

More Cajun and Creole Recipes to Make

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo starts with a rich dark roux and ends with your fork.
Cajun seasoned Air Fryer Salmon will have dinner on the table in no time flat.
Easy Shrimp Creole is another seafood dish that pairs beautifully with rice to soak up the tomato gravy.
Crawfish Etouffee is packed with flavor.
Cajun Dirty Rice is a family pleasing side dish to make.
Cajun 15 Bean Soup with Turkey and Andouille is a kicked-up way to use leftover holiday turkey.

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