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Home » Homemade Creole Seasoning Recipe

Homemade Creole Seasoning Recipe

by Mike Hultquist · Apr 3, 2019 · 10 Comments

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My homemade creole seasoning recipe blends a mixture of chili powders, herbs and spices you can use to season just about anything. Learn how to make it your own.

Homemade Creole Seasoning Recipe

When it comes to seasoning blends, Cajun and Creole seasonings are difficult to beat. Creole in particular. Creole seasoning is filled with the perfect blend of dried peppers, herbs and spices that develop flavor in just about anything you cook.

You can easily purchase a good Cajun or Creole seasoning blend at your local grocer, but no two brands - or cooks! - make it the same. It is so much better to make it at home, where there are certain benefits.

Why Make Seasonings at Home?

  1. Quality Control. If you make your own seasonings at home, you start with your own fresh ingredients. Who knows how long those pre-made blends have been sitting on the shelf?
  2. Customization. When you make your own blends at home, Creole seasoning in particular, you are free to add in any extra "special ingredients" you prefer. It will totally your own. More on that below.
  3. Salt. Some mass market blends have a bit too much salt, and sometimes you don't want salt at all. At home, you can make a no-salt Creole blend and add in the salt during cooking, when it should be added.

When I visited New Orleans not long ago, I enjoyed a couple cooking classes and talked to a number of chefs about Cajun and Creole seasoning. My biggest question was - What goes into Cajun and Creole seasonings? The answer was almost universal - "Whatever your mama taught you!"

Meaning, hey, pretty much however you'd like to do it. Check out my Homemade Cajun Seasoning Recipe for reference.

That's not to say you can throw in ANY ingredient. I love turmeric, but don't believe it has a place in Creole seasoning.

That said...

What Ingredients are in Creole Seasoning?

  • Paprika
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Black pepper
  • White pepper
  • Dried oregano
  • Dried basil
  • Dried thyme

There are other ingredients you can include. One chef I spoke with was finishing up her recipe to sell in her store. She includes dried lemon peel. I think that would be a great addition!

A good creole blend really breaks down into three major components: The Peppers, The Herbs, and the Spices.

For the peppers, I'm using both cayenne powder and paprika.

The chili powders that go into homemade Creole seasoning

For the herbs, I'm using dried oregano, basil and thyme.

The herbs that go into homemade Creole seasoning

And, for the spices, I'm using garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper and white pepper.

The spices that go into homemade Creole seasoning

Notice I do not have salt in the recipe. You can, of course, include salt in the blend if you wish. However, I find it easier to add salt by itself. Sometimes I may want to season something and don't want salt right away because it draws out moisture.

The choice is yours. I find it better to add it alone at the time of need.

Let's talk about how we make homemade creole seasoning.

Ingredients and Measurements Needed

    • 6 tablespoons paprika
    • 4 tablespoons garlic powder
    • 2 tablespoon onion powder
    • 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper (or more for a spicier version)
    • 2 tablespoons black pepper
    • 2 tablespoons white pepper
    • 2 tablespoons dried oregano
    • 2 tablespoons dried basil
    • 2 tablespoons dried thyme

How to Make Creole Seasonings

Simply add your collection of chili powders, herbs and spices to a bowl.

Homemade Creole Seasoning in a bowl, ready to be mixed

Mix them all together, like so. Store in an airtight container.

Homemade Creole Seasoning in a bowl

Boom! Done! It really is quite simple.

Store your seasoning blends in an airtight container. They will last a year or longer, but they do start to lose their potency after a couple months.

Recipe Tips

Again, you can customize the recipe with your own added ingredients, but more importantly, with your own ratios. Looking for a hotter blend? Add more cayenne pepper, or better yet, a pinch of ghost powder like I add to my Cajun Seasoning blend.

This is my preferred version.

Some common questions I've encountered with this spice blend.

What is Creole Seasoning Vs. Cajun?

Cajun and Creole seasoning are actually very similar, and to most people they are interchangeable. Long ago the distinction was that Cajun seasoning was simpler, consisting primarily of only 4-5 ingredients, mostly paprika and/or cayenne, salt and pepper, and sometimes oregano.

Creole seasonings build from that base by adding other spices and herbs for a more complex blend. However, as time has passed, the two have commingled to become much more similar.

What Are Good Substitutes for Creole Seasoning?

If you find yourself in a bind, any Cajun seasoning blend will be a perfect substitute for Creole seasoning. 

Another option is to use the component ingredients - paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper, dried oregano, basil and thyme. If you don't have all of these, the most important are paprika and/or cayenne, garlic powder, oregano, salt and pepper.

You can also use some other seasoning brands like Old Bay. It won't be a perfect match, but will do in a pinch.

Check out My Foodie Trip to New Orleans to learn more about it.

That's it, my friends! I hope you enjoy the recipe. Get mixing and keep it spicy!

Try this blend with any of my Cajun and Creole Recipes.

Some of My Favorite Cajun and Creole Recipes

  • Creole Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
  • Shrimp Creole
  • Easy Creole Sauce
  • Cajun Shrimp
  • Oyster Stew
  • Seriously Awesome Jambalaya
  • Cajun Corn Maque Coux
  • Hoppin’ John
  • Crawfish Etouffee
  • Low Country Boil

TRY SOME OF MY Other Homemade SEASONINGS

  • Homemade Chili Powder
  • Homemade Spicy Chili Powder
  • Steak Seasoning Mix
  • Homemade Rib Rub
  • Homemade Cajun Seasoning
  • How to Make Chili Flakes

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Homemade Creole Seasoning Recipe
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Homemade Creole Seasoning Recipe

My homemade creole seasoning recipe blends a mixture of chili powders, herbs and spices you can use to season just about anything. Learn how to make it your own.
Save Recipe Saved!
Course: Main Course, Seasonings
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cajun, creole, recipe, spices, spicy
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 minute
Total Time: 6 minutes
Calories: 6kcal
Author: Mike Hultquist
Servings: 72 teaspoons
Tap or hover to scale
5 from 3 votes
Leave a Review

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons paprika
  • 4 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoon onion powder
  • 2 tablespoons cayenne or more for a spicier version
  • 2 tablespoons black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons white pepper
  • 2 tablespoons dried oregano
  • 2 tablespoons dried basil
  • 2 tablespoons dried thyme

Instructions

  • Mix all ingredients together in a small bown until well blended. Use as needed.

Notes

Makes about 1.5 cups.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 6kcal   Carbohydrates: 1g   Sodium: 1mg   Potassium: 31mg   Vitamin A: 355IU   Vitamin C: 0.2mg   Calcium: 11mg   Iron: 0.5mg
Homemade Creole Seasoning Recipe
Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

Categories: Cajun Tags: cajun, Chili Pepper Madness, chili pepper recipe, mikes favorites

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Ayesha Imran says

    December 07, 2022 at 12:12 am

    Hi,
    How much spice to put in 1 kg meat.Tnx

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      December 07, 2022 at 6:52 am

      I would use 2 tablespoons.

      Reply
  2. Laurel Burbrink says

    July 02, 2022 at 11:39 am

    5 stars
    Love it!

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      July 11, 2022 at 8:49 am

      Awesome!

      Reply
  3. Gloria says

    June 22, 2021 at 6:46 am

    5 stars
    Ever since I made this seasoning and put it on pork (the pork tightly covered with foil in oven at 300 degrees for 2 hrs. then uncovered for half hour - it gets an awesome crunch) my husband will not have pork any other way. It's simply delicious. Thanks, Mike!

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      June 22, 2021 at 7:27 am

      Great to hear, Gloria! Glad you enjoyed it! So good.

      Reply
  4. Amanda oost says

    June 19, 2021 at 3:52 pm

    Is there any thing I can use to replace the paprika and cayenne pepper. My son is allergic to any hot peppers. He has a capsaicin allergy

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      June 20, 2021 at 8:15 am

      Amanda, you can try extra pepper or ground peppercorns for some extra kick. Szechuan peppercorns are very spicy, and not from peppers, though interesting flavor you might enjoy.

      Reply
  5. Thabang Marumo says

    June 10, 2021 at 5:44 am

    5 stars
    Outstanding.

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      June 10, 2021 at 6:02 am

      Thanks, Thabang!

      Reply

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