Name: Homemade Creole Seasoning Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 1 min
Total time: 6 min
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

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This homemade creole seasoning blend is a powerhouse mix of herbs and spices for Cajun and Creole cuisine, or any dish for a dash of bold flavor, a go-to. Learn how to make it on your own.

Creole Seasoning Recipe

My Homemade Creole Seasoning blend is exactly what you need for infusing your dishes with the vibrant and robust flavors of Louisiana. It's is filled with the perfect blend of dried peppers, herbs and spices that develop flavor in just about anything you cook.

Why Make Creole Seasonings at Home?

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?
Customization. You are free to add in any extra "special ingredients" you prefer to make it totally your own.
Salt. Some mass market and store bought blends have a bit too much salt. At home, you can make a no-salt Creole blend and add in the salt during cooking, when it should be added.

I visit New Orleans regularly, and I enjoy taking cooking classes and talking to chefs. I asked many of them about Creole and Cajun seasoning. My biggest question was - What goes into Cajun and Creole seasonings? The answer was almost universal - "Whatever your mama taught you!"

This is how I've been making mine for years and years.

Let's talk about how to make Creole seasonings.

Featured Reader Comment

From Gloria: "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!"

Creole Seasoning Ingredients

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: Peppers, Herbs, and Spices.

Peppers. I'm using both cayenne powder and paprika. Smoked paprika is a great addition. Cayenne can be adjusted for heat to your personal tastes. Crushed red pepper is nice, too.
Herbs. I'm using dried oregano, basil and thyme. You can use others like dried rosemary, bay leaf, or parsley.
Spices. I'm using garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper and white pepper.

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.

How to Make Creole Seasonings - the Recipe Method

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

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

Boom! Done! It really is quite simple, one of my favorite homemade seasoning blends.

Scooping Homemade Creole Seasoning from the bowl

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.

Storage Information

Store Creole seasoning blend in an airtight container. It will last a year or longer in a cool, dark place, but it will start to lose their potency after 3 months.

It is best to make a smaller batch that you will use within that time.

Creole Seasoning Vs. Cajun Seasoning

Cajun and Creole seasoning are 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.

See my Homemade Cajun Seasoning Recipe for reference.

Creole Seasoning Substitutes

If you find yourself in a bind, any Cajun seasoning blend will be a perfect substitute for Creole seasoning, as it has a similar flavor profile of spice mixes and dried herbs.

You can also use some other seasoning brands like Old Bay Seasoning. 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.

Using Creole Seasoning

Creole Seasoning is used in a number of classic Southern style dishes and Creole cooking like Gumbo, Shrimp Creole, Jambalaya, and Crawfish Etouffee, though you can use it in so many other ways.

I personally use it like a general seasoning for grilled meats and seafood, grilled or roasted vegetables, soups, stews, and big pots of deliciousness, even pastas.

It is such a versatile spice blend that I use very frequently. See more recipe options below.

Some of My Favorite Cajun and Creole Recipes

TRY SOME OF MY Other Homemade SEASONINGS

Mike holding a spice jar full of Homemade Creole Seasonings

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

This homemade creole seasoning blend is a powerhouse mix of herbs and spices for Cajun and Creole cuisine, or any dish for a dash of bold flavor, a go-to. Learn how to make it on your own.

Save Recipe

Course: Main Course, Seasonings

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cajun, creole, recipe, spices, spicy

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 1

Total Time: 6

Calories: 6kcal

Author: Mike Hultquist

Servings: teaspoons

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5 from 15 ratings

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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 bowl until well blended. Use as needed.

Video

Notes

Makes about 1.5 cups.

I did not add salt to this recipe, but feel free to add 1 tablespoon (or to taste). I prefer to add salt separately at the time of cooking.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 6kcal Carbohydrates: 1g Sodium: 1mg Potassium: 31mg Vitamin A: 355IU Vitamin C: 0.2mg Calcium: 11mg Iron: 0.5mg

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.

NOTE: This recipe was updated on 3/21/25 to include new photos and information. It was originally published on 4/3/19.