This oyster stew recipe is rustic and comforting with loads of plump, juicy oysters simmered in a soup made with a creamy, buttery roux base and the perfect blend of seasonings.
Easy Oyster Stew
We're cooking up a big pot of delicious Oyster Stew in the Chili Pepper Madness kitchen, my friends. Would you care for a bowl? Pull up a chair and have a seat.
Oyster stew is made in various parts of the country where oysters are readily available. You'll find variations in the New England area, but also down south, particularly in Louisiana, where it is traditionally served as a light Sunday supper during chilly winters, or as holiday favorite as a Christmas Eve tradition.
This is the southern version, with a simple blend of Cajun seasonings. Oyster stew is quick and easy to make, done in 15 minutes once all of your ingredients are prepped.
You essentially start with a blonde roux made with butter and flour, then stir in milk to make a thick soup base - basically a bechamel - then cook in onion and celery, oysters and other flavorful ingredients, and oysters, of course.
I love fresh shucked oysters for my oyster stew, though they aren't always readily available. You can use jarred or canned oysters to make oyster stew. Still very delicious.
Let's talk about how to make oyster stew, shall we?
Oyster Stew Ingredients
- Butter
- Flour - Use white, all-purpose flour
- Vegetables - Onion, celery, garlic, green onion
- Oysters with reserved oyster liquor
- Seasonings - Cajun seasonings, salt, black pepper
- Fresh Herbs - Parsley
- Extras - Hot Sauce, extra chopped parsley, pads of butter (optional), chili flake, extra hot sauce, soda crackers or oyster crackers
How to Make Oyster Stew - the Recipe Method
Make the Roux. Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large saucepan or pot over medium heat to medium high. Stir in the flour to the melted butter to make the roux. Cook stirring constantly to cook the roux for 5 minutes to make a blonde roux, which is light brown in color.
See my post on How to Make a Roux for tips and a video demonstration.
Cook the Vegetables. Stir in the onion and celery. Cook for 2 minutes.
Milk and Seasonings. Stir in the milk, and add the oyster liquor, Cajun seasonings. Add the salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Cook at medium-low heat, stirring constantly, for 3-4 minutes, or until the mixture thickens slightly.
Cook the Oysters. Stir in the parsley, green onions, garlic, hot sauce and oysters. Bring to a boil and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the edges of the oysters curl and cook through.
Garnish and Serve. Remove from heat. Garnish with fresh chopped herbs (parsley), small chips of extra butter (if desired), chili flakes and a dash of sauce sauce (if desired). Don't forget the crackers!
Boom! Done! Your oyster stew is ready to serve. I do like mine with some extra hot sauce stirred in, along with crushed crackers for a bit of a crunch. Looks wonderful, doesn't it? So delicious. I love this recipe.
Recipe Notes & Tips For Success
- The Oysters. Fresh shucked oysters are best for making oyster stew. Reserve the oyster liquor (oyster liquid) when you shuck them, as the liquor adds a lot of flavor. If you are unable to obtain fresh oysters, you can use jarred oysters or canned oysters. If using cooked canned oysters, add them into the stew 1-2 minutes before serving, just to warm them through, as canned oysters are usually cooked before canning.
- The Roux. A light blonde roux is key for this recipe. You really only need a few minutes to achieve the proper light brown color. See my post on How to Make a Roux for roux making tips and a video recipe.
- The Milk. 2 percent milk thickens up in the roux very nicely, though you can use whole milk or cream for a thicker, more decadent version. Or use a combination of milk and cream.
- The Seasonings. I'm using my favorite Cajun seasoning recipe for my oyster stew, though you can use your favorite brand, or use Creole seasonings. You can also use a simple blend of cayenne pepper, salt and pepper.
- Crackers. Completely optional, of course, but oyster stew is great with soda crackers or oyster crackers. As an alternative, crushed or crumbled saltine crackers or club crackers work nicely as well.
- Other Ingredients. You can easily add in other seafood to round out this recipe, such as shrimp or crawfish. Try it with crumbled sausage or boudin. Patty really likes it with a splash of Worcestershire sauce and potatoes for more of a chowder version. Very tasty.
Storage Information
Store oyster stew in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Gently reheat to enjoy again.
I do not recommend to freeze oyster stew because of the dairy content.
That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy this classic oyster stew recipe. Let me know if you make it. I'd love to hear how it turned out for you and I hope it becomes a new family favorite!
Cookbook Recommendation
If you enjoy Louisiana cooking, including Cajun and Creole cuisine, I have found this book very informative with lots of great recipes and techniques.
- Louisiana Real and Rustic, by Emeril Lagasse (affiliate link, my friends!)
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.
Oyster Stew Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 small onion chopped
- 1 small bell pepper, chopped use jalapenos for a spicier version
- 1 stalk celery chopped
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasonings
- 2 cups milk
- 1/4 cup oyster liquor reserved from the shucked oysters
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- Dash of hot sauce
- 2 dozen oysters shucked and drained (you can use canned oysters)
- For Serving: Extra chopped parsley pads of butter (optional), chili flake, extra hot sauce, soda crackers or oyster crackers
Instructions
- Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large pan or pot over medium high heat. Stir in the flour to make the roux. Stir constantly to cook the roux for 5 minutes to make a blonde roux, which is light brown in color.
- Stir in the onion, peppers and celery. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Stir in the milk, oyster liquor, Cajun seasonings and salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring constantly, for 3-4 minutes, or until the mixture thickens slightly.
- Stir in the parsley, green onions, garlic, hot sauce and oysters. Bring to a boil and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the oysters cook through and their edges curl.
- Remove from heat. Garnish with chopped parsley, small chips of extra butter (if desired), chili flakes and a dash of sauce sauce (if desired). Don't forget the crackers!
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
NOTE: This recipe was updated on 11/12/21 to include new information and video. It was originally published on 3/31/21.
ema39 says
Basically the same recipe I use, but I have bumped mine up a bit with a few small cubed potatoes, and a can of Campbells Nacho cheese soup.
Try it you will be pleasedl
Mike Hultquist says
Sounds great!
.Michael Mahoney says
how much flour do you use for the oyster stew
Mike Hultquist says
3 tablespoons, Michael. The exact measurements are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Mark says
I added some frozen shrimp with the shells still on. Very hearty and solid recipe.
Think next time I’ll try to put some fish in it, maybe cod?
Mike Hultquist says
Nice! Glad you enjoyed it, Mark! Nice touch with the shrimp, and yes, cod would work perfectly in this dish.
Mack says
If you use canned oysters what do use for the oyster liquor? The juice out the can?
Mike Hultquist says
Mack, yes, use the juice from the can. I hope you enjoy it.
I Skye says
Absolutely perfect recipe. Make it all the time!! I sometimes use variations like add shrimp or clams, you really can’t go wrong here.
Mike Hultquist says
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
Carol says
I’m very impressed with your recipe of oyster stew. My husband and I really enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing this.
Mike Hultquist says
Thank you, Carol! I appreciate it.
Miki says
Thanks for a great recipe! I made this for our Christmas dinner. I had to substitute a few ingredients because we were coming off several days of horrible weather and the grocery stores were EMPTY! I added shrimp and scallops. Everyone loved the recipe, and I shared it with those who asked for it.
Mike Hultquist says
I love the addition of shrimp and scallops! Perfect!
April says
We decided to change it up last Christmas from our traditional, but plain, oyster stew recipe. I’m so glad that I found this recipe! It’s amazing and we’re making it again this year. It’s perfect exactly as written.
Mike Hultquist says
Wonderful! Super happy you enjoyed this one, April. Cheers to a new tradition!
Catherine says
I doubled the recipe, used 2 c milk/ 2 c homemade shrimp stock and 2 russet potatoes cubed. It was so very good!
Mike Hultquist says
Excellent! Glad you enjoyed it!
Doni says
Deeelicious!!!
Mike Hultquist says
Nice!!
Amberly Ivaska says
This is one my all time favorite recipes. Ever:) Made with oysters once and shrimp today. Equally great! I added bacon and potatoes with the shrimp and I don’t want to share any of it!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
That's awesome, Amberly! I LOVE the additions. Making it that way next time!
David says
This was soooo good.
Took longer on prep time
Shucking the oysters took awhile for me and mamma. But was time we’ll spent together and wow it turned out as if we’d bought from a restaurant! Thank you for sharing.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Glad you enjoyed it, David! I'm sure the fresh oysters were well worth it! Thanks for sharing!
Jennifer says
My family and I just finished this for dinner and we agreed this was a soul satisfying meal. Just wonderful!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks so much, Jennifer. Very happy you enjoyed it. Soul satisfying! A great, great compliment.
Linda Colon says
How much canned oysters?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Linda, I would use a couple 8 ounce cans, so 16 ounces total, though you could easily include more or less. Let me know if you enjoy it.
randy says
MAN....that looks good
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Randy! Super tasty!!
William R Schulze says
We may differ over the spelling of "chile" ;«), but you consistently knock recipes out of park. Good onya! And THANKS for your efforts!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Haha, thanks, William. Agreed, no matter how you spell it, they sure do make life worth living! =) =)
Susanna says
Hi Mike,
Maybe I'm blind.....but, How much milk does this recipe call for? I don't see it in the recipe.
I must try this! It sounds so delicious. Have you ever used smoked oysters? Or do you think that would alter the flavor too much?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Susanna, use 2 cups. I updated the recipe card. Apologies for that! Yes, I have made this with smoked oysters and I LOVE it! It's really a personal preference. Let me know how it turns out for you.
Bruce James says
Hi Mike -
This recipe sounds really good, but a question. Oysters vary by size depending on type or even within a particular variety of oyster. Any idea based on weight the amount of oysters to use for this recipe? Thanks much.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Bruce, use about 2-2.5 pounds of clams by weight for the recipe. Let me know how it goes for you. Enjoy!
jimAND ROSE nashwinter says
Been eating this since a kid?Now 75 and I still love it?We get live oysters about 3 times A month?Piggly Wiggly Has them all the time? They average about 3 dollars a dozen??Cant beat it,I shuck them then eat on the half shell?need to make the stew;
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
That sounds absolutely wonderful. Very jealous of those fresh oysters!
Jean says
This looks delicious. I have two questions: how much milk do I add to the roux? And 2) what other type of fish can I use in lieu of oysters?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Jean, use 2 cups milk for the recipe. This is great with any type of flaky white fish as well, either as a substitution or in combination. Just be sure to cook it through just enough. Enjoy!
Sean says
Sounds really good!! One questions...how much milk? I didn't see it in the ingredients.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Sean, use 2 cups of milk with the recipe. I made an update to the post. Thanks, and enjoy!
John says
Yum! This goes on the to-do list.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
I hope you like it, John! Definitely a good one!