Homemade Creole Seasoning
This homemade Creole seasoning has the perfect blend of smoky, spicy and bold flavors that can take your favorite savory dishes to the next level. It is so much more than just a staple in Cajun and Creole recipes.
You can use it to jazz up pretty much anything- soups, stews, fried foods and even sauteed veggies. It's incredibly versatile- just like my homemade chaat masala.
If there's one thing that can get me in the kitchen in minutes, even on a tiring day is a nice condiment. I absolutely love making my own seasonings from scratch, particularly ones that I'm NOT familiar with- something that lets me explore a world of taste outside of my own Indian roots and taste buds.
So of course, I've tried everything from an Italian style garlic bread seasoning to a wicked Mexican Tajin seasoning. And this one was just long overdue!
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What's So Great About the Recipe?
The best part is the fact that while this is a specialized seasoning blend (of sorts), you probably already have everything you need to put this together in your kitchen already.
It's actually really simple to make too- just mix, taste and adjust, and you're good to go- just like Japanese sesame salt blend.
Recipe Ingredients
Onion + garlic: The classics that add all that savory, umami flavor. I used onion flakes here to add a bit of texture, but you can use onion powder too.
Mixed herbs: Thyme, oregano and parsley. If you have dried basil, add it in too!
Cayenne: For the heat! Add as much as your taste buds can tolerate.
Paprika: For that color and flavor. I love using smoked paprika here, for that beautiful aroma.
Salt and pepper: To round it all up. You can use coarse sea salt or an infused salt like citrus salt (for a tangy flavor) or garlic parsley salt (for some extra garlicky deliciousness).
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- To tone down the heat, use sweet paprika and reduce the amount of cayenne you're using.
- For additional flavor, you can also use some jalapeno salt into the mix. This isn't typical, but I really like experimenting like this sometimes.
How to Make Homemade Creole Seasoning
Step 1: Add all the spices and herbs to a mixing bowl. Add salt and mix.
Step 2: Taste and adjust the seasonings if needed.
💭Top Tip
Use the most fresh and good quality spices. Using spices that have gone past their expiration date won't give you that hit of flavor you're looking for.
How to Store Leftover Creole Seasoning
You can store the leftover Creole seasoning in spice jars with an airtight lid at room temperature. Remember to keep them in a cool and dark area away from direct sunlight to keep them as fresh as possible.
If you notice any clumping, let the seasoning air-dry and then blitz the clumps in a food processor before storing it again.
Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
- If you can, opt for granulated or flaked garlic and onion to make this seasoning. Powdered versions usually leave you with a chalky aftertaste.
- For a more earthy undertone, you can add some white pepper powder or dried ginger powder into the mix as well.
- Mexican oregano is the BEST dried oregano out there. If you can find it, I would highly recommend using it for this recipe.
How to Use the Homemade Creole Seasoning
You can use this homemade Creole seasoning to add flavor to so many foods! I love sprinkling this over my grilled or sautéed veggies like asparagus, broccoli, potatoes, zucchini and more. It's usually this or my homemade Thai seasoning blend.
Every time I make my sausage and potato foil packets or some grilled chicken this seasoning is a MUST for me! And of course, it's always perfect to use whenever you're making a bowl of Gumbo or some shrimp and grits.
Recipe FAQs
The Cajun vs Creole debate can get pretty heated up, and while I'm no expert, the ingredients that make up both of them are pretty similar, in most cases.
If stored correctly, the seasoning can stay fresh for months- even up to 6 months.
More Seasoning Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
If you tried this homemade Creole seasoning or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Homemade Creole Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon onion flakes
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon cayenne or as per taste
- 3 tablespoon salt
Instructions
- Add all the spices and herbs to a mixing bowl. Add salt and mix.
- Taste and adjust the seasonings if needed.
Notes
- If you can, opt for granulated or flaked garlic and onion to make this seasoning. Powdered versions usually leave you with a chalky aftertaste.
- For a more earthy undertone, you can add some white pepper powder or dried ginger powder into the mix as well.
- Mexican oregano is the BEST dried oregano out there. If you can find it, I would highly recommend using it for this recipe.
