Homemade Creole Seasoning

Name: Homemade Creole Seasoning
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 tbsp onion flakes; 1 tbsp garlic powder; 1 tbsp black pepper; 1 tbsp dried thyme; 1 tbsp dried oregano; 1 tbsp smoked paprika; 1 tbsp cayenne (or as per taste); 3 tbsp salt

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This homemade Creole seasoning combines smoky paprika, cayenne, dried herbs, garlic, and onion into one bold, savory blend. It takes just 5 minutes to mix and adds a spicy kick to everything from gumbo to roasted potatoes.

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.

Making seasonings from scratch is one of my favorite ways to explore flavors beyond my Indian roots. This blend is especially handy because you can adjust the cayenne and salt to suit whatever you’re cooking.

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!

Quick Look: Homemade Creole Seasoning

🔪 Prep time: 5 minutes.
⏲️ Cook time: No cooking required.
👪 Servings: 10, as listed in the recipe card.
📋 Main ingredients: Onion flakes, garlic powder, black pepper, dried thyme, dried oregano, smoked paprika, cayenne, and salt.
♨️ Cooking method: Combine spices and herbs → mix thoroughly → taste and adjust → store.
⭐ Difficulty: Easy.
🥣 Serving ideas: Gumbo, shrimp and grits, grilled chicken, Air Fryer squash and zucchini, and potatoes.

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Quick Look: Homemade Creole Seasoning
What's So Great About the Recipe?
Recipe Ingredients
Substitutions & Variations
How to Make Homemade Creole Seasoning
💭Top Tip
Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
How to Serve Homemade Creole Seasoning
Troubleshooting and FAQs
More Seasoning Recipes
Homemade Creole Seasoning

What's So Great About the Recipe?

It uses everyday dried herbs and spices, so you may already have everything in your cupboard.
There is no cooking involved. Just mix, taste, and adjust, much like my Japanese sesame salt.
You can make it milder, smokier, or less salty to suit your favorite dishes.

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.

Dried herbs: Thyme and oregano give the blend its herby backbone. Dried parsley or basil can be added as an optional variation.

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

Check the aroma of your spices before mixing. Paprika, cayenne, and dried herbs that barely smell of anything will make a flat-tasting blend. Use a clean, dry bowl and jar to keep moisture out.

Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe

The recipe uses onion flakes and garlic powder. Crush larger flakes between your fingers if you want a more even texture; granulated garlic is another option for a coarser blend.
For a more earthy undertone, you can add some white pepper powder or dried ginger powder into the mix as well.
Dried oregano from your spice cupboard works well. Rub the herbs between your fingers before mixing to release their aroma.

How to Serve 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, roasted broccoli and potatoes, zucchini and more. It's usually this or my homemade Thai seasoning blend.

Every time I make my sausage and potato foil packets, Air Fryer steak bites or 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.

Troubleshooting and FAQs

Is this the same as Cajun seasoning?

The two blends share many ingredients and can often be used in similar dishes, but recipes vary. This version combines paprika and cayenne with thyme and oregano for a smoky, spicy, herby flavor.

How long can I store Creole seasoning?

Store it in a tightly sealed jar in a cool, dry cupboard away from sunlight. Aim to use it within 6 months for the best flavor, keeping the age of your individual spices in mind.

How do I make the seasoning less spicy?

Reduce the cayenne and use sweet paprika instead of smoked paprika if you prefer a different flavor. Taste the blend on a small portion of food before seasoning the whole dish.

Can I make it without salt?

Yes. Leave out the salt and season each dish separately. This is useful when cooking with salty ingredients such as stock or sausage.

Why is my seasoning clumping?

Moisture and steam can make the spices clump. Keep the container tightly closed and spoon the blend into your food instead of shaking the jar directly over a steaming pan.

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!