Easy Shrimp Creole With Rice

This Easy Shrimp Creole With Rice recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner or for a meatless meal. Made with bell peppers, hot sauce and rice, this Shrimp Creole recipe is a keeper for your dinner menu planning.

This quick dinner idea makes for a great weeknight meal that is hearty and delicious. This is one of our easy seafood dinner ideas you will want to bookmark for later.

Why You Will Love this Recipe

This is a simple and delicious recipe that’s ready in about 35 minutes. That’s the great thing about shrimp – it doesn’t take long to cook.

This dish starts with the Holy Trinity of Creole cooking — onion, celery, and green bell pepper, sautéed together until soft, then built up with warm spices and a rich tomato sauce. It’s a New Orleans shrimp creole recipe that’s a great way to celebrate Mardi Gras season with a delicious dish.

It’s the perfect easy meal idea that the whole family is sure to love.

We are all about sharing easy dinner recipe ideas, and this simple shrimp recipe is sure to please. Like these Shrimp Skewers, easy dinner recipes are always a great welcome.

It also makes a tasty meatless Monday idea..

Seafood and fish dishes also make a tasty meatless Monday idea.

Ingredients For Easy Shrimp in Creole Sauce

• Raw shrimp  – You can use fresh shrimp or frozen shrimp from the seafood section.
• Green bell pepper
• chicken stock
• diced tomatoes
• Worcestershire sauce 
• onion – plus some green onions for garnish garlic
• hot sauce
• bay leaf
• Seasonings – paprika, thyme, oregano, cayenne pepper, salt, black pepper
• white rice

How to Make Shrimp Creole with Rice

Step By Step Instructions

1. In a large pot, sauté onion, green pepper, and celery in butter until soft 
2. Add in garlic, paprika, thyme, oregano, hot sauce and cayenne – cook for 2 minutes over medium heat.
3. Stir in broth and add in bay leaves  Bring to a boil then simmer for 10 minutes 
4. Stir in tomatoes and Worcestershire, simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Add in cooked shrimp to the creole sauce and cook until hot.  

Remove from heat, stir in lemon juice  Season with salt and pepper, serve over rice, garnish with green onions, and enjoy! 

Variations, Notes, and Substitutions

• You can substitute brown rice for white rice, if desired.
• You can use cauliflower rice in place of white rice to make it a lower carb recipe.
• You can kick it up by adding 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder when the sauce is cooking.
• Add a touch of creole seasoning to spice this up.
• Creole Sausage and Shrimp – This is a tasty variation = Add 1/2 pound of sautéd and drained sliced smoked sausage to this meal.

Serving and Storage Suggestions

• Serve this recipe for shrimp creole New Orleans style with fluffy white rice. I like to serve it with red pepper flakes on the side in case anyone wants to raise the heat level.You can also serve it with grits if you like.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container. 

You can use a teaspoon of cajun seasoning to add more flavor.

Recipe FAQs

Can you freeze shrimp creole?
Yes, but for the best texture, freeze the sauce without the shrimp. Shrimp can get rubbery after being frozen and reheated. Let the sauce cool completely, then freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, reheat on the stovetop until simmering, then stir in freshly cooked shrimp just until heated through.

Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes. The sauce actually improves as it sits, since the flavors have more time to blend. Make the sauce up to 2 days ahead and store it in the fridge. Reheat on the stovetop and add the shrimp at the end so they don’t overcook.

What’s the difference between Cajun and Creole seasoning?
Both come from Louisiana cooking, but they lean different ways. Creole seasoning leans on herbs like paprika, thyme, and oregano, while Cajun seasoning is heavier on ground peppers for more direct heat. This recipe uses a Creole-style spice blend, but a Cajun seasoning blend will also work if you prefer more heat.

Do I need to make a roux for this recipe?
No. This shrimp creole is tomato-based rather than roux-based, so there’s no need to stand and whisk a roux. The sauce naturally thickens as the tomatoes and vegetables simmer together.

More Easy Shrimp and Seafood Recipes

• 

  Easy Flavorful Baja Shrimp Tacos with Crema Recipe

• 

  Bang Bang Salmon

• 

  Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp

• 

  The Easiest Broiled Salmon You’ll Ever Make

• 

  Shrimp Skewers

• 

  Tilapia Fish Tacos

If your family loves shrimp as much as mine, try this Crock Pot Shrimp Boil , this Oven Broil Salmon or this Bang Bang Shrimp.

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