Easy Creole Sauce Recipe (2024)

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by Mike Hultquist · · 11 Comments · Jump to Recipe

This homemade Creole sauce recipe is versatile, zesty, and very easy to make. It' starts with a roux, lots of vegetables and seasonings, and tomatoes. Make it mild or spicy.

Easy Creole Sauce Recipe (1)

Creole Sauce Recipe

Having a simple, flavorful basic red sauce recipe on hand is pretty key for quick and easy meals. I like quick and easy. The key is to use flavorful ingredients and let them do all the work.

Case in point - this very Easy Creole Sauce Recipe.

Not only does it whip together in practically no time, it is HUGE on that zesty flavor that we all crave. It's also wonderful served up in a few different ways, which I will discuss below.

Like much of Cajun or Creole cooking, it all starts with a roux. You cook down oil and flour to form a slurry-like roux, then add in your Holy Trinity of vegetables - onion, bell peppers and celery. Along with garlic, of course.

Then layer in flavor with either fresh or canned tomatoes and lots of seasonings. It looks like a tomato sauce, but it's really so much more than that. Believe me.

Let's talk about how to make Creole sauce, shall we?

Easy Creole Sauce Recipe (2)

Creole Sauce Ingredients Needed

  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • ½ cup chicken stock
  • 2 jalapeno peppers, chopped (use bell peppers for a milder version – I used jalapenos and red bell pepper)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 stalk celery, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 pounds tomatoes, chopped (or use 2 cans fire roasted tomatoes for extra flavor)
  • 2 tablespoons Creole seasoning blend (see recipe notes) - I like to add extra cayenne pepper, too
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • Hot sauce to taste (Crystal preferably, or similar, about 2-3 tablespoons is good)
  • 1 tablespoons sweet chili sauce (Sriracha is good here)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Juice from 1 lemon

How to Make Creole Sauce Recipe

First, heat the oil in a large pan to medium heat and add the flour. Stir to form a roux. Continually stir the roux until it starts to brown, about 15 minutes. Learn more about How to Make a Roux.

You can stir longer to get a darker color if you prefer.

Easy Creole Sauce Recipe (3)

Next, stir in the chicken stock. The roux will thicken up in the pan.

Add the peppers, onion and celery until softened, about 5 minutes.

Easy Creole Sauce Recipe (4)

Add the garlic and cook another minute, until you can smell that gorgeous garlic.

Stir in the butter, tomatoes, Creole seasonings, Worcestershire, vinegar, hot sauce and sweet chili sauce. Adjust with salt and pepper.

Some optional additional ingredients include bay leaves, oregano and basil, to your preference.

Easy Creole Sauce Recipe (5)

It's nice and chunky at this point, but it will break down the longer you cook it.

Bring the sauce a quick boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. You can simmer longer to develop more flavor.

Remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice.

Serve as desired! Perfect with Creole cuisine!

Adjusting the Heat and Spice Factor

I used jalapeno peppers for a bit of heat and flavor, but you can make a milder version with bell peppers. You'll still get a TON of flavor.

If you prefer a hotter version, go with serrano peppers or toss in something hotter, like a habanero or a ghost pepper.

You can also include more Creole or Cajun seasonings, and include either extra hot sauce or a spicier hot sauce blend.

Serving Ideas for Creole Sauce

There are so many ways you can serve this sauce. Use it as you would use a pasta sauce, with noodles, for a Cajun-Creole version of your favorite pasta. Think spicy spaghetti!

It is excellent with fish, chicken or shrimp.

Storage & Leftovers

Store any leftover Creole sauce in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can easily make it ahead.

You can also freeze it for up to 6 months in freezer containers. It freezes very nicely.

Check Out My Other Cajun and Creole Recipes

  • Shrimp and Grits
  • Shrimp Creole
  • Cajun Shrimp
  • Creole Chicken
  • Cajun Pasta with Shrimp and Andouille.
Easy Creole Sauce Recipe (6)

That's it, my friends! I hope you enjoy it! Let me know how it turns out for you.

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.

Easy Creole Sauce Recipe (7)

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Easy Creole Sauce Recipe

This homemade Creole sauce recipe is versatile, zesty, and very easy to make. It' starts with a roux, lots of vegetables and seasonings, and tomatoes. Make it mild or spicy.

Save Recipe

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cajun, creole, recipe, sauce, spicy

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Calories: 147kcal

Author: Mike Hultquist

Servings: 6

Tap or hover to scale

4.80 from 5 votes

Leave a Review

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • ½ cup chicken stock
  • 2 jalapeno peppers chopped (use bell peppers for a milder version – I used jalapenos and red bell pepper)
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1 stalk celery chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic chopped
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 pounds tomatoes chopped (or use 2 cans fire roasted tomatoes for extra flavor)
  • 2 tablespoons Creole seasoning blend see recipe notes
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • Hot sauce to taste Crystal preferably, or similar, about 2-3 tablespoons is good
  • 1 tablespoons sweet chili sauce Sriracha is good here
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Juice from 1 lemon

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large pan to medium heat and add the flour. Stir to form a roux. Continually stir the roux until it starts to brown, about 15 minutes. You can stir longer to get a darker color if you prefer.

  • Stir in the chicken stock. The roux will thicken up in the pan.

  • Add the peppers, onion and celery until softened, about 5 minutes.

  • Add the garlic and cook another minute, until you can smell that gorgeous garlic.

  • Stir in the butter, tomatoes, Creole seasonings, Worcestershire, vinegar, hot sauce and sweet chili sauce. Adjust with salt and pepper.

  • Bring to a quick boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. You can simmer longer to develop more flavor.

  • Remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice.

  • Serve as desired!

Notes

Heat Factor: Medium. You can easily up the heat factor with spicier peppers and hotter hot sauce choices.

Check out my homemade Cajun seasoning blend. Or, use your own favorite store bought blend.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 147kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 2gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 160mgPotassium: 521mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 2150IUVitamin C: 30.4mgCalcium: 34mgIron: 1.1mg

Easy Creole Sauce Recipe (8)

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.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Misty Crump says

    This is amazing on Meatloaf or over grits for breakfast.

    Reply

  2. Janice says

    Easy Creole Sauce Recipe (9)
    Well, still in the Pot. Little apprehensive, cause winged it from your list for spice mix. I do mostly Italian/Greek and Tex/Mex mostly, but want to adventure out some.

    Reply

    • Mike Hultquist says

      4 stars for the wing? LOL. Did you like it, Janice?? I hope so.

      Reply

  3. Jérémie says

    Easy Creole Sauce Recipe (10)
    With your awesome site and all the recipes I made from here, you taught me Creole and Cajun cuisine ..so I added the holy trinity before the broth 😉 I used this gorgeous sauce with leftover roast pork: awesome! thanks, Chef Mike!

    Reply

    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      Perfect, Jérémie! I love it.

      Reply

  4. Stacy says

    Easy Creole Sauce Recipe (11)
    This was amazing! Perfect level of spice and it was super yummy over pasta with some Cajun chicken.

    Reply

    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      Thanks, Stacy!

      Reply

  5. Gary Finch says

    Easy Creole Sauce Recipe (12)
    love this....my family don't do hot so this is a great freezer sauce for me when they are having something less tasty

    Reply

    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      Excellent, Gary! All for you! =)

      Reply

  6. Jim says

    Don't know if it makes a difference, but I usually add the trinity to the roux and cook it down and then add the stock or other liquid. Going to have to give this a try with one of the hotter peppers. Jalapenos just aren't cutting it for me these days!

    Reply

    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      Easy Creole Sauce Recipe (13)
      Jim, I do the same thing when making gumbo. I've found it works well both ways. Yes on the hotter peppers!

      Reply

Easy Creole Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Creole sauce made of? ›

It is made with tomatoes, the Cajun holy trinity (celery, bell peppers, and onions), garlic, seasonings, and herbs. Stock (usually chicken) is also used and seasoned with cayenne, hot sauce, bay leaf, salt, black pepper, thyme, and parsley.

What is creamy creole sauce made of? ›

Ingredients
  1. 2 tablespoons olive oil.
  2. 1 cup diced onions (about 1 medium)
  3. 1/2 cup diced celery (about 2 stalks)
  4. 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper (about 1 medium)
  5. 1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 3 medium cloves)
  6. 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes.
  7. 2 cups low-sodium store-bought or homemade chicken stock.

What is Suprême sauce made of? ›

Suprême sauce derives from velouté sauce, a “mother sauce” traditionally made from roux (a mixture of butter and flour) and meat stock—in this case, chicken stock or chicken broth. The sauce is reduced with heavy cream or crème fraîche, strained through a fine sieve or strainer, and often finished with lemon juice.

How do you make a smooth sauce? ›

To make a smooth sauce, you can follow these steps: Cook the ingredients for the sauce over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent burning. Use a blender or immersion blender to puree the sauce until smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add a small amount of liquid (such as stock or cream) to help it blend.

What is a substitute for Creole sauce? ›

Cajun Seasoning: A close cousin to creole seasoning, Cajun seasoning offers a similar flavor profile with a focus on bold and spicy notes. It typically contains ingredients like paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and black pepper.

What is Creole mayo made of? ›

For this spread, combine your favorite brand of mayonnaise (or homemade, if you want to overachieve), minced shallot, Creole mustard, white wine vinegar, and Creole seasoning in a bowl. Chill the mixture until ready to serve, and proceed to add this addicting spread to anything your heart pleases.

What mother sauce is Creole made from? ›

red sauce (tomato-based), 4. light-colored sauce (clear stock and a white flour roux), and 5. Hollandaise. The Creole mother sauce is the red one with tomatoes.

What is the origin of Creole sauce? ›

Creole sauce is a traditional sauce that originated in Louisiana, particularly in the vibrant city of New Orleans. It is a key component of Creole cuisine, which is known for its diverse and robust flavors.

What is the Holy Trinity Creole food? ›

The "holy trinity" in Cajun cuisine and Louisiana Creole cuisine is the base for several dishes in the regional cuisines of Louisiana and consists of onions, bell peppers and celery. The preparation of Cajun/Creole dishes such as crawfish étouffée, gumbo, and jambalaya all start from this base.

What is Barbie sauce? ›

It's essentially a tomato sauce with sugar. The dash of hot sauce is useless and the idea that you bring to a simmer and the garlic has any impact doesn't make sense. No attempt to let flavors develop but there aren't many flavors to begin with. It's edible.

What is red robin sauce? ›

Camp Fire Sauce is designed after our famous restaurant recipe. A smooth and creamy mix of bbq sauce, mayo and spices – you'll be pouring it on burgers, dumping it on fries, and delighting your taste buds.

What is Allemande sauce used for? ›

Translated as "German sauce," this silky, traditional French sauce is enriched with egg yolks and cream and flavored with a hint of mushroom and lemon. Serve it as is with chicken or vegetables or try adding chopped fresh herbs or minced capers to make a delicious variation.

What are the 5 mother sauces? ›

The five French mother sauces are béchamel, velouté, espagnole, hollandaise, and tomato. Developed in the 19th century by French chef Auguste Escoffier, mother sauces serve as a starting point for a variety of delicious sauces used to complement countless dishes, including veggies, fish, meat, casseroles, and pastas.

What is the most common mistake in sauce making? ›

The most common problems arise when the flour is not whisked in thoroughly into the pan drippings and/or while adding the stock to the roux and/or you adding the liquid too quickly. Any and all of these missteps can produce lumps.

What are the 3 sauce making methods? ›

The methods for preparing a small sauce from a mother sauce include the sauté and deglaze method, the reduction method, and the gastrique method.

What is the difference between Creole and Cajun sauce? ›

One of the simplest distinctions is the use of tomatoes: Creole dishes typically contain tomatoes or tomato-based sauces while traditional Cajun food does not.

What flavor is Creole? ›

Cajun seasoning contains paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano, onion powder, and cayenne, while Creole is made from chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and dried thyme. While different, both results lend a slightly spicy, earthy, and smoky flavor to whatever dishes they're added to.

What is Creole taste like? ›

You may hear Creole cuisine referred to as “city food” and Cajun as “country food,” so that's an easy way to get a heads-up. While the spice profiles are generally similar, you'll find that Creole food is a little richer and may contain more butter or creamy sauces.

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