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Last Updated: Jun 23, 2022 by Angela Latimer · 4 Comments

Cajun vs Creole

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Cajun vs Creole cooking pin with text header over image with vignette layer.

The similarities between Cajun vs Creole cooking are there, but you may be surprised at how many differences there are! The terms are often used interchangeably but Cajun and Creole cooking are not the same things. Read on to learn about the cultural history of Cajun vs Creole cooking, the similarities, and the differences!

What's The Difference: Cajun vs Creole?

Today it seems like a lot of cultures are being combined to create fusion cuisine. However, fusion cuisine is nothing new. Two of the first fusion-style cuisines originated hundreds of years ago.

Cajun and Creole are not only two of the earliest forms of fusion cooking in The United States, but they are also two of the longest-lasting. These two types of cuisine were formed in The South – mostly in Louisiana.

Cajun vs Creole cuisine text title over gumbo image.
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  • What's The Difference: Cajun vs Creole?
  • History of Cajun Cuisine
  • Cajun Style of Cooking
  • History of Creole Cuisine
  • Creole Style of Cooking
  • The Most Popular Cajun and Creole Dishes
  • Similarities between Cajun and Creole Cuisine
  • Differences between Cajun and Creole Cuisine
  • Cajun Gumbo vs Creole Gumbo
  • Cajun Seasoning vs Creole Seasoning
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 💬 Comments & Reviews

While these two styles of cooking are different from one another, they are often mistaken for each other. Moreover, sometimes they are thought to be the same thing.

Despite some similarities, Cajun and Creole are their own styles of cooking. The differences between these two cooking styles go beyond ingredients though. To truly understand the differences between Cajun and Creole cuisine, you must understand the history of each one.

History of Cajun Cuisine

The history of Cajun cooking dates back to a century before it was brought to the United States. It originated with the country peasants in France. Known as The Acadians, this group of people eventually left the French countryside to immigrate to North America.

In the early 1600s, the Acadians brought their flavors to Canada when they immigrated to Nova Scotia. Unfortunately, their hope of a better life was not met. Rather than being fully welcomed into the community, they were forced to flee.  

They fled from the Northern most part of North America to the Southernmost part of the country. Most of them settled in what is now Louisiana.  

Cajun Style of Cooking

As peasants, the Acadians focused on cooking dishes that incorporated what they could gather from their surroundings. This started in France by gathering vegetables from the land, like potatoes and carrots. In addition, using the meat they had access to as farmers.

In Nova Scotia, their dishes shifted to incorporate what they could find in the Atlantic Ocean. They began to use lobster, salmon, and other fish they could find off the coast of Nova Scotia.

While what they added to their cooking changed a bit, the style of cooking remained the same. They continued to follow their country roots and cook everything together in one pot.

When the Acadians landed in Louisiana, their one-pot recipes were adapted again. Living along the bayou of Louisiana, they continued to use what was easily available to them. Crawfish, alligators, crab, and oysters became staples. In addition, they began to incorporate new spices and flavors from other people in the community.

As they settled into their new home, their name was changed to “Cajun” – a derivate of the French word “Acadian.”

History of Creole Cuisine

Creole cooking dates back even earlier than Cajun cooking. With the arrival of European immigrants to Louisiana in the 1600s.

While in the realm of history they are not far apart in their arrival in the New World, the way these two groups of people arrived is quite different. It is also directly linked to their different cooking styles.

Creole cuisine is a result of the European settlers who came to Louisiana (and other parts of the south). Moreover, these were the city-dwellers. These were the inhabitants of New Orleans who came from money and had access to a variety of foods.

Creole Style of Cooking

Creole is considered the city cooking of New Orleans. It includes rich and savory sauces and an assortment of spices. It draws on flavors from several European countries including France and Spain.

In addition to the European influence that was brought over with the settlers, Creole infused flavors of African cooking, Caribbean, and Native American. This was a result of slaves in the city adding flavors from their own backgrounds into the European dishes they created of their owners.

While the Cajun people were forced to draw from the banks of the bayou, Creole cooks had access to everything from farms to the sea. Moreover, they could import ingredients and were able to refrigerate dairy.

As a result, Creole cooking included a wide assortment of ingredients that were local and imported. It also consisted of rich and savory sauces. Due to its sophisticated nature, some chefs refer to Creole as French cuisine, just with local ingredients.

The Most Popular Cajun and Creole Dishes

While Cajun and Creole cuisine is historically different in many ways, they share two popular dishes: gumbo and jambalaya.

Both dishes are made by adding all the necessary ingredients into one big pot. For the Cajuns, this was whatever vegetable, meat, or seafood was available from the land. As they settled into Louisiana this shifted to mostly rice, peppers, and seafood that were accessible along the Bayou.

Creole gumbo also adds all ingredients to the pot. However, in addition to having a different base for the gumbo, it may include a wider range of meats such as cured sausage.

While gumbo and jambalaya are both one-pot recipes they vary slightly. The biggest difference is that gumbo is served over rice. Jambalaya has the rice mixed in with the other ingredients.

Similarities between Cajun and Creole Cuisine

The similarities between Cajun and Creole cuisine are found in their technique of fusing flavors from different cultures. Specifically, flavors from France, Africa, and Native Americans.

One way these two types of cooking reflect this similar fusion of flavors is in dishes like gumbo and jambalaya. However, while the basic concept of these two dishes is similar, they each have their own unique ways of preparing both.

The difference in preparing these two traditional dishes in both Cajun and Creole cooking reflects the historical differences between these two groups of people and their cuisine. The differences in their cultural history and place in society are greatly reflected in the different ingredients they use for cooking.

Differences between Cajun and Creole Cuisine

The biggest difference between Cajun and Creole Cuisine is seen in the ingredients used. The ingredients used by each group of people reflect what they both had access to when they originally settled in Louisiana.

Cajun people were considered country-dwellers. They lived along the bayou and were poor. Therefore, early on they did not have access to refrigeration. This meant that they focused on cooking with ingredients that did not need refrigeration; moreover, ingredients that had a long shelf life.

Creole people were city-dwellers. They were wealthy European families and had easy access to electricity and refrigeration. Therefore, they were not limited to the types of ingredients they could use.

The most common place this difference is seen in the fat base for Cajun and Creole cooking. Cajun cuisine uses lard or oil as the base for beginning most of its recipes. However, Creole cuisine is primarily focused on using butter as the base for cooking.

Cajun Gumbo vs Creole Gumbo

The difference between using lard/oil and butter is significant because it provides the base flavor and texture for many dishes. Specifically, the roux that is used to begin cooking gumbo or jambalaya.

Remember, both Cajun and Creole cuisine includes gumbo and jambalaya. How each one is made though is what shows their different histories. Beginning with the roux.

Cajun recipes use oil or lard and flour to create a roux. This provides a neutral base to build the rest of the dish around, without adding any additional flavor.

Creole recipes use butter and flour to make a roux. This differs from the Cajun roux because the butter imparts a rich and savory flavor to the sauce being prepared.

Moreover, while both types of cuisines use a roux in many of their dishes – Cajun cuisine is traditionally the only one to use it in gumbo. Cajun gumbo starts with a roux that is turned into a rich and savory stew with the addition of broth.

On the other hand, Creole gumbo has a tomato base. Therefore, rather than a thick stew, it has a soup-like consistency.  

Cajun Seasoning vs Creole Seasoning

Cajun and Creole cuisines share many of the same seasonings. However, Creole cuisine includes more herbs while Cajun cuisine includes more spices.

Common Cajun Seasonings

  • Ground black pepper
  • White pepper
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Onion powder
  • Garlic powder
  • Paprika

Common Creole Seasoning

  • Black pepper
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Cayenne Pepper (in small amounts)
  • Thyme
  • Basil
  • Oregano
  • Parsley
  • Bay Leaves
  • Rosemary

Typically, Cajun food is spicier than Creole. Unfortunately, over the last few decades, there has been a rise in thinking that Cajun food just means overly spicy food though.

This is not true. Simply adding a ton of spicy seasoning does not make a good Cajun.

At the root of both Cajun and Creole cooking is their history. It is how they are prepared and the intention behind honoring their cultural history that makes these two cuisines independent and unique, while still sharing some similarities.

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5 from 11 reviews

Cajun vs Creole: Gumbo Soup Recipe

The similarities between Cajun vs Creole cooking are there, but you may be surprised at how many differences there are! The terms are often used interchangeably but Cajun and Creole cooking are not the same things. Read on to learn about the cultural history of Cajun vs Creole cooking, the similarities, and the differences!
Author | Angela Latimer
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 674kcal
Prep 20 minutes minutes
Cooking 1 hour hour
Total Time 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
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Ingredients
 

For The Roux

  • ⅔ cup vegetable oil (or canola oil)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour

For The Gumbo

  • 12 oz andouille sausage (sliced, or kielbasa)
  • 1 lb chicken tenderloins (chopped- *see note)
  • 2 cups shrimp (peeled and deveined)
  • 1 bunch celery (diced leaves and all)
  • 1 green bell pepper (diced)
  • 1 large yellow onion (diced)
  • 1 ½ teaspoon garlic (minced)
  • 1 bunch green onion (finely chopped)
  • 1 bunch fresh parsley leaves (finely chopped)
  • 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning (up to 2 tablespoons)
  • 6 cups chicken broth

(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions
 

Make The Roux

  • In a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-low heat, combine the oil and flour. Stir constantly to prevent burning. Continue this for 30-45 minutes or until your roux looks like Hershey's chocolate syrup.
  • Once you remove the roux from heat, continue to whisk it constantly until the pan cools as it can still burn if left undisturbed.

Gumbo Soup

  • Meanwhile, in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, brown the andouille sausage on each side (about 2-3 minutes per side). Remove it from the pot and set aside.
  • Add the chicken tenderloin pieces to the same pot and fry them in the fat remaining from the sausage until cooked through. Once the chicken is done, set it aside and add the shrimp to the pot. Sear each side and remove it once the shrimp is pink and cooked (*See note).
  • Add your veggies (celery, bell pepper, onion, garlic, green onions, and parsley) to the pot with the sausage/chicken/shrimp juices and saute until they just begin to soften, then add the Cajun seasoning and stir.
  • Next, add your prepared roux to the veggies in the pot and stir to combine. Add the chicken broth, stir or whisk again, and bring your gumbo to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat and let your gumbo simmer for 45 minutes. Add more broth (after simmering) if desired to reach your preferred soup consistency.
  • Return the sausage, chicken, and shrimp to the pot and stir to warm through. Serve over warm rice.

Notes

  • If time is of importance, rotisserie chicken, canned chicken, and/or pre-cooked shrimp can be used. Instant Pot shredded chicken would be ideal as well.
  • There are many types of sausage that will work wonderfully in this recipe, but it can also be omitted if you're out or simply not a fan! Use smoked sausage, or kielbasa, or turkey sausage if desired.
  • Never turn your back on the roux. It is extra special important for the right flavor, consistency, and quality of gumbo. It takes patience and muscle because you'll be stirring consistently for 30-40 minutes, but the results are worth it in the end!
  • Store the gumbo soup and rice in separate airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Gumbo can be cooled then frozen in a freezer bag for up to 6 months while prepared rice can be frozen separately for up to 1 month.
  • Reheat leftover gumbo on the stovetop over medium-high heat until piping hot. Rice can be reheated in the microwave.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 674kcal (34%) | Carbohydrates: 25g (8%) | Protein: 47g (94%) | Fat: 43g (66%) | Saturated Fat: 9g (56%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 17g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 229mg (76%) | Sodium: 1533mg (67%) | Potassium: 960mg (27%) | Fiber: 2g (8%) | Sugar: 5g (6%) | Vitamin A: 1569IU (31%) | Vitamin C: 34mg (41%) | Calcium: 109mg (11%) | Iron: 4mg (22%)
Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
Course Main Course
Cuisine Creole

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    5 from 11 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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  1. Cheryl says

    December 10, 2022 at 6:10 am

    I’m a 75 year old Louisianan and learn to make gumbo from my grandmother and believe your roux assessment for gumbo is mixed. I’ve never seen creole (New Orleans) gumbo with a tomato base. Our file’ or basic gumbo has NO tomatoes. Okra gumbo MAY include tomatoes but more likely they would in smothered okra and shrimp. I think, from my experience, Cajuns use more tomatoes in their recipes as a base. Just saying.

    Reply
    • Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says

      December 10, 2022 at 11:09 am

      Thank you for sharing your experience! This is one of those things that no one seems able to agree upon so it's always good to get personal input.

      Reply
  2. K F Madden says

    November 29, 2022 at 7:33 pm

    I am as Cajun as anynyou could find
    .with ancestors traced to prior to their immigrayion to Nova Scotia. Acadiens were in Nova Scotia for many years before being displaced by the English. As for Cajun vs Creole gumbo, cajuns DO use okra both as a gumbo ingredient and as a side dish. (We dont however use tomatoes) The Creole gumbo is more herbaceous.. using bay leaves. thyme, sassafras/file'...and often uses both chicken and seafood, while the cajun is highly seasoned but not as much reliant on herbs.

    Reply
  3. Jo Hatfield says

    November 09, 2022 at 4:59 pm

    Cajun gumbo has less vegetation with a more European/French influence. Creole gumbo includes more vegetation including tomatoes and okra which comes from its African influence. My gumbo is always Creole and everyone insists that I’m the one to cook it for gatherings! Makes me happy, but authentic gumbo is very time consuming!

    Reply

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Hi there, I'm Angela

I am an avid vintage cookbook collector, cook, baker, and total foodie. I love sharing new, fun, creative recipes and great classic recipes, just like my Grandma used to make! Every recipe on BIWL is tested to ensure that cooks of any experience level can succeed.

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