Creole Chicken

Name: Creole Chicken
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 pound chicken thighs (cut in 1-2" pieces); 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1 small onion (diced); 1 green pepper (diced); 1 celery stalk (sliced); 1 bay leaf; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1-2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning (adjust to taste); 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 1 tablespoon Louisiana hot sauce; 1-15 ounce can diced tomatoes; 1-6 ounce can tomato paste; 1 1/2 cups chicken stock; Diced green onions (for serving); Steamed white rice (for serving)

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This creole chicken might be your next favorite quick and easy (and delicious) weeknight meal, taking less than 30 minutes to make!!

Juicy chunks of chicken thighs simmered in a seasoned, spicy tomato sauce and served over steamed rice, this recipe is not only quick and easy but so so so incredibly delicious!

a red colored stew in a bowl with steamed white rice

Talk about easy. Brown some chicken thighs and simmer them in a Cajun seasoned tomato based sauce for 20 minutes. Easy peasy.

Cajun inspired meals are some of our favorite around here too...favorites like this crawfish gumbo, chicken jambalaya, seafood rice, crawfish pie and instant pot jambalaya also help to warm our bodies and souls.

I mean, who doesn't love chicken thighs simmered in a sauce over rice? These are some of our other favorites:

chicken covered in a red sauce with green onions

Why This Recipe Works

We use chicken thighs to ensure the chicken stays juicy and tender.
There is minimal prep involved, so it takes less than 30 minutes to make.
The ingredients are easy to find, many of them in your pantry already!
It has the perfect amount of spice from the hot sauce and Cajun seasoning, and a nice richness from the butter and chicken thighs.

Ingredients

Chicken thighs work the best in this recipe as they will stay tender and juicy after being simmered in the sauce. You can substitute chicken thighs, but the result may be dried chicken.

Like always, I prefer my homemade chicken bone broth and homemade Cajun seasoning, but feel free to use store bought.

I prefer to use Louisiana brand hot sauce as it's my favorite, but feel free to use any Louisiana style hot sauce.

For additional spice, you can add some cayenne pepper if you like extra spicy.

Step By Step Instructions

Heat a high sided skillet over medium heat and add the butter.

Add the chicken and brown on each side (1-2 minutes per side). Remove and set aside.

Add the onions, green pepper and celery to the skillet and cook until softened, about 2 minutes.

onions and green peppers being sauteed in a skillet

Add the pepper, bay leaf, Cajun seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce and stir together.

Stir in the diced tomatoes and tomato paste.

Add the stock and chicken and bring to a simmer for 15-20 minutes.

tomato sauce being simmered in a skillet

Serve over steamed white rice garnished with green onions.

chicken in a orange sauce in a bowl with steamed rice

Expert Tips

Add ¼ to ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper if you want some extra heat. You can also add in diced serrano or habanero peppers for extreme heat.
Adjust the amounts of Cajun seasoning to taste - you may need to add more if using unsalted chicken stock.
For the best steamed white rice, try this instant pot jasmine rice recipe (you can just substitute long grain white rice for the jasmine)
You can use either Cajun or Creole seasoning here - they are very similar.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cajun Chicken Made of?

Cajun chicken is typically made with an array of Cajun spices (try this Cajun seasoning) cooked in a roux and/or sauce made with butter, onions, green peppers and celery.

Is Cajun or Creole Spicy?

Creole food tends to be more tomato based and is less spicy than Cajun food. However, they have many similar flavor profiles.