This Cajun Creole Rice is a flavorful, one-pot dish packed with bold spices, tender vegetables, and aromatic jasmine rice. It's the perfect side dish for your blackened mahi-mahi with mango salsa or a great base for classic dishes like jambalaya and gumbo.
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This Cajun Creole Rice Recipe is my go-to for pairing with blackened mahi-mahi and mango salsa—it’s the ultimate comfort food combo! The flavors are reminiscent of classic Cajun rice dishes you’d find at your favorite Southern joints, like Popeyes, but made right at home.
If you're a fan of rice dishes, you should definitely try out other bold varieties like Java Rice, Adobo Rice, Shanghai Fried Rice, or even Kimchi Fried Rice or Sinangag na Dilis for a delicious twist on traditional flavors.
I first fell in love with creole rice after trying it with jambalaya and gumbo, two iconic Louisiana dishes. It’s the ideal rice recipe to have in your back pocket because it pairs well with so many dishes. And let’s face it, I’m always looking for excuses to eat more Cajun rice!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe?
- Packed with bold, savory Cajun spices.
- Super easy to prepare in one pot.
- Versatile – pairs with seafood, chicken, or veggies.
- A perfect base for jambalaya or a side for gumbo.
- Delicious for family dinners or a Southern-inspired meal.
What is Creole Rice?
Creole Rice (pronounced kree-ohl) hails from Louisiana, where Creole and Cajun cooking thrive. This style of cooking blends French, Spanish, and African influences.
The rice is usually cooked with flavorful vegetables, spices, and sometimes meats or seafood. It’s a popular dish in the South, often served with main dishes like jambalaya or gumbo, and is known for its vibrant flavors and colorful ingredients.
🥘Ingredients
- Butter – Adds a rich flavor and helps sauté the veggies.
- Garlic – Aromatic and essential for any Cajun dish.
- Onion – Sweet and savory, it’s the base of the dish.
- Cajun seasoning – The star of the show, adding a spicy kick.
- Tomatoes – Adds a juicy tang and brightness to the rice.
- Red bell peppers – Sweet and crunchy, they add color and texture.
- Jasmine rice – Light and fluffy, the perfect choice for this dish.
- Chicken broth – Adds a depth of flavor to cook the rice.
- Cilantro – For a fresh, vibrant garnish.
See recipe card for quantities.
🔪How To Make Creole Rice
- Rinse the jasmine rice to remove excess starch and achieve fluffy, separate grains.
- Melt that butter in a medium pot. Add the garlic and onion, sauté until softened and fragrant then stir in the Cajun seasoning, diced tomatoes, and red bell peppers. Add the rice and toss it with the vegetables and seasoning to coat.Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid, and let the rice simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked through and all the liquid has been absorbed.
- Take the pot off the heat and let it sit, covered, for an additional 5 minutes. This allows the rice to steam and fluff up beautifully. Then, fluff the rice gently with a fork and taste for seasoning. Add more salt and pepper if needed
- Just before serving, stir in a generous sprinkle of fresh cilantro. The vibrant green color and light, peppery taste are the perfect finishing touch to this flavorful Creole rice!
Variation
- Dirty Rice – Add cooked ground beef or chicken liver for a traditional dirty rice twist.
- Tomato-Free – Skip the tomatoes and add a little more broth for a less tangy flavor.
- Spicy Creole – Add cayenne pepper or hot sauce to give the dish an extra kick of heat.
- Herby Twist – Add thyme and parsley for a fresh herbal aroma.
- Lemon Zest – Add some lemon zest for a burst of citrus freshness.
What to Serve with This?
- Blackened Mahi-Mahi or Blackened Salmon – The rich, spicy flavors of this fish pair perfectly with the rice.
- Fried Chicken – Serve this Creole rice alongside crispy fried chicken for a classic Southern combo.
- Shrimp Étouffée – The rice will soak up all the savory, saucy goodness of a shrimp étouffée.
- Grilled Veggies – Light, smoky grilled vegetables are a great healthy pairing for the rich rice.
- Cajun Gumbo – Serve this rice with gumbo for the ultimate Southern meal experience.
How to Store Leftovers
Store leftover Cajun Creole Rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of broth to keep it moist.
Expert Tips
- Use jasmine rice for a light, fluffy texture.
- Sauté the veggies thoroughly to develop a rich, deep flavor.
- Let the rice steam in the pot with the lid on for perfect doneness.
Recipe FAQs
Typically, long-grain rice like jasmine or basmati is used in Creole cooking.
Dirty rice is a Cajun dish, traditionally made with liver, ground meat, and spices.
Dirty rice includes meat or liver, while Cajun rice focuses more on spices and vegetables.
Use Creole seasoning to flavor meats, seafood, vegetables, and rice dishes. It adds a spicy, savory kick.
🍚Other Rice Recipe
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
📋 Recipe Card
Creole Rice
Equipment
- 1 medium pot
Ingredients
- 2 cups rice
- 4 cups water/ chicken broth
- 2 tablespoon butter
- ½ cup roma tomatoes diced
- 1 tablespoon garlic
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 2 teaspoon cajun seasoning
- ½ cup red bell pepper chopped
- salt and pepper
- cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- First things first, we gotta rinse that jasmine rice! Give it a good swish in a strainer under cold running water until the water runs clear. This removes excess starch for fluffy, separate grains of rice.
- In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Add the garlic and onion, sauté until softened and fragrant.
- Stir in the Cajun seasoning, diced tomatoes, and red bell peppers.
- Add the rice and toss it with the vegetables and seasoning to coat.
- Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 18-20 minutes until the rice is cooked.
- Fluff the rice with a fork and garnish with cilantro before serving.
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Notes
- Use jasmine rice for a light, fluffy texture.
- Sauté the veggies thoroughly to develop a rich, deep flavor.
- Let the rice steam in the pot with the lid on for perfect doneness.
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