• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
The Gracious Wife logo
  • Recipes
  • Family
    • Love & Marriage
    • Parenting
  • House & Home
    • Kitchen and Cooking Tips
    • Cleaning & Organization
    • Budget
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Shrimp Etouffee

Jul 29, 2023 · Leave a Comment

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Yummly
  • Mix
Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
Collage with an overhead closeup of shrimp etouffee served next to rice and topped with fresh parsley on top, a side view of the same shrimp etouffee on bottom, and the words "Shrimp etouffee" in the center.

Classic Louisiana Shrimp Etouffee features succulent shrimp in a rich, buttery dark roux seasoned with onion, celery, and bell pepper, and served over fluffy white rice. It's easy to make at home and about as authentic as it can get outside of the Big Easy itself.

Close up of Shrimp etouffee served with white rice in the center in the shape of a half-sphere, topped with fresh chopped parsley.

Shrimp Etouffee

This classic Louisiana Shrimp etouffee is the best you will ever make at home. It features all of the best hallmarks of Louisiana cooking including seafood, the Holy Trinity, and the French-based dark roux.

In shrimp etouffee, shrimp is simmered in a rich, buttery, spicy sauce, and then served over fluffy white rice.

What is Shrimp Etouffee?

Etouffee means "smothered" or "suffocated." Shrimp etouffee is shrimp smothered in a rich, dark roux sauce, seasoned with the "holy trinity" (onion, celery, and bell pepper), and served over rice. It is typically considered a Cajun cuisine.

What is the Difference Between Shrimp Etouffee and Shrimp Creole?

The biggest difference between these two is that shrimp etouffee is cajun cuisine and shrimp creole is creole cuisine. They have the same general idea: shrimp in a delectable rich sauce or broth. But they differ in technique and ingredients just enough to make them different, just like most traditional cajun and creole foods.

One of the simplest differences between the two cuisine types is that Creole food typically uses tomatoes and tomato-based sauces while traditional Cajun food does not (however, the differences and history run much deeper and are much more nuanced).

Cajun shrimp etouffee uses a thick, browned roux as a sauce, while shrimp creole has a thinner (but still delicious) tomato-based sauce.

Overhead view of Shrimp etouffee served with white rice in the center in the shape of a half-sphere, topped with fresh chopped parsley sitting next to a fork and a fresh bunch of parsley.

What's the Difference Between Etouffee and Gumbo?

Gumbo is a rich stew with a tomato-based broth, often containing smoked meats, like andouille sausage or ham, and seafood. It is a Creole dish that is served over rice.

Etouffee isn't typically considered a stew, but instead It is some kind of meat or seafood, in this recipe shrimp, smothered in a rich, dark roux-based sauce, which is then also served with white rice.

Shrimp Etouffee Variations

  • Protein: Etouffee can be made with basically any protein. So you can add more to this current recipe or switch it completely. Other options include crab, crawfish, chicken, or sausage.
  • Tomatoes: There is some debate over the addition of tomatoes in etouffee (I believe it's because of the deep, rich color of the sauce, which adds confusion, but is actually made without tomatoes.) But you are welcome to add some if you'd like to give it a try. Drain a can of diced tomatoes (15 ounces), and add right after you've added the stock.
  • Spice: Adjust the spice to your liking! I typically make mild food at home because we have 5 kids (who have told me that ketchup is too spicy before ๐Ÿ˜’). However, when my husband and I make it for ourselves or order it at our favorite Cajun restaurant, it is hot, hot, HOT! Add Louisiana style hot sauce until it reaches your desired heat level.
  • Broth: Seafood broth is sometimes hard to find, depending on your location. You can make your own by boiling shrimp shells with onion, celery, and garlic for about 45 minutes to an hour. Or you can just substitute chicken or vegetable broth if you're in a time crunch.

How to Serve Shrimp Etouffee

Shrimp etouffee is served with white rice. This will help cut some of the richness of the buttery sauce and also round out the dish with some filling carbs.

It also pairs nicely with hush puppies and a fresh green salad.

More Southern Recipes You'll Love

  • Jambalaya Pasta - The best jambalaya you'll ever have with pasta instead of rice for a fun twist.
  • Southern Pan-Fried Catfish - easy southern recipe for cornmeal coated catfish pan-fried to golden perfection.
  • Air Fryer Hush Puppies - classic southern hush puppies with all of the flavor and none of the mess of frying oil.
  • Salmon Croquettes - simple and packed full of salmon flavor, top with remoulade for a truly delicious bite.
  • Baked Catfish Nuggets - super easy to make with no frying oil, and it still comes out just as good as the fried version with a crispy cornmeal coating.

Shrimp Etouffee Video

Shrimp etouffee served with white rice in the center in the shape of a half-sphere, topped with fresh chopped parsley.

Shrimp Etouffee

Classic Louisiana Shrimp Etouffee features succulent shrimp in a rich, buttery dark roux seasoned with onion, celery, and bell pepper, and served over fluffy white rice. It's easy to make at home and about as authentic as it can get outside of the Big Easy itself.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Cajun, Creole
Keyword: Shrimp Etouffee
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 506kcal
Author: Michelle

Ingredients

  • 12 tablespoons butter
  • 1ยฝ cups chopped onion
  • 1ยฝ cups chopped green bell pepper
  • 1ยฝ cups chopped celery
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • ยฝ cup flour
  • 3 cups seafood stock
  • ยฝ teaspoon salt
  • Juice from ยฝ lemon
  • 1 tablespoon Cajun or Creole seasoning (we use Tony Chachere's)
  • ยผ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper or to taste
  • 2 pounds raw shrimp peeled and deveined with tail removed
  • ยผ cup freshly chopped parsley
  • 4 green onions thinly sliced
  • Tabasco sauce to taste
  • 3 cups cooked white rice for serving
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

  • In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter.
  • Add onion, pepper, and celery. Cook until onion is tender and translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
  • Add garlic. Continue sauteeing until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Stir in flour and salt, and allow to brown slightly while stirring constantly, for about 5-7 minutes.
  • Slowly pour in stock, about ยผ cup at a time while stirring constantly to prevent lumps.
  • Add lemon juice, Creole seasoning, paprika, and cayenne, and stir to combine.
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and allow to simmer until for about 15-20 minutes.
  • Add shrimp and parsley and stir to combine. Cook until shrimp are cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
  • Add Tabasco to taste, if desired.
  • Serve warm over rice topped with green onions.

Notes

  • Storage: Shrimp etouffee is best enjoyed fresh, so I donโ€™t recommend making it ahead of time. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to four days.ย 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving with ยฝ cup cooked rice | Calories: 506kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 251mg | Sodium: 1645mg | Potassium: 578mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1907IU | Vitamin C: 42mg | Calcium: 172mg | Iron: 2mg
Did you make this recipe?I love seeing your creations. Snap a quick photo and mention @TheGraciousWife or tag #thegraciouswife on Instagram! Leave a STAR rating below!

Never Miss a Thing!

Join our newsletter to get new recipes, tips, tricks, and tutorials every week!

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Powered by ConvertKit

More Seafood

  • Overhead view of Spanish paella topped with mussels, shrimp, peas, and lemon wedges in a cast iron skillet next to a fresh bunch of parsley, linen napkin, and lemon slices.
    Spanish Seafood Paella
  • A silicone spoon holding a big scoop of cheesy tuna tetrazzini topped with freshly chopped parsley.
    Tuna Tetrazzini
  • Lemon Pepper Baked Catfish on a black plate with a lemon wedge and creamy coleslaw.
    Lemon Pepper Baked Catfish
  • A bowl of pastalaya with shrimp, sausage, and chicken topped with fresh chopped parsley next to a fork, linen napkin, and a bunch of parsley.
    Pastalaya (Creole Jambalaya Pasta)
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Yummly
  • Mix

Dinner, Recipes, Seafood Shrimp Etouffee Recipe

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Picture of Michelle Medlin, The Gracious Wife

Hello! I'm Michelle!
I'm a comfort food lover and self-taught cook with five amazing kids and a firefighter husband, surviving mostly on coffee. I love to create easy and delicious family recipes, and share creative family tips I've learned along the way.
Welcome to The Gracious Wife!
MORE ABOUT ME>>

Happy Fall!

Crockpot chicken noodle soup with wide egg noodles and fresh parsley with a spoon in it taking a bite out.

Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

Sweet potato pecan cupcake on parchment paper and a rustic wood background topped with a caramel drizzle and chopped pecans

Sweet Potato Pecan Cupcakes

Slice of apple pie on a small plate topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Green apple and pie in a pie dish are behind.

Best Old Fashioned Apple Pie

Southern pecan pie on a white plate with a fork

Southern Pecan Pie

Thanksgiving side dishes on a wooden table with Fall decorations

70 Thanksgiving Side Dishes Your Guests Will Gobble Up

Stack of four toffee pretzel cookies surrounded by pretzel twists with the baking sheet full of cookies in the background. The top cookie has a bite taken out.

Toffee Pretzel Cookies

More Fall Recipes & Ideas

Happy Halloween

DIY Spider Costume for Kids -ย Make this easy, fun, and creepy DIY Spider Costume for Kids for a creepy crawly frugal do it yourself Halloween costume! So cool. Made from just a few black shirts!

DIY Spider Costume

Skeleton Cupcakes -ย Spooky but fun Skeleton Cupcakes with chocolate skeletons on top of your favorite cupcakes are a perfect easy Halloween treat for kids! These are so cute and easy! My kids will love them!

Skeleton Cupcakes

Black Cat Cupcakes Tutorial -ย Black Cat Cupcakes make a fun and easy non-spooky Halloween treat for kids! They're easy enough that anyone can make them! Fun project for kids to help with! Fun, quick and easy Halloween treats for kids!ย 

Black Cat Cupcakes

Jumbo Spiderweb Cookies Recipe for Halloween -ย Jumbo Spiderweb Cookies are a fun, quick, and easy Halloween treat for kids. ย They're big enough to share and made with the all-time BEST chocolate chip cookies recipe. How fun! My kids will love these! Definitely making for their Halloween party treat!

Jumbo Spiderweb Cookies

9 Uses for Mini Pumpkins -ย Pumpkins are everybody's favorite! They just scream Fall! Check out these 9 Uses for Mini Pumpkins to squeeze even more pumpkin into your life while the season lasts! Love decorating for Fall and mini pumpkins are so fun! Love these ideas

9 Uses for Mini Pumpkins

Sparkle Pumpkin Cupcakes Tutorial -ย Make these fun, easy, and festive Sparkle Pumpkin Cupcakes in just 4 simple steps for adorable Fall and Halloween treats! What a great idea for Halloween food. My kiddos will love these! Make them as Pumpkin spice too!

Sparkle Pumpkin Cupcakes

DIY Halloween Paper Plate Candy Corn Banner Tutorial -ย This cute and festive DIY Paper Plate Candy Corn Banner makes an adorable and cheap DIY Halloween decoration that's perfect for your home or even a Halloween party decoration. ย So easy to make that even the kids could help!

Paper Plate Candy Corn Banner

36 delicious and fun Candy Corn Dessert Recipes that are made with candy corn or look like candy corn. A fun way to celebrate Fall and Halloween! Candy corn is a perfect Halloween food. These recipes would be such great ideas for kids Halloween party!

36 Candy Corn Dessert Recipes

Peanut Butter Candy Corn Cookies take the rich creaminess of peanut butter and combine it with the vanilla and honey sweetness of classic candy corn to make a perfect and delicious Fall and Halloween treat for kids, party, and everyone!

Peanut Butter Candy Corn Cookies

More Halloween Recipes and Ideas

Reader Favorites on The Gracious Wife

A slice of no bake s'mores cheesecake topped with mini marshmallows and graham cracker crumbs on a small plate.

No Bake S'mores Cheesecake

Slice of crockpot breakfast casserole on a white plate with stainless steel crock pot in the background.

Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

A corner slice of chicken pot pie with golden crust on a small plate with a fork with a bite on it, on a rustic wood background with a striped linen

The BEST Chicken Pot Pie

Close up picture of a Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes with a bite taken out on a marble background.

Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes

Homemade Mint White Hot Chocolate is a fast and easy homemade hot chocolate recipe made with white chocolate and mint!ย creamy, white chocolate with a burst of peppermint flavor to create a perfect decadent Christmas, winter, St. Patrick's Day, or holiday treat. Yum! Definitely making this ASAP!

Mint White Hot Chocolate

What's Trending Now:

  • Biscuits stacked on a black matte plate on a white rustic wood background Southern Buttermilk Biscuits
  • A corner slice of chicken pot pie with golden crust on a small plate with a fork with a bite on it, on a rustic wood background with a striped linen The BEST Chicken Pot Pie
  • Chicken Gnocchi Soup in a white bowl with a rustic wood background and breadsticks in a white and blue striped linen behind it. Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup
  • Slice of crockpot breakfast casserole on a white plate with stainless steel crock pot in the background. Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
  • Unbaked pie crust fluted in a white dish on a rustic wood background with flour on it Easy Flaky Pie Crust

Footer

  • About The Gracious Wife
  • Contact Us
  • Copyright Notice
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure

You can find me here too!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Disclosure

The Gracious Wife is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. All our thoughts and opinions are our own and we are not paid for or mandated to provide a positive review.

2022ยฉ The Medlin Group
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2023 The Gracious Wife ยท

52 shares
52 shares