What's In Cajun Spice Mix And How Does It Differ From Creole?

Spice mixes inspired by global cuisines allow you to impart all kinds of international flavors into your dishes, transporting you to various places from around the world. But while the ingredients in Italian seasoning are very distinct from something like za'atar seasoning, Cajun spice mix can sometimes get confused with its similar Creole cousin. However, the two are actually quite different in some ways.

Firstly, Cajun spice mix relies heavily on ground chili peppers to bring the heat, while Creole seasoning includes more dried herbs, thanks to influence from some European cuisines, like those of France and Italy. While both seasonings originated and are mainly found in the state of Louisiana, Creole spice is typically used in New Orleans, while Cajun culture and cooking — which is descended from Creole — is most heavily present in the rural south of the state. Luckily, both blends can be bought in many grocery stores, or you can make it yourself with spices you already have on hand.

The differences here can be a little confusing, especially since both spice blends can be used in the same dishes, like gumbo (spiced roux-based stews that may contain meat, seafood, and veggies) and jambalaya (a paella-like dish made with rice). In general, though, you'll find that Cajun spice packs more heat than Creole seasoning. If you want to go nuts, you can even use both in one dish to get the best of two worlds.

Cajun cuisine is a beautiful blend of influences, crafted in Louisiana by a variety of residents from different countries, including West African, French, Caribbean, and Native American peoples. Cajun spice mix was created to easily impart the cuisine's signature flavors into food, giving home cooks a quick way to season poultry, meat, fish, and various sides like roasted potatoes and Cajun-style corn chowder.

Various ground peppers give Cajun seasoning it a mildly hot flavor, with earthy notes and sometimes a smokey undertone. You can generally find black pepper, white pepper, cayenne pepper, chili powder or paprika, and garlic or onion powder included in this mix. If you want to add a touch of smokiness, you can also add smoked paprika. Other versions of the spice may include some additional flavors, like cumin or mustard power, to impart even more assertiveness and depth. You put this spice mix to use in tons of Cajun dishes, including hush puppies with a seasoned dipping sauce and po'boys (which require a specific bread to catch all the saucy goodness).

Creole cuisine is a mash-up of cooking methods from French, West African, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish food cultures, and Creole seasoning captures this in a shaker. While this blend includes black pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika, and garlic powder — like Cajun seasoning — you'll also typically find thyme, oregano, onion powder, and basil included in the mix. Some blends include white pepper, rosemary, bay leaves, and parsley as well. The mix ends up being more earthy and herbal and less spicy. Creole seasoning can be found in tons of New Orleans dishes, including chicken and sausage gumbo and shrimp étouffée (a dish of seafood in a thick gravy served over rice).

While these seasoning blends do differ, some say that they can be used interchangeably in a 1:1 ratio, since they share many of the same ingredients. The main difference is the spice level, so if you're using Creole seasoning in place of Cajun, you may want to add a little more heat if you prefer — an additional ⅛ teaspoon of cayenne pepper should suffice. Additionally, you don't have to only use these spices in traditional dishes. If you want to add a little extra flavor to your roast chicken, have at it! Both seasonings can also be used to elevate french fries, give a boost to roasted veggies, or as an easy way to add flavor to your burgers.