Easy Chicken Creole Recipe

When I was a child my family lived in Louisiana for a year and a half.  I have the greatest memories of my time in Louisiana the people, hikes, big foot stories, berry picking, armadillos, and of course the food.  I have always loved Cajun food.  My only problem is that I’m not a huge seafood person.  See the fix I’m in?  I want to love seafood.  I really do!  One day.  One day.  In the mean time, however, I like to substitute chicken or other meat for seafood in some of my favorite Cajun meals.  Like this yummy Chicken Creole recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken breast trimmed and cut into bite sized pieces
• 1 small to medium onion, chopped
• 1/2 medium bell pepper, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, pressed
• 3 Tablespoons olive oil
• 3 Tablespoons flour
• 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 Teaspoon Creole Seasoning
• 1/2 Teaspoon salt
• 1/4 Teaspoon pepper
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 cups hot cooked rice

There’s something about chopping up all the fresh veggies that just makes me feel very…homemakerish.  🙂 

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet.  

Saute onions, peppers, garlic, and celery over medium high heat until they are tender. 

Add the flour and stir until smooth and lightly brown. 

Next add the tomatoes, chicken broth, and seasonings.  Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Add the chicken and cook for an additional 15 minutes on low until chicken is done. 

Oh the spicy deliciousness!  Serve over hot cooked rice. 

While I love Cajun food, it’s Mexican that I cook most.  I wondered how this would go over with my family.  It was a hit!  The kids weren’t sure they were going to like it when they saw me cooking the peppers and onions, but they liked it in spite of themselves.  Mmm lots of home cooked goodness. 

Now I’m ready for a movie and some Cajun Boiled Peanuts!