Creole Chitterlings (Chitlins)

4.6
(51)

There are some recipes for chitlins that are called Southern; however, the Creole and Cajun culture cooks chitterlings a bit differently than the rest of the South. I believe this simple recipe does the heritage justice. Serve with your favorite side dishes and store any leftovers in the refrigerator. Like so many other great soul food dishes, chitlins taste even better after the flavor has soaked in for a few hours.

A bowl of Creole chitterlings with a spoon
13
13
13
13
Prep Time:
30 mins
Cook Time:
3 hrs 30 mins
Total Time:
4 hrs
Servings:
20
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 20 servings

  • 10 pounds fresh chitterlings (or frozen chitterlings, thawed)

  • 2 large onions, peeled

  • 1 large potato, peeled

  • 3 stalks celery, with leaves

  • 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped

  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar

  • 3 cloves garlic

  • 2 tablespoons salt

  • 1 large bay leaf

  • 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning to taste

  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste

Directions

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients to make Creole chitterlings

    AllRecipes / Qi Ai

  2. Clean chitterlings by removing all specks and any pieces of fat with specks on them. Rinse in several changes of salted water.

    Two hands cleaning chitterlings, with a bowl of cleaned chitterlings

    AllRecipes / Qi Ai

  3. Place cleaned chitterlings into a large pot and fill with enough water to cover; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Drain, rinse, and return to the pot. Fill again with enough water to cover.

    A large pot of chitterlings in simmering water

    AllRecipes / Qi Ai

  4. Add whole onions, potato, and celery stalks, plus chopped bell pepper, vinegar, garlic, salt, bay leaf, Creole seasoning, and red pepper flakes to the pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then cover and simmer over medium heat for 3 to 4 hours; chitterlings should appear clear to white in color.

    A large pot of simmered chitterlings, celery, onion, and seasonings

    AllRecipes / Qi Ai

  5. Use a slotted spoon to transfer chitterlings to a cutting board. Cut into 1-inch pieces. Discard onions, potato, celery, and bay leaf. Pour out most of the cooking liquid, then return chitterlings to the pot.

    A large pot of cut up chitterlings in seasoned broth

    AllRecipes / Qi Ai

  6. Cook over medium heat until chitterlings are heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.

    A large pot of cooked Creole chitterlings being stirred with a wooden spoon

    AllRecipes / Qi Ai

Editor's Note:

Nutrition data for this recipe includes cooking liquid, salt, and vegetables. The actual amount consumed will vary.

115 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

356 Calories
30g Fat
6g Carbs
15g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 20
Calories 356
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 30g 39%
Saturated Fat 14g 69%
Cholesterol 279mg 93%
Sodium 658mg 29%
Total Carbohydrate 6g 2%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Protein 15g 29%
Vitamin C 12mg 13%
Calcium 40mg 3%
Iron 2mg 12%
Potassium 173mg 4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.