French Canadian Crétons is a traditional French Canadian breakfast meat spread, also known as Quebec pâté. Although the appearance of the spread may not look appealing, the taste is something else. This recipe for crétons is a very easy recipe to make and makes enough for a small crowd or for freezing for later use.
Updated in June 2025 with new information.
All it took was a trip back to Quebec City to remind us of this tasty French Canadian dish. When we returned home from vacation, it was one of the first things we made.
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What are Crétons?
If you grew up anywhere other than Quebec or the Ottawa area, you may not know what this dish is. Although it is starting to gain popularity in other regions.
Creton dates back years, to when early French settlers came to Canada in the 17th century. The dish was created because of the simplicity of the recipe and its affordability. It was a dish that could be served through the cold winter months in Canada.
The recipe varies from family to family and many recipes have been passed down from generation to generation. Some ingredients may have changed over the years to accommodate ingredient availability or dietary needs.
But the recipes are all similar when it comes to the main ingredients.
What Ingredients Are in French Canadian Crétons?
To make this recipe you will need:
- Lean Ground pork.
- Lard.
- Yellow onion.
- Garlic.
- Cinnamon.
- Ground cloves.
- All-spice.
- Half and Half cream.
- Milk.
- Breadcrumbs.
- Salt.
- Pepper.
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Can This Dish Be Made With Other Meat?
The main ingredient is lean ground pork. This is the only meat we have ever used for this recipe.
We have heard of recipes using ground chicken or turkey, offering a lighter dish. But we have not tried these variations.
Can Shortening or Butter Be Used In Place Of Lard?
Cooking the pork in lard gives this dish more flavour and the lard helps to bind all the ingredients together to get the pâté-like texture.
If you want to replace the lard in this recipe, we recommend using shortening not butter. Shortening is closer to lard and will keep a similar consistency. Butter will harden when in the fridge and may cause the pâté to separate.
What Does Cretons Taste Like?
Crétons are a rich, savoury meat dish that combines pork with spices and milk. It has a thick, creamy texture with very small pieces of pork mixed into the spread.
Cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg are the spices that give crétons their flavour along with onions and garlic. This meat spread has a unique savoury flavour that is very popular in the province of Quebec.
Making French Canadian Cretons
It is fairly simple to make crétons. It takes one pan or pot to make this recipe. I like to use an enameled cast iron pot to make these because it distributes the heat evenly for better cooking.
The recipe does take a little time to prepare and cook, but the time is worth it. Start to finish takes about 90 minutes. It then takes a few hours to cool the crétons before serving. Waiting is the hardest part of this recipe.
This is a recipe I like to double and have on hand in the freezer.
How to Serve French Canadian Crétons
Typically crétons are served cold with breakfast as a side dish with eggs and bacon or sausage and toast. Try it with Eggs In A Hole.
Some other ideas:
- On crackers. Some like to add a little mustard to crétons and crackers
- On toasted French bread or slices of baguette
- As a pate for a Charcuterie Board
- Spread on a sandwich with deli meat, lettuce, tomato, and pickles.
- Spread it on a bagel, and add a fried egg and a couple of slices of bacon to make a breakfast sandwich.
How To Store Crétons
This dish is best served cold so it should be kept in the fridge until ready to serve. Keep in a closed container for up to three days in the fridge.
Crétons can also be frozen for later. Either in a large container or in smaller containers for single portions. Crétons will last in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
If you make this recipe, leave us a comment below to let us know what you think.
French Canadian Cretons
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp lard
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound lean ground pork
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp all-spice
- ¾ cup 10% cream
- ½ cup milk
- ⅓ cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
Instructions
- Heat lard over medium heat in a heavy bottom pot.
- Add onion and garlic, cook until translucent.
- Add ground pork, and cook until browned, breaking up pork as it cooks, so it resembles crumbs
- Stir in cloves, cinnamon and all-spice.
- Reduce heat to low, add cream, milk, and breadcrumbs, stirring to combine.
- Stir in salt and pepper.
- Simmer over low heat for about an hour, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat once the mixture has thickened and is spreadable.
- Allow to cool to room temperature.
- Store in mason jars or covered containers in the fridge until completely cooled.
- Serve cold.
Notes
This is a taste of home. I miss having cretons for breakfast now that I moved away from Canada. But these are spot on to the ones I grew up on in Quebec. Thank you for this recipe.
I was looking for recipes to support Canadians and came across this one. It was delicious and easy to make. Thank you!