Holidays & Entertaining Mardi Gras 31 Mardi Gras Recipes to Celebrate Carnival with Cajun Flavor We're sharing our favorite Mardi Gras recipes including king cake, jambalaya, red beans and rice plus so much more. By Katlyn Moncada Katlyn Moncada Katlyn Moncada is the associate food editor at BHG.com, sharing food news and tutorials on becoming better home cooks. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience in digital media, photography, and video production. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process and Sarah Martens Sarah Martens Sarah Martens is the Senior Editor overseeing food at Better Homes & Gardens digital. She has been with the BHG brand for more than 10 years. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on January 25, 2024 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Alison Miksch Vibrant, cultural, and full of delicious food, there's no place quite like New Orleans. To help you celebrate the Southern Louisiana city's famous Mardi Gras (and Fat Tuesday) wherever you are, we've gathered some of our best Mardi Gras recipes. Traditional New Orleans dishes, such as gumbos, jambalayas, and the famous King Cake, are enjoyed during the season. But we'll also share some twists on classic fare featuring the beloved spicy Cajun flavors. You'll also find delicious recipes to celebrate Mardi Gras inspired by Louisiana restaurants. 31 Mardi Gras Recipes to Celebrate Carnival with Cajun Flavor 01 of 31 Slow Cooker Chicken and Shrimp Jambalaya View Recipe Kritsada Panichgul A New Orleans feast isn't complete without a bowl of steaming hot jambalaya. The traditional dish features meat, rice, veggies, and a blend of Creole spices. For this Mardi Gras recipe, we used shrimp and chicken in a slow cooker version that will have you shouting "Yum!" after every bite. In a hurry? Try our one-pot jambalaya recipe that's ready in 30 minutes. The 7 Best Small Slow Cookers for Entertaining, Meal Prep, and More, According to Testing 02 of 31 New Orleans-Style Muffuletta View Recipe Blaine Moats Piled with Italian meats and cheese, a muffuletta is the ultimate deli sandwich Mardi Gras recipe to serve at your gathering. The homemade olive salad is the staple ingredient that defines this New Orleans classic and sets this sandwich apart. 03 of 31 Shrimp and Sausage Boil View Recipe Alison Miksch Put on a delicious seafood boil to pay tribute to the Cajun South on your Mardi Gras menu. Shrimp, sausage, potatoes, and corn get fantastic flavor thanks to concentrated shrimp boil seasoning. Line the table with butcher paper and simply throw your seafood on the table so everyone can easily grab and eat. (The cleanup is a breeze, too!) Air-Fryer Shrimp "Boil" 04 of 31 French Market Beignets View Recipe Kritsada Panichgul These fried dough pastries are a New Orleans tradition commonly enjoyed with a café au lait (coffee with hot milk). While they may not be quite like Café Du Monde's famous beignets, our homemade dough fries to perfection before getting topped with powdered sugar. They're best eaten fresh, so get 'em while they're hot! 05 of 31 Red Beans and Rice Soup with Cajun Chicken View Recipe Brie Passano This Mardi Gras recipe for red beans and rice gets the soup treatment. The chicken and smoked sausage as the protein become one of the most delicious one-pot meals you'll ever taste. Make it in a Dutch oven and serve it with a side of corn bread for a bit of sweetness to accompany the Cajun spices. How to Make Corn Bread Moist and Fluffy Every Time in 4 Simple Steps 06 of 31 Cajun-Seasoned Vegetarian Gumbo View Recipe Jason Donnelly Gumbo is usually chock-full of seafood and/or meat, but this vegetarian Mardi Gras recipe for the thick, heavily spiced soup is a BH&G favorite. Thanks to tons of black beans, stir-fry veggies, and okra, you won't even notice there's no meat. Bonus: This gumbo's flavor develops beautifully in your slow cooker. 7 Delicious Gumbo Recipes Perfect for Mardi Gras 07 of 31 Red Beans Creole View Recipe Blaine Moats Red beans and rice is a Mardi Gras recipe that's a staple dish any time of the year, but it's especially comforting on cool days. After simmering all day in the slow cooker, the beans and rice combo get a spicy Cajun kick. 17 Tasty Slow Cooker Dump Meals to Make Busy Days Easier 08 of 31 Baked Cajun Seafood and Rice View Recipe Blaine Moats Shrimp, crab, green bell pepper, onion, rice, and classic Cajun flavors combine in one dish for an easy and delicious Mardi Gras recipe. To keep your meal budget-friendly, use refrigerated lump crabmeat. It's delicious and less expensive than fresh crab. Look for it at the meat and seafood counter of your supermarket. 09 of 31 King Cake View Recipe Rachel Marek Decorated in traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, and yellow, king cake is first served on January 6, the Twelfth Night. If you want to follow the Carnival tradition, whoever gets the hidden token (usually a mini plastic baby, but in this case a pecan) in their piece becomes the king or queen for the week and bakes another king cake. This festive ritual continues each week until Mardi Gras, the day before Lent. 10 of 31 Lemon Icebox Pie View Recipe Andy Lyons New Orleans restaurant Clancy's is known for its signature lemon icebox pie. So, if you can't make it to Louisiana, make your own. The tangy citrus-infused custard pie will help cool you down after enjoying all those spicy Mardi Gras recipes. 11 of 31 Cajun Snapper with Red Beans and Rice View Recipe Andy Lyons Cajun seasoning, lemon peel, and parsley spice up fresh snapper for a slightly more sophisticated Mardi Gras recipe. Red beans and long-grain rice complete the dish. The quick-cooking fish and pre-cooked rice allow this dinner to come together in a flash. 12 of 31 White Chocolate Bread Pudding with Hard Sauce View Recipe Blaine Moats Bread pudding served with a smooth, rich whiskey sauce is a New Orleans classic, making it a great Mardi Gras dessert option. Prepare this indulgent bread pudding recipe up to a day in advance to allow the bread to soak up all that delicious vanilla and white chocolate flavor. Our 19 Best Bread Pudding Recipes for Using Up Stale Bread 13 of 31 Chicken Andouille-Stuffed Peppers with Roasted Green Beans View Recipe Jason Donnelly Stuffed peppers get a spicy boost from Cajun seasoning and andouille sausage with this easy one-pan recipe. Voila! Traditional Mardi Gras flavors are served in a nontraditional way. 14 of 31 Pralines View Recipe Blaine Moats Pralines are a rich, sugary confection made from cream, pecans, and butter, popular in the South. The sweet treats are the perfect Mardi Gras recipe to end your celebratory seafood meal. Work quickly to drop the pralines onto parchment or wax paper once the mixture is at the correct temperature because it tends to harden fast. 15 of 31 Cajun Crawfish Étouffée View Recipe Scott Little Étouffée means "smothered" in French, a Cajun and Creole technique of cooking veggies or meat in a small amount of liquid in a covered pan. So this crawfish Étouffée is not just delicious but also a traditional Mardi Gras recipe. 16 of 31 Bananas Foster Crisp View Recipe Carson Downing Back in the 1950s, bananas Foster was first created in New Orleans. Now the dish inspires all sorts of recipes, like this rich crisp. Split the recipe into two ramekins, a crème brulee dish set, or one pie dish to suit your serving preference. The 9 Best Casserole Dishes of 2024, According to Culinary Experts 17 of 31 Cajun Shrimp and Corn Bread Casserole View Recipe Jason Donnelly Shrimp and corn bread combine in this simple yet delicious Mardi Gras recipe you can make in a cast iron skillet. This casserole dish has black-eyed peas that hold the dish together and add an extra fiber boost. 18 of 31 Cajun Chicken Lasagna View Recipe Andy Lyons If a classic lasagna frequents your regular family dinner menu, just wait until you try our Cajun version. This comforting dish is a perfect way to celebrate Mardi Gras while getting creative with those boneless chicken breasts sitting in the fridge. 19 of 31 Chicken and Sausage Gumbo View Recipe Scott Little This jazzy gumbo is a great Mardi Gras recipe for any menu. A deep, coppery-brown roux and slices of okra are the secret to the dish's rich flavors and signature thick texture. 4 Expert Secrets to Making an Authentic Louisiana Dark Roux 20 of 31 Gluten Free Creole-Style Shrimp and Grits View Recipe Jason Donnelly This gluten-free version of shrimp and grits is an excellent Mardi Gras recipe for anyone with allergy restrictions. If you don't have gluten-free flour, try our unbeatable homemade mix. 22 Gluten-Free Family Meals That Taste Great! 21 of 31 Cajun Chicken Salad with Cornbread Croutons View Recipe Carson Downing Yesterday's cornbread gets a new life with this flavor-packed salad recipe that is a satisfying switch from otherwise heavy winter dishes. It also takes only 35 minutes to prepare, so it's a great option for a weeknight dinner or a quick potluck side. 24 Main Dish Salad Recipes Perfect for Fresh Weeknight Meals 22 of 31 Creamy Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Dumpling Pie View Recipe Jacob Fox For a quality Mardi Gras meal made in one-pot, this Cajun-infused dumpling pie is hard to beat. If you're out of Cajun seasoning, swap it out for Creole seasoning or mix up your own batch using our Test Kitchen's recipe at the bottom of the recipe. 23 of 31 Doberge Cake View Recipe Mike Dieter Ingenious New Orleans bakers took the famous European dobos torte and fashioned this super-rich dessert. The doberge (pronounced DO-bash) cake is a tall confection constructed of many thin layers of moist cake separated by creamy custard and iced with different frostings. The traditional homemade cake makes a perfect Mardi Gras recipe to finish your meal. 24 of 31 Sausage and Egg Po' Boys View Recipe Andy Lyons The classic New Orleans sandwich gets an early-morning twist with this hearty po' boy made from a spicy remoulade, breakfast sausage, hard-cooked eggs, and (of course) lots of your favorite hot sauce. If you have any remoulade leftover, it makes a great accompaniment to hash brown potato cakes or oven-roasted potatoes. 13 Breakfast Sandwich Recipes to Keep You Satisfied Until Lunch 25 of 31 Salted Almond Praline Tart View Recipe Talk about a stunning dessert! Part cheesecake and part tart, this pretty pastry with a straight-from-Louisiana spin can be topped with whatever seasonal fruits you like—such as berries, sliced citrus, or fresh stone fruits. Just don't skimp on the sweet and crunchy salted almond praline topping. It's a game-changer! 26 of 31 Cheesy Grits Bowl View Recipe Blaine Moats This take on classic Southern-style grits, loaded with smoked Gouda and white cheddar cheese, is a comfort-food Mardi Gras recipe. We've topped our bowl with sauteed wild mushrooms, but it's equally good with creme fraiche and fresh herbs. 27 of 31 Shrimp and Grits View Recipe Blaine Moats Southern chef Sean Brock shares the shrimp and grits recipe he makes at home. Each bite is filled with flavor thanks to country ham, green onions, and butter. Add lemon juice to the dish to brighten things up. 28 of 31 Red Beans and Rice with Squash View Recipe Andy Lyons Squash may be a nontraditional ingredient in red beans and rice, but it's in season during the winter months. This Mardi Gras recipe showcases the subtle sweetness of butternut squash when paired with smoked sausage and kidney beans. 29 of 31 Slow Cooker Cajun Mac and Cheese View Recipe Jason Donnelly Mac and cheese is a fan-favorite any time of year, but Cajun seasoning and hot sauce make this a must for Mardi Gras. Toss in cooked andouille sausage and bell peppers to make it a one-pan meal. 30 of 31 Vanilla Bean Cake with Pecan Praline Glaze View Recipe Con Poulos A rich vanilla bean cake gets even more decadent with a drizzle of homemade pecan praline glaze. This Mardi Gras recipe is best served for dessert at room temperature the day it's made. 31 of 31 Pretzel-Crusted Air-Fryer Crab Cakes View Recipe Jason Donnelly Put a new twist on classic crab cakes by coating them in pretzel crumbs and cooking them in the air fryer. They make a delicious and easy Mardi Gras appetizer recipe. 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