33 Mardi Gras Recipes to Celebrate Fat Tuesday

Even if you can’t make it to New Orleans, celebrate Fat Tuesday with these 33 Mardi Gras Recipes. Inspired by the festival that precedes Lent, explore authentic Gumbo, Shrimp Po’ Boys, King Cake, Beignets, and more from the comfort of your own kitchen.

 

Meggan’s notes

Every year, Mardi Gras (also known as Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, Carnival, or Pancake Day) falls on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. (Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, a religious season observed by people of the Catholic faith). While Mardi Gras is technically just one day, some places have turned it into a week-long celebration. New Orleans, Brazil, and Venice have some of the largest festivals in the world.

I love Mardi Gras because it’s a chance to enjoy some of the best dishes from New Orleans (and the South) without fighting the crowds at parades and chasing down beads on Bourbon Street. Muffulettas, Gumbo, and Beignets are some of my personal favorites (and I’d never turn down a King Cake, either).

1. Shrimp Étouffée

When translated from French, Étouffée means “smother” or “suffocate.” Nothing tastes more comforting to me than a big bowl of warm rice smothered with vegetables (including bell peppers, onions, and celery, the “holy trinity” of Cajun cuisine) and seafood swimming in a zesty tomato sauce.

2. Beignets

Beignets are light, yeast dough-based fritters that were brought to Louisiana by French. Similar to doughnuts in texture but with a square shape, Beignets are now one of the signature foods of New Orleans, Louisiana.

3. Muffaletta

Discover how to make Muffaletta (Muffuletta) from scratch, including a tender, chewy bread, briny olive salad, and savory meats and cheeses. I cannot imagine anything more appetizing than a giant wheel sandwich!

4. Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

When it comes to Gumbo, it’s all about the roux. But it doesn’t have to be complicated or take all day to make. This hearty, flavorful version is made with both chicken and sausage and a scoop of fluffy white rice on top, just like they do in New Orleans. Serve with plenty of hot sauce on the side.

5. Fried Okra

Delightfully crispy and ready in 15 minutes, my easy Fried Okra recipe is like the poppable cousin of fried green tomatoes. The batter is made from buttermilk and cornmeal, and these crunchy little fritters are fried until golden brown.

6. King Cake

Fat Tuesday isn’t complete without a Mardi Gras King Cake complete with a tiny baby inside! This homemade version is like a supersized cinnamon roll, all dressed up for Mardi Gras.

7. Red Beans and Rice

Learn how to make weeknight Red Beans and Rice in just 40 minutes (that tastes like it’s been simmering all day). While it originally started as a way to use up leftover ham bones, this version is made with spicy andouille sausage.

8. Cajun Chicken Alfredo

While so many restaurants have their own version of this classic pasta dish, my version is packed with flavor from a spicy homemade Cajun seasoning, a creamy Alfredo sauce, and plenty of colorful broccoli.

9. Sazerac

For the New Orleans’ take on a classic whiskey cocktail, try a Sazerac. It’s made with rye whiskey, simple syrup, Peychaud bitters, and a swirl of absinthe.

10. Bananas Foster

Bananas Foster is the ultimate quick and easy dessert recipe for the 21+ crowd. This showy, fiery, and sweet treat that calls for sautéing bananas with butter, sugar, and cinnamon. Next comes a splash of rum; the fuel for the flame that makes this easy dessert a spectacle and results in an ever-so-slightly-smoky and rum-tinged flavor.

11. Wisconsin-Style Jambalaya

Midwest-meets-Big-Easy in this pot of comfort food goodness. Wisconsin-Style Jambalaya is packed with tender chicken, shrimp, and cheese-filled sausage for a hearty one-pot, 30-minute meal.

12. Shrimp Po’ Boy

With my easy sandwich recipe guiding you along, the classic New Orleans favorite of Shrimp Po’ Boy sandwiches can be on the table just 15 minutes from now. You’ll love the crunchy cornmeal-coated shrimp on a soft roll with plenty of lettuce and tomato.

13. Shrimp Creole

This recipe starts with a roux and ends with a skillet full of shrimp, vegetables, and a savory tomato broth. It’s an authentic southern recipe that’s delicious over rice or with crusty bread.

14. Pecan Pralines

Pecan Pralines are a traditional Southern treat with crunchy pecans and a soft, buttery-sweet base. And they’re only 5 ingredients!

15. Dirty Rice

A savory and warmly-spiced classic, Dirty Rice is one of the best New Orleans side dish recipes. The term “dirty” comes from cooking a combination of sausage and chicken livers, and it has just enough heat to keep your attention.

16. Hush Puppies

Fluffy and light on the inside, crispy and salty on the outside, these easy homemade Hush Puppies are about to become your new favorite snack recipe, inspired by the cuisine of New Orleans.

17. Remoulade Sauce

Remoulade is a French sauce that loosely resembles Thousand Island dressing. In the United States, it’s often served with Southern classics like crab cakes, fried green tomatoes, Po’boys, and other fried favorites.

18. Cajun Pasta

Invest 5 minutes of prep time, and this one-pot Cajun Pasta cooks itself. Studded with chicken and Andouille sausage and infused with a creamy tomato sauce, this is one of my favorite recipes (and easiest dinner recipes!) for weeknights.

19. Hurricane Cocktail

This Hurricane Cocktail is a classic recipe from New Orleans. Made with two kinds of rum, three kinds of juice, and grenadine, it’s sweet, fruity, and refreshing.

20. Crab Cakes

Loaded with a full pound of seafood, these homemade Crab Cakes with Remoulade are a step above those filler-loaded recipes. Try this baked crab cake recipe for a light dinner or as part of your Mardi Gras menu.

21. Homemade Grits

It takes just 7 minutes to master how to make grits on a stovetop. This customizable grits recipe can go sweet or savory; so try it whether you want breakfast grits or a grits side dish! Perfect with spicy grilled shrimp.

22. Banana Pancakes

Pancakes are so intertwined with Mardi Gras that Fat Tuesday is also known as Pancake Day. While my classic Homemade Pancakes are delicious any day of the week, I love Banana Pancakes for Mardi Gras as a nod to that other famous banana dessert: Bananas Foster.

23. Blackened Salmon

Ready in about 10 minutes, my easy Blackened Salmon is definitive proof that seafood recipes should not be reserved for restaurant meals alone. Discover how simple it is to make Blackened Salmon at home in your own kitchen.

24. Fried Green Tomatoes

Traditional Fried Green Tomatoes are soaked in buttermilk and fried in cornmeal. Can’t find green tomatoes? Substitute heirloom tomatoes or even regular beefsteak tomatoes, and be sure to serve plenty of remoulade sauce on the side.

25. Cornbread

This easy Cornbread recipe is made in the Northern style: Fluffy, cake-like, ultra moist, and with a hint of sweetness. It’s perfect with on the side of your Red Beans and Rice or or Shrimp Creole.

26. Hoppin’ John

Even though it’s mostly commonly enjoyed on New Year’s Day for good luck, Hoppin’ John is a classic Southern recipe that’s perfect for Mardi Gras, too.

27. Bread Pudding

Versions of this custardy dessert show up all over New Orleans and the south in general. This version puts leftover bread to work in a delicious sweet casserole topped off with Caramel Sauce.

28. Grasshopper Drink

Crafted at Tujague’s in New Orlean’s French Quarter, a Grasshopper is a minty-fresh cocktail that doubles as dessert. This 4-ingredient drink is made with Creme de Menthe, Creme de Cacao, chocolate, and half-and-half. Personally, I’ve been known to make it with ice cream!

29. Pecan Pie

In a perfect world, Pecan Pie has a homemade pie crust a filling with texture, both soft and crunchy, without being too jelly-like. I love mine sweetened with honey because it just tastes better, too.

30. Cajun Seasoning

This homemade Cajun Seasoning blend is a tasty, versatile mix of common spices you probably already have on hand. It transforms any chicken, shrimp, or fish into a New Orleans masterpiece.

31. Oysters Rockefeller

Elevate your Mardi Gras celebration with Oysters Rockefeller, a delicious appetizer recipe made with greens, breadcrumbs, and Pernod and baked until hot and bubbly.

32. Blackened Chicken

Spice up you Mardi Gras menu with my easy Blackened Chicken. This 15-minute meal is a breeze to make even when you’re crunched for time, and tastes incredible as an entree alone or sliced and served over rice.

33. Sidecar Cocktail

Made with brandy, lemon juice, and orange liqueur, the Sidecar is a streamlined version of a New Orleans classic cocktail called the Brandy Crusta. Tweak this drink to sweet or sour depending on your personal preferences.

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