20 Mardi Gras Party Foods (2024)

Crawfish Beignets

Fill refrigerated biscuit dough with a cheesy crawfish mixture, then fry them like beignets for a next-level appetizer.

Oven Baked Jambalaya

When you're feeding a crowd, turn to our 16-serving Oven Baked Jambalaya. Finishing the dish in the oven for an hour and a half saves you stove space and leaves your hands free to work on the rest of your menu.

Rockin' Oysters Rockefeller

Made famous at Antoine's in New Orleans, the original recipe for Oysters Rockefeller has remained a secret since 1889. This variation could become your secret recipe.

Crawfish Pirogue

Pirogue, a French word, refers to a narrow, canoe-like boat. And recipe creator Caren Lee uses it to describe these small, hollowed-out bread boats, filled with buttery, stew-like crawfish etouffee.

Muffuletta Sandwich

Cut into fourths, this New Orleans original may just replace your go-to party sandwiches from here on out.

The Best Cream Cheese King Cake

Add a plastic baby to your king cake once it's baked and cooled. Tradition holds that whoever finds the baby in their slice has to show up with the next king cake. Just think, you could indulge in this dessert not just at one party but all Mardi Gras season.

King Cake Cupcakes

"Less yeasty and more cake-like than king cake," recipe submitter thehungryscientist says, these buttermilk cupcakes make a flavorful, faster alternative. Sprinkle the cream cheese frosting with gold luster dust and green and purple sanding sugars for the full effect.

Crawfish Cornbread

Serve this full-flavored cornbread as an appetizer, side dish, or even a main. Reviewer Brooke Alison Gage says, "I could have made a meal out of this!"

Melody's Corn Maque Choux

This take on succotash will stand out against heartier dishes that go heavy on meat. Yet, cooked in butter, bacon drippings, and beef broth, it's not light on flavor.

Spicy Shrimp Creole

What makes this dish Creole versus Cajun? Tomatoes. And lots of them. It also packs in celery, onions, garlic, and (of course) shrimp.

Muffuletta Spread

Serve this muffuletta-style olive spread with crackers, cheese, and deli meat to create the ultimate Mardi Gras charcuterie board. "A nice addition to a pasta salad, a cheese board, or spooned on to grilled fish, pork, or chicken," recipe creator lutzflcat says.

Bread Pudding with Praline Sauce

New Orleans loves its French bread, and using it up in bread pudding. Praline sauce gives this dessert extra flair.

• See our entire collection of Bread Pudding Recipes here.

Hush Puppies

Start your Mardi Gras party with hush puppies. These small, seasoned cornmeal balls fry to a golden crisp in just five minutes per batch.

Tasso Ham

If you have a smoker grill and time to spare, you have to try this lesser-known Cajun dish. To make this salty, spicy ham party ready, consider serving it in Baked Ham and Cheese Party Sandwiches.

Shrimp and Tasso Pasta

Pasta would also make an excellent vehicle for serving tasso ham. "This recipe is one of my family's all-time favorites," recipe submitter TRAVLEE says. "You may substitute crawfish for the shrimp and it turns out just as delicious. The tasso gives the sauce its wonderful smoky flavor. You can substitute smoked ham for the tasso but the smoky flavor may not be as intense."

Authentic Louisiana Red Beans and Rice

Home cook Mart definitely paid attention to presentation, as pictured, carefully spooning red beans over the rice then topping the dish with green onions and a red pepper for garnish. We're taking notes.

Easy Cheesy Crawfish Dip

Pull out the slow cooker for this party favorite, or make a similar recipe in a skillet with our 30-minute Niki's Famous Crawfish Dip.

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Merwin's Shrimp Gumbo

"A classic, dark brown, shrimp gumbo in true Louisiana Cajun country fashion," recipe submitter Merwin Chambers says. Roux can make or break your gumbo, so be sure to stir the flour and oil constantly to keep it from burning.

• No One Cooks a Gumbo Like Your Mawmaw, But Even She Would Approve of These Cajun Recipes

Cajun Chicken Pasta

You won't find pasta in traditional Cajun cooking (it's always rice), but this surefire dish delivers on flavor. Just ask the 2,000+ reviewers who have rated it five stars!

Beignets

We can't forget beignets! Best for a small party at home, these babies need time to deep fry — unless you eat them as an appetizer. But no judgment. It's Mardi Gras.

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