13 Mardi Gras Recipes That Bring Bourbon Street Energy Home

Mardi Gras means beads, parades, and food that packs serious flavor. You don’t need a plane ticket to New Orleans to get your hands on delicious Cajun food. These recipes capture the bold, festive spirit of Fat Tuesday right in your own kitchen.

Instant Pot Gumbo

Bowl of gumbo with sausage and okra. — Instant Pot Gumbo. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This pressure cooker gumbo brings classic Louisiana flavors to your table with tender shrimp, sausage, and okra in a rich, flavorful broth. It’s the kind of hearty Cajun stew that makes Mardi Gras celebrations feel authentic, and the Instant Pot cuts the cooking time way down while keeping all that deep, traditional taste.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Gumbo

Slow Cooker Shrimp Boil

A slow cooker filled with shrimp, sausage slices, corn on the cob, and potatoes in broth, topped with chopped herbs. — Slow Cooker Shrimp Boil. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

A shrimp boil is pure Mardi Gras party food, and this slow cooker version gives you all that Cajun goodness without wrestling with a massive pot. Toss in shrimp, sausage, potatoes, and corn, then let the crockpot do the work while you prep the rest of your celebration.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Shrimp Boil

Cajun Wings

Chicken wing flat with Cajun spices. — Cajun Wings. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These wings get coated in classic Cajun spices for the kind of bold flavor you’d find at a French Quarter bar. They’re perfect for Mardi Gras parties whether you bake them in the oven or crisp them up in the air fryer.
Get the Recipe: Cajun Wings

Cajun Fried Catfish

Catfish fillet with cornmeal breading topped with herbs and served with spicy tartar sauce. — Cajun Fried Catfish. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Cornmeal-crusted catfish is a Southern Louisiana classic that fits right into any Mardi Gras menu. The air fryer gives you that crispy fried texture without all the oil, and the spicy tartar sauce adds an extra kick.
Get the Recipe: Cajun Fried Catfish

Cajun Pasta Salad

This pasta salad gets its Mardi Gras spirit from a creamy remoulade-style dressing and plenty of Cajun spice. The mix of bell peppers, celery, and onion gives you that classic Louisiana flavor profile in a side dish that feeds a crowd.
Get the Recipe: Cajun Pasta Salad

Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Pasta

Chicken and pasta in a slow cooker with a wooden spoon. — Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Pasta. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Creamy Cajun pasta is comfort food with that Louisiana kick, featuring tender chicken in a spicy sauce. The slow cooker makes this a hands-off dinner that still delivers all the bold flavors you’d expect from New Orleans cuisine.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Pasta

Slow Cooker Jambalaya

Jambalaya is a Louisiana staple that belongs at every Mardi Gras spread, packed with chicken, sausage, and shrimp in perfectly cooked rice. The slow cooker handles everything without any babysitting, so you get tender meat and fluffy rice that actually holds its shape.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Jambalaya

Instant Pot Jambalaya

Jambalaya is the ultimate Mardi Gras one-pot meal, loaded with shrimp, andouille sausage, and chicken over rice. The Instant Pot cooks everything together so the rice soaks up all those Cajun spices and flavors in half the time.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Jambalaya

Red Beans and Rice

An appetizing instant pot recipe bowl of beans and rice. — Red Beans and Rice. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Red beans and rice is a New Orleans Monday tradition that absolutely belongs on your Mardi Gras table. This Instant Pot version keeps it simple with beans, sausage, vegetables, and Cajun seasonings all cooked together in the pressure cooker.
Get the Recipe: Red Beans and Rice

Dirty Rice

Dirty rice gets its name from the Cajun seasoning that colors the rice, making it a Louisiana dinner table staple. This Instant Pot version combines ground beef and rice with spices for a hearty, slightly spicy one-pot meal.
Get the Recipe: Dirty Rice

Sheet Pan Cajun Sausage

A sheet pan filled with roasted green beans, sliced sausage, red onion, red bell pepper, and chunks of sweet potato. — Sheet Pan Cajun Sausage. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This sheet pan dinner loads up smoked sausage and vegetables with Cajun seasoning for an easy taste of Louisiana. Everything roasts together in under 30 minutes, giving you Mardi Gras flavors without a lot of prep work.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Cajun Sausage

Cajun Chicken Orzo

A wooden spoon scoops up a serving of creamy chicken and vegetable orzo from a large pot. — Cajun Chicken Orzo. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Creamy Cajun pasta comes together in one pan with chicken, orzo, and plenty of spice for that New Orleans-inspired comfort food vibe. The creamy sauce clings to the orzo while the Cajun seasoning brings the heat.
Get the Recipe: Cajun Chicken Orzo

Bananas Foster Monkey Bread

Close-up of a sticky caramel glazed monkey bread ring with small dough balls, topped with a caramelized finish, displayed on a decorative glass plate. — Bananas Foster Monkey Bread. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Bananas Foster was invented in New Orleans and remains a Mardi Gras dessert favorite with its caramelized bananas and rich sauce. This pull-apart monkey bread version gives you all those classic flavors in an easy, shareable format that’s perfect for celebrations.
Get the Recipe: Bananas Foster Monkey Bread