20 Cajun Thanksgiving Recipes For Your Holiday Menu
If you haven't already met them, let me introduce you to the bold flavors of these tantalizing Cajun Thanksgiving recipes. From appetizers to desserts, they may steer you away from your traditional Thanksgiving feast, but they won't disappoint!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases through links on Louisiana Woman Blog. Thanks!
Preparing these Cajun recipes for our traditional holiday meal brings back memories of our Southern Louisiana Thanksgiving table. On that big day, there was always a roast turkey with rice dressing (not dirty rice; that's different) and never any bland side dishes.
Jump to:
- APPETIZERS FROM BAYOU COUNTRY
- Best Hot Cajun Boudin Dip Recipe
- Chunky, Cheesy, Creamy Crawfish Dip
- Cajun Firecracker Ranch Crackers
- Muffuletta Cheese Ball
- Cajun Roasted Pecans
- Seafood Gumbo
- Easy Boiled Shrimp Recipe
- CAJUN FAVORITE SIDE DISHES FOR THANKSGIVING
- Best Louisiana Rice Dressing
- Cajun-Style Smothered Green Beans With Potatoes
- Corn Maque Choux
- Fresh Sweet Potato Casserole
- Mardi Gras Salad With Asparagus
- MAIN COURSE DISHES FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER
- Brined And Roasted Turkey
- Deboned Stuffed Chicken: An Easy Tutorial
- Goose Gumbo
- Pork Jambalaya With Sausage: A Traditional Cajun Dish
- Seafood Bisque
- Dessert, The Sweetest Ending
- Cajun Cake Recipe
- Bread Pudding With Pumpkin Pecan Praline Sauce
- Noelie's Pecan Pralines
- FAQ
- More Classic Cajun Dishes
- Comments
Before we explore these recipes, I want to tell you about this Creole Seasoning Blend Recipe With Fresh Vegetables. This isn't a shaker of dry seasonings you may be familiar with. This seasoning combines fresh-cut vegetables: onion, peppers, celery, garlic, and herbs to flavor your dishes.
This fresh combo sits ready in an airtight container in your refrigerator, so there's no chopping vegetables on the biggest cooking day of the year. All you do is measure how much you need and cook. So smart!
Here are 20 dishes sure to become holiday favorites if they aren't already.
APPETIZERS FROM BAYOU COUNTRY
Greet your guests with these dishes, giving them a taste of what's to come at your holiday feast.
Best Hot Cajun Boudin Dip Recipe
This boudin dip is a hard-to-resist baked appetizer flavored with boudin (a Cajun sausage made from rice and meat), melted cheese, and Cajun seasoning. It is topped with crispy bacon bits and green onions.
Chunky, Cheesy, Creamy Crawfish Dip
A rich, creamy, cheesy dip with spicy, delicious chunks of crawfish. Yum! Serve warm with chips or crackers.
Cajun Firecracker Ranch Crackers
Cajun Firecracker Ranch Crackers are crispy baked saltines packed with flavor. They're easy to make and great as a snack, appetizer, or served with soup, gumbo, and/or salad. Oh, yeah, and with a link of hot boudin, too. Smack!
Muffuletta Cheese Ball
This Muffuletta Cheese Ball tastes like a classic New Orleans muffuletta sandwich. The flavors of salty salad olives, provolone cheese, and salami meld with cream cheese and Italian seasonings to make an appetizing appetizer. Spread it on a cracker or on veggies for a quick, easy snack, perfect for a party or any occasion!
Cajun Roasted Pecans
These Cajun Roasted Pecans are buttery, crispy, and SPI-CEY! It takes just a few extra-special Louisiana flavors and only minutes to roast these nuts into delicious snackers. They are so good and will store well throughout the holiday season.
Seafood Gumbo
A cup of this classic seafood gumbo, with an extra-dark roux, shrimp, crab, and oysters, makes a delicious appetizer before the main event: a succulent turkey.
Easy Boiled Shrimp Recipe
Preparing a pot of Boiled Shrimp is a cinch with just a few pantry ingredients; serve them peeled with a flavorful dipping sauce like remoulade spiked with hot sauce.
CAJUN FAVORITE SIDE DISHES FOR THANKSGIVING
You may need one of these Cajun side dishes to bring zing to your Thanksgiving table. These will add a unique flavor to your beloved traditional dishes, making your Thanksgiving a unique and memorable occasion.
Best Louisiana Rice Dressing
Serve this traditional Southern Louisiana dish instead of cornbread dressing. It begins with a stock made of roux, then the Cajun trinity, and cooked ground beef and pork. Stir together with cooked white rice. The addition of Fresh oysters makes it a classic oyster dressing.
Cajun-Style Smothered Green Beans With Potatoes
Perfectly cooked green beans get their flavor from Cajun seasonings, smoky bacon, and ham in an oniony sauce.
Corn Maque Choux
It's a simple, delicious Cajun dish of smothered corn, cooked with a medley of onions, tomatoes, bell peppers, and garlic. A very "Cajun" side dish!
Fresh Sweet Potato Casserole
Nothing goes better with fresh sweet potatoes than the flavors of butter, vanilla, and a brown-sugar-nut topping.
Mardi Gras Salad With Asparagus
This sweet-and-tangy marinated Mardi Gras Salad features the traditional purple, green, and gold colors of a New Orleans Fat Tuesday celebration.
MAIN COURSE DISHES FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER
Serve one or more of these main dish recipes for a Cajun Thanksgiving menu.
Brined And Roasted Turkey
A whole turkey marinated in a wet brine is a simple way to season and tenderize a turkey, yielding the juiciest, tastiest results. The dark, crispy skin makes a delicious, show-stopping centerpiece worth going through the easy turkey brine process. Perfect for a festive Thanksgiving turkey.
Deboned Stuffed Chicken: An Easy Tutorial
Here's a video tutorial with instructions on how to debone a chicken and stuff it with rice dressing, crawfish etouffee, boudin, broccoli and rice, roasted vegetables, corn casserole, or cornbread dressing. Really, you can use whatever stuffing you like!
Goose Gumbo
A dark roux thickens this wild Goose Gumbo recipe into spicy, flavorful perfection. This easy recipe represents the Cajun people's simple lifestyle of living off the land from field to table. You can easily substitute turkey wings and make it a turkey gumbo, or serve it alongside a juicy turkey.
Pork Jambalaya With Sausage: A Traditional Cajun Dish
This Cajun rice dish features tender chunks of pork, smoked andouille sausage, and white rice seasoned with spicy Cajun seasonings. It's a perfect Cajun Thanksgiving recipe.
Seafood Bisque
A Rich and creamy seafood bisque features chunks of shrimp and crab flavored with a kick of cayenne pepper and a hint of sherry. This delicate soup will complement the taste of any traditional Thanksgiving dish.
Dessert, The Sweetest Ending
The goal is to finish off the meal with great satisfaction and fond memories of a happy Thanksgiving with friends and family around your table.
Cajun Cake Recipe
This old-fashioned homemade Cajun Cake Recipe is super-moist thanks to its hidden ingredient: a whole can of crushed pineapple for just the right amount of sweetness. The cake is frosted right out of the oven with ooey-gooey coconut-pecan icing.
Bread Pudding With Pumpkin Pecan Praline Sauce
Instead of pumpkin pie, serve this Bread Pudding with a pumpkin sauce spooned over this classic Southern dessert. The warm praline topping adds a festive touch when you're in the mood. Not a fan of pumpkin? Omit the pumpkin and spices for a simple indulgence of pecan praline sauce.
Noelie's Pecan Pralines
This Cajun recipe is a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth homemade candy. This is the special dish my Maw-maw Noelie served at our Thanksgiving meal. It's a classic Southern Louisiana favorite that's easy to prepare.
FAQ
Thanksgiving menus in South Louisiana may include turkey with Cajun spices (fried, smoked, or roasted), etouffee, jambalaya, gumbo, and many other favorites from Acadiana cuisine. Some of these dishes feature fresh seafood or wild game. Cajuns prefer rice dressing to traditional cornbread dressing. Mix them in with your favorite dishes on your holiday table.
Cajun cooking usually begins with "First, you make a roux," and all have the robust taste of Cajun seasoning. A Cajun turkey recipe is seasoned with Cajun butter or a seasoning blend for a festive Thanksgiving day. Add a gumbo made with andouille sausage, and you are well on your way to a Cajun celebration.
These Cajun French donuts are my Great-Grandma George's recipe called Cronquesingnoles (pronounced "cro-see-alls"). They're a sweet, fried, rich pastry with a hint of nutmeg. They're sprinkled with powdered sugar and pair well with a good cup of hot coffee. They're great for dunking, too!
More Classic Cajun Dishes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
You know I love hearing from you. Be sure to sign up for my emails to keep in touch. Leave a question or comment below, and don't forget to follow me on Facebook and Instagram and pin my recipes to Pinterest.
Have a nice day!
"Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it."
A.W. Tozer
Comments
No Comments