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 meal, but they won't disappoint!
Preparing for my holiday table at Thanksgiving brings me back to my southern Louisiana roots. There was always a roasted turkey on that big day with rice dressing (not dirty rice, that's different), and never any boring traditional side dishes.
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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 SIDE DISHES FOR YOUR HOLIDAY MEAL
- Best Louisiana Rice Dressing
- Cajun-Style Smothered Green Beans With Potatoes
- Corn Maque Choux
- Fresh Sweet Potato Casserole
- Mardi Gras Salad With Asparagus
- MAIN 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
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 of rice and meat), melted cheese, and Cajun seasoning topped with crispy bacon bits and green onion.
Chunky, Cheesy, Creamy Crawfish Dip
A rich and creamy, cheesy dip with spicy-delicious chunks of crawfish. Yum! Serve warm with chips or crackers.
Cajun Firecracker Ranch Crackers
Crispy baked saltines packed with flavor. They're easy to make and great as a snack or appetizer or served with soup, gumbo, and salad. Oh, yeah, and with a link of hot boudin or a boudin ball, too.
Muffuletta Cheese Ball
Spread a little Cajun-Creole cuisine with this easy-to-assemble cheese ball. It has the appealing taste of the classic muffuletta sandwich.
Cajun Roasted Pecans
Pecans grow well in Louisiana, and here's a quick and easy buttery-roasted pecan snack with a cayenne pepper kick. 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 of a succulent turkey.
Easy Boiled Shrimp Recipe
Preparing a pot of Boiled Shrimp is a cinch with just a few ingredients from your pantry; serve them peeled and with a flavorful dipping sauce like Remoulade Sauce spiked with hot sauce.
CAJUN SIDE DISHES FOR YOUR HOLIDAY MEAL
A Cajun side dish may be just what's needed to bring some zing to your Thanksgiving table. They will add a unique flavor to your beloved traditional dishes, making your Thanksgiving a unique and special occasion.
Best Louisiana Rice Dressing
Instead of cornbread dressing, serve this traditional Southern Louisiana dish that begins with a stock made of roux, then the Cajun trinity, and cooked ground beef and pork. Add fresh oysters and make 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 and delicious Cajun dish of smothered corn cooked in a medley of onions, tomatoes, bell peppers, and garlic.
Fresh Sweet Potato Casserole
Nothing goes better in 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 has the traditional purple, green, and gold colors of a New Orleans Fat Tuesday celebration.
MAIN 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 marinate fresh turkey meat, getting the juiciest and tastiest results. The dark, crispy skin makes a delicious show-stopping centerpiece that is worth going through the easy turkey brine process.
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 beside the main dish of a juicy turkey.
Pork Jambalaya With Sausage: A Traditional Cajun Dish
This Cajun dish is made of tender chunks of pork, smoked andouille sausage, and white rice flavored with spicy Cajun seasonings. It's a perfect Cajun Thanksgiving recipe.
Seafood Bisque
A rich and creamy seafood bisque with chunks of shrimp and crab flavored with a kick of cayenne pepper and a hint of sherry. This delicate soup will compliment 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 because of 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 an ooey-gooey coconut pecan icing.
Bread Pudding With Pumpkin Pecan Praline Sauce
This Bread Pudding sauce starts with a classic Southern dessert. The warm praline topping adds a festive touch when you're in the mood for it. Not a fan of pumpkin? Omit the pumpkin and the spices for a simple pecan praline indulgence.
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 consist of Cajun-seasoned turkey (fried, smoked, or roasted), etouffee, jambalaya, gumbo, and many more favorites from the foods of Acadiana cuisine. Some may even be made with fresh seafood or wild game. It's always good!
Start with the number of guests and consider their favorite dishes. Of course, many Cajun recipes begin with "First, you make a roux," and all have the robust taste of Cajun seasoning. A turkey seasoned with Cajun butter or Cajun seasoning blend is a great start. Add a gumbo made with andouille sausage, and you are well on your way to a Cajun Thanksgiving dinner.
These Cajun French donuts are my Great-Grandma George's recipe called Cronquesingnoles (pronounced "cro-see-alls"). With a taste of nutmeg, this sweet and crunchy pastry pairs well with a good cup of hot coffee.
More Classic Cajun Dishes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
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A.W. Tozer
