How to Make the Ultimate King Cake for Mardi Gras (and More Mardi Gras Recipes!) (2024)

This sweet, yeasted King Cake recipe is a classic for Mardi Gras. Plastic baby optional!

Get the King Cake recipe.

Sweet, succulent shrimp simmered in zesty Creole seasoning makes for an unbeatable combination.

Get the Saucy Creole Shrimp recipe.

RELATED: 28 Healthy and Delicious Ways to Eat All the Shrimp

Bread pudding wasn’t invented in NOLA, but they sure know how to do it right. This version goes over the top with a buttery bourbon-spiked caramel sauce.

Get the Brioche Bread Pudding with Bourbon-Caramel Sauce recipe.

This refreshing bourbon co*cktail is the perfect match for a spicy Creole or Cajun feast.

Get the Mint Julep recipe.

Oysters are a staple of the Gulf. Try topping them with this fresh, spicy horseradish-based sauce.

Get the Oysters with Mustard-Horseradish Relish recipe.

Snowballs are a popular treat in New Orleans, made from shaved ice flavored with sweet syrups. Try this lemon-raspberry option!

Get the Shaved Ice recipe.

Cajun spices like paprika, garlic powder and cayenne bring the Big Easy's bold flavors to this tilapia dish.

Get the Blackened Fish with Green Rice recipe.

No Mardi Gras fete's menu would be complete without a pecan-filled treat, and these pralines hit the spot after a spicy meal.

Get the Pecan Pralines recipe.

While it may be spring in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, many parts of the country are still stuck in winter. Warm up with this cozy, comforting dish.

Get the New Orleans Cajun Beef and Grits recipe.

Egg white and heavy cream make for a frothy, creamy-textured drink. This one feels ultra old-school — and very New Orleans.

Get the Ramos Gin Fizz recipe.

Beignets buried in powdered sugar are worth the trip to New Orleans alone. Tide yourself over with these equally drool-worthy homemade ones.

Get the Easy Beignets recipe from Delish.

A New Orleans classic made with rum, fresh citrus and passionfruit juice, this sweet co*cktail gets the party started.

Get the Hurricane co*cktail recipe from Delish.

The official dish of Louisiana, gumbo generally consists of meat or shellfish simmered in stock and thickened with flour. Our hearty version uses chicken and sausage.

Get the Gumbo recipe from Woman's Day.

This massive sandwich is a NOLA original, and is typically filled with cold cuts, cheese and olive salad. The only rule? Don't skimp on the filling!

Get the Muffuletta recipe from Woman's Day.

This dish comes from 18th century Spanish settlers in Louisiana, who tried to replicate their familiar paella. The result mixes in French and African influences, and is completely delicious.

Get the Jambalaya recipe from Woman's Day.

Pair juicy Cajun-seasoned shrimp burgers with spicy tots for a fun, New Orleans-inspired dinner.

Get the Po Boy Style Shrimp Burgers with Cajun Spiced Tots recipe from Woman's Day.

RELATED: 33 Unique, Homemade Burger Recipes to Cook on Repeat

With Creole seasoning and two types of sausage, this delicious stew does not shy away from flavor.

Get the Chicken and Sausage Gumbo recipe from Woman's Day.

This iconic dessert of bananas flambeed with rum and sugar owes its creation to the legendary Bourbon Street restaurant Brennan’s. Serve with vanilla ice cream — for historical accuracy, of course.

Get the Bananas Foster recipe from Delish.

This crispy fried snack is typically stuffed with meat and rice, but our version uses crawfish (you can sub shrimp if you'd like!) for a true taste of the Big Easy.

Get the Crawfish Boudin Balls recipe from Country Living.

RELATED: 50+ Easy Appetizers and Snacks to Get the Party Started

Tujague's restaurant in New Orleans is credited with inventing this sweet and minty co*cktail... that doubles as dessert.

Get the Drunk Grasshoppers recipe from Delish.