These recipes make any day a party, whether you're whipping up New Orleans classics like shrimp étouffée or an unexpected mash-up like warm gumbo dip. No collection of Mardi Gras recipes would be complete without sweets, like our Praline-Cream Cheese King Cake or King Cake Beignets. Take a look through our recipes for best Fat Tuesday recipes Come Mardi Gras, king cake reigns above all else. "Better than bakery's! Living and eating in New Orleans for my entire life I was a bit skeptical if I could actually pull off a king cake," writes New Orleans local and home cook Laur5270, who recommends omitting the raisins to make the recipe more traditional. The Meaning Behind King Cake True, these are the best recipes for celebrating the Mardi Gras season—but these simple and reliable recipes for New Orleans classics like gumbo, étouffée, po' boys, jambalaya, and Bananas Foster are perfect for any Tuesday of the year (not just Fat Tuesday). Try them for Wednesday and Thursday dinners, too. New Orleans is known for Creole and Cajun cuisine, so it makes sense that some of the most popular Mardi Gras festivities feature recipes from those cultures. Partygoers usually have a cocktail, and boozy, fruity Hurricanes are notorious New Orleans favorites. When Mardi Gras rolls in, the streets of New Orleans come alive with jazz, parades, and pure energy. And what’s a celebration without incredible food? From bold Creole flavors to hearty Cajun classics, these 32 New Orleans-inspired recipes bring the taste of the Big Easy straight to your kitchen. If you're looking to get creative with your Mardi Gras foods, try Ree Drummond's twist on Cajun pasta or whip up some Mardi Gras desserts like the spritz cookies that look like mini king cakes. And while Mardi Gras falls on March 4 in 2025, you can also enjoy these delicious New Orleans-inspired dishes for your family dinners all year long. March 4 is Mardi Gras (or Fat Tuesday), the last day of Carnival season just before Lent, which is the 40-day period during which many people spend in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Naturally What Are Traditional Mardi Gras Foods? Mardi Gras foods are all about rich, comforting, and flavorful Southern dishes that bring people together. Classic New Orleans favorites include red beans and rice, crawfish étouffée, jambalaya, and gumbo—all packed with bold Creole and Cajun spices. Curate a menu of Mardi Gras food for celebrations throughout the season. From hearty jambalaya to spicy gumbo, fluffy beignets, and classic cocktails, these recipes originated in New Orleans or From appetizers to desserts to mains, here are the best Mardi Gras recipes and Mardi Gras food ideas to celebrate Fat Tuesday like a true New Orleanian. Everything you need to know about Mardi Gras, including updated parade routes, traditions, the best places to get Mardi Gras beads, masks, king cakes and more! Mardi Gras Packages . Check out these packages offering an up-front view of passing parades, along with that delicious New Orleans food (not to mention bathroom privileges)! Pitmaster and Food Network “Master of Cue” Champion Erica Blaire Roby is extra excited for Mardi Gras this year, coming up in just a couple of weeks. Chef Roby credits Cajun and Creole Don your purple, green and gold and join us in New Orleans this March for "The Greatest Free Show on Earth." Mardi Gras 2025 is Tuesday, March 4. We're counting down the minutes. Click on the Mardi Gras krewes below for further information about the krewe and to see their usual route for each parade. Please note: Events and activities are subject to change without notice. Stay tuned to the site for further info. Don your purple, green and gold and join us in New Orleans this March for "The Greatest Free Show on Earth." Mardi Gras 2025 is Tuesday, March 4. We're counting down the minutes. Mardi Gras balls were exclusive events closed off from most people outside of New Orleans society until this krewe revolutionized the event. In 1949, Edward Brennan Sr. created the krewe, a carnival Ball open to tourists. Click on the Mardi Gras krewes below for further information about the krewe and to see their usual route for each parade. Please note: Events and activities are subject to change without notice. Stay tuned to the site for further info. New Orleans Mardi Gras: On March 2, 1699, French-Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville arrived at a plot of ground 60 miles directly south of New Orleans and named it "Pointe du Mardi Gras" when his men realized it was the eve of the festive holiday. By the 1730s, Mardi Gras was celebrated openly in New Orleans, but not From New Jersey to New Orleans: Meet Andrea Mistretta, the Poster Child of Mardi Gras Posters. Mistretta's studio on White's Pond in New Jersey, 1,300 miles from NOLA. For the last 37 ye
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