This storied recipe is the right pick for a Mardi Gras weekend brunch or a favorite dish to eat on Mardi Gras if you don't have the time for a roux and gumbo. Get The Recipe 09 of 39 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 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. Southern Shrimp and Grits. A southern specialty, sometimes called breakfast shrimp, this dish tastes great for brunch or dinner, and anytime company’s coming. Mardi Gras is celebrated with devotion throughout Louisiana and over in the Gulf states of Mississippi and Texas. Carnivals and parades abound during Mardi Gras season, from Epiphany until Fat Tuesday. Seas of purple, gold, and green (symbolizing justice, power, and faith) can be seen everywhere. 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 Serve this muffuletta-style olive spread with crackers, cheese, and deli meat to create the ultimate Mardi Gras charcuterie board. "A nice addition to a pasta salad, a cheese board, or spooned on to grilled fish, pork, or chicken," recipe creator lutzflcat says. Let the good times roll (laissez les bon temps rouler) with this ultimate collection of 27 Traditional and Classic Mardi Gras Recipes and Menu Ideas for 2025!. From Cajun and Creole-inspired dishes to iconic New Orleans favorites, these recipes are perfect for celebrating Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday whether you’re soaking up the festivities in New Orleans or bringing the party to your own home. Mardi Gras is an annual holiday that is traditionally celebrated on Fat Tuesday to mark the culmination of the feasting period that falls before Christian Lent. Religious history aside, the holiday has come to be associated with street parties and parades, colorful masks, general debauchery, and, of course, plenty of rich, fatty foods. These recipes are great for the Mardi Gras season and beyond. 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). For the sake of our sanity, we usually eat before leaving the house, or pack our own food when we’re hitting a parade during Mardi Gras. It’s chaotic enough to get around the city, nevertheless having to deal with a blacked-out midwesterner ordering a po’boy for the first time. During our time living in the Florida Panhandle, we were surprised (and excited!) to see that Mardi Gras is celebrated there too with its famous krewes, parades, and other festivities. Some of the recipes in this roundup, like Grits à Ya Ya , are inspired by our time in Florida, while others, like our boudin balls , remind me of the ones from Mardi Gras Tips from NOLA Locals: What to Know Before You Go Essential Mardi Gras Advice from NOLA Insiders. New Orleans comes alive during Mardi Gras in ways that are impossible to capture until you’ve seen it with your own eyes. Mardi Gras is an extremely busy time for the city, and several restaurants get booked for large parties during the festivities. These restaurants will be open to the public on Mardi Gras day. Make plans now to enjoy quality food in the middle of one of the big parties on the planet! Cajun Jambalaya at Grace by Nia. ROBIN WINCHELL 2023. At Grace by Nia in Boston, indulge in a dish full of blackened jumbo shrimp, beef sausage, roasted chicken, crawfish, long grain rice Zulu and Rex (March 4, Mardi Gras Day): These iconic parades roll back-to-back, marking the grand finale of the Carnival season. What To Eat And Other Things To Consider. No Mardi Gras experience is complete without indulging in king cake, the essential snack of the season. Store and/or access information on a device. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Mardi Gras in New Orleans is arguably the best party you'll find in the United States. Every year over a million people travel to New Orleans to join in the fun during Carnival season, which begins on January 6, known as Epiphany or Twelfth Night, and lasts until Mardi Gras or "Fat Tuesday." King cakes are most popular in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region, but they can also be found in other areas where Mardi Gras is celebrated. Why Can't You Eat King Cake Before Jan. 6? Much like gumbo and red beans and rice, po’boys in New Orleans are sacred, especially when you’re looking for the best one during Mardi Gras. Thankfully, this spot in the French Quarter gets
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |