By Greta Brinkley
Mardi Gras is almost upon us. Who doesn’t like Jambalaya or Red Beans and Rice? Or one of my absolute favorites – Bananas Foster! Buuuttt…no one wants to spend all day over the stove for hours making them. Enjoy these tasty Mardi Gras recipes for favorite traditional Louisiana fare for a Mardi Gras feast, or any time of the year.
Mardi Gras Slow Cooker Recipes
If you want to spice up your Mardi Gras party even more, try mixing in a few adult beverages. Try something like a White Linen co*cktail or these Mardi Gras inspired co*cktails.
Jambalaya
Jambalaya is one of the classic dishes served in New Orleans, and all of Louisiana. Much like the state, it has its origins in French, Spanish, and West African cuisine. It’s a stew that’s oh so tasty, and full of complex flavors. Don’t confuse it with gumbo though – they’re distinctly different dishes.
Yield: 10-12
Slow Cooker Jamabalaya
A slow cooker version of the traditional Jambalaya
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time6 hours
Total Time6 hours 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 pound sausage (Andouille, Polish or Jennie-O turkey sausage) sliced
- 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice (drained)
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped or pressed
- 1 large green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 2-3 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 pound cooked shrimp without tails
- 2 - 2.5 cups cooked rice – brown or white
Instructions
- In a slow cooker, combine all the ingredients above except the rice and shrimp.
- Cover and cook 6 to 8 hours on LOW or 3 to 4 hours on HIGH. Stir in the shrimp during the last 20 minutes of cook time.
- Stir in cooked rice 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 426Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 175mgSodium: 1319mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 2gSugar: 5gProtein: 36g
Nutritional info is provided as a courtesy, and may not be accurate.
Louisiana Red Beans and Rice
Red Beans and Rice is a Creole dish that has roots that go wayyyyyy back. It started as a way to use up leftovers from the Sunday dinner, which usually included ham. Mondays were traditionally wash days, and we all know how long it can take to cook beans.
The women would leave beans simmering all day while they did laundry, and toss in the leftover ham or sausage when it was closer to serving time. Hmmm…that sounds familiar. This dish is a great way to feed a crowd on a budget, too.
Louisiana Red Beans and Rice
A great slow cooker version of Louisiana Red Beans and Rice. This classic creole dish is a staple in many households.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time6 minutes
Total Time16 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried red beans (soaked overnight, drained and rinsed)
- 7 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, chopped
- ½ pound Andouille sausage, (Polish or Jennie-O Turkey sausage work too)
- 3 tablespoons Creole seasoning
- 2 bay leaves
- Cooked rice – white or brown
Instructions
- Put everything except the cooked rice in the slow cooker or crockpot.
- Cover and cook on HIGH 5-7 hours or until beans are tender.
- Serve over rice – white or brown.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 341Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 2124mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 6gSugar: 3gProtein: 21g
Nutritional info is provided as a courtesy, and may not be completely accurate.
Banana Foster
Bananas Foster is one of my favorite dishes. It’s absolutely delightful served over ice cream or poundcake. You can even serve Bananas Foster with waffles. Or even, just on its own. However you choose to serve this amazing sweet treat, you can’t go wrong. While it’s not one of the first things that some to mind when you say “Mardi Gras recipe” It’s a fabulous dessert that really sets off a Mardi Gras meal. It’s also amazingly easy to make.
Yield: 6 Prep Time10 minutes Cook Time1 hour Total Time1 hour 10 minutes Nutritional info is provided as a convenience, and may not be accurate. Slow Cooker Bananas Foster
Ingredients
Instructions
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 303Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 7mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 3gSugar: 27gProtein: 1g
Will you be making any of these Mardi Gras recipes in your slow cooker?
You may also like
- Louisiana Inspired co*cktails
- Bananas Foster with Belgian Waffles
- Mardi Gras co*cktails
