Crawfish Recipes for your Thanksgiving table
If you’ve celebrated the holidays in Louisiana, you’ve probably experienced crawfish as part of a traditional Thanksgiving or Christmas meal. Crawfish are a staple of Southern cuisine, and the history of crawfish and the crawfish industry is an important part of Louisiana culture. If you’re considering making crawfish a part of your holiday celebration this year, these tasty Thanksgiving crawfish recipes will make it easy to bring a taste of Louisiana to your holiday table.
Mudbugs are readily available in November and December, from live to frozen tails sold in pretty much any grocery store. They are affordable, easy to cook with, and crawfish are good for you.
Crawfish Étouffée
Crawfish Étouffée is a crowd pleaser, and it’s also a great way to use up leftover crawfish from a boil that you may have enjoyed on the day before Thanksgiving. The ingredients are holiday friendly and most are things you’re probably already buying for other dishes, like onions, celery, bell pepper, garlic, bay leaves, and spices. There are plenty of recipes for Crawfish Étouffée that will make your family’s hearts and bellies very happy.
Crawfish and Andouille Cornbread Dressing
This recipe for Crawfish and Andouille Cornbread Dressing is a wonderful accompaniment to any Thanksgiving feast, and is a great way to showcase two Louisiana favorites — crawfish AND andouille sausage. This crawfish recipe is also make-ahead friendly, so you can finish it early in the day (or even the day ahead) and reheat when it’s time to eat.
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GUMBO WITH CRAWFISH
Gumbo is part of the Thanksgiving repertoire for many Louisiana families, and adding crawfish is a no-brainer. While some gumbos use oysters, shrimp, chicken, or sausage, you can go with a recipe that highlights crawfish and even shrimp. There is something about gumbo that just warms the soul… maybe it’s the history of the dish, or the connection to Louisiana roots, or the comfort it provides on a chilly day.
CRAWFISH-STYLE BOILED TURKEY
There are so many ways to get creative with Thanksgiving recipes to incorporate a touch of Louisiana. While most people may roast or even fry a turkey, you probably haven’t tried crawfish-style boiled turkey! Just prepare your Cajun boil like you normally would for boiled crawfish or shrimp with boil seasonings and a few of the typical sides such as garlic, potatoes and onions, then add your turkey. You can get your crawfish seasoning fix without having to peel a single crawfish.
GRILLED CRAWFISH
While you could just have a regular crawfish boil, why not kick it up a notch and try something completely different? Although tradition is an important part of the holiday season, it’s also fun to wow your crowd with a new dish. Enter this recipe for Grilled Crawfish with Spicy Tarragon Butter. It’s definitely a big undertaking, but what a great showstopper for everyone to enjoy in the middle of the day to help tide them over til the late afternoon Thanksgiving meal. Serve with champagne, and you’ve officially made it fancy.
ORDER from Deanie’s Holiday Take Home Menu
Enjoy these crawfish recipes to bring Louisiana tradition to YOUR table this Thanksgiving. Or if you don’t have the time or energy to deal with cooking, you can order any of our holiday take home dishes from Deanie’s Holiday Take Home Menu, available for Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. Choose from items like Oyster, Crab or Crawfish Dressing, Oyster Patties, Stuffed Crawfish, Crawfish Étouffée, Seafood Gumbo, and so much more.
