Fat Tuesday, as its name implies, is meant for feasting on rich, luscious foods. Here are dozens of Fat Tuesday recipes to splurge on before Lent begins.
39 Fat Tuesday Recipes to Splurge On
Updated on Sep. 17, 2024
Blend of the Bayou
This casserole brings Mardi Gras right to your dinner table. Great for a group, this crab and shrimp dish packs a bit of heat. It’s cheesy, creamy, tangy and ready in just a pinch! Serve it along with the best Mardi Gras drinks.
For another traditional Fat Tuesday food, try our paczki recipe.
1/39
2/39
Shrimp Gumbo
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
11 servings (2-3/4 qt.)
From the Recipe Creator:
A crisp green salad and crusty French bread complete this shrimp gumbo meal. I always have hot sauce available when I serve this and have found that the instant microwave rice packages make the process a little easier. —Jo Ann Graham, Ovilla, Texas
Get your hot sauce ready for this Louisiana staple. Some choose to add tomatoes, bay leaf or another source of protein.
3/39
New Orleans Beignets
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These sweet French doughnuts, inspired by the ones found in Cafe du Monde in New Orleans, are square instead of round and have no hole in the middle. They're a traditional part of breakfast in New Orleans. —Beth Dawson, Jackson, Louisiana
Beignets are square-shaped pieces of deep-fried dough topped with confectioners’ sugar. This New Orleans food is notable from the square shape and the fact that it’s hole-less.
4/39
Traditional New Orleans King Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
1 cake (12 pieces)
From the Recipe Creator:
Get in on the fun of traditional king cake by hiding a little toy baby in the cake. Whoever finds it has one year of good luck! —Rebecca Baird, Salt Lake City, Utah
King cake is a biblical reference to the story of the three kings. In honor of the three kings bringing gifts to Baby Jesus, there’s a tradition of hiding a little toy baby in the cake. Whoever finds it has one year of good luck!
5/39
Crawfish Beignets with Cajun Dipping Sauce
Total Time
25 min
Servings
about 2 dozen (3/4 cup sauce)
From the Recipe Creator:
Get a taste of the Deep South with these slightly spicy beignets. You won't be able to eat just one! —Donna Lanclos, Lafayette, Louisiana
Tis the season-ing for all things seafood. This savory twist on beignets is spicy and delicious. Not to mention it’s the perfect indulgent meal before Lent.
6/39
Dutch Oven Red Beans and Rice
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a one-pot meal that's ready in about 30 minutes. It is one of my husband's favorites and uses simple ingredients, so it's been a go-to recipe in our house for years. —Janice Conklin, Stevensville, Montana
This one-pot meal is ready in just 30 minutes. If you don’t like spicy food, you can make it more mild in seasoning. However, this dish holds up in authenticity and makes a great go-to dinner.
7/39
Muffuletta
Total Time
35 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Muffuletta, which originated in New Orleans, is named after the round, crusty Sicilian loaf of bread it's traditionally served on. While I favor my own olive salad, there are several good versions available in most supermarkets. —Lou Sansevero, Ferron, Utah
Muffuletta originated in New Orleans. This iconic sandwich has layers of olive salad, mozzarella and meat.
8/39
Easy Jambalaya
Total Time
40 min
Servings
4 servings.
From the Recipe Creator:
I brought this easy jambalaya to a Sunday potluck and it was quickly gobbled up. When friends asked me for the recipe, they couldn't believe how easy it was! —Tami Kuehl, Loup City, Nebraska
This potluck meal is made easy with jambalaya mix. And Fat Tuesday is all about making things easier for yourself. Actually, it’s about bulking up on food before abstaining for Lent. Same thing, right?
Scallops? Fantastic. Crab cakes? Incredible. Scallop cakes? Absolute game changer. With a spicy honey aioli, you won’t be able to put these down.
10/39
Bacon Shrimp Creole
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This dish is a compilation of two Creole recipes that I found in my mother's New Orleans cookbooks. The bacon adds flavor and the cayenne gives it a bit of spice. —Jan Tucker, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Some have made this dish with tiger prawns or okra. However, on its own, this shrimp creole is packed with flavor. The bacon topping adds a nice crunch to round out the whole plate.
11/39
Cheesy Cajun Shrimp and Grits
Total Time
30 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I was born and raised in the South. A few years ago I moved temporarily to Pennsylvania, where good southern comfort food was hard to find. So I created this creamy, smoky Cajun shrimp and grits dish to remind me of home. —Kailey Thompson, Palm Bay, Florida
This southern comfort food is the change in breakfast you didn’t know you needed. It’s shrimp-ly the best!
12/39
Cajun Chicken Lasagna
Total Time
3 hours 20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Destined to be a new favorite with all around the table, this zesty take on traditional Italian lasagna is a nod to the Gulf Coast. Increase the amount of Cajun seasoning if you like spicier fare. —Mary Lou Cook, Welches, Oregon
Have you ever wanted more from your lasagna? Of course not, Garfield taught us better than that! But this cajun chicken lasagna is a break from your usual routine. So keep on hating Mondays, but more importantly, keep on eating lasagna.
13/39
Air-Fryer Shrimp Po’Boys
Total Time
45 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband loves crispy coconut shrimp and po'boys, so I combined them with a spicy remoulade and voila! This air-fryer shrimp is a big hit with family and friends and is frequently requested. For catfish po'boys, substitute cornmeal for the coconut and add a few minutes to the cooking time. —Marla Clark, Albuquerque, New Mexico
This coconut shrimp Po’Boy is anything but shrimp-le. The spicy remoulade makes for a well rounded sandwich that’s great for lunch.
14/39
Zippy Praline Bacon
Total Time
20 min
Servings
20 pieces
From the Recipe Creator:
We live on a lake and have many overnight guests, so I serve brunch often. I'm always looking for recipes to enhance the usual bacon and eggs. My husband came home from a men's breakfast raving about this praline bacon. Just be sure to make more than you think you might need...everybody wants seconds. —Myrt Pflannkuche, Pell City, Alabama
Breakfast just got a whole lot zippier. This sweet and spicy bacon veers off the usual track of bacon and eggs. There’s even additional texture with finely chopped pecans.
15/39
Hush Puppies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
A fish dinner isn’t complete without a side of hush puppies, and my mom is well-known for this recipe. It's the best! —Mary McGuire, Graham, NC
Hush puppies are necessary for a fish dinner. A perfect side dish, you can’t go without the deep-fried cornmeal cakes during Fat Tuesday.
16/39
Louisiana Red Beans and Rice
Total Time
3 hours 20 min
Servings
8 servings (2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
Smoked turkey sausage and red pepper flakes add zip to this saucy, slow-cooked version of Louisiana red beans and rice. For extra heat, add red pepper sauce at the table. —Julia Bushree, Georgetown, Texas
Red beans and rice is traditionally made on Mondays (to use up the leftover hambone from Sunday’s dinner), but there’s no reason why you can’t have it on Tuesdays, too. This version uses smoked turkey sausage, instead of smoked sausage, and adds some extra spice with red pepper flakes.
17/39
Spicy Cajun Potato Salad
Total Time
30 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Here in the South we have a lot of get-togethers, and if you want your dish to be chosen over all of the rest,
it has to have a kick! This is a winner. —Amanda West, Sibley, Louisiana
Cajun seasoning is the star of the show in this potato salad. If that’s not enough kick, you can add pickled jalapeños, pimento olives or peppers!
18/39
Muffuletta Wellingtons
Total Time
45 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe is inspired by the muffuletta, a sandwich originating in New Orleans that's made with deli meat and olive salad. These are snack-sized sandwiches with all the goodness of a muffuletta baked inside pizza dough. You can substitute the meats for your favorites, like turkey or roast beef. —Chelsea Madren, Fullerton, California
Inspired by the muffuletta, these sandwiches are baked inside pizza dough. A traditional Beef Wellington is beef tenderloin cooked into a puff pastry. However, these sandwiches are a simplified snack-version of the notoriously hard to master dinner.
19/39
Crawfish Etouffee
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I like to serve this Cajun sensation when I entertain. Etouffee is typically served with shellfish over rice and is similar to gumbo. This dish has its roots in New Orleans and the bayou country of Louisiana. —Tamra Duncan, Lincoln, Arkansas
Étouffée is usually served with shellfish over rice, and this one is no different. This dish is similar to gumbo, except that the broth is thicker. You can serve it with bread to mop up the leftovers.
20/39
Bourbon Pecan Pralines
Total Time
40 min
Servings
1 pound (about 16 pralines)
From the Recipe Creator:
Like authentic pecan pralines found in New Orleans, these treats are sweet, crunchy and rich! —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
These pecan pralines are a simple candy that would be best served at a Mardi Gras party. They’re sweet, crunchy and rich!
21/39
Lasagna Rolls
Total Time
35 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My Italian lasagna roll-ups are not complicated; they require only basic ingredients to assemble. Prepared spaghetti sauce helps me save time and get dinner on the table sooner. —Mary Lee Thomas, Logansport, Indiana
My Italian lasagna roll-ups are not complicated; they require only basic ingredients to assemble. Prepared spaghetti sauce helps me save time and get dinner on the table sooner. —Mary Lee Thomas, Logansport, Indiana
22/39
Ragin’ Cajun Eggplant and Shrimp Skillet
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We have a large summer garden where lots of produce lingers into fall. That’s when we harvest our onions, bell peppers, tomatoes and eggplant—some of the key ingredients of this dish. —Barbara Hahn, Park Hills, Missouri
One person’s overabundant garden is another person’s new favorite meal. This recipe was born out of a summer harvest that stretched into fall and we could not be more thankful for the result. The key components to this dish are shrimp, eggplant and tomato. But it wouldn’t be cajun without bell peppers and red pepper flakes. (This is the difference between Cajun vs Creole.)
23/39
Bananas Foster Sundaes
Total Time
15 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I have wonderful memories of eating bananas Foster in New Orleans, and as a dietitian, wanted to find a healthier version. I combined the best of two recipes and added my own tweaks to create this southern treat. —Lisa Varner, Charleston, South Carolina
Bananas Foster is a New Orleans original made from bananas and vanilla ice cream with a rum-based sauce. This recipe includes some outliers like orange juice and nutmeg. Orange you glad I didn’t say banana (juice)?
24/39
Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When my fiance first made this chocolate bourbon pecan pie for me, I declared it to be the best pie ever! Creamy chocolate combines with crunchy nuts in a great, gooey filling. We can't get enough of this recipe inspired by Kentucky Derby bourbon chocolate pecan pie. —Tanya Taylor, Cary, North Carolina
This chocolate bourbon pie is the showstopper you didn’t know you were looking for. Prepare to dazzle your friends at your next party with this crunchy on the outside, gooey on the inside delight.
25/39
Cheddar Corn Biscuits
Total Time
40 min
Servings
16 biscuits
From the Recipe Creator:
Everyone asks for these cheesy corn biscuits, especially when I serve soup. If you're lucky and have leftovers, rewarm them and pass the butter and jam. —Susan Braun, Swift Current, Saskatchewan
Red Lobster has nothing on these cheesy corn biscuits. The dough can be made ahead of time and frozen for a truly authentic restaurant experience.
26/39
Louisiana Pecan Bacon Bread
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
1 loaf (16 pieces)
From the Recipe Creator:
One Christmas, the babysitter brought gifts for my daughter and a basket of goodies, including pecan bread. When I make this bread, I remember that kind soul. This bread won a blue ribbon at the Los Angeles County Fair in 1988, and I still bake it for family and friends. —Marina Castle-Kelley, Canyon Country, California
You’ve never had bread like this before. With pecans, bacon, onion, green pepper, sugar and cream cheese, you truly won’t know what to expect. This sweet and savory bread makes for a great gift and an even better conversation starter.
27/39
The Best Pecan Pie
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Pecan pie is a Thanksgiving tradition in my house, and I was on a quest to create the ultimate version. This might be it!& mdash;James Schend, Taste Recipes Deputy Editor
Pecan pie is a Thanksgiving tradition in my house, and I was on a quest to create the ultimate version. This might be it!—James Schend, Taste Recipes Deputy Editor
28/39
Banana Beignet Bites
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
When I was a little girl, my grandmother took me aside one day and taught me how to make her famous banana beignets. Although we made them during the holidays, they're pretty fantastic any time of the year. —Amy Downing, South Riding, Virginia
A fun take on traditional beignets, these are more rounded and banana flavored! Great for kids, or adults who like bananas, they’re ready in just 30 minutes.
29/39
Shrimp Chowder
Total Time
3 hours 45 min
Servings
12 servings (3 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
I simmer my rich and creamy shrimp soup in the slow cooker. Because the chowder is ready in less than four hours, it can be prepared in the afternoon and served to dinner guests that night. —Will Zunio, Gretna, Louisiana
Nothing says Fat Tuesday like a shrimp chowder. This creamy and rich soup will have you ready for a nap. The only thing that can make this better is a side of garlic bread to go with it.
30/39
Butterscotch-Pecan Bread Pudding
Total Time
3 hours 15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Bread pudding fans just might hoard this yummy butterscotch version. Toppings like whipped cream and a butterscotch drizzle make this dessert absolutely irresistible. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas
You’re not bread-y for how often you’ll crave this slow cooker dessert. Toppings like whipped cream and a butterscotch drizzle make this dessert absolutely irresistible.
31/39
Cornbread Casserole
Total Time
35 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Since my husband likes spicy foods, I frequently sprinkle chopped jalapeno peppers over half of this casserole just for him. I often double the recipe when entertaining and always end up with empty pans. It is that good! —Carrina Cooper, McAlpin, Florida
This freezer-friendly casserole is perfect for a party or potluck. Sprinkle chopped jalapeño peppers over this side for an extra bit of spice.
32/39
Cajun Crab Burgers
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's my take on the traditional crab cake. I like to top my sandwiches with Cajun remoulade and pile spicy baked sweet potato fries on the side. —Athena Russell, Florence, South Carolina
A crab cake as a burger with cajun remoulade is nothing short of ingenious. This is the perfect Fat Tuesday lunch.
33/39
Shrimp and Grits
Total Time
35 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A southern specialty sometimes called breakfast shrimp, this shrimp and grits recipe tastes fantastic for brunch or dinner, or any time company’s coming. It’s down-home comfort food at its finest. —Mandy Rivers, Lexington, South Carolina
34/39
Crazy Delicious Baby Back Ribs
Total Time
5 hours 30 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband craves a good ribs recipe, so we cook them multiple ways. This low and slow method with a tangy sauce is the best we’ve found. —Jan Whitworth, Roebuck, South Carolina
These tangy BBQ baby back ribs are exactly the type of fatty meats that embody Fat Tuesday. There’s a reason why they’re noted to be “crazy delicious”.
35/39
Bananas Foster Baked French Toast
Total Time
55 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Mmm…bananas Foster for breakfast! This yummy baked French toast serves up all the taste of the spectacular dessert in fine fashion. —Laurence Nasson, Hingham Massachusetts
Nothing beats a dessert that’s thinly disguised as a breakfast food. With challah or egg bread, this Bananas Foster French Toast is pillow soft and great for a Mardi Gras breakfast.
36/39
Coconut-Bourbon Sweet Potatoes
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
14 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
What is it about sweet potatoes that unnerve some people? For those who firmly state they hate a yam because of the color or texture, the rich addition of coconut, bourbon and spices might just win them over. —Rebecca Anderson, Driftwood, Texas
Coconut, bourbon and pecans are the driving force behind your new favorite dessert casserole. It’s the combination of yams and pecan pie that maybe you weren’t looking for, but now you definitely need.
37/39
Oyster Cheese Appetizer Log
Total Time
20 min
Servings
32 servings (2 logs)
From the Recipe Creator:
When you say "holiday tradition" around our house, this appetizer comes to mind immediately. Every winter, I make lots of cheese logs and freeze them for when I'm expecting company or need to take food to someone's home. The blend of smoked oysters, chili powder, nuts and cream cheese tastes good-even people who don't like oysters may enjoy this interesting appetizer. —William Tracy, Jerseyville, Illinois
Imagine all the joy of a yule log cake but as an oyster cheese appetizer. It’s smokey, nutty and cheesy. Frankly, it’ll blow any cheese board out of the water.
38/39
Southern Loaded Sweet Potatoes
Total Time
6 hours 15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
For a taste of a southern classic, we make sweet potatoes stuffed with pulled pork and coleslaw and manage to sidestep the calorie overload. —Amy Burton, Cary, North Carolina
This southern classic stuffs sweet potatoes with pork and coleslaw. Don’t make any spud-den movements as sweet and savory fight for dominance in this compact dinner.
39/39
Grandma’s Cajun Chicken & Spaghetti
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I’m originally from Louisiana, where my grandma spoke Cajun French as she taught me her spicy chicken spaghetti. —Brenda Melancon, McComb, Mississippi
This spicy chicken spaghetti is a light pasta with heavy flavor. It’s only missing bell peppers to complete the Cajun holy trinity of onions, bell peppers and celery.
