Prepare your tastebuds for an explosion of Southern charm!
I’m taking you on a trip to Louisiana with 13 of the most amazing Cajun side dishes you’ve ever tasted.
These recipes are bursting with flavor and spice, each ready to steal the spotlight at your next meal.
1. Cajun Coleslaw
If you love a fresh vegetable blend in this recipe, feel free to buy it from the store to save you some time. While the ingredient list for the dressing might appear long, the odds are that you already have some ketchup, lemon juice, mustard, and even Worcestershire sauce hanging out in your fridge.
The key to keeping the dressing smooth is gradually adding the oil and constantly mixing as you whisk everything else. Letting it sit for about an hour before serving is a great way to have the flavors blend together well.
2. Beignets
You can’t say that you’ve truly lived until you’ve sampled a fresh batch of beignets from Cafe du Monde. These doughnut squares are deep-fried and completely covered in powdered sugar for a sinful treat.
I love that they don’t need to have perfect cuts, as their random edges are just as good as their little squares. Even though you can fill them if you want, they are so good alone, and you won’t need anything extra, except maybe a coffee and some jazz.
3. Red Beans and Rice
I simply had to include what may seem like a main dish. The simplicity of red beans, cooked in the sacred Cajun trinity of celery, onion, and peppers, is absolutely delicious, not to mention the smoky andouille sausage.
Like the recipe suggests, I enjoy making mine with sausage cooked all the way through so that the flavor makes its way into the beans. Try mashing some of the beans and stirring them around to thicken the consistency.
4. Cajun Chicken Wings
Spicy foods are my obsession, but hot sauce can be way too acidic for me. This is probably why I’m such a big fan of Cajun spice because you get a warm sensation without the tang.
If you have the time, marinating your wings overnight helps achieve the most flavor.
5. Cajun Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Can’t we all agree that fries are the greatest food in existence?
If you still had doubts, these Cajun sweet potato fries are sure to influence your thinking because they are anything but boring, thanks to garlic salt, paprika, oregano, thyme, and cayenne pepper. Take my word for it when I suggest you make a double batch.
6. Crispy Fried Cajun Chicken Tenders
No matter how old I get, chicken tenders will always be a guilty pleasure. Then again, I do sometimes think about just exactly which part of the chicken they actually come from. This recipe takes away the guessing game and amps up the flavor.
You should always add your spices to the flour before you coat them in your egg mixture, and dusting on some extra Cajun spice right after they come out of the hot oil is also recommended. Try serving with Cajun ranch dressing if you can handle the spice!
7. Cajun Hush Puppies
Hush puppies consist of small, round, deep-fried bites typically made with a cornmeal batter, whether sweet or savory, with ingredients ranging from corn and onion to sweet potato. Once your batter has a smooth texture, it’s really as easy as dropping in spoonfuls into some hot oil.
Just be sure not to overcrowd the pan, and be sure to cook only until golden. If you like more flavor, try tossing the hot puppies in some Cajun seasoning before you serve them.
8. Cajun Corn Maque Choux
Because I love corn so much, I put it in as many things as I possibly can, like even cake. While I enjoy it with just salt and butter, I also like finding new ways of serving this crisp and sweet veggie.
Maque Choux offers a harmonious blend of corn, peppers, and onion with just enough heat courtesy of jalapenos and Cajun spice. This vibrant side dish is cooked in bacon fat for even more flavor.
9. Grilled Cajun Shrimp Skewers
Given that they have a mild taste, shrimp pair perfectly with Cajun seasoning. Shrimp can marinate in just 30 minutes and cook in less than 10, so you don’t have to worry about the seasoning burning since the cook time is so short.
10. Louisiana Dirty Rice
There’s a well-worn tradition down in Louisiana that involves doing laundry with red beans and rice on Mondays. Over 15 years ago, I arrived at my New Orleans hostel for the first time and was immediately handed a big plate of red beans with dirty rice with a beer on the side. It was then I knew I’d found the right place.
While “dirty rice” may not sound too appealing, it’s full of ground pork and beef with plenty of celery, peppers, onion, and herbs. Although it’s usually made with chicken livers, you can skip them and add sausage instead!
11. Slow Cooker Cajun Ham & Beans
I’m not sure why we don’t have beans as more of a side dish because they’re cheap, filling, and super flavorful when you cook them right. Even though using dried beans will keep the cost down, if you want a faster version, try a variety of canned beans.
The addition of diced ham makes for a very pleasant salty and chunky addition with great texture, but you really can’t go wrong if you choose to use bacon or sausage as an alternative.
12. Cajun Crab Dip
This creamy dip comes loaded with horseradish, cream cheese, sour cream, and crab meat. Adding heat is easy since it features Cajun spice and hot sauce, and the whole thing is served hot.
Because it’s so creamy, you might think it needs extra hot sauce, but the horseradish packs plenty of spice. Even still, you can always pour a little more on top for those hot sauce diehards.
13. Cajun Summer Vegetables
If you have the same mindset as me, then you enjoy the idea of roasting veggies but are often saddened by a bland dish. If this is the case, the good news is that Cajun spice can bring some excitement to even the most boring dish.
To keep the spice from burning, be sure to toss your veggies at the end.