Longing for a taste of the Big Easy but can’t hop on a flight? No problem!
These 23 New Orleans recipes will bring the party to your kitchen with flavors that are pure NOLA magic, from bananas foster to muffuletta.
There are few places in the world that can match the incredible energy, music, and food found in New Orleans. The cuisine is just so vibrant and full of life that picking favorites feels almost impossible.
I spent a long time narrowing down the options to bring you these 22 New Orleans recipes that truly capture the spirit of the city.
1. Bananas Foster
You can have this delectable dessert ready in about 15 minutes with only seven ingredients. The bananas are sweet and tropical.
A dark rum and ice cream sauce adds even more complexity and sweetness to the dish. It tastes absolutely fantastic.
2. New Orleans Gumbo
You have never truly had gumbo until you have tasted the New Orleans version. That is just a fact. The chefs there make it unlike anyone else.
This recipe features tender chicken and juicy flavorful sausage. The shrimp adds the perfect amount of umami flavor. You will find plenty of herbs and veggies in there too.
3. New Orleans Baked Mac and Cheese
You can call this baked spaghetti or mac and cheese or anything else you like. This baked dish is creamy and cheesy with a little bit of spice.
It is not quite like the mac and cheese you are used to. It is also not exactly spaghetti. The dish is unique and hard to describe but excellent nonetheless.
4. Brabant Potatoes
These potatoes are buttery and packed with garlic flavor. They require just seven ingredients and two of those are simply salt and pepper. You can have them ready in only 30 minutes.
They have crispy skins with soft tender insides. I enjoy adding diced scallions to mine as well.
5. New Orleans Hurricane Cocktail
The Sazerac might be the official cocktail but the hurricane is incredibly popular too. Every bar in town makes a mean one. You do not need a bar when you can make it at home.
All you need is light and dark rum along with lime and orange juices. Add some passion fruit juice and grenadine plus fruit for garnish. A couple of these will get you tipsy in no time.
6. New Orleans Beignets
These sweet rolls put donuts to shame. They are deep fried and covered in powdered sugar. The dough takes some time to rise but the recipe is not complicated.
You will love the results. Some people serve them with jams or chocolate sauce but I think they are perfect just as they are.
7. New Orleans Muffuletta
A great muffuletta needs four key things. You need good bread and tender meat. It also requires the perfect selection of cheeses and a crisp zesty olive salad.
This recipe gets everything exactly right. If you make the olive salad ahead of time you can assemble the sandwich in just 10 minutes.
8. New Orleans French Bread
French bread might not look impressive but it is super tasty. The outside is a perfect crispy golden brown.
The inside is dense and pillowy and highly absorbent. It is the ideal bread for dipping in garlic butter or sopping up gumbo.
9. New Orleans Pralines
Pralines are a chewy and nutty New Orleans delicacy. They are exceptionally sweet. Not everyone can get them right but this recipe helps you make excellent ones without too much trouble.
Do not worry if you mess up the first couple of times. You just get to eat the mistakes and try again.
10. Shrimp Po’Boy
Most of the work for these sandwiches involves preparing the creamy Cajun sauce. Even that part is not very hard.
It takes about 20 minutes if you have to cook the shrimp first. It is just a matter of assembling if your shrimp is pre cooked. The combination of bread and sauce and shrimp tastes phenomenal.
11. Dirty Rice
The stuff you buy in a box is not real Louisiana dirty rice. Authentic versions need beef and pork sausage and veggies. This recipe is the real deal.
It takes only 30 minutes to make and requires minimal hands on work. It makes a great side dish or a meal on its own.
12. New Orleans King Cake
No list of New Orleans recipes is complete without this Carnival season tradition. It is a light and colorful cake.
You will love the gorgeous swirl inside. The multi colored sugared glaze is very attractive. Do not forget to add the baby for good luck.
13. Sweet Cornbread
This cornbread comes out sweet and crumbly. All the ingredients are common pantry staples. You can make it without any trouble.
Add a topping of syrup or honey for an extra sweet treat. It tastes great with savory foods like gumbo or buttermilk.
14. New Orleans Po’Boy Rolls
You cannot make a proper po’boy without the correct rolls for the job. This recipe shows you precisely how to make them. You can create these warm fluffy rolls using only six everyday ingredients.
15. French Quarter Cheese Spread
This decadent spread is sweet and salty and crunchy all at once. The cheese is smooth and rich.
Sugared pecans on top take it to a whole other level. You can serve it with crackers or fruit slices or veggies.
16. Crawfish Beignets
We typically think of beignets as sweet desserts but these are nothing of the sort. They are deep fried but that is where the resemblance ends.
These are full of crunchy seafood goodness. Every bite is packed with shrimp and crawfish and cayenne pepper. The Cajun dipping sauce is tart and zesty.
17. Red Beans and Rice
Authentic red beans and rice takes about an hour to make. It is super yummy and well worth the preparation time.
The dish is earthy and herby with precisely the correct amount of heat. You can add sausage or leave it out. This is one dish you do not want to miss.
18. New Orleans Barbecue Shrimp
This dish is entirely about the sauce and spices for me. The shrimp is totally secondary.
The spice mixture includes paprika and cumin and ancho chili powder. The sauce features butter and garlic and lemon juice. Trust me when I say the meat does not matter in this dish.
19. New Orleans Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie
The name says it all with this famous dessert. It is a warm flaky pie crust filled with chocolate and bourbon and pecans.
It is like a chocolate pie and pecan pie mixed with a stiff glass of bourbon. Take this to a family gathering and you will come home with an empty pan.
20. Corn Maque Choux
This spicy and creamy corn dish is a staple at most Mardi Gras celebrations. You can make it in the comfort of your own home with this recipe.
All you need is corn and butter and peppers and onions. Add some heavy cream and Cajun seasoning. You can serve it in a little over half an hour.
21. New Orleans Grillades and Grits
Tender juicy beef cutlets are served with a thick tomato herb sauce. Sauteed vegetables sit over a bed of warm grits. Just thinking about it makes my tummy rumble.
It takes some time to pull together but the first bite proves it was worth it. This hearty meal will fill you right up.