5 Delicious and Easy Cajun Recipes to Try at Home

Delicious cajun recipes that you can easily make at home are becoming increasingly popular. It is easy to recreate the cajun flavors spice lovers prefer. Spruce up your home cooking with these cajun favorites that are sure to make your mouth water!

When your family is craving something to eat that is hearty, bold, and full of flavor, learning how to make cajun food at home is a great idea to create exciting meals. Cajun food started in Louisiana where a mix of French, West African, and Spanish cuisines came together.

Cajun home cooking is popular amongst those that like well-spiced foods that are full of flavors such as paprika, garlic, cayenne pepper, and other spices. Cooking at home can become a bit boring when you run out of ideas. Knowing how to cook cajun recipes at home will certainly spice up your family meals!

Let’s take a look at five easy cajun recipes you can easily make at home!

1. Authentic New Orleans Gumbo

Nothing says cajun than an authentic gumbo. It is an amazing stew composed of dark roux, shrimp, chicken, sausage, and vegetables. It has a depth of flavor and it is very hearty, perfect for cold days.

The key to this homemade cajun recipe is making the roux with flour and oil. Stir these two ingredients in a pot for about 30-45 minutes until you achieve a dark brown muddy consistency, almost like a dough.

Pay close attention to your constant stirring to avoid burning the roux. This important step is what gives gumbo its rich flavor and thick gravy. Take your time, it will be well worth the wait! You can make the roux ahead of time so that when you are ready to cook, your dish will take less time.

Once your roux is done, you can add chopped vegetables such as onions, celery, okra, parsley, and bell peppers. Add chicken broth and chicken meat to the veggies and start to boil with cajun seasoning, salt, pepper, and garlic.

In a separate pan, brown the sausage until golden on both sides. When the chicken is just about done, add the shrimp and finally the browned sausage. Serve with cornbread or another type of bread to soak up that delicious gravy! You may serve it over rice or a side of mashed potatoes.

Gumbo is even more deliciously eaten as leftovers because all the flavors will become stronger as they marinate together longer. It is also among the easy cajun recipes for home cooking.

2. Creamy and Cheesy Cajun Shrimp and Grits

Since Louisiana has the gulf coast, you can expect lots of seafood in cajun dishes. The Shrimp and grits recipe is a cajun favorite that is great at any time of day, even breakfast! Once you start making this recipe, you will start to crave it often.

It is creamy with lots of spice, which makes the combination amazingly good. If you are not into grits, you can try polenta or creamy rice such as risotto.

Prepare the shrimp by peeling and deveining them. Sprinkle cajun seasoning on them and set them aside. Since the shrimp cooks very quickly, start by cooking the cheesy and creamy grits first. If you don’t want to have dairy, there are plant-based dairy substitutes that work great.

Cook the grits in stock or water to a boil. Stir continually for about 10 minutes until the grits absorb all the liquid. Then, add salt, pepper, butter, cheese, and cream.
Cover the pan so that the steam keeps the grits soft.

In a separate oiled or buttered pan on medium heat, add the seasoned shrimp and stir fry with minced garlic until they turn pink. This only takes a few minutes and they are easy to overcook, so make sure to get them off the pan as soon as the translucence is gone and they turn pink.

Add lemon juice to the shrimp and get them off the heat. On a plate or wide bowl, serve the grits and add the shrimp on top. Top off the dish with parsley or green onions.

There are many variations to this dish, so feel free to get creative with your favorite ingredients. Shrimp and grits can be eaten alone or as part of a big cajun feast.

3. Jumping Jambalaya

This is hands-down one of the most widely eaten cajun dishes. It jumps with flavor, it is easy to make, and you can customize it with your favorite proteins. In this recipe, we will use shrimp, Andouille sausage, and chicken.

Jambalaya is a creole dish that is full of zesty flavor that everyone will enjoy. Since it has rice and a combination of meats and vegetables, it is compared to the Spanish paella. It is a perfect dish for a gathering and it is visually impressive when put on a large serving dish.

To make a classic Jambalaya recipe, sauté the Andouille sausage and chicken with cajun seasoning until lightly browned. Once it is done, transfer it to a plate and set it aside. Then in the same pan that has built flavor sauté the vegetables including onions, celery, jalapeño, garlic, bell peppers.

Once the vegetables are soft, add the rice with stock or water and more cajun seasoning along with salt and pepper to taste. Add crushed tomatoes, bay leaves, cayenne pepper, and thyme. Stir everything and simmer for about 30 to 35 minutes.

Prevent the mixture from burning by stirring it every five minutes until the rice is tender. Then, add the shrimp and okra to cook for an additional five minutes until the shrimp are opaque and pink.

Finish by adding browned Andouille sausage, chicken, and lemon juice. Give it a final stir and taste it to make sure the seasoning is just right. You may add more cajun season, salt, and pepper as needed.

Once served, you can garnish the dish with green onions, parsley, or any of your favorite toppings. For a vegetarian variation, you can substitute the meats with mushrooms, squash, and other hearty vegetables.

Jambalaya can be accompanied by a fresh salad, corn on the cob, and cornbread. It is sure to be a hit on your table!

4. Louisiana Deviled Crab Cakes

When you bite into one of these crab cakes, you may want to move to Louisiana! Crabmeat is very widely used in cajun cuisine, giving foods a wonderful texture and tons of flavor.

These crab cakes can be served as an appetizer or as the main dish accompanied by other items.

From sour cream and mustard to Worcestershire sauce and cayenne, there’s no doubt these little cakes will pack a flavor punch. They make an excellent starter or can be served for dinner with a zesty side salad.

Start with a buttered pan on low heat and sauté onions, green peppers, and celery. Stir occasionally for about eight minutes until vegetables are tender.

In a large bowl, combine sour cream, mustard, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce, egg, and salt and whisk together. Add scallions and the cooked vegetables along with 1/4 cup of saltine crumbs.

Carefully fold in the crabmeat and form patties that are about three inches in diameter. Crust the cakes with more saltine crumbs to achieve a crispy outer layer.

In a clean pan, heat oil over moderate heat and pan-fry the crab cakes until they are golden brown on both sides, it will take about eight minutes. It is important for you to only flip them once when you see the edges turn brown.

Serve with tartar sauce and lemon wedges. This is a dish that is certainly classified as comfort food. It is quick and easy to make and kids love it!

5. Cajun-Style Fried Deviled Eggs

Another cajun favorite is frying deviled eggs. They are quite visually impressive, which makes them great for dinner parties served as hors d’oeuvres. They are crispy, creamy, and spicy. Your mouth will be very happy with the variety of flavors and textures.

Start with peeled hard-boiled eggs and separate the yolks from the whites. Add the yolks to a mixing bowl and whip them with mayo, mustard, cajun seasoning, relish, and hot sauce. Whisk the whole mixture and smooth and creamy. Cover and set the mixture aside in the refrigerator.

In a clean mixing bowl, add Panko bread crumbs, cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Toss together until all dry ingredients are evenly distributed. Prepare the egg whites by tossing them in flour until fully coated, shaking off any excess.

Next, take the floured egg whites and dunk them in beaten eggs that you will place in a different bowl. Then, coat them evenly with the breading mixture, being very generous with the bread crumbs.

In a deep pot, add about two to three inches of frying oil or you may use a deep fryer. Be sure the oil reaches a temperature of 350 degrees. Gently add the egg whites and fry for about two minutes on each side or until they appear crispy and golden brown.

Take them out of the oil and place them on a plate lined with a paper towel to let the excess oil drain. Don’t crowd the pan when frying them, instead, make them in small batches of about four at a time.

Once they are all fried and drained, pipe in the yolk mixture and sprinkle them with paprika. Garnish with parsley and serve them hot and fresh.

These eggs are crispy, creamy, spicy, and just plain delicious! Your dinner guests are going to likely ask for more.

So, there you have it! Five easy cajun recipes that will spice up your kitchen. Get creative with variations to find just the right recipe for you and your family. These dishes can be easily be transformed into plant-based recipes with a little imagination.

The key to easy cajun cooking at home is the spices, the rest is up to you, so don’t be afraid to create your unique versions of these delicious foods. Cheers!

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