Mardi Gras Appetizers to Celebrate the Carnival Season

Recipe: Mini Muffulettas

You can easily make these Mini Muffulettas the day before the party. Just assemble, place in zip-top plastic freezer bags, and refrigerate overnight. Store-bought craft paper and simple twine create clever sandwich wrappers.

Recipe: Mini Crab Cakes With Garlic-Chive Sauce

Garlic-Chive Sauce and a squeeze of lemon juice add zesty flavor to Mini Crab Cakes.

Recipe: Creole Shrimp Deviled Eggs

These deviled eggs have a Creole flavor and are perfect as a Mardi Gras appetizer.

Recipe: Shrimp Boil Skewers

These mini shrimp skewers pack all the flavor of a Creole shrimp boil into a few bites.

Recipe: West Indies Crab Salad

This recipe originated in Mobile, Alabama, the city where Mardi Gras began.

Recipe: Crispy Andouille Hush Puppies

You're going to love this twist on classic hush puppies that has a bit of a kick from Andouille sausage.

Recipe: Easy BBQ Shrimp

The key to this easy shrimp appetizer is in the tangy marinade.

Recipe: Muffuletta Deviled Eggs

There's always a welcome place for a tray of deviled eggs at Southern parties, and this sandwich-inspired spin is delicious.

Recipe: Lump Crab Mornay

This creamy dip will bring you right to the bayou.

Recipe: Oysters Rockefeller

Created by Jules Alciatore at the famed New Orleans restaurant Antoine's, Oysters Rockefeller dates back to 1899.

Recipe: Shrimp-Stuffed Mirlitons

There is actually a festival in New Orleans dedicated to the mirliton, and if you haven't tried this interesting squash, this recipe is the perfect primer.

Recipe: Grilled Cajun Shrimp Kabobs with Sausage

Adapt these quick skewers to an appetizer portion with mini skewers.

Recipe: Crawfish Cakes

This spicy Louisiana riff on crab cakes will be a fun surprise for guests. Make your crawfish cakes mini and serve with toothpicks for a grab-and-go appetizer.

Recipe: Roasted Oysters with Bacon-Saltine Topping

Bacon is an amazing complement to Gulf oysters, which look beautiful on a platter with coarse sea salt to prevent them from wobbling around and retain heat.

Recipe: Shrimp Rémoulade Deviled Eggs

Southerners will never turn down a platter of deviled eggs, and this Creole version was made for Mardi Gras.

Recipe: Crawfish Dip

The slow cooker makes hosting so much easier because you can both make and serve this dip in it.

Recipe: Crab Cake Hush Puppies

If you thought hush puppies couldn't get any more addicting, try this crowd-pleasing recipe.

Recipe: Spicy Shrimp with Jalapeño Cornbread and Aïoli

This incredible dish from JoAnn Clevenger of Upperline in New Orleans can be adapted to a mini appetizer version by making small portions and sticking them with toothpicks.

Recipe: Mini Crab Cakes with Cajun Sauce

The best part about these pretty little crab cakes is that they can be prepared up to five days in advance.

Recipe: Deviled Crab Melts

If you love crab but are burnt out on crab cakes, these crunchy crostinis are our new favorite way to serve it.

Recipe: Shrimp-Okra-and-Sausage Kebabs

Sprinkled with Cajun seasoning and brushed with a hot sauce mixture, your Louisiana friends will love these kebabs, which you can put on mini skewers for easy serving.

Recipe: Creamy Crab Dip

Get your seafood fix with an updated version of your retro crab dip recipe.

Recipe: Shrimp with Honey-Garlic Sauce

Skip the shrimp cocktails and go straight for this easy seafood appetizer that's ready in just 15 minutes.

Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Lettuce Wraps

These lettuce wraps are the ideal light, and refreshing, appetizer for your Mardi Gras menu, and they only take 20 minutes to prepare.

Recipe: Shrimp on Seasoned Crackers with Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese

Now this is one flavor-packed snack. What better way to welcome your guests?!

Recipe: Hot Crab-and-Artichoke Dip

This dip is coming in hot, but once it hits the table, it won't be around for long.

Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp Skewers with Chipotle Comeback Sauce

You can prepare these skewers and the sauce a day in advance so all there is to do before your party is fire up the grill.

Recipe: Shrimp-and-Andouille Gumbo Dip

Classic gumbo is turned into a praise-worthy appetizer in this warm dip.

Recipe: Old Bay Remoulade with Crudités and Shrimp

Serve fresh veggies and peel-and-eat shrimp with Ivy's Old Bay Remoulade for a light, tasty appetizer as an ode to summer days by the water.

Recipe: Creamy Crab Dip with Peppadews

Be sure to gently fold the crab meat into the cream cheese mixture so that the chunks of crab are preserved.

Recipe: Crispy-Shrimp Salad with Avocado Dressing

You may argue that a salad with protein is filling enough to be a main course, but we think that a small portion of this salad paired with the right entrée (like our Andouille Sausage and Smoked Chicken Gumbo) is a match made in heaven.

Recipe: Pickled Shrimp-and-Citrus Endive Cups

Our Test Kitchen recommends using red and yellow Belgian endive to make these elegant morsels pop on any appetizer plate.

Recipe: Shrimp Cakes

Your guests may be expecting crab cakes, but one bite of these cakes will be a wonderful surprise of shrimp and a little heat from paprika.

Recipe: Creamy Shrimp Dip with Crispy Wonton Chips

This is certainly not your average party dip.

Recipe: Curried Shrimp Tarts

Poppable, creamy, and oh-so-tasty, these shrimp tarts are the missing piece in your appetizer spread.

Recipe: Cheesy-Spinach Crab Dip

If you like your dips hot and spicy, increase the amount of ground red pepper in this recipe, or add crushed red pepper flakes.

Recipe: Mini Shrimp Rolls

Everyone will be excited when you bring these sliders as an appetizer. Shrimp salad gets a bit of an upgrade on a toasty roll with fresh toppings.

Recipe: Garlic Butter-Roasted Shrimp Cocktail

Swap out your cold shrimp platter for warm roasted shrimp in a garlicky butter drizzle. It's even better when paired with zesty cocktail sauce.

Recipe: Shrimp and Bacon Salad Sliders

We've upgraded the traditional shrimp salad with chopped basil, fresh lemon and orange juices, fresh orange zest, and Old Bay seasoning.

Recipe: Crab Cake Bites with Old Bay Mayo, Chive, and Lemon

Trust us, the Old Bay Mayo takes these cakes to the next level.