Mardi Gras Appetizers to Celebrate the Carnival Season
Mini Muffulettas
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.
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Mini Crab Cakes With Garlic-Chive Sauce
Recipe: Mini Crab Cakes With Garlic-Chive Sauce
Garlic-Chive Sauce and a squeeze of lemon juice add zesty flavor to Mini Crab Cakes.
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Creole Shrimp Deviled Eggs
Recipe: Creole Shrimp Deviled Eggs
These deviled eggs have a Creole flavor and are perfect as a Mardi Gras appetizer.
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Shrimp Boil Skewers
Recipe: Shrimp Boil Skewers
These mini shrimp skewers pack all the flavor of a Creole shrimp boil into a few bites.
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West Indies Crab Salad
Recipe: West Indies Crab Salad
This recipe originated in Mobile, Alabama, the city where Mardi Gras began.
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Crispy Andouille Hush Puppies
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.
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Easy BBQ Shrimp
Recipe: Easy BBQ Shrimp
The key to this easy shrimp appetizer is in the tangy marinade.
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Muffuletta Deviled Eggs
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.
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Oysters Rockefeller
Recipe: Oysters Rockefeller
Created by Jules Alciatore at the famed New Orleans restaurant Antoine’s, Oysters Rockefeller dates back to 1899.
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Shrimp-Stuffed Mirlitons
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.
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Grilled Cajun Shrimp Kabobs with Sausage
Recipe: Grilled Cajun Shrimp Kabobs with Sausage
Adapt these quick skewers to an appetizer portion with mini skewers.
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Crawfish Cakes
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.
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Roasted Oysters with Bacon-Saltine Topping
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.
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Shrimp Rémoulade Deviled Eggs
Recipe: Shrimp Rémoulade Deviled Eggs
Southerners will never turn down a platter of deviled eggs, and this Creole version was made for Mardi Gras.
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Crawfish Dip
Recipe: Crawfish Dip
The slow cooker makes hosting so much easier because you can both make and serve this dip in it.
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Crab Cake Hush Puppies
Recipe: Crab Cake Hush Puppies
If you thought hush puppies couldn’t get any more addicting, try this recipe out.
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Spicy Shrimp with Jalapeño Cornbread and Aïoli
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.
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Mini Crab Cakes with Cajun Sauce
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.
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Deviled Crab Melts
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.
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Shrimp-Okra-and-Sausage Kebabs
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.
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Creamy Crab Dip
Recipe: Creamy Crab Dip
Get your seafood fix with an updated version of your retro crab dip recipe.