Cajun Thanksgiving Menu Guide

A perfectly roasted Louisiana turducken, topped with a sprig of thyme and half a lemon, surrounded by roasted potatoes, on a neatly set Thanksgiving table.

Enjoy a delicious Louisiana favorite — turducken — this Thanksgiving.

A deliciously golden pecan pie with crunchy pecans on top.

Pecan pie, the star of any Southern holiday table.

At a Glance

Popular dishes for a Louisiana Thanksgiving include turducken, crawfish mac and cheese, crab dip, bayou chicken, pork chops and other Cajun and Creole favorites.
Find delicious Louisiana dessert recipes for rum-soaked pound cake, bread pudding, pecan pie, spiced fig cake and crème brûlée.

Looking to jazz up the menu this Thanksgiving? In Louisiana, we give our holiday meals a little something extra — bold flavors, family traditions and plenty of Cajun flair. Read on for our top Louisiana Thanksgiving recipes.

Cajun Thanksgiving Breakfast Ideas

If Thanksgiving breakfast is your thing, try these buttermilk biscuits with andouille cream gravy or a Louisiana delicacy — shrimp and grits. Serve them with a hot cup of chicory-spiced coffee from New Orleans' own Cafe du Monde. Be sure to save room for a big lunch or dinner!

Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipes

Kick things off with a rich Creole crab dip that guests will love, or get fancy and serve these easy-to-make chargrilled oysters with artichoke-garlic cream sauce. Warm up with a cup of delicious Louisiana crab and brie soup, a flavorful mirliton and shrimp soup or a classic chicken and sausage gumbo. These are perfect starters that will be sure to hold you and your guests over until the next course.

A golden buttermilk biscuit, cut in half, topped with gravy, green onions and flecks of black pepper.

Buttermilk biscuits with andouille gravy

A yellow bowl filled to the brim with a milky white soup, topped with lumps of crab meat, herbs and a slice of crusty bread.

Crab and brie soup

A tender chicken breast stuffed with flavorful crawfish, served with a creamy, herby sauce and topped with herbs.

Crawfish-stuffed chicken

Rum-soaked pound cake

Must-Try Cajun Thanksgiving Entrées

While the guests snack on appetizers, it’s time to focus on preparing the main event: the turducken. Turduckens have only been on the holiday menu since the ‘80s and have already warmed the hearts (and stomachs) of countless Louisiana families. The original is believed to have originated in Maurice at Hebert’s Specialty Meats but was brought to fame on a national level by Chef Paul Prudhomme. Not a fan of turkey? Try these pork chops glazed with Louisiana-made Steen’s Cane Syrup or crawfish-stuffed bayou chicken.

Best Cajun Thanksgiving Sides

We all know that Thanksgiving is really about the sides. Pair your masterpiece with a jazzed-up cracklin' cornbread, or try out a Southern holiday favorite — oyster dressing, courtesy of legendary Chef Leah Chase. Get a good helping of crawfish macaroni and cheese and round out your meal with an extra side of shrimp stuffed portobello mushrooms or these buttery, flaky oyster patties.

Delicious Dessert Recipes

After the main course, sweeten things up with a rum-soaked pound cake (we suggest using a local rum), dazzle your guests with a coffee and chicory crème brûlée, enjoy the flavors of the season with spiced fig cake or indulge in a cream cheese and chocolate chip bread pudding — or stick to the classics with a pecan pie.

Cajun Thanksgiving Leftover Ideas

These tasty Louisiana treats don’t have to end after the meal is over! Turn your leftover turkey bones into a stock for turkey gumbo that’ll keep you warm through the new year.

Want even more menu ideas? Check our recipe collection and the Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board for more delicious recipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What foods are traditionally served for Thanksgiving in Louisiana?

A Louisiana Thanksgiving can combine traditional holiday favorites with Cajun and Creole flavors. Popular choices include turkey or turducken, oyster dressing, cracklin' cornbread, gumbo, crawfish macaroni and cheese, seafood dishes, pecan pie and bread pudding.

What is a turducken?

A turducken is a dish made by layering a chicken inside a duck inside a turkey, often with a flavorful stuffing or dressing between the layers.

What should I serve for a Cajun Thanksgiving breakfast?

For a Louisiana-inspired Thanksgiving breakfast, consider buttermilk biscuits with andouille cream gravy or shrimp and grits, paired with chicory-spiced coffee.

What appetizers are popular for a Louisiana Thanksgiving?

Louisiana Thanksgiving appetizers can include Creole crab dip, chargrilled oysters, crab and brie soup, mirliton and shrimp soup, and chicken and sausage gumbo.

What are the best Cajun Thanksgiving side dishes?

Popular Louisiana-inspired Thanksgiving sides include oyster dressing, cracklin' cornbread, crawfish macaroni and cheese, shrimp-stuffed portobello mushrooms and oyster patties.

What desserts are popular for Thanksgiving in Louisiana?

Pecan pie is a classic choice for a Louisiana Thanksgiving, while other options include rum-soaked pound cake, coffee and chicory crème brûlée, spiced fig cake and cream cheese and chocolate chip bread pudding.

What Louisiana ingredients can I use to give Thanksgiving dishes a Cajun twist?

Ingredients commonly associated with Louisiana cooking can include andouille sausage, crawfish, shrimp, oysters, crab, Louisiana cane syrup, Cajun or Creole seasonings, rice and roux.