27 New Orleans-Inspired Recipes To Cure Your Super Bowl FOMO
Close your eyes, and imagine for a moment that you’re a billionaire (I’m talking Taylor Swift-level, why not dream big?), and can travel wherever you want to go, and attend whatever big ticket event you want. Where are you going first, and why is it Super Bowl LIX? Just kidding, I know already! It’s for the FOOD. This year’s Super Bowl takes place at Caesar’s Superdome in Louisiana, the birthplace of some of the best food in the world. Not only do the options at the Superdome stand out among your average stadium fare, but you’ve also got the most amazing melting pot of French, Caribbean, Italian, and more cuisines right outside the parking lot.
Okay, okay, reality check. You’re (probably?!) not actually a billionaire, but you CAN relieve a little bit of that Super Bowl FOMO, right at home. I’ve rounded up some of our best New Orleans-inspired game day foods so you can let the good times bowl, no matter where you live or who wins or loses.
When it comes to game day fare, you really can’t go wrong with bites or dips, and we’ve got a number of great ones here, including our shrimp & grits bites, our hot crab dip, our pimento cheese-stuffed mini peppers, or our hoagie dip. Serving a bigger crowd, and need more hearty options? Lean on classics like sandwiches or stews, but with a little New Orleans flair—try our classic muffuletta or our shrimp po’ boy burgers (hot tip: turn them into sliders!), or make a big batch of jambalaya, Southern baked mac & cheese, or Louisiana-style red beans & rice.
You could also take a note from the Superdome stadium eats, and make a beef brisket sandwich, some chicken fried shrimp, a Cajun-inspired pasta (like our smoked sausage Cajun Alfredo), fried chicken strips, or a frozen daiquiri. Speaking of daiquiris, if you want even more inspiration, check out our Mardi Gras roundups of cocktails, apps, and desserts for even more New Orleans-inspired ideas.
Pimento Cheese-Stuffed Mini Peppers
Pimento cheese is infinitely better when it’s served warm, and a small pepper becomes the perfect vessel for it in this recipe. These are a really good vegetarian alternative to our bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers, so everyone can enjoy them at your game day or party spread.
Get the Pimento Cheese-Stuffed Mini Peppers recipe.
Jambalaya
Spicy, hearty, and incredibly flavorful, jambalaya is a New Orleans classic for good reason. Its complex flavor is informed by cuisines from around the world—Spanish, West African, and French to name a few. Our recipe combines three proteins and vegetable-packed rice for a flavor-packed dish that will keep you warm if you're not in the South this game day.
Get the Jambalaya recipe.
Cheesy Shrimp & Grit Bites
Shrimp & grits are a Southern staple for good reason: the combination of creamy grits and spiced juicy shrimp in a holy trinity-spiked sauce is a match made in heaven. You can eat it for nearly every meal... including as a game day appetizer, thanks to these adorable bites.
Get the Cheesy Shrimp & Grit Bites recipe.
Shrimp Po' Boy Burgers
Our shrimp po' boy-inspired burger is a twist on the classic Louisiana sandwiches, pairing cornmeal-crusted shrimp burgers with a tangy, homemade remoulade sauce. The combination of juicy shrimp and Creole seasoning will transport your taste buds straight to New Orleans. Hot tip: make 'em mini and serve them as sliders for game day!
Get the Shrimp Po' Boy Burgers recipe.
Cornbread-Stuffed Mussels
These mussels will make you rethink if stuffed mushrooms are the only stuffed appetizer you should be making this year. Make your own cornbread or use store-bought—these are so good, no one will mind either way.
Get the Cornbread-Stuffed Mussels recipe.
Muffuletta Pizza
This pizza has the same components as its namesake muffuletta sandwich (with a chewy-crisp crust standing in for the sesame roll!) but is arguably even simpler to make, portion, and serve to a big crowd. Make it for a casual dinner OR a Mardi Gras bash, and watch everyone freak out.
Get the Muffuletta Pizza recipe.
Crispy Fried Chicken
To complete the journey to fried chicken nirvana, we went through 5 whole chickens, 3 gallons of peanut oil, and over 20 iterations of the recipe. The final result is a simple formula: a seasoned buttermilk brine + a dip in batter + a shake in flour + a dunk into a pot of hot oil = the only fried chicken recipe you'll ever need.
Get the Crispy Fried Chicken recipe.
Hush Puppies
Hush puppies—or fried balls of savory cornmeal batter—are a welcome addition to any seafood spread or fried food feast. These golden, crispy bites are so easy to make, they're the perfect last-minute appetizer for all your game day festivities.
Get the Hush Puppies recipe.
Smoked Sausage Cajun Alfredo
This dish expands on what we all love about fettuccine Alfredo, amping it up with the punchy spices and andouille sausage commonly found in Cajun cuisine. If your crowd loves gumbo and jambalaya, this is the recipe you should bring to share this Super Bowl.
Get the Smoked Sausage Cajun Alfredo recipe.
Southern Fried Oysters
Long before the creation of fried oysters, oysters were considered a poor man’s food because they were so abundant in the waters off the East Coast of the United States. They were first breaded and fried in the Western Hemisphere in the mid-19th century and have since been upgraded with a crispy, crunchy cracker crust. TMYK!
Get the Southern Fried Oysters recipe.
Southern Baked Mac & Cheese
This isn't your average mac & cheese. Chef Millie Peartree puts an entire layer of pure cheese in between two layers of (already cheesy) macaroni. Game. Changer. Your Super Bowl guests will flip.
Get the Southern Baked Mac & Cheese recipe.
Slow-Cooker Shrimp Boil
A shrimp boil is a wonderful thing, but not always to easiest to achieve in February. The solution is simple: Throw those same ingredients into the slow cooker and let the machine do the work. This is the kind of hands-off meal that makes game day entertaining a breeze.
Get the Slow-Cooker Shrimp Boil recipe.
Deviled Eggs
A classic appetizer, deviled eggs bring the party to any event. While they’re fairly simple to make, there are a few ways things can go wrong. If you’re looking for a foolproof method for hard-boiling and filling your deviled eggs, this recipe should be your new go-to.
Get the Deviled Eggs recipe.
Hot Crab Dip
Okay, we'll say it: Hot crab dip belongs in the party dip hall of fame. Packed with melty cheese and sweet, tender crab meat, this rich dip may seem extra-fancy, but it's so easy to whip up. It's the perfect last-minute app to throw together with minimal effort and is best served hot straight out of the oven!
Get the Hot Crab Dip recipe.
Bourbon Balls
If you’re looking for a boozy treat to get your New Orleans-themed Super Bowl party started, these little bites are calling your name. Made with finely chopped pecans, crushed vanilla wafer cookies, and of course, bourbon, these no-bake cookie truffles highlight the flavor of the bourbon while taming its typical burn.
Get the Bourbon Balls recipe.
Pulled Pork
If you're looking for the best pulled pork recipe to keep in your back pocket—this is it. Sandwiched between a soft potato bun, piled on top of a baked potato, or even eaten on its own, pulled pork is the versatile must-make dish for any game
Get the Pulled Pork recipe.
Remoulade Sauce
Now synonymous with Cajun and Creole food, remoulade is a cold sauce with French origins that can be used to add flavor to anything from fried foods to your favorite sandwich. Always creamy, tangy, and spicy with a hint of sweetness, this sauce is guaranteed to become a fast favorite.
Get the Remoulade Sauce recipe.
Muffuletta
The muffuletta was first served at Central Grocery, an Italian deli in Louisiana. Sicilian farmers would stop by the deli in between shifts at the French Market and juggle plates of olives, salumi, and cheese for lunch. To make it easier to eat, the owner decided to slap all the ingredients between two pieces of bread, and the muffuletta was born. The more you know!
Get the Muffuletta recipe.
Pimento Cheese
Affectionately known as the “caviar of the South,” pimento cheese has been a Southern party staple since the early 1900s. This soft, creamy spread—loaded with shredded cheddar and spiked with diced pimento peppers and hot sauce—can be served hot or cold and is perfect for spreading on anything from crackers to celery.
Get the Pimento Cheese recipe.
Fried Chicken Strips
While we understand relying on frozen chicken or takeout, there’s something extra special about making chicken strips homemade. Make some homemade fries to go along with these strips and serve with ranch dressing, honey mustard, or ketchup (or Chick-fil-A sauce, anyone?), and you’ve got an upgraded classic on your hands that everyone will get excited about.
Get the Fried Chicken Strips recipe.
Louisiana-Style Red Beans & Rice
All Creole cuisine packs a flavor punch that keeps you coming back for seconds, but red beans and rice are in a league all their own. The red beans soak up the smoky, porky, spicy, and earthy flavors and release some starch to create a rich gravy that’s perfect for spooning over steamed white rice.
Get the Louisiana-Style Red Beans & Rice recipe.
Beef Brisket
If the thought of cooking an extra-tender beef brisket brings to mind smoking your cut of meat for hours on end—think again. Our oven-roasted recipe makes preparation so simple, without sacrificing on any tenderness or flavor. Put it on a sandwich like they do at 504 Eats in section 519 of Caesar's Superdome for an authentic experience.
Get the Beef Brisket recipe.
Hoagie Dip
Here’s our favorite deli sandwich, dip-ified! This chunky, fully loaded appetizer has all the savory, crunchy, and creamy elements and meatiness you love in a traditional hoagie, but it’s spoonable, and totally shareable. Our tip this game day? Take inspo from a Louisiana muffuletta for your mix-ins!
Get the Hoagie Dip recipe.
Cajun Butter Shrimp Skewers
We love these skewers for many reasons: They're FULL of flavor, they're hearty, and most of all, they provide the PERFECT bite. Sausage + shrimp = a match made in Cajun heaven. It's like jambalaya on a stick!
Get the Cajun Butter Shrimp Skewers recipe.
Cajun Pigs In A Blanket
When you want to take your pigs in a blanket to the next level, there's nothing better than giving them a Cajun spin with andouille sausage and a creamy, spicy, tangy remoulade sauce for dipping.
Get the Cajun Pigs In A Blanket recipe.
Louisiana Shrimp Dip
We know a thing or two about delicious dips, and we REALLY love this one. It's cheesy, garlicky, and full of Cajun seasoning. You'll quickly see why it's a Southern favorite.
Get the Louisiana Shrimp Dip recipe.
Chicken Fried Shrimp
If you can make chicken fried steak, you can make chicken fried anything—including shrimp. Though it's certainly not healthy, these are slightly lighter than steak and are way more poppable for a party!
Get the Chicken Fried Shrimp recipe.
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