25 Healthy Recipes for Your Mardi Gras Celebration (2024)

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Eat light Big Easy-style with these healthy Mardi Gras foods.

1/24

Spicy Shrimp with Rice

No one will doubt that “light” cooking can be tasty when you put a helping of this zippy shrimp in front of them. The seafood is seasoned just right with garlic, pepper and hot sauce. — Jeannie Klugh, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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2/24

Meaty Slow-Cooked Jambalaya

Sure makes life easy having this healthy Mardi Gras food stashed away in the freezer! Another plus, you throw it all in the slow cooker—no skillet necessary. —Diane Smith, Pine Mountain, Georgia

Check out our best recipes for Mardi Gras.

3/24

Cajun Pork Sandwiches

This healthy Mardi Gras food’s simple spice rub gives pork tenderloin an irresistible flavor. You’ll watch in delight as these tasty open-faced sandwiches disappear from the buffet table! —Mae Kruse, Monee, Illinois

4/24

Roasted Fresh Okra

If you have picky eaters who worry about texture, roasted okra is marvelous. It's OK to crowd the pan. Okra shrinks as it cooks. —Anna Katsoulis, Greenville, North Carolina

5/24

Chicken Creole

I like food that has a little zip to it, and this Creole chicken recipe hits the spot every time. It’s especially good served over rice. —Dolly Hall, Wheelwright, Kentucky

6/24

Blackened Catfish with Mango Avocado Salsa

A delightful and tasty rub makes this healthy Mardi Gras food fantastic. While the fish is sitting to allow the flavors to blend, you can easily assemble the salsa. My family loves this! —Laura Fisher, Westfield, Massachusetts

7/24

Southern Seafood Gumbo

I tasted a similar dish at a local restaurant and later duplicated it pretty closely. I trimmed it down a bit and no one in my family seemed to mind. —Susan Wright, Champaign, Illinois

8/24

Baked Crab Cakes

Reel in a breezy taste of the seashore with these easy and delicious baked crab cakes. For a heftier "burger," make two larger patties and serve on buns. —Amelia Sunderland, Nashville, Tennessee

9/24

Pressure-Cooker Red Beans and Rice

My family loves New Orleans–style cooking, so I make this dish often. I appreciate how simple this healthy Mardi Gras food is, and the smoky ham flavor is scrumptious. —Celinda Dahlgren, Napa, California

10/24

11/24

Bulgur Jambalaya

I like making this healthy Mardi Gras food because it allows me to stay on track for my weight loss without giving up foods I love. —Nicholas Monfre, Oak Ridge, New Jersey

12/24

Cajun Grilled Shrimp

The kicked-up marinade on these shrimp makes this a flavor-packed dish. Serve over rice, and make sure to squeeze those charred lemons over top—that makes them taste extra bright and delicious. —Sharon Delaney-Chronis, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin

13/24

Andouille Sausage Soup

I make a soup every football Sunday. I came up with this recipe because I wanted to use lots of vegetables to keep it healthy, but wanted it to be interesting. My wife suggested adding the andouille and now it’s one of my favorite healthy Mardi Gras foods. —Steven Thurner, Janesville, Wisconsin

14/24

Black-Eyed Peas 'n' Pasta

Tradition has it that if you eat black-eyed peas on New Year's Day, you'll enjoy prosperity all year through—but I serve this tasty combination of pasta, peas and tangy tomatoes anytime. —Marie Malsch, Bridgman, Michigan

15/24

Corn Okra Creole

This healthy Mardi Gras food is representative of my area of the country, and particularly the Texas-Louisiana border. The okra, corn and Creole seasonings are all popular here. —Ruth Aubey, San Antonio, Texas

16/24

17/24

Jambalaya Rice Salad

My cold rice salad has a little hint of spice for a classic jambalaya-style kick. Shrimp, tomatoes, ham and peppers give the dish bright colors and a delightful texture. —Karen Rahn, Hixon, Tennessee

18/24

Succotash

You can’t get more southern than succotash. This healthy Mardi Gras food comes from my mother, who was a fantastic cook. This dish made her famous—at least with everyone who ever tasted it. —Rosa Boone, Mobile, Alabama

19/24

Grandma Edna's Cajun Pork

My grandma used to make this for our family on special occasions. We love to carry on the delicious tradition. —Tonya Cline, Greenville, Ohio

20/24

Blackened Halibut

Try serving this spicy halibut recipe with garlic mashed potatoes, hot, crusty bread and a crisp salad to lure in your crew. After trying a few halibut recipes, this one is my family's favorite. —Brenda Williams, Santa Maria, California

21/24

Vegan Jambalaya

This flavorful entree won’t leave you hungry since it uses convenient canned beans in place of meat. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado

22/24

Cajun Shrimp Skillet

There’s plenty of sauce with these shrimp—I always have some bread on the side to soak it up. Make this healthy Mardi Gras food your own by using your favorite amber beer or flavorful broth. —Mark Oppe, North Pole, Alaska

23/24

Red Beans and Sausage

Turkey sausage, beans and a zesty blend of spices make this a deliciously unique meal.—Cathy Webster, Morris, Illinois

24/24

Spicy Roasted Sausage, Potatoes and Peppers

I love to share my cooking, and this hearty sheet-pan dinner has built a reputation for being tasty. People have actually approached me in public to ask for the recipe. —Laurie Sledge, Brandon, Mississippi