How to Make the Ultimate King Cake for Mardi Gras (and More Mardi Gras Recipes!)

If there’s one image we associate with Mardi Gras in New Orleans, it’s parades. The dancing, the floats and the seas of purple, yellow and green are enticement enough to hightail it straight to the French Quarter come Fat Tuesday. But that’s not the only parade we’re thinking of: There’s also the endless stream of incredible dishes, many of which draw influence from French, African and Caribbean cuisines, among others. If you can’t make it to Bourbon Street this year though, you can at least try your hand at some of these iconic Mardi Gras recipes.

Consider this list our ode to the big flavors of the Big Easy, from comfort food like fried oyster-stuffed po-boys and rib-sticking stews to classic cocktails. You'll also find tons of fresh seafood, bountiful rice dishes and hearty sandwiches. End the day on a sweet note with treats like sugar-dusted beignets and bananas foster.

Not sure where to start? If you're only going to make one thing, try king cake, a Mardi Gras tradition. According to the Christian faith, Jesus first appeared to the Three Wise Men on the night referred to as the Epiphany (also known as Three Kings Day or Twelfth Night). This is the day Mardi Gras season officially kicks off, and when revelers start eating king cake. Some bakers put a miniature plastic baby, symbolizing the baby Jesus, inside of the cake. While you can eat almost all of these dishes any time of year, this colorful ring-shaped cake is a true Mardi Gras food — meaning some consider it sacrilege to eat it before Three Kings Day. So study up on some quintessential Mardi Gras facts, then get your grocery lists ready: It’s almost Fat Tuesday.

This sweet, yeasted King Cake recipe is a classic for Mardi Gras. Plastic baby optional!

Get the King Cake recipe.

Sweet, succulent shrimp simmered in zesty Creole seasoning makes for an unbeatable combination.

Get the Saucy Creole Shrimp recipe.

RELATED: 28 Healthy and Delicious Ways to Eat All the Shrimp

Bread pudding wasn’t invented in NOLA, but they sure know how to do it right. This version goes over the top with a buttery bourbon-spiked caramel sauce.

Get the Brioche Bread Pudding with Bourbon-Caramel Sauce recipe.

This refreshing bourbon cocktail is the perfect match for a spicy Creole or Cajun feast.

Get the Mint Julep recipe.

Oysters are a staple of the Gulf. Try topping them with this fresh, spicy horseradish-based sauce.

Get the Oysters with Mustard-Horseradish Relish recipe.

Snowballs are a popular treat in New Orleans, made from shaved ice flavored with sweet syrups. Try this lemon-raspberry option!

Get the Shaved Ice recipe.

Cajun spices like paprika, garlic powder and cayenne bring the Big Easy's bold flavors to this tilapia dish.

Get the Blackened Fish with Green Rice recipe.

No Mardi Gras fete's menu would be complete without a pecan-filled treat, and these pralines hit the spot after a spicy meal.

Get the Pecan Pralines recipe.

While it may be spring in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, many parts of the country are still stuck in winter. Warm up with this cozy, comforting dish.

Get the New Orleans Cajun Beef and Grits recipe.

Egg white and heavy cream make for a frothy, creamy-textured drink. This one feels ultra old-school — and very New Orleans.

Get the Ramos Gin Fizz recipe.

Beignets buried in powdered sugar are worth the trip to New Orleans alone. Tide yourself over with these equally drool-worthy homemade ones.

Get the Easy Beignets recipe from Delish.

A New Orleans classic made with rum, fresh citrus and passionfruit juice, this sweet cocktail gets the party started.

Get the Hurricane Cocktail recipe from Delish.

The official dish of Louisiana, gumbo generally consists of meat or shellfish simmered in stock and thickened with flour. Our hearty version uses chicken and sausage.

Get the Gumbo recipe from Woman's Day.

This massive sandwich is a NOLA original, and is typically filled with cold cuts, cheese and olive salad. The only rule? Don't skimp on the filling!

Get the Muffuletta recipe from Woman's Day.

This dish comes from 18th century Spanish settlers in Louisiana, who tried to replicate their familiar paella. The result mixes in French and African influences, and is completely delicious.

Get the Jambalaya recipe from Woman's Day.

Pair juicy Cajun-seasoned shrimp burgers with spicy tots for a fun, New Orleans-inspired dinner.

Get the Po Boy Style Shrimp Burgers with Cajun Spiced Tots recipe from Woman's Day.

RELATED: 33 Unique, Homemade Burger Recipes to Cook on Repeat

With Creole seasoning and two types of sausage, this delicious stew does not shy away from flavor.

Get the Chicken and Sausage Gumbo recipe from Woman's Day.

This iconic dessert of bananas flambeed with rum and sugar owes its creation to the legendary Bourbon Street restaurant Brennan’s. Serve with vanilla ice cream — for historical accuracy, of course.

Get the Bananas Foster recipe from Delish.

This crispy fried snack is typically stuffed with meat and rice, but our version uses crawfish (you can sub shrimp if you'd like!) for a true taste of the Big Easy.

Get the Crawfish Boudin Balls recipe from Country Living.

RELATED: 50+ Easy Appetizers and Snacks to Get the Party Started

Tujague's restaurant in New Orleans is credited with inventing this sweet and minty cocktail... that doubles as dessert.

Get the Drunk Grasshoppers recipe from Delish.

Douse shrimp in Creole seasoning, garlic and seafood stock, then soak up the juices with a toasted baguette. Happy Mmmmardi Gras.

Get the Garlic Clove Shrimp recipe from Country Living.

Celebrate Mardi Gras the right way — with cornmeal-crusted fried shrimp sandwiched between buttery slider buns.

Get the Shrimp Po' Boy Sliders recipe from Delish.

A Sazerac is the official cocktail of New Orleans, and a must on Mardi Gras. This version uses a little maraschino cherry juice to tame the boozy burn.

Get the Cherry Sazerac recipe from Delish.

RELATED: 35 Classic Cocktails That You Can Whip Up Anytime

Just a few shortcuts make this classic dish easy to make in about a half hour.

Get the Red Beans and Rice recipe from Delish.

RELATED: 50 Easy 30-Minute Meals for a Quick and Healthy Family Dinner

A beloved appetizer across the United States, Oysters Rockefeller was actually invented at the nearly 180-year-old French Quarter restaurant, Antoine’s. Serve with plenty of napkins.

Get the Oysters Rockefeller recipe from Delish.

A spicy, tomato-based stew made with vegetables and seafood (or meat, in some cases), etouffée should be served with rice to soak up all the scrumptious juices.

Get the Shrimp Étouffée recipe from Grandbaby Cakes.

Top these buttery cinnamon rolls with purple, gold and green sprinkles for Mardi Gras!

Get the King Cake Cinnamon Rolls recipe from Wood and Spoon.

Caramelized bananas stuffed into flaky hand pies and topped with frosting is the sweetest way to end this food-filled holiday.

Get the Bananas Foster Hand Pies recipe from A Cozy Kitchen.

Crispy buttermilk chicken meets the tangy mayo-based sauce, remoulade, in this classic NOLA-style hoagie. Make sure to have it “dressed” — i.e., piled with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and sauce.

Get the Chicken Po’ Boys with Remoulade Sauce recipe from Butter Be Ready.

Originally from England, Pimm’s Cup has been a favorite New Orleans tipple since it arrived there in 1940. This version calls for three parts soda to one part Pimm’s, a fruity, bittersweet liqueur.

Get the Classic Pimm’s Cup Recipe recipe from A Classic Twist.