5 Delicious Gumbo Recipes Perfect for Mardi Gras

Out of all the delicious dishes and treats that hail from New Orleans and the Cajun South (hello, jambalaya and beignets!), gumbo might just be the most popular. Whether it's new to you or just never learned what was in that steamy bowl of goodness, you're in for a treat. Gumbo is a thick soup filled with veggies and a combination of seafood or meat. The term gumbo is derived from a West African word for okra, which is usually in the pot and acts as a natural thickener. Grab your soup pot and get ready to make one of our Test Kitchen's fabulous gumbo recipes. Below, you'll find recipes for seafood, sausage, and even vegetarian gumbos to make your at-home Mardi Gras (aka Fat Tuesday) and Carnival festivities that much more delicious.

Andouille and Shrimp Gumbo

The first step to making any gumbo recipe taste worthy of a Louisiana kitchen is achieving a dark roux (more tips on that here). After that flour and fat combo is nicely dark and thick, fresh veggies, andouille sausage, and shrimp all come to the party. Serve your gumbo over hot cooked rice and dig in.

Test Kitchen Tip: Authentic gumbo recipes like this one call for filé, or gumbo filé powder, which is a sassafras tree leaf powder that acts as a thickener and adds a distinctive earthy flavor. You can find it at most larger grocery stores and in specialty spice shops.

Pressure Cooker Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

This gumbo recipe is perfect for home cooks with busy schedules. Once you've whipped up the roux using the sauté setting of your handy Instant Pot ($89, Target) simply toss in the remaining ingredients and pressure cook for just 8 minutes. We can bet you'll love this one-pot meal so much, it will be on the menu for more than just Mardi Gras season.

Cajun-Seasoned Vegetarian Gumbo

It's not too often that you find a flavorful plant-based, vegetarian version of a traditionally meat-filled recipe like gumbo, but our Test Kitchen pulled it off. The key? Smoky Cajun seasoning ($5, World Market), protein-rich black beans, and colorful vegetables that make this recipe complex and rich. Plus, this set-and-forget slow cooker meal is easy to tote to your next get-together or plan dinner ahead on a busy day.

Chicken Chorizo Gumbo

Spicy and dark as a night on the bayou, this Cajun gumbo recipe combines Spanish chorizo, chicken, and okra for a classic stew so rich it'll feed your body and your soul. A touch of smoked paprika lends a bold, distinctive flavor to this traditional Louisiana dish. If you've got time, utilize the slow cooker ($80, Wayfair) directions and allow the flavors to meld together all day.

Gumbo Potpie

This meat- and seafood-rich gumbo wraps all the flavors of bayou country into a flaky, pastry-topped comfort food package. This easy variation on gumbo mixes sausage and shrimp with tender veggies for a mild, crowd-pleasing stew. Serve it up in a large baking dish ($17, OXO) and watch the whole family savor every last bite.

Craving more Cajun-inspired food? Give one of our traditional or creative takes on Mardi Gras recipes a try this season.