Easy Cajun Crawfish Bread Recipe – Cheesy Louisiana Appetizer
Crawfish Bread is a Louisiana-inspired dish that’s packed with Cajun flavor, creamy cheese, and a satisfying crunch. This delicious appetizer brings together the “holy trinity” of Cajun cooking—onion, bell pepper, and celery—with tender crawfish and melted cheese, all spread over a loaf of crusty French bread. Perfect for gatherings, game days, or anytime you’re craving a taste of New Orleans, this dish is sure to impress family and friends.
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It’s easy to make and bake, bringing bold flavors with just a few simple steps. For a more authentic experience, use Louisiana crawfish and serve hot from the oven. Get ready to add a new favorite to your appetizer lineup!
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Why You’ll Love Cajun Crawfish Bread
- Full of Flavor: Loaded with Cajun spices and rich, melty cheeses.
- Simple to Prepare: Basic ingredients come together in a skillet, then baked on French bread.
- Great for Sharing: Perfect for parties, game day, or as a side dish.
- Authentic Louisiana Taste: Made with the Holy Trinity and Louisiana crawfish.
- Customizable Heat: Adjust the Cajun seasoning to make it as spicy or mild as you like.
What You Need to Make Cajun Crawfish Bread
For ingredient quantities, see the recipe card below.
- Crawfish Mixture: Fresh or frozen crawfish, Holy Trinity mix (onion, bell pepper, celery), green onions, garlic, butter, Cajun seasoning, and granulated garlic.
- Cheeses: Cream cheese, pepper jack, and Parmesan for that creamy, cheesy texture.
- Bread Base: French bread halved lengthwise and spread with a light layer of mayo.
- Optional Garnish: Extra Parmesan for a golden, bubbly finish.
How to Make Cajun Crawfish Bread
1
Prepare the Bread: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Halve the French bread lengthwise and spread each half with a thin layer of mayo.
2
Cook the Holy Trinity: In a skillet, melt butter and sauté the Holy Trinity (onion, bell pepper, and celery) along with green onions and garlic. Cook for about 10 minutes until the vegetables are softened.
3
Add Crawfish and Cheeses: Add the crawfish to the skillet, followed by cream cheese, pepper jack, Parmesan, and seasonings. Let everything simmer for 15 minutes until the cheeses are melted and the mixture is creamy.
4
Assemble and Bake: Spread the crawfish mixture evenly on the mayo-coated bread halves. Sprinkle with extra Parmesan, then bake for about 15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
5
Serve: Slice and enjoy while hot. Perfect for dipping or enjoying on its own!
Commonly Asked Questions
Can I make this with shrimp instead of crawfish?
Yes, shrimp works well as a substitute for crawfish. Just chop it into small pieces before cooking.
How can I make it spicier?
Add extra Cajun seasoning, a pinch of cayenne pepper, or even diced jalapeños for more heat.
Can I prepare this in advance?
You can prepare the crawfish mixture ahead of time and refrigerate it. When ready to serve, spread it on the bread and bake.
Is there a substitute for pepper jack cheese?
Monterey Jack or cheddar can work as alternatives, though they’ll change the flavor slightly.
Crawfish Bread
Ingredients
- Holy Trinity Trinity Mix
- Onion
- Bell pepper
- Celery
- ½ bunch green onions chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 lb crawfish fresh or Louisiana frozen
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- ¾ cup pepper jack cheese shredded
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese plus more for topping
- Cajun seasoning to taste
- Granulated garlic to taste
- Butter for sautéing
- Mayo for spreading
- 1 loaf French bread halved lengthwise
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cut the French bread lengthwise and spread a thin layer of mayo on the cut side of each half.
- In a skillet, melt a small amount of butter over medium heat. Add the Trinity mix (onion, bell pepper, and celery), green onions, and minced garlic. Sauté for about 10 minutes until softened.
- Add the crawfish to the skillet and cook for a few minutes with the vegetable mixture. Then, add the cream cheese, pepper jack cheese, Parmesan cheese, Cajun seasoning, and granulated garlic. Let the mixture come to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Spread the crawfish mixture evenly over the mayo-coated French bread halves. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese.
- Place in the preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the bread is golden and the cheese is bubbly.
- Slice and serve warm as an appetizer.
