8 of the best gumbo recipes the deep South has to offer

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Here in Louisiana where I hail from, we invented the authentic Creole gumbo. Louisiana natives get serious about their gumbos when the weather turns cold, but we've been known to have a bowl in the middle of the summer season as well.
Here are 8 of the best gumbo recipes the deep South has to offer. Get those taste buds ready. You're in for a real treat!
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1. Gumbo ya-ya (h/t Emeril Lagasse)
Who better to get our roundup rolling than two great Cajun masters, Emeril Lagasse and Chef Paul Prudhomme? Gumbo lovers everywhere know the mother of all gumbos begins with a great big ole stewing hen, rather than its tinier relative, the chicken. This recipe is about as real as it gets when it comes to a fabulous Cajun gumbo.
2. Crawfish gumbo (h/t Louisiana Cookin)
Northerners may say "crayfish" but in Dixieland, it's all crawfish to us. We anticipate the advent of crawfish season. And what better way to begin the celebration than with this crawfish gumbo?
3. Shrimp and sausage gumbo (h/t Savory Tooth)
Even though this gumbo doesn’t use a few traditional gumbo ingredients, the flavors come together to deliver an authentic New Orleans flavor. You likely have many of the ingredients already on hand. You’ll want to make some of the extra Cajun seasonings to have on hand.
4. Green gumbo (h/t Simply Recipes)
Oh yeah, this is what I’m talking about! And, just in time as we harvest all those leafy green veggies from the garden. This “healthier” gumbo uses ham hock and andouille for primal lovers but can be left out for vegetarians.
5. Slow cooker smoked sausage gumbo (h/t The Southern Lady Cooks)
Here’s a gumbo you can whip up in your slow cooker. Gumbo can be a labor-intensive affair, so this recipe is much appreciated by those who have less time to spend in the kitchen.
6. Chicken and sausage gumbo (h/t Genius Kitchen)
This chicken and sausage gumbo is a winner, literally. It won first prize in an annual Mardi Gras cookoff and has a couple of unique ingredients, like cloves and white wine, that set it apart from other gumbos.
7. Chicken, crab, and andouille gumbo (h/t Foodie Crush)
This recipe originates in Mississippi, where the best cooks there know all good things begin with bacon grease. The roux in this fabulous gumbo is formed using bacon grease and flour. The added crab gives this gumbo that special something “extra”. In Louisiana, we call that "lagniappe"!
8. Smokey Creole gumbo with hot sauce (h/t Creole Contessa)
This Creole gumbo is loaded with everything! Your taste buds will sizzle (literally). This blogger is the queen of Creole cooking so you’re in good hands with this recipe.
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