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Leftover Crawfish Recipes

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We're always looking for leftover crawfish recipes, or ways to use up our leftover crawfish tails that we have from our crawfish boil. Especially during crawfish season.

Coming up is a list of my favorites (and this list is always growing).

tongs picking up crawfish fettuccine
Leftover Crawfish Recipes

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Why you'll love these recipes

  • Finding new ways or new recipes for crawfish tail meat is a constant goal for most Cajuns. Standing around the crawfish boil pot you'll find Cajun men discussing recipes and methods for cooking crawfish.

    You have to love that!
  • All of these recipes have been kitchen tested and curated by discussing in great length the best preparation methods, with all kinds of people from different walks of life in South Louisiana.
  • In the peak of the season, when crawfish prices are lowest this is when you'll see people boiling every weekend. You can guarantee there are bags of leftover tails being put into the freezer, to pull out later. This is when these recipes come in handy.

Frequently asked questions: FAQs

How long is leftover crawfish good for?

3-4 days in the refrigerator max. You can also freeze though, for up to 3 months.

Is the yellow stuff in crawfish poop?

Many people believe it to be fat, but in fact it's not. The yellowy orangish substance that you usually find in the head of the crawfish - and you hear about people "sucking heads and pinching tails" - that substance is actually an organ. It's called the hepatopancreas and functions much like most creatures' livers.

What is the difference between crawfish vs crayfish?

They're the same animal. It's just the different names based on the area you grow up. People in the south are more likely to call it a crawfish whereas northerners are more likely to use the term crayfish.

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Mel's kitchen notes

Expert Tip: Reserve some of the veggies from the crawfish boil for use in your recipes too. Like leftover potatoes, fresh garlic or carrots etc. These are packed full of spices from the boil and can really infuse great flavor into dishes you make with the leftover crawfish tails.

Also, reserve the shells from peeling the crawfish, you could make yourself a great crawfish stock, or seafood stock by boiling those shells and crawfish heads with some fresh herbs and leftover spices. You could freeze it for future use too.

1
Very close up shot of a spoon lifting out some crawfish mac and cheese from a skillet.
Crawfish Mac and Cheese
Creamy, cheesy and full of flavors of a crawfish boil, crawfish mac and cheese is our favorite go-to recipe for using up those leftover crawfish tails.
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2
Bowl of crawfish etouffee with rice scoop in the middle.
Crawfish Etouffee
Crawfish étouffée is a classic Louisiana dish full of robust flavor. This dish is famous for its Cajun influence and surprisingly easy and quick to make. A few simple ingredients, some crawfish meat and topped with green onions, there's a reason this is a classic dish.
Etouffee is actually a French word - it means 'to smother' - which is exactly what this dish does.
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3
Close up of a crawfish casserole being lifted out with a spatula.
Crawfish Casserole
A crawfish casserole recipe that's easy to make and full of cheese, crawfish tails, rice and southern spices.
Check out this recipe
4
a loaf of crawfish bread sliced
Crawfish Bread
Crawfish Bread is a great way to use up the yummy leftover crawfish tails from your crawfish boil. The crawfish is already seasoned how you like them which adds great flavors to this bread. A delicious creamy crawfish sauce topped with cheese. Pure comfort food.
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5
An overhead shot of a bowl of crawfish stew with a heap of white rice in the middle.
Crawfish Stew
An authentic Cajun Crawfish Stew made with basic ingredients but full of southern flavor!
Check out this recipe
6
Side view of a skillet full of crawfish sauce.
Crawfish Sauce
A delicious creamy Crawfish Sauce that is full of Cajun spice. Perfect spooned over any seafood or baked potato.
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7
Close up of fried crawfish on a bread dressed with lettuce tomatoes and mayonnaise.
Fried Crawfish Poboy
A delicious fried crawfish poboy is a treat from south Louisiana - you'll find it on the streets of New Orleans for Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest.
Check out this recipe
8
Close up of a crawfish baked potato cropped square.
Crawfish Baked Potato
A delicious crawfish baked potato, it's cheesy, slightly spicy and full of Cajun flavor. Topped with toasted breadcrumbs and cheese it's a great way to spice up a baked potato.
Check out this recipe
9
crawfish pie in the middle of the image with bell peppers and cooked crawfish on the outside
Crawfish Pie
This delicious and juicy Crawfish Pie in one of our favorite ways to cook them. Tasty pie crust with an etouffee-like filling full of Cajun seasoning.
When it's the end of the season, dishes like this start to become more popular as people start to tire of the 'same old'. It's a perfect use of the crawfish boil leftovers.
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10
close up of a crawfish pistolette
Crawfish Pistolettes
Cajun cheesy crawfish stuffed pistolettes, filled with sausage and Creole seasoning to bring it up a notch or two. One will never be enough.
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11
A dish with crawfish au gratin, a large part taken.
Crawfish Au Gratin
A tasty, creamy, cheesy crawfish au gratin recipe that can be served with garlic bread, salad or even as a stuffing for something else.
Check out this recipe
12
close up shot from overhead of a large pot of shrimp and crawfish pastalaya.
thecaglediaries.com
Crawfish Pastalaya
Delicious flavors of a typical jambalaya, with pasta instead. Swap out the chicken and pork for some tasty crawfish and shrimp.
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13
close up of a plate of crawfish enchiladas with some avocado in the background
thecaglediaries.com
Crawfish Enchiladas
Delicious enchiladas stuffed with crawfish, rice, corn, beans, cheese and yummy Cajun seasoning! Smothered in an enchiladas sauce and cheese. Delicious!
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14
close up of crawfish monica on a plate with a fork digging in
Crawfish Monica
A favorite during New Orleans' Jazz Fest, Crawfish Monica is a delicious simple creamy pasta dish infused with crawfish tails and parmesan cheese. Tasty and so easy to make!
Make a large pot, enough to feed a big crowd, as that is the tradition.
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15
close up of a skillet of crawfish ravioli with boiled crawfish on the outside peeking in
Crawfish Ravioli
Deliciously creamy with a hint of spice, crawfish ravioli is the perfect way to use up those leftover tails. Add a pinch of Cayenne pepper if you want to kick it up a notch.
An easy recipe when you're in a pinch for time.
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16
overhead close up of a skillet of crawfish fettuccine
Crawfish Fettuccine Recipe
Deliciously creamy, cheesy and full of Cajun flavors this Crawfish Fettuccine Recipe is one of the most famous dishes to make with those crawfish tails.
One of my favorite ways to cook this recipe is in a Dutch oven. A tasty velveeta cheese infused crawfish mixture that is married with a seafood seasoned pasta.
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17
skillet of crawfish dip with breadcrumbs on top, with cream cheese. Crawfish in the corners.
Crawfish Dip
Tasty, cheesy and full of Cajun spice this Crawfish Dip is the perfect use of that leftover crawfish. With cream cheese, Cajun seasoning and crawfish tails it's a skillet full of deliciousness.
Check out this recipe
18
close up of crawfish with corn and mushroom and carrots
Crawfish Boil
I know, I know. This is the recipe before you get the leftovers... but hey, I couldn't make a list of crawfish recipes without including the actual recipe for the crawfish boil! A favorite during Mardi Gras, a crawfish boil is a South Louisiana excuse to 'throw down'.
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If you’ve tried any of these Leftover Crawfish Recipes or any other great recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section below, how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers!

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