Red Beans and Rice with Sausage
Ingredients: Canned red beans, smoked sausage, onion, garlic, bell pepper, rice, Cajun seasoning
Instructions: Sauté onion, garlic, and bell pepper in oil. Add sliced sausage and cook until browned. Stir in red beans and Cajun seasoning. Simmer for 20 minutes. Serve over cooked rice.
Dollar Tree Finds: Canned beans, rice, smoked sausage, seasoning blend
Gourmet Twist: Add a bay leaf, a splash of hot sauce, and top with chopped scallions.
Cajun Chicken Pasta
Ingredients: Chicken thighs, penne pasta, cream, Cajun seasoning, bell peppers, Parmesan cheese
Instructions: Cook pasta. Sauté sliced chicken with Cajun seasoning. Add bell peppers and cream, simmer until thick. Stir in pasta and top with Parmesan.
Dollar Tree Finds: Pasta, frozen peppers, cream sauce mix, chicken thighs
Gourmet Twist: Use freshly grated Parmesan and garnish with parsley.
Shrimp Po’ Boy Sandwich
Ingredients: Frozen shrimp or fish sticks, hoagie rolls, lettuce, tomato, pickles, remoulade sauce
Instructions: Cook shrimp or fish sticks. Toast rolls, add lettuce, tomato, pickles, and shrimp. Drizzle with remoulade.
Dollar Tree Finds: Frozen shrimp or fish sticks, hoagie rolls, mayo, mustard
Gourmet Twist: Mix homemade remoulade with Cajun seasoning, lemon juice, and garlic.
Jambalaya with Chicken and Sausage
Ingredients: Chicken, sausage, rice, canned tomatoes, onion, celery, bell pepper, Cajun seasoning
Instructions: Sauté vegetables, add chicken and sausage. Stir in tomatoes and rice. Cook until rice is tender.
Dollar Tree Finds: Canned tomatoes, rice, sausage, frozen veggie mix
Gourmet Twist: Add bay leaves and a splash of chicken broth for depth.
Dirty Rice with Ground Turkey
Ingredients: Ground turkey, onion, bell pepper, celery, rice, chicken broth, Cajun seasoning
Instructions: Brown turkey, add vegetables and seasoning. Stir in rice and broth. Simmer until rice is cooked.
Dollar Tree Finds: Ground turkey, rice, broth, frozen peppers and onions
Gourmet Twist: Add Worcestershire sauce and garlic powder.
Gumbo with Chicken and Okra
Ingredients: Chicken thighs, okra, onion, celery, bell pepper, flour, oil, broth, Cajun seasoning
Instructions: Make a roux with flour and oil. Sauté vegetables. Add chicken and okra. Pour in broth and simmer.
Dollar Tree Finds: Chicken drumsticks, frozen okra, flour, oil, seasoning
Gourmet Twist: Finish with a sprinkle of filé powder and hot sauce.
Muffuletta Pasta Salad
Ingredients: Pasta, olives, salami, cheese, Italian dressing, banana peppers
Instructions: Cook pasta, mix with chopped ingredients and dressing. Chill before serving.
Dollar Tree Finds: Pasta, canned olives, salami, Italian dressing
Gourmet Twist: Add provolone cheese and marinated artichokes.
Blackened Catfish with Grits
Ingredients: Catfish fillets, Cajun seasoning, grits, butter, milk
Instructions: Season and sear catfish. Cook grits with butter and milk. Serve fish over grits.
Dollar Tree Finds: Frozen fish, instant grits, butter, Cajun seasoning
Gourmet Twist: Add a lemon butter drizzle and fresh parsley.
Cajun Turkey Meatballs and Rice
Ingredients: Ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, Cajun seasoning, tomato sauce, rice
Instructions: Mix turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, and seasoning. Form meatballs and bake. Simmer in tomato sauce. Serve over rice.
Dollar Tree Finds: Ground turkey, breadcrumbs, tomato sauce, rice
Gourmet Twist: Add sautéed peppers and onions to the sauce.
Andouille and Cabbage Skillet
Ingredients: Smoked sausage, cabbage, onion, potatoes, garlic, vinegar
Instructions: Sauté sausage, add chopped veggies, season, and cook until tender.
Dollar Tree Finds: Sausage, cabbage, onion, potatoes
Gourmet Twist: Finish with apple cider vinegar and caraway seeds.
Crawfish Mac and Cheese (Budget Remix)
Ingredients: Macaroni, cheese sauce, imitation crawfish, Cajun seasoning, breadcrumbs
Instructions: Cook pasta, stir in cheese sauce, crawfish, and seasoning. Top with breadcrumbs and bake.
Dollar Tree Finds: Macaroni, cheese sauce, imitation crawfish, Cajun spice
Gourmet Twist: Add cream cheese and bake for extra richness.
Creole Veggie Stew
Ingredients: Canned tomatoes, beans, frozen vegetables, onion, garlic, Cajun seasoning
Instructions: Sauté onion and garlic, add veggies and beans. Simmer with tomatoes and seasoning.
Dollar Tree Finds: Canned tomatoes, beans, frozen veggies, seasoning mix
Gourmet Twist: Serve over rice with olive oil and fresh herbs.
