Mardi Gras may be all about excess, but it’s definitely possible to take part in this grand celebration without breaking the rules of your low carb diet. If you’re following the keto diet, there are plenty of low carb Mardi Gras recipes that are not only delicious and healthy but keto-friendly as well!
Mardi Gras translates as Fat Tuesday so you can see it’s not so hard to make the traditional recipes suitable for a low carb diet so long as you use healthy fats and include plenty of low carb vegetables. These low carb Mardi Gras recipes I’ve gathered below will make you feel like you are still part of the grand celebration without ever depriving yourself of your favorite treats!
Low Carb Mardi Gras Recipes For Keto
1. Cajun Chicken With Okra
You don’t really need to be in Louisiana to enjoy its legendary Cajun and Creole flavors and take part in the Grand Carnival! Celebrate Mardi Gras at home with this classic Cajun chicken with okra from My Recipes.
Made with Cajun-stewed tomatoes, hot pepper sauce, and red pepper flakes, the spiciness of this recipe is just intense! This dish is highly recommended if you want to spice up your Mardi Gras celebration a bit!
2. Low Carb Dirty Rice
If you want to serve a bowl of “rice” to go with your Cajun chicken, this low carb Dirty Rice from Marye Audet of Lowcarbology is just what you need. Made with cauliflower, sausage, bacon, and a whole lot of Cajun flavor, this “rice” is absolutely satisfying!
You can serve it as a side dish to your main dishes, such as the Cajun chicken or serve it on its own with a salad on the side! It’s quick, easy, and absolutely low-carb!
3. Low Carb Gumbo Recipe
Gumbo is a Creole stew popular in Louisiana and is often served during the Mardi Gras festival. You can have a low-carb version of this recipe inspired by Lindsay from That’s Low Carb. She likes to apply low carb dishes to her clean eating diet.
This dish is so easy to make and requires only a few minutes to prepare. The combination of shrimp and sausage in this traditional Southern dish is just incredible!
4. Low Carb Cajun Jambalaya Recipe
Jambalaya is another popular Louisiana-origin dish that’s a common staple during Mardi Gras. This Low-carb Cajun Jambalaya Recipe from Kevin Curry at Fit Men Cook is a great recipe to try.
His parents were from Louisiana and he looked forward to his mother’s gumbo every Christmas but knew he couldn’t continue to eat that sort of food if he wanted to be healthy. He managed to transform her recipe so it’s keto friendly but still as tasty.
Made with chicken breast, turkey sausage, shrimps, and Cajun spices, this comfort food is truly mouthwatering. Plus, this keto-friendly recipe is easy to follow and the ingredients can be easily sourced from your local grocery stores.
5. Low Carb Creamy Cajun Chicken and Cabbage
If you need more inspiration for some low carb mardi gras recipes, this low-carb Creamy Cajun Chicken and Cabbage from Mary at My Montana Kitchen is worth checking out.
It’s rich, creamy, and bursting with so much flavor! Made with Parmesan and whipping cream, the dish has an ”Alfredo flair” to it, which is perfect for a keto diet due to its high-fat content. Aside from being keto-friendly, the dish is also gluten-free.
6. Keto Hot Sausage & Pepper Soup
If you want to serve some soup on your Mardi Gras celebration, this Keto Hot Sausage & Pepper Soup from Ruled.me is a great recipe to try. It’s easily made in a crockpot and is great for a family meal at any time.
It’s savory, spicy, and absolutely keto-friendly. With only 8 grams of net carbs per serving, this soup will surely not kick you out of ketosis. Plus, the rich fats from the beef stock will help you to achieve your daily fat intake.
7. Low Carb Crab Cakes with Cajun Mayo
These low carb crab cakes with cajun mayo which appears on A Sweet Life is from Carolyn Ketchum of All Day I Dream About Food make a change from all that meat. They are, of course, gluten free having no breadcrumbs like traditional fish cakes but don’t lack flavor.
Made from crab meat with flax meal and coconut flour to hold them together and the cajun mayo gives them an extra kick. You could make them smaller and serve as an appetizer at any meal.
8. Low Carb Hot Shrimp Jambalaya Dip
This Hot Shrimp Jambalaya Dip from Brianne over at Cupcakes and Kale Chips is another great appetizer to serve on your Mardi Gras party! Made with chicken, andouille sausage, shrimp and a blend of cream cheese, Greek yogurt, and Cabot cheeses with some Creole seasonings, this Jambalaya dip is absolutely satisfying!
Make sure to serve it with plenty of vegetable sticks such as bell peppers, celery, cucumber and zucchini to help keep it keto-alkaline.
9. Keto Fiesta Slaw
Serve this keto fiesta slaw from Ruled.me is another delicious low carb Mardi Gras recipe that perks up any meal. Serve it with any of the main dishes to balance out the meal with vegetables and help to keep it keto-alkaline.
This colorful coleslaw is made with red bell peppers, purple and green cabbages! The full-fat dressing is made with a combination of mayonnaise, avocado oil, and lime juice. Delicious!
10. New Orleans Style Briny Olive Salad
Another salad recipe that’s perfect for Mardi Gras is this New Orleans Style Briny Olive Salad from Kyndra at Peace, Love, and Low Carb. The recipe is inspired by the filling of the muffuletta, a popular New Orleans sandwich that’s consist of Sicilian bread and filled with cold cuts, cheeses, and briny olive salad.
For a low carb or keto diet you can put the olive salad in some lettuce wraps or simply wrap it in some thin slices of ham. It’s tasty mixed into to a green leafy salad or scrambled eggs.
11. Low Carb King Cake
Your Mardi Gras celebration won’t be complete without the King Cake which is said to taste like a cross between a cinnamon roll and a french pastry. Tradition has it that this colorful cake is baked with a small plastic baby hidden inside and whoever gets the slice with the baby in it will be the host for the next party.
Just because you’re on a keto diet doesn’t mean you just have to forego this tradition. There are low carb versions of this cake without the artificial colors such as this gluten free Mardi Gras King Cake by Melissa from Satisfying Eats.
It’s made in a bundt tin from batter, pecan crumble with a cream cheese and apple filling. Surprisingly it has only 6 net carbs per serving.
12. Low Carb Cinnamon Filled King Cake Muffins
Instead of an entire cake, you can opt for cupcakes instead. These Cinnamon Filled King Cake Muffins from Jennifer at The Best Lowcarb is a great recipe to try. She tried various diets to lose weight but found she did best on the keto diet.
The cupcakes are made with almond flour, which is one of the best low carb flour alternatives. Instead of the decorative sprinkle ingredients, which has artificial food coloring, you can opt for natural food coloring or use a low carb frosting such as this Keto Cream Cheese Frosting from I Breathe I’m Hungry. These low-carb cupcakes may require a lot of work, but they are definitely worth it!
13. Low Carb Hurricane Drink & Jello Shots
Complete your Mardi Gras menu by serving these delicious low carb cocktail drinks by Denise from My Life Cookbook. She loves food and spent years dieting but does best on a modified Paleo Diet.
This recipe was inspired by a New Orleans drink called the “hurricane”, which has a strong and fruity taste. Made with low carb gelatin shots and keto-friendly rum this drink is perfect for keto dieters! You can also choose to omit the rum if you’ve got guests who don’t drink alcohol.
I hope you’ll find some tasty dishes for your Mardi Gras or other parties among this round up of Low Carb Mardi Gras Recipes.
