Description
Cajun Crawfish Bread is a bold and comforting Louisiana-inspired appetizer featuring spicy crawfish tails sautéed with garlic butter and Cajun seasoning, layered on crusty French bread with a blend of melted mozzarella and cheddar cheese. It’s perfect for gatherings, game days, or anytime you crave a hearty, cheesy, and spicy snack that captures the authentic flavors of Cajun cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 1 crusty French bread loaf (fresh or day-old)
Filling
- 1 cup crawfish tails (fresh or thawed frozen)
- 2 tablespoons garlic butter (homemade or store-bought)
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning (adjust to taste)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (half for filling, half for topping)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (half for filling, half for topping)
Optional Garnishes & Additions
- Hot sauce, to taste
- Fresh chopped green onions
- Fresh parsley or thyme (optional herbs)
Instructions
- Prepare the Bread: Slice the French bread loaf lengthwise, leaving a hinge so both sides remain connected. Spread a generous layer of garlic butter on both halves to create a flavorful base that will toast beautifully.
- Cook the Crawfish Filling: In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter and sauté chopped green onions until fragrant. Add crawfish tails and Cajun seasoning, stirring to coat evenly and warm through. Mix in half of the cheese blend to melt into a creamy, spicy filling.
- Assemble the Bread: Spoon the crawfish mixture evenly onto the bottom half of the bread. Top generously with the remaining shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese to ensure every bite has gooey cheesiness.
- Bake Until Golden: Place the assembled bread on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 12-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Watch closely to prevent burning.
- Add Garnishes and Serve: Remove from oven and sprinkle with fresh chopped green onions and a few dashes of hot sauce for color and an extra flavor kick. Slice and serve warm to enjoy the melty, spicy Cajun goodness.
Notes
- Use day-old bread for better texture and to avoid sogginess.
- Don’t skip the garlic butter; it adds essential rich, aromatic flavor.
- Adjust Cajun seasoning gradually to control spiciness.
- Do not overcook crawfish to keep them tender.
- For extra crispiness, broil the bread for 1-2 minutes at the end but watch carefully.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (about 1/8th of the loaf)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 55mg