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Home · Recipes · Cajun and Creole · Crawfish Etouffee

Published: Feb 26, 2025 by Kelly Anthony · 21 CommentsThis post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

Crawfish Etouffee

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Get ready to fall in love with your new favorite Crawfish Etouffee Recipe. This bowl comes fully loaded with crawfish tails and bold, authentic Louisiana flavors.

Crawfish Etouffee with white rice

As soon as crawfish season hits around here, we are ready to boil! This is a great recipe to use leftover crawfish tails, but it also works great with cooked, frozen crawfish tails if you love to enjoy dishes like etouffee and crawfish pie year-round. You can also sub in shrimp if you're having trouble getting your hands on crawfish.

We kick off this classic dish with the Cajun building blocks of flavor, the holy trinity (bell pepper, celery, and onion). Then, it's onto a simple roux and my foolproof hack for making the smoothest, creamiest etouffee base your tastebuds have ever experienced.

Overhead shot of crawfish etouffee with rice and garnish

Table of Contents

  • Why This Recipe Works
  • Crawfish Etouffee Ingredients
  • How to Make Crawfish Etouffee
  • What to Serve with Crawfish Etouffee
  • How to Store Crawfish Etouffee
  • 5 More Cajun-Inspired Recipes You'll Love

Why This Recipe Works

Louisiana has a lot of food to be proud of, but surely etouffee is one of their proudest foodie moments.

Ease | You can easily have this crawfish etouffee recipe on the table in less than 30 minutes. Our step-by-step photos and video will help you perfect this warm, comforting dish on your very first try. If you are intimidated by a roux, don't worry--our method for adding in the chicken broth slowly and stirring after each addition will make that process seamless. We use the same method in our Cajun shrimp and chicken alfredo pasta, and it keeps every type of sauce smooth and creamy every single time without fail.

Consistency | Etouffee means "to smother," and this New Orleans-style rendition does exactly that--smothers those crawfish tails in all the right ways. It boasts a smooth, buttery texture that lies somewhere between a stew and a bisque.

Flavor | Its flavor is rich and distinctly Louisiana-inspired thanks to the holy trinity of vegetables, Creole seasonings, Worcestershire, and hot sauce.

overhead of crawfish etouffee with rice

Crawfish Etouffee Ingredients

Crawfish | Crawfish season typically runs from February through May, sometimes stretching into early summer. If you have leftover crawfish from a boil, peel it, and refrigerate it stored in an airtight container. You can use the day of or the next day in this etouffee recipe. Since we only host crawfish boils a few times a year (and rarely end up with leftovers), we mostly use store-bought, frozen crawfish tails. We thaw them in the refrigerator overnight to get them ready to go. Note that this recipe calls for cooked crawfish tails.

Butter | The first part of the roux and the veggies cook in unsalted butter for full control over sodium levels.

Veggies | Crawfish etouffee is loaded with flavor and does not skimp on the ingredients. It features the holy trinity--diced yellow onion, bell pepper, and celery--but don't forget the garlic! Our recipe also calls for freshly chopped tomato to be added at the end, which adds balance to such a savory powerhouse dish and a welcomed burst of acidity to every bite.

Flour | The second ingredient to make up a roux is all-purpose flour to be used as the thickening agent. This gets your etouffee to the perfect consistency.

Broth | The liquid portion of etouffee can be made up of either chicken broth or seafood broth. Use low sodium or unsalted so your crawfish etouffee doesn't end up too salty.

Flavor + Seasoning | This crawfish etouffee is packed with flavor thanks to ingredients like tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, Creole seasoning, and bay leaf.

How to Make Crawfish Etouffee

The great thing about this recipe is that once you get going, it wastes no time at all moving along. With that said, if you plan on serving crawfish etouffee with white rice, I recommend starting that rice recipe when you begin your etouffee. That way, once your etouffee is ready to serve, your rice is already for you.

Add Butter + Veggies | Before you add butter to a hot pan, make sure you've got the ingredients that follow already prepped and ready to go in. Butter melts fast, and it burns even faster. Onion, bell pepper, and celery go in first and are cooked until softened. Next, add the garlic and cook one minute more.

The holy trinity for crawfish etouffee

Butter + Flour = Roux | Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir for about one minute, giving that flour just enough time to cook on the stovetop.

Roux for crawfish etouffee

Add Tomato Paste + Broth | Stir in the tomato paste and then begin adding your broth or seafood broth one big splash at a time (no more than a ¼ cup), stirring well after each addition. This is a foolproof way to make sure that your sauce turns out perfectly smooth and silky in texture.

Adding broth and tomato paste to crawfish etouffee

Season | Next, you'll add in the Worcestershire sauce, the hot sauce, all of those glorious spices and the chopped tomatoes. The chopped tomatoes are added toward the end, so they maintain their texture and their flavor stays pronounced.

Seasoning for crawfish etouffee

Simmer | The simmer allows the etouffee to thicken and gives all those flavors time to marry. At this point, stir occasionally to ensure nothing sticks or burns to the bottom of your pan.

Add the Crawfish Last | The cooked crawfish are the last thing to go into your etouffee as the tails are tiny and won't take long to heat up. If you add toward the beginning, you can be certain those delicate little tails will be overcooked.

Overhead shot of a spoonful of crawfish etouffee

Plate | Add a ladleful or two of etouffee into your bowl and add a scoop of white rice on top. Add a garnish of sliced green onions and chopped parsley for an extra pop of color and flavor, if desired.

Crawfish etouffee with white rice on top

What to Serve with Crawfish Etouffee

Crawfish etouffee is hearty enough to be eaten on its lonesome with a scoop of white rice on top. If you're feeling spunky, you could certainly try a spoonful of Cajun rice instead.

With Sides | In NOLA, you're sure to get a toasty hunk of French bread or a hearty slice of garlic bread on the side of etouffee, but you wouldn't be hard pressed to find classic Southern sides like fried okra, red beans and rice, and dirty rice on the menu as well.

As a Side | Etouffee an also be served in smaller portions on the side of hearty Louisiana sandwiches like shrimp po'boys and roast beef po'boys, or as an accompaniment to a lighter dinnertime protein like blackened chicken.

How to Store Crawfish Etouffee

Store | According to FDA guidelines, crawfish etouffee can be kept safely in the refrigerator for up to two days, so eat it up quickly! However, you can extend the shelf life by freezing it.

Freeze | Transfer it to a freezer-safe, gallon-sized zip-top bag and seal tightly. I like to lay the bag flat on a sheet pan (or something of the sort) to make the thawing process go by much faster later on down the road. Etouffee from the freezer is best eaten within a three-month time span.

Crawfish etouffee

5 More Cajun-Inspired Recipes You'll Love

  • Shrimp and Grits
  • Sausage and Rice
  • BBQ Shrimp
  • Jambalaya Pasta
  • Blackened Shrimp
Overhead shot of crawfish etouffee with rice and garnish
Print Recipe
4.30 from 48 votes

Crawfish Etouffee

Transport the rich and buttery flavors of Crawfish Etouffee from New Orleans to your dinner table tonight with this easy, no-fuss Crawfish Etouffee recipe!
Prep Time12 minutes mins
Cook Time28 minutes mins
Total Time40 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Creole
Keyword: Crawfish Etouffee
Servings: 6
Calories: 195kcal
Author: Kelly Anthony

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 yellow onion, finely diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, seeded and finely diced
  • 3 stalks of celery, finely diced
  • 3 cloves of garlic
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 4 cups unsalted chicken broth or unsalted seafood broth
  • 2 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Cajun or Creole seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • Generous pinch black pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 large tomato (seeds and pulp removed), diced
  • 12 ounces fresh or frozen cooked crawfish tails, thawed

Instructions

  • Add the butter to a large sauté pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Do not allow the butter to burn. Add the onion, bell pepper, and celery as soon as the butter has melted and sauté until softened, 6-8 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté 1 minute more.
  • Sprinkle the flour over the mixture, and stir for about 1 - 2 minutes. 
  • Stir in the tomato paste, and begin adding the first 2 cups of chicken broth one big splash at a time, stirring well after each addition. Add the remaining chicken broth and stir to combine.
  • Stir in the Worcestershire, hot sauce, Cajun seasoning, salt, black pepper, bay leaf, and diced tomato. 
  • Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer, and simmer for 6-8 minutes, until the mixture is slightly thickened. Stir occasionally. Add the crawfish tails and simmer an additional 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve with a heaping serving of fluffy white rice, and enjoy!

Video

Notes

Makes about 7 cups of etouffee.

Nutrition

Calories: 195kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 331mg | Potassium: 392mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1055IU | Vitamin C: 22.6mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1.4mg
Pinterest image- Easy New Orleans Crawfish Etouffee

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Comments

  1. Danielle Wolter says

    January 16, 2019 at 12:36 am

    crawfish etouffe is one of my favorite dishes. It really brings back memories of living in texas. Love the flavors, and richness and spice. Wish I was eating this now!

    Reply
  2. Helen of Fuss Free Flavours says

    January 22, 2019 at 1:11 pm

    What a wonderful recipe for a traditional dish. The flavours sound amazing, and has a lovely rich colour. Such a good dish to serve for a family meal.

    Reply
  3. Neli Howard says

    January 22, 2019 at 1:42 pm

    Omg this recipe was the best. It taste just like the authentic etouffee from back home. I made a double batch and followed the directions and it was so delicious.

    Reply
  4. Corina Blum says

    January 22, 2019 at 2:09 pm

    This recipe sounds delicious! I would love to try it out on my little boy as I have recently discovered that he absolutely loves crawfish so I need some more recipes for him!

    Reply
    • Kelly Anthony says

      January 22, 2019 at 4:42 pm

      My oldest daughter is obsessed too!

      Reply
  5. Jennifer | Savor With Jennifer says

    January 22, 2019 at 2:24 pm

    I’ve never made Etouffee, but I definitely have to try it! Love these flavors and your photos make me want it right NOW!

    Reply
    • Kelly Anthony says

      January 22, 2019 at 4:42 pm

      Thank you so much, Jennifer!

      Reply
  6. Eden | Sweet Tea and Thyme says

    January 22, 2019 at 3:21 pm

    Oh, be still my heart! I love this recipe, going on the meal plan this week!

    Reply
  7. Amy says

    March 06, 2019 at 1:59 pm

    This was delicious!!! Ordered crawfish tails from New Orleans..... for Fat Tuesday! It’s was so easy to follow... was JUST in NOLA. This tasted as good as anything we enjoyed there! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Kelly Anthony says

      March 06, 2019 at 4:46 pm

      Amy! That just makes my day 🙂 Thank you SO much sharing that. Hugs all around!!! We have a NOLA trip coming up soon, and I can't wait!

      Reply
  8. Jason Stoner says

    May 03, 2019 at 2:18 am

    I live in the middle of Cajun country. Lafayette, LA. I just received 3 bags of crawfish tails and wanted to make an Etouffee. I searched several recipes and came across yours...so happy I did. While it differs from Cajun recipes, I love your creole version much better. I think it was much more favorable. Excellent recipe! I will add this recipe to my list of go to recipes. Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Kelly Anthony says

      May 03, 2019 at 5:47 pm

      Jason! That comment is a day-maker! Thank you for the kind words 🙂 Thrilled you enjoyed it so much!

      Reply
      • Deedra A Duplessis says

        August 22, 2021 at 10:51 pm

        This was my first time making crawfish Etouffee. My fiance requested the dish and to google I went. It came out delicious. I added a little extra dry seasonings and of course since I'm from New Orleans I added just a cap of Louisiana liquid seafood boil. It was delicious Thank you for sharing...

        Reply
        • Kelly Anthony says

          August 23, 2021 at 5:10 pm

          Those sound like great additions! Thank you, Deedra 🙂 I'm glad it was a yummy turn-out for you!

          Reply
  9. Irina says

    July 16, 2019 at 2:23 am

    It sounds delicious! I was looking for a great recipe to impress my guests, and I have just found the one! I am gonna make it this week. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  10. Veena Azmanov says

    July 16, 2019 at 3:06 am

    This is surely a one pot meal. So delicious and flavorful. I love it.

    Reply
  11. Natalie says

    July 16, 2019 at 4:01 am

    Looks so delicious and comforting! Perfect for a warm, hearty dinner ♥

    Reply
  12. Tracy says

    July 16, 2019 at 4:52 am

    This is the kind of meal that I LOVE but that I never make because I'm sure I'll just mess it up. Thank you for your super helpful, no fail recipes!!

    Reply
  13. Laura | Wandercooks says

    July 16, 2019 at 5:49 am

    Oooh what a tasty ingredient list. I love using Worcestershire sauce in dishes like this. I'm not sure about getting crawfish where I live, do you think it would be okay to substitute with prawns?

    Reply
  14. Michael says

    July 07, 2021 at 2:26 pm

    Thanks for a great recipe. Do you think a caesar salad would pair well with this.

    Reply
    • Kelly Anthony says

      August 29, 2021 at 10:39 pm

      I personally think Caesar pairs with almost anything 😉 It's one of my faves!

      Reply
4.30 from 48 votes (36 ratings without comment)

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I’m Kelly Anthony — a baker, home chef, and mom with a passion for food and an adoration for entertaining.

Comfort food is my specialty, and it is truly my pleasure to share these recipes with you. If you’d like to get to know me a little better, click here.

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