Description
This Cajun Crawfish Bread is a deliciously spicy, cheesy appetizer featuring tender crawfish tails combined with fragrant green onions and Cajun seasoning, all layered on crusty French bread and baked until bubbly and golden. Perfect for gatherings or a flavorful snack, it brings classic Cajun flavors in an easy-to-make, crowd-pleasing dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread and Base
- 1 crusty French bread loaf (fresh or day-old)
- 2 tablespoons garlic butter (homemade or store-bought)
Crawfish Filling
- 1 cup crawfish tails (fresh or thawed frozen)
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning (adjust to taste)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (divided: 1/2 cup for filling, 1/2 cup for topping)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (divided: 1/2 cup for filling, 1/2 cup for topping)
Garnishes
- 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 halves remain connected. Spread a generous layer of garlic butter on both halves to create a flavorful base that will toast beautifully during baking.
- Cook the Crawfish Filling: Heat a skillet over medium heat and melt the butter. Sauté the chopped green onions until fragrant, then add the crawfish tails and Cajun seasoning. Stir well to coat the crawfish evenly and warm through. Mix in half of the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend, allowing it to melt into a creamy, spicy filling.
- Assemble the Bread: Spoon the crawfish mixture evenly onto the bottom half of the bread. Then sprinkle the remaining shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese generously on top to ensure a gooey, cheesy crust.
- 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. Monitor closely to avoid burning.
- Add Garnishes and Serve: Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh chopped green onions and a few dashes of hot sauce for added color and an extra kick of flavor. Optionally, sprinkle with fresh parsley or thyme. Slice and serve warm to enjoy the melty, spicy Cajun goodness.
Notes
- This recipe works well with either fresh or thawed frozen crawfish tails.
- Adjust Cajun seasoning and hot sauce to your preferred spice level.
- Use day-old French bread for better texture and less sogginess.
- Feel free to add fresh herbs like parsley or thyme for extra aroma and color.
- Leftover bread can be reheated but is best enjoyed fresh.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Cajun
Keywords: Cajun crawfish bread, spicy crawfish appetizer, cheesy crawfish bread, Cajun bread recipe, crawfish tails recipe
