Cajun Baked Turkey Breast and Dressing (Stuffing)

Creole Succotash from 'Treme'

The succotash I grew up eating was a simple side dish of lima beans, corn, onion, black pepper, and a big hunk of butter. But despite my familiarity with the basic version, I am open to different interpretations of the dish (as long as it still contains butter, corn, and limas, of course). This creole succotash from the Treme cookbook is kind of like a tricked out version of the classic. In addition to the requisite vegetables, you'll find okra, celery, bell pepper, shrimp, and two kinds of pork...

Clemenceau'd Shrimp from 'Treme'

Shrimp Clemenceau is a New Orleans classic that appears on the menus of the old-school restaurants like Dooky Chase and Galatoire's. The big, juicy gulf shrimp are tossed with potatoes, mushrooms, and peas, and then topped with a rich lemon-butter sauce.

Grilled Cajun Shrimp and Grits

Fire up the grill! This twist on Shrimp & Grits tops cheesy grits with cajun-spiced shrimp and spicy scallion-garlic butter. Pure summer comfort food!

Grits inspired by My Cousin Vinny — Binging With Babish

This week, we’re finally taking a look at that most essential of Southern staples, grits with eggs and bacon from My Cousin Vinny. But that’s not all: sweet grits and shrimp & grits are both quite literally on the table! Just make sure they’re not instant if you’re using them as part of your

Squash Casserole from 'Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking'

Squash casserole is an enduring favorite at Southern potlucks. I know that I ate plenty of the stuff growing up, but it was mostly because the flavor of the squash was covered up by ungodly amounts of cheese and butter. These days, I prefer actually tasting my vegetables. Luckily, Nathalie Dupree's version in Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking contains enough squash, onion, and peppers to taste more of summer produce than bulk cheese.

Creamy Cajun Shrimp Étouffée

A Louisiana classic, this easy Cajun shrimp étouffée features a velvety sauce with just a hint of spice. Serve it simply with white rice and you can almost picture yourself in The Big Easy.

Southern Cornbread Dressing With Oysters and Sausage

Adding oysters to Thanksgiving stuffing may sound like an odd choice, but it's a practice with a long history and delicious results. Here, raw chopped oysters are mixed with toasted unsweetened cornbread, sausage, and aromatic vegetables and herbs. The oysters add a wonderful savory flavor and subtle brininess.

Browned Brussels With Maple Butter From 'Choosing Sides'

Brussels sprouts are a given on my Thanksgiving table, but I don't always give them much thought. Olive oil, salt, and a hot oven are my only requirements. While this method does produce pleasantly caramelized sprouts, it doesn't add much excitement to the table. This year, I'll take a cue from Tara Mataraza Desmond and toss my Brussels in brown butter and maple syrup as she does in her new cookbook, Choosing Sides.

New Orleans-Style Barbecue Shrimp from 'Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking'

Barbecue shrimp requires only quick stove-top cooking. And what it does have in common with barbecue is the spicy, saucy mess than ensues when sitting down to a big bowl of the stuff.

Cajun Pork and Beef Pie with Savory Cream Cheese Topping

This Paul Prudhomme-inspired pie is essentially a sweet pastry crust filled with a savory mixture of Cajun-spiced ground pork and beef. It's topped with rich seasoned cream cheese, which turns bubbly and browned in the oven—in short, it's bliss on a plate.