Easy Boudin King Cake

Boudin king cake is a savory king cake stuffed with boudin sausage, pepperjack cheese, jalapeños, and cajun spices and wrapped in flaky crescent rolls. It’s an easy appetizer perfect for any Mardi Gras party!

Cheesy spicy savory boudin king cake slice on a plate.

Can’t get enough boudin? Try cheesy boudin dip, boudin egg rolls, or fried boudin balls! If you need some libations for your Mardi Gras party, see Mardi Gras Drinks.

What is Boudin King Cake?

Eating king cake is a huge part of the Mardi Gras season. Mardi Gras is all about the gluttony and debauchery that comes before the repentance of the lent season, so indulging in good food is a must! Normally, king cakes are a sweet cinnamon pastry that can be stuffed with different fillings, like this cream cheese stuffed king cake

This boudin king cake is a savory twist on the original filled with boudin sausage that is every bit as good. What is boudin? Boudin is a cajun sausage from south Louisiana made with pork, rice, onions, pepper, and seasonings. It can be grilled, steamed, smoked, or seared and eaten alone, on a sandwich, or used in fun appetizers like boudin dip, boudin balls, or this boudin king cake.

Lagniappe

Lagniappe: LAN-yap – a little something extra
So where to buy boudin? If you’re in south Louisiana, you’re in luck because you can find it at most grocery stores and even gas stations around. If you’re not in south Louisiana, it may be a little harder to find. The Best Stop located in Lafayette, Louisiana (and a few other locations) has some of the best boudin around. Luckily you can order it online. I ordered some myself and it came well wrapped, insulated, and arrived still completely frozen. Cajun Grocer is another online store where you can purchase boudin and other cajun goodies, like andouille, roux, and tasso. 

Ingredients & Substitutions

Labeled Ingredients for boudin king cake.
  • Boudin – Unfortunately, there really is no substitute for boudin sausage. Order it online from The Best Stop or Cajun Grocer if you can’t find it locally. If you MUST substitute for something, you can try italian sausage or andouille. 
  • Pepperjack cheeseSubstitute for Monterey jack or colby jack cheese if you want a milder flavor (but the final dish is not overly spicy). 
  • Pickled jalepeñosSubstitute for fresh jalepeños if you want to turn up the heat. 
  • Hot sauce – I always use vinegar based hot sauces in my cajun recipes like Crystal or Louisiana
  • Cajun seasoning – Some boudin is more flavorful than others, so you might need to add some extra cajun seasoning if yours is bland. 
  • Crescent rolls – I made this recipe with the rolls that are pre-perforated into triangles. You can also make it with the sheets if needed. 
  • Pepper jelly – You might still be able to find this in the jelly aisle even if you’re not in Louisiana. I prefer the red pepper jelly

See the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and measurements.

Recipe Testing Notes: I’ve made this king cake with both Richard’s and Best Stop boudin, and the flavor winner was Best Stop!

How to Make a Boudin King Cake

Steps how to make boudin king cake.
  1. Remove the casing from boudin sausage and break up into a bowl.
  2. Add in the cheese, jalapeños, hot sauce, and seasonings and mix well.
  3. Arrange the crescent rolls in an overlapping ring with the points facing outwards.
  4. Form the filling into a log shape around the ring. 
  5. Fold over the flaps and press to seal. Brush with egg wash
  6. Bake until golden brown, then pour pepper jelly glaze over the top. Serve hot!
Lauren holding an onion.

Lauren’s Tips

Equipment Needed

Storage & Make Ahead

Storage: Store leftover boudin king cake in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days. 

Freeze: Do not freeze this recipe. 

Reheat: Reheat slices of boudin king cake in the oven at 350°F or an air fryer until warmed. 

Make ahead: I wouldn’t make the entire thing ahead of time, but you can prepare the filling one day in advance and store covered in the refrigerator.

Boudin king cake topped with jalapenos and pepper jelly.

Did you love this recipe? Please leave a comment and let me know!

A cheesy boudin king cake slice on a plate with jalapeños and pepper jelly.

Easy Boudin King Cake Recipe

Boudin King Cake is a savory twist on the classic King Cake, filled with flavorful boudin sausage, pepper jack cheese, jalapeños, and Cajun spices, all wrapped in buttery, flaky crescent rolls. It’s a crowd-pleasing appetizer that’s perfect for celebrating Mardi Gras like a Louisiana local!
No ratings yet
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American, Cajun
Servings 12 servings
Calories 300 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • PREP: Shred pepper jack cheese. Cut cream cheese into smaller cubes. Thinly slice green onions. Lightly beat an egg with about 1 tablespoon of water and set aside.Remove casings from boudin and break up the filling into a mixing bowl. Preheat oven to 375°F. Cover a large baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
  • MIX: Add pepper jack, cream cheese, jalapeños, hot sauce, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and green onions to the bowl with the boudin. Mix well. Mixture will be very thick (a wooden spoon is helpful). Taste and add cajun seasoning if necessary.
  • FILL: Unroll the crescent rolls and place them overlapping in an oval shape on the baking sheet with the long points of the triangle facing outwards. Put the filling around the ring in a log shape, and fold the crescent rolls over to seal. It’s ok to have some gaps. Brush with egg wash.
  • BAKE: Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and filling is hot.
  • TOP: While the king cake is baking, microwave the pepper jelly until a liquid consistency. When the king cake is baked, pour the pepper jelly on top to glaze. Top with more green onions if desired.
  • SERVE: Serve warm and enjoy!

Notes

  • Some boudin is more flavorful than others, so taste a pinch of your mixture before rolling it up to make sure it is properly seasoned. *Most boudin is pre-cooked, but make sure your brand of boudin is fully cooked before tasting.
  • Store leftover king cake in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
  • Reheat slices of boudin king cake in the oven or air fryer until warmed. 
  • Make ahead: Prepare the filling one day in advance and store covered in the refrigerator. 

Nutrition

Calories: 300kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 12gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 77mgSodium: 548mgPotassium: 174mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 616IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 171mgIron: 1mg
Love this recipe? Pin it for later!Click the pin button above, and follow LaurenFromScratch on Pinterest!
Lauren sitting on the kitchen counter.

Meet Lauren

I’m the blogger, recipe developer, food photographer, and otherwise food obsessed gal behind Lauren From Scratch. I was born and raised in New Orleans and lived in South Louisiana most of my life. Growing up around Cajun country has instilled a love of food that runs deep in my bones. I am passionate about food and teaching you how to make mouth-watering Louisiana inspired dishes in your own kitchen!


where y’at?

Let’s get social, cher! Come hang out with me and get a little peak into the life of a food blogger.


Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating