Leftover Crawfish Recipes

ByLauren LeBlanc Posted on

Need recipes for your leftover crawfish tails? I got you! If you’re doing a crawfish boil right, there should be some leftovers to enjoy the next day. Here are some of my favorite leftover crawfish recipes like crawfish étouffée and crawfish Monica to enjoy those little Louisiana crustaceans.

Two large platters of cooked cajun crawfish.

Springtime in South Louisiana means crawfish boils! The smell of cajun spices in the air, ice chests full of beer, and everyone gathered around a table piled high with crawfish. It’s a tradition we look forward to every year. If you’re new to it, check out my full guide on How to Boil Crawfish to get started.

What Can I Make With Leftover Crawfish?

If you have leftover crawfish from your boil, consider yourself lucky! I like to boil extra so I can have leftovers for the next day. You can toss the crawfish tails in an omelette for breakfast, a creamy pasta, crawfish boil soup, or étouffée.

The fixings also make great leftovers. Use the potatoes for potato salad, mashed potatoes, or potato soup. The corn will make a flavorful corn maque choux or creamed corn.

Need a crawfish boil recipe? Check out my step-by-step guide. And don’t forget the Crawfish Dipping Sauce!

To Peel or Not to Peel?

Lagniappe: LAN-yap – a little something extra
If you have leftover crawfish from a boil, it’s best to peel them while they’re still warm. Crawfish are much easier to peel when they’re fresh. Once peeled and cleaned, store the tails in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2–3 days.

Crawfish Recipes You’ll Love

Crawfish Bread
Crawfish bread is stuffed with a creamy cheesy crawfish filling and baked in bread dough. This crawfish dish is a favorite at the New Orleans Jazz fest, but now you can make it at home!
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Crawfish bread sliced showing the filling.
Authentic Cajun Crawfish Étouffée
Crawfish étouffée is a classic cajun dish with a rich peanut butter roux, the holy trinity, and crawfish tails. This recipe also includes directions to make a creole version with tomatoes!
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Cajun crawfish etouffee over rice.
Fried Crawfish Tails Recipe
Crispy fried crawfish tails with cajun spices. A great leftover crawfish recipe that's easy to make!
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Cajun fried crawfish and french fries with lemon wedges.

Crawfish Cream Sauce Recipe
Cajun crawfish cream sauce is a rich and silky sauce with Louisiana crawfish, the holy trinity, and tons of cajun flavor. Serve it over pasta, blackened fish, or grits.
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Cajun crawfish cream sauce and pasta in a bowl.
Crawfish Monica Recipe
Crawfish Monica is a creamy crawfish pasta dish that is wildly popular at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. With this copycat recipe, you can make your own at home!
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Creamy crawfish Monica with rotini pasta.
Best Crawfish Po’boy Recipe
Fried crawfish poboy is a classic New Orleans sandwich stuffed full of crispy fried crawfish tails. Serve it on flaky French bread and top with mayo, shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and pickles for an authentic dressed po’boy.
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A fried crawfish poboy with lettuce, tomatoes, mayo, and pickles.

Crawfish Dip Recipe
This Crawfish Dip Recipe is packed with Cajun flavor, and is a wonderful way to enjoy crawfish without all the boiling and peeling. It comes together in one skillet, and is perfect for sharing!
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A skillet of crawfish dip.
Crawfish Scampi Recipe
This delicious recipe for garlic butter crawfish tails is an easy and super-fast dish that can come together in 10 minutes. Get the recipe now!
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Crawfish in a butter sauce.
Creamy Crawfish Baked Potatoes
This creamy crawfish baked potato is a meal all in one . It is a soft potato topped with a flavorful creamy crawfish sauce. This is cheesy and creamy, the best potato you will ever have .
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A baked potato with creamy crawfish sauce.

Easy Crawfish Bisque
This Crawfish Bisque Recipe is an easy version of classic Louisiana bisque. Impress everyone by making this restaurant-quality dish at home!
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A bowl of crawfish bisque with a crawfish cake.
Crawfish Hand Pies
These Easy New Orleans Crawfish Hand Pies are packed with a spicy crawfish filling wrapped in flaky pie crust. A must-try authentic Louisiana crawfish pie perfect for any gathering!
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Crawfish hand pies.
Pappadeaux Crawfish Bisque
Make Pappadeaux Crawfish Bisque at home with this easy copycat recipe. Enjoy a thick, rich, creamy, and deeply flavored crawfish soup for lunch or dinner.
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Two bowls of crawfish bisque.

Lauren holding an onion.

Lauren’s Tips for Using Leftover Crawfish

  • Make it easy: Peel the crawfish while they are still warm.
  • Store properly: Use leftover crawfish within 2-3 days.
  • Reheat gently: Overcooking can make the tails rubbery, so add them near the end of the cooking process.
  • Season to taste: Crawfish can get pretty spicy and salted so taste and adjust your seasonings accordingly.

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Love these crawfish recipes? Have a question? Leave a comment and let me know!

Frequently Asked Questions

How much crawfish to yield 1 pound of tails?

It takes about 6-8 pounds of whole crawfish to get 1 pound of tail meat.

Can you freeze leftover crawfish tails?

Yes, you can freeze leftover crawfish tails from a crawfish boil. Peel the tails and seal in an airtight freezer container. Freeze for about 3 months.

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!

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