Slow Cooker Shrimp Sausage Chowder

The joy of cooking soup in a slow cooker is that you throw everything in the pot, and, because you cook it long and slow, it means you get the maximum flavor from your ingredients. The shrimp and the andouille sausage give this dish a New Orleans vibe.

Crispy Jambalaya Rice With Crab Salad

This combination of crispy jambalaya rice cakes and a lemony crab salad makes for an impressive party hors d’oeuvre. Channeling the flavors of Louisiana, the rice cakes get their spicy kick from andouille sausage and Cajun seasoning and make the perfect contrast to the cool, creamy crab. The rice cakes can easily be made ahead of time. Just crisp them up in a skillet when you’re ready to serve.

Spicy Sausage Baked Beans

A grill out in the South would not be complete without baked beans. My spicy sausage baked beans are smoky and tangy, but perfectly balanced with my secret ingredient. Cola adds rich sweetness to balance out those bold flavors. Oh, and did I mention how easy this is to throw together? The perfect side for a stress-free grill out.