Crispy Crawfish Fries with Honey Garlic: My Favorite Quick Dinner
By Jason Griffith
Sometimes you just want a meal that’s a little bit different, a little bit special, and a whole lot of delicious. And let me tell you, these Honey Garlic Crawfish Fries are exactly that. It’s a dish that takes the best parts of crispy comfort food and combines them with the delicate flavor of crawfish and a mouth-watering sweet and savory honey garlic sauce. The best part? It’s so surprisingly simple to make that it’s perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner or a fun appetizer for a small gathering.
The star of this dish is the crispy crawfish. We’re giving them a light dredge in a seasoned flour mixture before frying or baking them to a perfect golden brown. This creates a satisfying crunch that gives way to the tender, sweet crawfish inside. But what truly makes this recipe sing is the quick and easy honey garlic sauce. It’s a beautiful, glossy glaze of honey and soy sauce that coats every piece of crawfish, delivering a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and savory flavors.
This isn’t just a recipe; it’s a testament to the fact that you can have a fun, restaurant-quality meal at home without a ton of effort. It’s a unique and addictive dish that will have you coming back for more.
Why I Love This Recipe
This recipe has quickly become a favorite in my home because it’s a perfect blend of a few of my favorite things: crispy texture, seafood, and a killer sauce. I’m a big fan of Cajun and Creole flavors, and while this dish isn’t a traditional Southern recipe, the use of crawfish gives it a fun, regional twist. The simplicity of the honey garlic sauce is what really sold me. It’s a two-ingredient wonder that proves sometimes less is more when it comes to flavor.
I also love how versatile this recipe is. You can serve it as a light dinner, a fun appetizer for a game night, or a delicious component of a bigger meal. The fact that you can either fry or bake the crawfish also gives you options depending on your preference. Plus, it’s a great way to introduce people to crawfish if they haven’t had it before. For another fun, crowd-pleasing finger food, you’ll love my recipe for Totchos, which is another of my favorite party food hacks.
Ingredients
- 1 lb crawfish tails (frozen is fine!)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- French fries or potato wedges, for serving
- Optional: Sesame seeds for garnish
Swaps & Notes
- Crawfish: While crawfish is the star, you can easily use shrimp for a similar dish. Just adjust cooking times.
- Flour: The flour and spices create a nice, seasoned coating. For a gluten-free option, you can use a gluten-free flour blend.
- Sauce: You can add a little bit of lime juice or a touch of sriracha to the honey garlic sauce for an extra kick.
- Potatoes: While the original recipe doesn’t include fries, I love serving this over a bed of crispy fries or potato wedges to make it a complete meal. You can use frozen fries cooked according to package directions to save time.
Instructions
- Prep the Crawfish: If using frozen crawfish, thaw them completely in a bowl of cold water. Pat them very dry with paper towels. This step is crucial for getting a crispy coating.
- Make the Flour Mixture: In a shallow dish, whisk together the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Coat the Crawfish: Dredge each crawfish tail in the flour mixture, making sure it’s evenly coated. Shake off any excess flour.
- Cook the Crawfish (Frying Method):
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Carefully add the crawfish tails to the hot oil in a single layer. Do not overcrowd the pan.
- Fry for about 2-3 minutes per side, until they are golden brown and cooked through. Work in batches if necessary, and use a slotted spoon to remove them.
- Cook the Crawfish (Baking Method):
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Arrange the coated crawfish on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until they are golden brown and cooked through.
- Make the Honey Garlic Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the honey and soy sauce until well combined.
- Combine & Serve: Once the crawfish are cooked, transfer them to a clean bowl and gently toss them in the honey garlic sauce until they are well coated.
- Serve immediately, piled over a bed of crispy French fries or potato wedges. Garnish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds if desired.
Tips for Success
- Pat Dry, Pat Dry, Pat Dry: This is the most important step! If the crawfish are wet, the flour won’t stick, and they won’t get crispy.
- Don’t Overcrowd: Whether you’re frying or baking, give the crawfish some space. Overcrowding will cause them to steam instead of crisping up.
- Use Low-Sodium Soy Sauce: This allows you to control the saltiness of the sauce.
- Serve Immediately: This dish is best served right away, while the crawfish are hot and the coating is crispy. The sauce will soften the coating over time.
Serving Suggestions and Pairings
This meal is great on its own, but it pairs beautifully with a simple side of coleslaw or a fresh green salad to cut through the richness. A cold beer or a crisp glass of white wine would also be a great beverage pairing.
For more fun, shareable food ideas, a bowl of Crockpot Nacho Dip is another great appetizer that you can serve alongside this dish.
Nutritional Information Per Serving
(Approximation based on ingredients, serves 3)
- Calories: ~450
- Protein: ~25g
- Fat: ~20g
- Carbohydrates: ~40g
- Fiber: ~3g
Storage and Leftover Tips
This dish is definitely best enjoyed fresh. However, if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To reheat, the best method is to use a toaster oven or air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for a few minutes until they’re hot and crispy again.
More Recipes You Will Love
If you’re a fan of comforting and crowd-pleasing dinners, you’ll love these other recipes:
- This Cajun Chicken & Sausage Gumbo is My Favorite Bowl of Southern Comfort
- This Walking Taco Bar is My Favorite No-Fuss Way to Feed a Crowd
- These Chicken Enchiladas are My Go-To for Cozy, Crowd-Pleasing Dinners
Final Thoughts
These Honey Garlic Crawfish Fries are a perfect example of a meal that is both fun and deeply satisfying. It’s a quick recipe that delivers a huge flavor payoff, making it a perfect addition to your weeknight rotation or your next party menu. I hope you give it a try and discover just how easy it is to make something so delicious.
What’s your favorite way to cook with crawfish? Let me know in the comments below!
Honey Garlic Crawfish Fries: A Sweet & Savory Dinner You'll Love
Ingredients
- 1 lb crawfish tails (frozen is fine!)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 4 tsp salt
- 4 tsp black pepper
- 4 cups honey
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat your deep fryer or a large pot with oil to 350°F (175°C).
- In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Dredge the crawfish tails in the flour mixture, ensuring they are well coated.
- Carefully lower the coated crawfish tails into the hot oil and fry until golden brown and crispy, about 5-7 minutes.
- In a separate saucepan, combine the honey and soy sauce. Heat over medium heat until warmed through, stirring occasionally.
- Once the crawfish are done frying, remove them from the oil and drain on paper towels.
- Drizzle the honey garlic sauce over the crawfish fries or serve it on the side for dipping.
- Enjoy your sweet and savory crawfish fries hot!
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