Recipes

 Seafood Gumbo for $8

by StudioLink Food Delivery .
December 02, 2025
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 Seafood Gumbo for $8

A rich, flavorful Cajun-inspired gumbo made entirely with affordable, EBT-eligible ingredients. No roux anxiety required!

Total Cost of Ingredients Used: $6.50-$8.00

(Cost reflects only what’s used in the recipe, not full package prices)

Ingredients:

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Ingredients
  •   2 tbsp vegetable oil
  •   1 medium onion, chopped
  •   1 green bell pepper, chopped
  •   3 celery stalks, chopped
  •   3 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 tsp garlic powder
  •   .25 cup all-purpose flour
  •   2 chicken or vegetable bouillon cubes (or 2 tsp powder)
  •   1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
  •   1 cup frozen okra slices
  •   1 bay leaf
  •   1 tsp paprika
  •   .5 tsp dried thyme
  •   .5 tsp dried oregano
  •   .25 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
  •   .5 tsp black pepper
  •   12 oz frozen cooked shrimp, thawed
  •   8 imitation crab (surimi), cut into chunks

Instructions

1

Build the flavor base: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat 2 tbsp oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and celery. Cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring often, until soft. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute.

2

Create the quick roux: Sprinkle the ¼ cup of flour over the vegetables. Stir constantly for 3-4 minutes until the flour turns a light golden brown and smells nutty.

3

Simmer the broth: Slowly pour in the 4 cups of water while stirring continuously. Add the bouillon cubes/powder, canned diced tomatoes (with juice), okra, bay leaf, and all dried spices. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.

4

Add the seafood: Stir in the frozen shrimp and imitation crab chunks. Cook for 5-7 minutes, just until the shrimp are pink and cooked through. Remove the bay leaf.

5

Serve & thicken: Taste and add salt if needed. For a thicker gumbo, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp cold water and stir into the pot. Simmer for 2 more minutes. Serve hot over cooked rice.

A hearty, budget-friendly seafood gumbo that brings the taste of Louisiana to your kitchen for under $8.

This EBT-friendly gumbo proves that big flavor doesn’t require a big budget. Using frozen seafood, affordable veggies, and pantry spices, we create a one-pot wonder that’s deeply satisfying and perfect for feeding a family.

EBT-Approved Grocery List + Cost Breakdown

All items EBT-eligible. Prices based on Walmart/ALDI/Dollar Tree.

Protein

Used in recipe: 12 oz frozen shrimp ($3.50) + 8 oz imitation crab ($1.50)

Package cost: $5.00 (shrimp) + $2.50 (crab) = $7.50 total

Veggies & Aromatics

Used in recipe: 1 onion ($0.35) + 1 bell pepper ($0.40) + celery ($0.20) + canned tomatoes ($0.75) + frozen okra ($0.75)

Package cost: $0.70 + $0.80 + $2.00 (bunch) + $1.00 + $2.50 (bag) = $7.00 total

Pantry & Seasonings

Used in recipe: Oil ($0.10) + flour ($0.08) + bouillon ($0.15) + spices ($0.10)

Package cost: $2.00 + $2.50 + $1.50 + $3.00 (spice set) = $9.00 total

Total Used in Recipe: $6.58-$7.73

Cost per serving (4-6 servings): $1.10-$1.93

Note: Most pantry items last for many meals, making future recipes even cheaper!

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