Try something new like Cajun grilled alligator. This mild, juicy white meat is amplified with spices and a Mississippi dipping sauce #YOLO
4.08 from 272 votes
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By Christie Vanover | Published January 29, 2017 | Last Updated February 22, 2023

Home | Recipes | Cajun Grilled Alligator with Comeback Sauce

Alligator is very mild and takes on the flavors of the rubs and sauces you use to marinate it. The fattier portions of the meat have a texture similar to lobster. The leaner portions have a texture similar to juicy pork chops.

cajun grilled alligator on plate with sauce.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
  1. Grilled Alligator Ingredients
  2. Equipment Needed
  3. How to Prepare Grilled Alligator
  4. How to Grill Alligator
  5. Whip up a batch of Mississippi Comeback Sauce
  6. Frequently Asked Questions
  7. More Cajun and Southern Recipes

Grilled Alligator Ingredients

My favorite section of the gator, is the tail meat. Like chicken and pork, it cooks up fast over direct heat.

  • Alligator Tail: This recipe is not for those whole grilled alligators that you see on TikTok. It’s a more approachable simple dish that’s a lot easier to cook up.
  • Vegetable Oil: You can use any kind. Olive oil or corn oil work well.
  • Cajun Seasoning: Use your favorite Cajun seasoning blend. I like Sea Dog Rub from Code 3 Spices, but there are many good ones out there.
  • Garlic Powder: If you use Sea Dog Rub, I like adding some garlic powder. But this is completely optional
  • Mississippi Comeback Sauce: This condiment includes mayo, ketchup, chili sauce, Worcestershire sauce, more Cajun seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder, lemon juice and hot sauce.
bottles of BBQ rubs on black background

Equipment Needed

  • Cutting Board and Knife
  • Bowl: To season the alligator tail
  • 2 Plates or Sheet Pans: To transfer the raw and cooked meat to and from the grill
  • Skewers: You can also grill these straight on the grill grate, but skewering them makes things easier
  • Tongs
  • Mixing Bowl and Spoon: To make the dressing

How to Prepare Grilled Alligator

Again, this recipe is not for a whole alligator. Instead, we’re using tail meat. If you buy it frozen, let it thaw and pat it dry.

raw plate of alligator tail meat.

Start by slicing the tail into 1-2-inch pieces and dust with Cajun seasoning and some garlic powder. The pieces should be kind of the size of chicken nuggets, maybe a bit bigger.

Slide the pieces onto a few skewers and let them rest on the counter for about 30 minutes while you light the grill. This will allow the spices to absorb into the meat.

How to Grill Alligator

You can cook these on any type of grill. Personally, I like using a gas grill, because they cook up in about 10 minutes.

Heat your grill to high. If you’re using a pellet grill, set it for around 400F degrees.

skewers of alligator on a grill.

Add the skewers to the grill and cook them for about 5 minutes per side. It’s really that simple.

Surprisingly (or maybe not), the USDA doesn’t have a doneness guide for alligator and neither does my meat buyer’s guide. Through my research, I found that the Food and Drug Administration labels alligator into the fish category, because it’s “aquatic life.” Go figure.

Finally, I found an official government source with the answer. According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, alligator needs to be cooked to 145F degrees.

And I guess, since the FDA considers it a fish, that makes sense, because the USDA minimum internal cooking temperature for fish is 145F degrees.

Whip up a batch of Mississippi Comeback Sauce

Mississippi Comeback Sauce is a condiment I fell in love with when I lived near Jackson, Mississippi. It’s similar to Thousand Island, but it has more punch because it’s accented with onion, garlic and Cajun seasoning. A few dashes of hot sauce make it even better.

It makes the perfect accompaniment to grilled alligator because the creamy sauce tames the Cajun heat.

Some day, I’d love to experiment and grill up a whole alligator, but until that day, this grilled alligator recipe cures my Louisiana cravings. 

GCG Pro Pitmaster Tips

  • Instead of smoking a whole alligator, skewer up some tail meat
  • Season it with Cajun seasoning
  • It only takes 10 minutes to grill
  • Serve with a complementary Mississippi Comeback Sauce

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I buy alligator?

I source my alligator from The Butcher Block in Las Vegas. It comes frozen, so if you can’t find it at your local butcher, my butcher can probably mail you some.

What does alligator taste like?

The tail meat is very tender. It tastes mild like chicken but has the consistency of a pork chop.

What else can you make with alligator?

You’ve got to check out “The Alligator Cookbook.” It’s published by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. You can download the whole book for free online. It has recipes for everything from alligator balls to alligator dip to gator étouffée.

More Cajun and Southern Recipes

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cajun grilled alligator on plate with sauce.

Cajun Grilled Alligator with Comeback Sauce

Try something new like Cajun grilled alligator. This mild, juicy white meat is amplified with spices and a Mississippi dipping sauce #YOLO
Recipe by Christie Vanover
4.08 from 272 votes
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 4
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Ingredients
 

  • 1 lb frozen alligator sirloin, thawed
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp Code 3 Spices Sea Dog Rub
  • 1 tsp garlic powder

Comeback Sauce

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp ketchup
  • 2 tbsp chili sauce
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp Code 3 Spices Sea Dog Rub
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • a couple of dashes of hot sauce

Instructions
 

  • Prepare: Rinse the alligator, and pat it dry. Cut it into 12-14 equal-sized pieces.
  • Season: Rub with olive oil, Sea Dog Rub (or your favorite Cajun seasoning) and garlic powder. Let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. Heat the grill to high.
  • Make Sauce: While it's resting, combine the ingredients for the Comeback Sauce. Add as much hot sauce as you like for your taste.
  • Grill: Skewer the meat, and grill for 5 minutes per side.
  • Serve: Serve with the sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 507kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 53gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 518mgPotassium: 166mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 2070IUVitamin C: 2.1mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 1mg

This estimate was created using an online nutrition calculator

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