Shrimp Boil with Garlic Butter Sauce

This shrimp boil is a seafood lover's dream! Loaded with supple shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes drenched in an amazing garlic butter sauce.

Since you love shrimp, you should definitely check out these Garlic Butter Shrimp and Grits. You will also love my popular Garlic Butter Seafood Boil!

Jump to:

• Why We Love This Shrimp Boil Recipe:
• Ingredients needed for the Shrimp Boil:
• Recommended equipment to use:
• Instructions to make Shrimp Boil:
• Garlic Butter Shrimp boil serving suggestions
• Alternatives and Variations:
• How to not overcook the shrimp:
• Storing and Reheating:
• FAQ:
• More Seafood Recipes to Try
• 📖 Recipe
• Be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook when you make this great recipe! I would love to see your creation, and give you a shoutout!

Shrimp boils are a delicious party food, or quick and easy dinner idea! They are made in well under 30 minutes, and can be made as a single serving, or a large party!

Juicy sausage, sweet corn, tender potatoes, and shrimp are boiled in one big pot to create a hearty meal. Then it is smothered in a homemade garlic butter sauce enhanced by Old bay seasoning, hot sauce, and lemon juice. Get ready for the best shrimp boil recipe!

Why We Love This Shrimp Boil Recipe:

Great for Family Dinners! This is definitely a communal meal. Whether it's a cookout, backyard barbecue, or a holiday, pour this onto a table lined with a paper cloth and it is bound to become a shrimp boil party!

Quick and Easy! You will be amazed at how easily this meal comes together in just 30 minutes. It is also perfect for a busy weeknight dinner.

So Yummy! The ingredients are boiled to tender perfection and then drenched in a mouthwatering melted butter sauce enhanced with spices and seasoning.

Ingredients needed for the Shrimp Boil:

Gather all of your ingredients before you get started. Here is what you will need:

• Shrimp: Peeled and deveined. It is important to get uncooked shrimp. If it is frozen and already pink, it is pre-cooked and will definitely overcook if you boil it! Use medium or large shrimp for the best results.
• Beef smoked sausage: Sliced into coins. Feel free to replace it with turkey sausage, andouille sausage, cajun sausage, or any sausage you prefer.
• Corn: You can use fresh corn or frozen corn. Be sure to cut the ears down to individual servings.
• Baby potatoes: I use small potatoes because they cook faster. Yukon gold potatoes or red potatoes would be tasty alternatives.

Garlic Butter Sauce

• Butter: Unsalted butter is recommended because you will be adding a lot of seasonings.
• Olive oil: Cooked with butter as the base of the sauce
• Garlic: Diced (about 10 cloves).
• Onion: Cut into thin slices. I use white onion because I like the sweetness that comes out when it caramelizes. However, you can use red onion if you prefer,
• Lemon: Juiced.
• Chicken broth: Use vegetable broth or water as an alternative.
• Seasoning: I like to add spice but it is not overwhelming or super spicy. I use Old Bay seasoning, paprika, cayenne pepper (adjust for spiciness), red pepper flakes (adjust for spiciness), seasoned salt (or cajun seasoning), and lemon pepper seasoning (optional depending on fresh lemon juice).
• Tabasco sauce: For a touch of spiciness.
• Sweet chili sauce: This is optional but it adds a depth of flavor that is unmatched.

Recommended equipment to use:

To make a great shrimp boil you will need the right type of large stockpot. I highly recommend that you use a double broiler type of pot so that you can strain the boil directly out of the water without a fuss.

You will also need a great cutting board. Cutting your onion and garlic for the garlic butter sauce, as well as the sausage for the shrimp boil is necessary.

Instructions to make Shrimp Boil:

Shrimp Boil

Boil Potatoes

Place the corn and potatoes into a large pot and cover with water. Bring it to a boil over medium heat. Boil until the baby potatoes are fork tender, about 10 minutes.

Add Sausage

After the potatoes are fork tender, add in the sliced beef smoked sausage. Boil for another 10 minutes. While the potatoes and sausage are cooking, begin working on the garlic butter sauce in a separate skillet.

Add Shrimp

Once the sauce is just about done, add the raw shrimp into the pot with the sausage. Cook the shrimp for about 3 minutes, or just until they start to turn pink. Be careful not to overcook shrimp (it cooks very fast)!

Garlic Butter Sauce

Melt one stick of butter and olive oil in a skillet on medium heat. Add the sliced or chopped onions and sauté them until they become translucent, about 5-7 minutes.

Stir in the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds to one minute, be sure to stir constantly so the garlic doesn't burn. Add juice of the lemon, and all of the seasonings. Adjust cayenne and red pepper to your level of desired spiciness.

If using additional butter, add the additional sticks now.

Pour in the chicken broth, vegetable broth, or water now (choose either or, not all three). Simmer the sauce until the butter is melted and the sauce reduces a bit, about 10 minutes.

Pour over your favorite seafood and/or reserve some for dipping.

Garlic Butter Shrimp boil serving suggestions

Serve this cajun seafood boil family style by pouring it all out onto a sheet pan (baking sheet), or over a table lined with parchment paper. You can also add all of the boiled seafood into a large bowl and let everyone serve themselves.

Be sure to cut up some lemon wedges and serve them on the side so people have the option to squeeze that fresh lemon juice on their shrimp. Also, serve up some more of that garlic butter mixture for dipping!

Alternatives and Variations:

Shrimp boil with eggs. Boil eggs ahead of time so you can add them to the shrimp boil for extra protein.

Add vegetables. The red potatoes are delicious in this cajun boil, but you can also add bell peppers, broccoli, asparagus, or any veggie you prefer. Serve your large shrimp with some lemon wedges for extra flavor.

You can also use fresh corn on the cob instead of frozen corn.

Instant Pot. This shrimp boil recipe is already quick but you can make it in just 5 minutes when you use an Instant Pot. Cook the potatoes at high pressure for 3 minutes before adding the corn, sausage, and shrimp for an additional 2 minutes. The garlic butter mixture should still be made on the stove.

Slow cooker or crockpot. If you need an alternative to a stovetop, prepare your shrimp boil in a slow cooker or crock pot instead. The cooking time is the same.

How to not overcook the shrimp:

• Use raw shrimp. This means either buying the shrimp fresh or frozen, but with the peel and/or tail on. If the shrimp is already pink when you purchase it, that means that it is pre-cooked. When the shrimp has a grey, translucent-like color, that is when you know it is fresh.
• Precooked shrimp does not need to be boiled, if it is, it will definitely be overcooked. Once you remove the peel and tail from your shrimp, add it to the boiling water during the very last minutes of cooking. The shrimp will only need to cook for a good three minutes.
• Boil the corn, potatoes, and sausage, and also make your sauce. Once the potatoes are tender, and the sausage is cooked through, then you will add your shrimp.

Storing and Reheating:

If you happen to have leftovers from this shrimp boil recipe, it will be a shock! It is just that good. Nonetheless, if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container and place them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Try to store the garlic butter sauce separately from the shrimp boil. Once you are ready to reheat it, remove the shrimp from the boil, place the other ingredients in a microwave-safe container, and microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until everything is heated through. Then add the shrimp to the microwave for 30 seconds.

Heat up the garlic butter sauce separately, and pour it over the shrimp boil, or use it on the side to dip the goodness into!

FAQ:

How long does it take shrimp to boil?

The cooking time for shrimp is just 2-3 minutes, depending on the size of the shrimp. They are done once they turn pink and opaque.

Can you boil shrimp too long?

It is very easy to overcook shrimp when making s shrimp boil. That is why they are added during the last few minutes of cooking. Watch them closely as they cook and when they are done, immediately remove them from the stove and strain.

Is frozen shrimp OK for a seafood boil?

You can use frozen shrimp for a shrimp boil; just make sure you thaw them beforehand.

More Seafood Recipes to Try

• Grilled King Crab Legs 
• Lemon Butter Baked Cod
• Cajun Pasta with Salmon
• Mofongo Recipe

Be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook when you make this great recipe! I would love to see your creation, and give you a shoutout!