This Shrimp Boil is a flavorful feast made in a big pot, filled with tender potatoes, smoky sausage, and sweet corn, all perfectly seasoned with Old Bay and Cajun spices. Topped with a rich garlic butter sauce, this crowd-pleasing dish is so satisfying and easy to make.
For more mouthwatering seafood boil recipes, try my Restaurant Style Seafood Boil Bags and the super popular Garlic Butter Seafood Boil.
Easy Shrimp Boil
This is hands down the best shrimp boil recipe to make at home. It’s loaded with tender potatoes, sweet corn, smoky sausage, and succulent shrimp. Everything's drenched in a mouthwatering garlic butter sauce that’s bursting with flavor.
The seasoning is spot on, and it’s so hearty and filling that everyone will leave the table happy. Whether you’re entertaining a crowd or just craving something comforting, this dish is a total win.
The best part? It’s easy to make and comes together in just about 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy nights or last-minute gatherings. Trust me, once you try this, it’ll become a go-to for all your seafood cravings!
Ingredients
- 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.
How to Make Shrimp Boil
See recipe card for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Boil Potatoes
I begin by placing the corn and potatoes into a large pot and covering it with water. Then I 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, I add in the sliced beef smoked sausage. Then I boil for another 10 minutes. While the potatoes and sausage are cooking, begin working on the garlic butter sauce in a separate skillet.
Garlic Butter Sauce
I melt one stick of butter and olive oil in a skillet on medium heat. Then I add the 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. I add fresh lemon juice and all of the seasonings. You can adjust the cayenne and red pepper to your level of desired spiciness.
If you're using additional butter, add the additional sticks now.
After that, 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.
Add Shrimp
Once the sauce is just about done, I add the raw shrimp into the pot with the sausage. Then I 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)!
Pour the garlic butter sauce over your favorite shrimp boil and/or reserve some for dipping.
How Long to Boil Shrimp
Shrimp should only boil for about 3 minutes, or just until they turn pink and opaque. They cook very quickly, so it’s important to keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking. Overcooked shrimp can become rubbery, so remove them from the heat as soon as they’re done.
Pro Tips
- Use the right type of stockpot. A large stockpot with a built-in strainer or double boiler makes draining the boil effortless and minimizes cleanup.
- Prep your ingredients before cooking. Have everything ready, including cutting the sausage, onions, and garlic, so the cooking process is smooth and stress-free.
- Add shrimp at the last minute to avoid overcooking. Shrimp only need about 3 minutes in boiling water to cook through, so add them at the very end for perfectly tender results.
- Simmer the sauce for maximum flavor. Allow the garlic butter sauce to simmer until slightly reduced to intensify the rich, buttery taste.
- Adjust spice levels to your preference. Start with the recommended cayenne, red pepper flakes, and Tabasco, but scale up or down depending on your desired heat level.
- Serve immediately for the best experience. This dish is best enjoyed fresh when the flavors are at their peak, so gather everyone at the table before you start serving.
How to Serve Your Shrimp Boil
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!
Recipe 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, okra, 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.
Storage
Leftovers from this shrimp boil recipe are rare because it’s just that good! If you do have any, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Keep the garlic butter sauce separate, and when reheating, microwave the potatoes, sausage, and corn first for 2-3 minutes, then add the shrimp for 30 seconds. Warm the sauce separately and pour it over the reheated boil or use it as a dip.
FAQ
What goes well with a shrimp boil?
Shrimp boil is a hearty meal on its own, loaded with shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes. However, you can pair it with garlic bread for soaking up the rich garlic butter sauce, or serve it alongside classics like potato salad, coleslaw, or even a fresh green salad for a lighter option.
Can I make the garlic butter sauce ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can prepare the sauce in advance, store it in the refrigerator, and reheat it gently on the stovetop before pouring it over the shrimp boil.
Is frozen shrimp OK for a seafood boil?
Yes, you can use frozen shrimp, but make sure they are raw and fully thawed before adding them to the boil. Frozen shrimp with the peel and tail still on will hold up better during cooking.
More Seafood Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
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📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pound Shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 rope Beef smoked sausage sliced into coins
- 4 ears Corn cut into individual servings
- ½ pound Baby potatoes
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 3 sticks Butter unsalted
- ¼ cup Olive oil
- 3 tablespoons Garlic diced (about 10 cloves)
- 1 whole Onion cut into thin slices
- 1 Lemon juiced
- 4 cups Chicken or Vegetable broth or water
- 3 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
- 3 tablespoons Paprika
- 1 tablespoon Cayenne pepper adjust for spiciness
- 1 tablespoon Red pepper flakes adjust for spiciness
- ½ tablespoon Seasoned salt
- 1 tablespoon Lemon pepper seasoning (optional depending on fresh lemon juice)
- 1-2 dashes Tabasco sauce
- 2 tablespoons Sweet chili sauce optional
Instructions
Shrimp Boil
- 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.
- 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.
- Once the sauce is just about done, add the shrimp into the pot with the sausage. Cook the shrimp for about 3 minutes, or just until they start to turn pink. 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 (see notes above about healthier option).
- 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.
George says
Yummy
Tonya says
Amazing recipe!
Joy says
Delicoois
Lucas says
Yum