My simple seafood boil is quick, easy, and filled with that low-country flavor! When you whip up this homemade boil, you get snow crab, jumbo shrimp, fresh corn, fresh lemons, spicy andouille sausage, and a delicious Cajun spice blend made with Old Bay seasoning! Let’s not forget that insanely delicious finger-licking garlic butter sauce! 

Seafood boil

Why You Should Make This Southern Seafood Boil?

  • Fun and Entertaining—My favorite way to welcome the summer months is with my low-effort Cajun seafood boil. The flavorful broth comes together in no time with little to no effort. It’s a real backyard party whenever I whip this recipe up. I can almost bet this will become your favorite seafood recipe! 
  • Popular Choice—This is a great option if you are trying to get a head start on fun things for the entire family to enjoy this summer. With the popularity of this classic Cajun seafood boil, all you need is a big ol’ pot and a great lineup of seafood selections. I am sure they will fall in love with the rich history of the Low Country!
  • Authentic- It’s the best seafood boil recipe you will find out there. It’s authentic and packed with a variety of seafood. Living in the South for years allows me to say that. This ain’t no Aldi seafood boil here. 🤣

Ingredients Needed

Seafood Boil
  • Crab-leg Clusters—The best part about this recipe is that the main ingredients are pretty easy to find. Try getting fresh crab legs from a seafood market. If you can’t, the frozen ones are fine.
  • Red Potatoes—Man, the tender potatoes with the buttery sauce are amazing all by themselves. If the others aren’t available, you can also use Yukon gold potatoes.
  • Smoky Sausage—I like to call the meat—is the star of this Cajun seafood boil recipe. The small potatoes, sausage, and hot sauce combined will let your tastebuds know that it’s a party going on!
  • Unpeeled Shrimp- Juicy shell-on shrimp for the win. This is honestly one of my favorite parts about this shrimp boil.
  • Sweet Corn: When the spicy Cajun seasoning soaks into the corn, the flavors begin to burst. You will feel like you’re on a first-class trip to seafood heaven.
  • Stick of Butter- You can’t have pounds of seafood without plenty of napkins and butter.

How To Make a Seafood Boil?

Start off by adding water or chicken broth to a large stockpot. Once the water begins to boil add in your seasonings along with your onion, and lemon wedges.

Next, add your potatoes, garlic cloves, corn, and sausages to the boiling pot until the potatoes become tender. Remove and sit to the side.

Add your crab legs and shrimp for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove and enjoy with butter sauce. The recipe is listed below.

Hint: Try not to overcook the potatoes. They can become overly tender rather quickly.

Southern Seafood boil
seafood boil
Seafood boil

Substitutions/Variations

  • Lobster Tails—You can add these to the seafood boil in place of the crab legs or alongside them. 
  • Littleneck clams—To jazz things up and make it a fantastic seafood boil, simply add a variety of seafood.

Equipment

  • Extra-large pot- If you are entertaining a large crowd or having a cookout with more than 6 people. You will want to have an oversized pot. This will help to keep the flow of things running smoothly and everyone satisfied.
  • Long Spoon- The spoon will be used to remove all of the seafood from the big pot. Only needed if you don’t have a basket scooper.
Seafood boil

FAQ

How long should you boil seafood?

Try not to boil the crab legs any longer than 5 minutes. If you keep them in the water for too long. They will become soft and uneasy to remove from the shell.

Seafood Boil (Quick and Easy)

Prep: 12 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 37 minutes
Servings: 1
Calories: 580 kcal
The ultimate southern seafood boil is always on the menu here in the south. Crab legs, sausages, corn, and some delicious shrimp are just a few of the ingredients in this seafood boil.

Equipment

  • 1 Large Stockpot

Ingredients
 

  • 6 to 10 Crab-leg clusters or any seafood you like
  • 1 Bag Red Potatoes chopped to your liking
  • Sausages chopped to your liking
  • 1 to 2 Pounds Fresh shrimp or frozen
  • 8 Corn On Cob
  • Water or chicken broth
  • 2 Sticks of Butter
  • 1 Whole Onion Chopped
  • 1/2 cup Old bay to your liking
  • 4 Garlic Cloves
  • 1 Lemon Wedges

Garlic Butter Sauce

  • 2 Stick Butter
  • 1  Tablespoon  Minced Garlic
  • 1 Tablespoon  Hot Sauce To your liking

Instructions
 

  • Start off by adding water or chicken broth to a large stockpot. Once the water begins to boil add in your seasonings along with your butter, onion, and lemon wedges.
    Water, 2 Sticks of Butter, 1 Whole Onion, 1 Lemon, 1/2 cup Old bay
  • Next, add in your potatoes, garlic cloves, corn, and sausages to the boiling pot until the potatoes becomes tender. Remove and sit to the side.
    1 Bag Red Potatoes, Sausages, 4 Garlic Cloves, 8 Corn
  • Add your crab legs and shrimp for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove and enjoy!
    6 to 10 Crab-leg clusters, 1 to 2 Pounds Fresh shrimp or frozen

Garlic Butter Sauce

  • To a medium-high skillet add butter, minced garlic, and hot sauce. Once it has begun to boil. Remove and enjoy as a dipping sauce. Make as much as need.
    2 Stick Butter, 1  Tablespoon  Minced Garlic, 1 Tablespoon  Hot Sauce To your liking

Notes

Homemade Old Bay Season

  • 1 Tablespoon Celery salt
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Paprika
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 1/8 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Dry Mustard
  • 1/8 teaspoon Cardamom
  • 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ginger
  • 1/8 teaspoon allspice

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Recipe Rating




8 Comments

  2. I have to admit, I thought you were overreacting with the whole quick and easy but this was so much less complicated than I thought and I’m no big cook. The sausages were a bit of a fail, I used bratwurst since that was all I had. I have to try with andouille next for sure. Thx for sharing, Ronalyn!

    Reply

  3. 5 stars
    This was insane! And so, so easy! I didn’t have enough corn or potatoes but I was drooling, I had to make it, this will be on rotation for sure, everyone loved it.

    Reply

  4. 5 stars
    Not a seafood fan but hubby loves it so I’ll have to give this one a go. How well do you think this dish does in terms of leftovers? I know this will be way too much for him to finish in one sitting.

    Reply

  5. 5 stars
    I tried your sauce recipe first, butter, garlic, and hot sauce is such a simple and time-saving combo. I had it with air-fryer french fries and it was D I V I N E. It will go really well with seafood, can’t wait to try it.

    Reply