This loaded seafood boil is jam-packed with crab legs, mussels, lobster tails, shrimp, andouille sausage, potatoes, and corn seasoned with a generous amount of Old Bay for plenty of flavor.
Why this recipe works
A seafood boil is a classic cookout dish, perfect for sharing. It’s typically piled high with a variety of different seafood, such as shellfish, accompanied by sausage, potatoes, and corn all cooked in one pot. Today we’re combining all of our favorites with Dungeness crab legs, mussels, lobster tails, and juicy shrimp, but the beauty of this dish is that you can add in or substitute out the ingredients to suit your tastes.
Ingredients you will need
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions
SEAFOOD – You can add-in or substitute out the seafood to your liking. Make note of the cook times for the individual ingredients you decide to add, as they may need more or less time in the pot compared to the others.
VEGETABLES – Corn and potatoes are a staple addition to seafood boils. Baby Yukon Gold potatoes are sold in small bags that weigh 24 ounces (1 pound 8 ounces) in the produce department of your grocery store. You can substitute with baby red potatoes if desired. Another popular addition is onion, which can be added to the boil when you toss the potatoes in.
How to Make Seafood Boil
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Add 12 cups of water to a large stock pot and bring to a rolling boil.
- Add lemon wedges, garlic salt, and Old Bay. Whisk to combine.
- Add potatoes, allow to cook for 4-5 minutes.
- Add crab legs and cook 3 minutes.
- Add corn, mussels, and lobster. Cook 3 minutes more.
- Add andouille sausage and shrimp. Stir everything together and turn off heat. Allow to sit for 3-4 minutes.
- Drain pot, reserving 1 1/2 cups of the broth.
- Add 1 tablespoon butter to the hot reserved broth and allow butter to melt.
- Serve seafood boil with buttered broth.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips
As with most seafood dishes, it’s best to serve the seafood boil immediately instead of preparing it in advance.Â
Yes, you can use frozen seafood in this seafood boil. If you are using any pre-cooked seafood in this dish, add it in towards the end as it won’t need long to simply warm up in the pot. Seafood cooks very quickly, especially in a pot of boiling water so keeping note of the time that you add ingredients is important here, that way you don’t end up with rubbery or tough meat.
Store any leftovers with an air-tight lid kept in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
To reheat, add the seafood boil back to a pot over medium-low heat on the stovetop. Stir often until warmed through. Reheating seafood can be tricky as it doesn’t take long for it to become rubbery or tough. You can alternatively line the seafood boil on a baking sheet, cover with foil, and warm through in a 300F oven.
Serving Suggestions
To serve, line newspaper out on the table and dump the seafood boil on top. Don’t be afraid to get messy. Alternatively, you can serve it on a platter. Have some ramekins handy to add buttered broth to for individual servings. Enjoy!
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Seafood Boil
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 12 cups water
- 6 lemon wedges
- 3 Tablespoons garlic salt
- 3 Tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
- 24 ounces baby Yukon gold potatoes
- 2 pounds Dungeness crab legs
- 5 mini ears corn
- 1 pound mussels
- 1 pound lobster tails cut in half lengthwise
- 13.5 ounce andouille sausage cut into thick slices
- 1 pound grilling shrimp
- 1 Tablespoon butter
Things You’ll Need
Before You Begin
- Baby Yukon Gold potatoes are sold in small bags that weigh 24 ounces (1 pound 8 ounces) in the produce department of your grocery store.
- You can add-in or substitute out the seafood to your liking. Make note of the cook times for the individual ingredients you decide to add, as they may need more or less time in the pot compared to the others.
- Baby Yukon Gold potatoes are sold in small bags that weigh 24 ounces (1 pound 8 ounces) in the produce department of your grocery store. You can substitute with baby red potatoes if desired.
- Another popular addition is onion, which can be added to the boil when you toss the potatoes in.
- You can use frozen seafood in this seafood boil if needed. If you are using any pre-cooked seafood in this dish, add it in towards the end as it won’t need long to simply warm up in the pot. Seafood cooks very quickly, especially in a pot of boiling water so keeping note of the time that you add ingredients is important here, that way you don’t end up with rubbery or tough meat.
- Store any leftovers with an air-tight lid kept in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
- It’s best to serve the seafood boil immediately. Have some ramekins handy to add buttered broth to for individual servings.
Instructions
- Add 12 cups of water to a large stock pot and bring to a rolling boil.
- Add lemon wedges, garlic salt, and Old Bay. Whisk to combine.
- Add potatoes, allow to cook for 4-5 minutes.
- Add crab legs and cook 3 minutes.
- Add corn, mussels, and lobster. Cook 3 minutes more.
- Add andouille sausage and shrimp. Stir everything together and turn off heat. Allow to sit for 3-4 minutes.
- Drain pot, reserving 1 1/2 cups of the broth.
- Add 1 tablespoon butter to the hot reserved broth and allow butter to melt.
- Serve seafood boil with buttered broth.
Nutrition
Chef Antoine Davis
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