Shrimp Boil

A classic Southern shrimp boil packed with smoked sausage, plump shrimp, baby red potatoes, and sweet corn boiled together in one pot and tossed in plenty of butter for a mouthwatering meal with heaps of flavor.

Why this recipe works

Shrimp boil is not only delicious but an all-in-one meal. No need to worry about sides with this recipe as your starch, protein, and vegetables are all boiled together in one large pot. We love Southern cuisine and all its flavorful cajun food like blackened shrimp and cajun chicken pasta so it was about time we threw together a classic shrimp boil recipe for you to enjoy at home as well.

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

SAUSAGE – Pick up smoked sausage, like kielbasa or andouille for this recipe. Andouille is a cajun sausage and goes beautifully in this shrimp boil.

SHRIMP – I would recommend extra large (jumbo) raw shrimp or grilling shrimp. You can use frozen shrimp, but allow them to thaw before beginning. We keep the tails on for presentation purposes. They also make a great handle for lifting the shrimp by hand. You can certainly remove the tails if you prefer.

CORN AND POTATOES – We like to use fresh corn on the cob for shrimp boil. It’s sweet and affordable. Frozen corn on the cob will work, but it takes longer to boil. Either add extra time or allow it to thaw before using. Baby red potatoes are bite-sized and don’t need to be chopped prior to beginning. Yukon gold can be substituted for the baby red potatoes, but you will want to chop them around 1 1/2 inches thick. 

How to Make Shrimp 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.

1. Fill a stock pot or Dutch oven halfway with water. Cover with lid and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
2. Remove lid and add red onion, garlic cloves, Old Bay seasoning, garlic salt, black pepper, and potatoes.
3. Replace lid and boil for about 20 minutes to cook the potatoes.
   
   
   EXPERT TIP – Use a lid with a vent hole or prop the lid open a little to allow excess steam to escape.
   
   
   
4. Remove lid and use a spoon to scrape any seasoning off the sides of the pan. Add corn. Replace lid, bring back to a boil, and cook 10 minutes more.
5. Remove lid and stir, loosening seasonings from the side of the pan. Add the sausage and 4 of the lemon wedges to the pan. Replace lid, bring back to a boil, and cook 10 minutes more.
6. Remove lid and slowly add shrimp so as not to splash any hot liquid out of the pan. The pot will be full. If you have room, try to stir the shrimp into the pot so they aren’t just sitting on top. Replace lid, bring back to a boil, then turn off the heat. Allow shrimp to cook without the fire on and the lid in place for about 5 minutes.
7. Place a colander over a large bowl and carefully drain the pan. You can reserve the broth for a fish chowder or other seafood soup or stew.
8. Remove cooked lemon wedges and discard. Toss hot shrimp boil with butter to coat. Sprinkle with additional Old Bay seasoning if desired. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley. Serve with fresh lemon wedges.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Serving Suggestions

Shrimp boil is an entire meal on its own with corn, shrimp, potatoes, and sausage to fill your belly. But you can also enjoy it with a side of sweet cornbread, coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, or chunks of bread for dipping.

More Related Recipes

• Crab Cakes
• Seafood Boil
• Shrimp Kabobs
• Cedar Plank Salmon
• Steamed Lobster Tail
• Dungeness Crab Legs
• Pan Seared Scallops

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Shrimp Boil

Shrimp boil is not only delicious but an all-in-one meal. No need to worry about sides with this recipe as your starch, protein, and vegetables are all boiled together in one large pot.

5 from 7 votes

IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!

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Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Servings: 6 servings

55 minutes mins

Calories: 425

Author: Amanda Davis

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 medium red onion quartered
• ▢ 11 whole garlic cloves peeled
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons garlic salt
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon black pepper
• ▢ 1 pound baby red potatoes
• ▢ 3 ears corn cut into bite sized pieces
• ▢ 13 ½ ounces smoked sausage sliced
• ▢ 1 lemon cut into wedges
• ▢ 2 pounds raw extra large shrimp or grilling shrimp, shells removed
• ▢ 3 Tablespoons butter

Things You’ll Need

• ▢
  Large stockpot or 5 quart Dutch oven
• ▢
  Vinyl gloves
• ▢
  Colander

Before You Begin

• Pick up smoked sausage, like kielbasa or andouille for this recipe. Andouille is a cajun sausage and goes beautifully in this shrimp boil.
• If you have a stock pot that’s a better choice. If using a Dutch oven, you may need to use a slotted spoon to remove some of the ingredients before adding the shrimp. We were able to fit everything in the Dutch oven by adding the shrimp slowly.
• If your pan lid does not have a vent hole, prop the lid offset a little so that excess steam can escape while the food is boiling.
• When handling raw meat and/or seafood, always use vinyl gloves.
• We keep the tails on for presentation purposes. They also make a great handle for lifting the shrimp by hand. You can certainly remove the tails if you prefer.

Instructions

• Fill stock pot or Dutch oven halfway with water. Cover with lid and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Remove lid and add red onion, garlic cloves, Old Bay seasoning, garlic salt, black pepper, and potatoes.
• Replace lid and boil for about 20 minutes to cook the potatoes. HINT: Use a lid with a vent hole or prop the lid open a little to allow excess steam to escape.
• Remove lid and use a spoon to scrape any seasoning off the sides of the pan. Add corn. Replace lid, bring back to a boil, and cook 10 minutes more.
• Remove lid and stir, loosening seasonings from the side of the pan. Add the sausage and 4 of the lemon wedges to the pan. Replace lid, bring back to a boil, and cook 10 minutes more.
• Remove lid and slowly add shrimp so as not to splash any hot liquid out of the pan. The pot will be full. If you have room, try to stir the shrimp into the pot so they aren’t just sitting on top. Replace lid, bring back to a boil, then turn off the heat. Allow shrimp to cook without the fire on and the lid in place for about 5 minutes.
• Place a colander over a large bowl and carefully drain the pan. You can reserve the broth for a fish chowder or other seafood soup or stew.
• Remove cooked lemon wedges and discard. Toss hot shrimp boil with butter to coat. Sprinkle with additional Old Bay seasoning if desired. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley. Serve with fresh lemon wedges.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 425cal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 251mg | Sodium: 3783mg | Potassium: 720mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 499IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 127mg | Iron: 2mg

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