This seafood boil contains fresh shrimp, lobster, clams, crab, potatoes, corn and sausage, all boiled in a flavorful broth. An impressive meal in one pot that’s perfect for feeding a crowd!
Fresh seafood never fails to delight, and when I’m really looking for a show stopping recipe I make bacon wrapped scallops, garlic butter shrimp or this fantastic seafood boil.
When I’m looking to enjoy some fresh shellfish, I often end up making a mixed seafood boil. It’s a great option because everything gets tossed into one pot, it’s fun to eat, and of course, it’s loaded with tons of flavor! It’s also a great way to make more expensive ingredients like lobster and crab stretch further, since they’re combined with less expensive items like corn and potatoes.
HOW DO YOU MAKE A SEAFOOD BOIL?
This recipe contains shrimp, lobster, crab, clams, potatoes, corn and sausage. All of the ingredients are boiled in a seasoned broth, then tossed in a little butter. Add a sprinkling of parsley and some lemon wedges, and dinner is served.
TIPS FOR SEAFOOD BOIL
- I recommend buying the biggest shrimp you can find for this recipe. I use 16-20 count jumbo shrimp.
- I used Maine lobster tails and Dungeness crab legs, but you can use other varieties including spiny lobster tail, snow crab or king crab.
- Fresh corn on the cob tastes best in this recipe – you can use white, yellow or bi-color corn.
- I use small Yukon gold potatoes, but red potatoes are also a great choice.
- You can use kielbasa or Andouille sausage. Andouille sausage can be a bit spicy, so I’d recommend using that variety if you prefer a little heat.
- The types of seafood listed in the recipe are just a suggestion – you can use other types such as mussels, scallops or even chunks of firm fish such as swordfish.
- Make sure you discard any clams that haven’t opened up before you serve your boil.
- I recommend serving your boil immediately, as seafood is highly perishable and tastes best when freshly cooked.
- You can use shell-on or peeled shrimp. I personally prefer peeled shrimp because they’re easier to eat.
HOW LONG TO BOIL SEAFOOD
The seafood ingredients in this recipe cook at different rates, so you’ll want to put the longest cooking items in the boil first, then add the others later on.
- Lobster: 8-12 minutes
- Clams: 5-10 minutes
- Crab: 6-8 minutes for pre-cooked crab, 20 minutes for raw crab
- Shrimp: 2-3 minutes
WHAT TO SERVE WITH SEAFOOD BOIL
A seafood boil can be served as-is, but some people prefer to add more side dishes to round out the meal. Some great options include a green salad, french or sourdough bread, coleslaw, or potato salad. I typically keep things simple with a loaf of garlic bread and sometimes a green veggie such as zucchini, asparagus or green beans.
You just can’t go wrong with a mixed boil, especially when you’re entertaining. The tender seafood pairs so well with the creamy potatoes, smoky sausage and sweet corn. Everyone will be coming back for more!
OTHER GREAT SEAFOOD RECIPES
Seafood Boil
Ingredients
- 3 lemons divided use
- 1/2 cup Old Bay seasoning plus more for garnish
- 8 cloves garlic smashed
- 1 onion peeled and cut into 6 pieces
- 1 pound small Yukon gold potatoes halved
- 4 ears corn on the cob cut into 3-4 inch pieces
- 3 lobster tails
- 1 pound clams scrubbed
- 1 pound crab legs pre-cooked
- 1 pound smoked sausage cut into 1 inch pieces, kielbasa or andouille are preferred
- 1 pound shrimp peeled and deveined (leave tails on)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Instructions
- Cut 2 of the lemons into quarters. Slice the remaining lemon into wedges and reserve the wedges for garnish.
- Fill a large pot with 14-16 cups of water. Place the 2 quartered lemons in the water along with the Old Bay seasoning, garlic and onion. Bring to a boil.
- Add the potatoes to the pot and cook for 8 minutes.
- Add the lobster tails and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the clams, crab, and corn, and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the shrimp and sausage and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Drain the seafood mixture from the pot, reserving 1 cup of the broth.
- Melt the butter in a small bowl and whisk it into the reserved broth. Pour the broth over the seafood mixture.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and lemon wedges. Sprinkle with additional Old Bay seasoning to taste, then serve immediately.
JOHN M BUDINOCK says
When do you add the corn ? i’m assuming the corn takes about 10 minutes to cook
Sara says
You add the corn in step 5 of the recipe!
Cara says
My boyfriend and I made this last night for our quarantine anniversary dinner. It was so amazing! We did a lb of crab, a lb of shrimp, 2 lobster tails, and a loaf of garlic bread on the side (okay..more of an appetizer). I used a spicy kielbasa because I couldn’t find andouille anywhere and it was fantastic. We polished off the more perishable seafood so that we could keep leftovers for today. Now we have a giant container of potatoes, corn, sausage, and shrimp and I’m just excited for it today as I was last night!
jamie says
Plan to make for my boyfriend’s bday tomorrow – quick question: why does the recipe list 3 lobster tails for a 6 servings meal? Are you cutting them in half?
Sara says
It’s fine to cut them in half, it’s also fine to add more and subtract a bit of the other seafood!
Amy says
I made this for our special anniversary and it was perfect! Party at home.
T says
Outstanding recipe! I’ve been making it once a week for the past 2 months.
Carol says
Hi, Can i use shrimp unpeeled and how long should i cook the crab legs in the broth if they are not precooked? Thank you!
Sara says
Unpeeled shrimp is fine. A raw whole crab is 20 minutes, raw crab legs should be about 10 minutes!
Mike B says
I used two cans of beer instead of water recipe torn down excellent thanks
Blue says
Hey if I have 8 pounds of crab legs instead of lobster. Should I double this recipe for proper ratio?
Sara says
Yes that should be fine!
Tammy Washington says
Can you put in oven instead of boiling?
Sara says
What did you have in mind? Like on a sheet pan?
Dom says
Do you need to add any salt or ids the seasoning from the Old Bay enough?
Sara says
The Old Bay is typically enough for me since seafood is naturally salty.
Ann says
Can I cook everything Separate and then add to the broth
Sara says
You could but at that point you’d just be heating it through in the broth so you’d want to reduce the cooking time in the broth!
Shivaughn says
Making this for my daughter’s gender reveal this weekend. Can’t wait to eat. Thanks for the recipe 😘
Dawn Lackey says
I am planning on making this tonight for my husband’s birthday. Super excited!! One stumbling block–do you put the seafood in frozen or thawed? Thank you!
Sara says
It’s better to thaw the seafood if possible!
Charlene says
This was right on time was making this for our family dinner since my daughters home for two weeks. Can’t wait to eat!
Joshua says
I made this recipe leaving out the clams and lobster. We celebrated Christmas in July today, so I put a plastic Christmas themed table cloth on our coffee table and dumped the pot right out on to the table. Is was such a delightful dinner. My 5 year old daughter enjoyed it immensely.
robert hubbard says
what size pot do you need? I only have a 6 qt pot. should I buy a larger pot?
Sara says
You could cook in batches if needed, I typically use a 10-12 quart pot
robert hubbard says
thanks
I will purchase a larger pot.
Bob
Brock says
I have raw andouille sausages, what would be the best way to include them if I don’t have a way to smoke them first?
Sara says
You may want to saute them in a pan, then add during the last few minutes!
Carmen says
Does it matter if you butterfly the lobster tail?
Sara says
It does not matter!
CAROL M Barbee says
When us the corrn added?
Timeka says
Hello, the broth is water from boiling the seafood and other ingredients,right?
Sara says
Yes that is correct!
Gladys says
Hello Sara, wish I came across this recipe yesterday but either way want to make it today still holiday weekend. I read the comments you said for snow crab legs to steam them, just to clarify they do not go into the pot boiled ? Are we steaming them separately on the side and added them when serving? I also have reg scallops not jumbo do those still go in last 2-3 minutes.
Sara says
You can add them to the boiling pot, that’s fine! And yes regular scallops during the last 2-3 minutes.
Vetchy says
Well we did our seafood boil 4 our Juneteenth celebration and OMG soooo good! We’ve decided that we’re gonna do another in 2 weeks and I can hardly wait.