This classic shrimp boil contains fresh shrimp, potatoes, corn and sausage, all boiled in a flavorful broth. A complete meal in one pot that’s perfect for feeding a crowd!
Shrimp is always a quick and easy meal option, whether it’s grilled shrimp skewers, shrimp pasta or this impressive looking shrimp boil.
When I’m looking to enjoy some fresh seafood, I often end up making a shrimp boil. It’s a great option because everything gets tossed into one pot, it’s fun to eat, and of course, it’s super flavorful.
How do you make a shrimp boil?
This recipe contains shrimp, 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 shrimp boil
- I recommend buying the largest shrimp you can find for this recipe. I use 16-20 count jumbo shrimp.
- You can boil your shrimp with or without the shells. I typically remove the shells and just leave the tails on as it’s easier to eat this way.
- Fresh corn on the cob tastes best in this recipe – you can use white, yellow or bi-color corn.
- I use small red potatoes, but Yukon gold 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.
How long to boil shrimp
Shrimp cook very quickly, and it only takes about 2-3 minutes to boil shrimp. You can tell when your shrimp are done because they’ll be bright pink and opaque.
HOW TO PEEL SHRIMP
This recipe calls for raw shrimp which are cooked in seasoned boiling water. I typically buy my raw shrimp with just the tail attached, but many shrimp also come still in the shell. If your shrimp have shells on them, you can easily remove them by pulling the main part of the shell and legs off with your fingers. I like to leave the tails on for a nicer presentation. You may also need to devein your shrimp. If you see a dark line running across the top of the the shrimp, you can remove it by using a paring knife to cut a slit along the top of the shrimp, then use the knife or a wooden skewer to remove and discard the vein.
What to serve with shrimp boil
A shrimp 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 asparagus, broccoli or green beans.
You just can’t go wrong with a shrimp boil, especially for a party. The tender shrimp pair so well with the creamy potatoes, smoky sausage and sweet corn. Everyone will be coming back for seconds!
More great seafood recipes
Shrimp Boil
Ingredients
- 3 lemons divided use
- 1/2 cup Old Bay seasoning plus more for garnish
- 6 cloves garlic smashed
- 1 onion peeled and cut into 6 pieces
- 1 pound small red potatoes halved
- 4 ears corn on the cob cut into 3-4 inch pieces
- 2 pounds shrimp peeled and deveined (leave tails on)
- 1 pound smoked sausage cut into 1 inch pieces, kielbasa or andouille are preferred
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Instructions
- Cut 2 of the lemons into quarters. Cut the remaining lemon into wedges and reserve the wedges for later use.
- Fill a large pot with 12-14 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 10-12 minutes or until just tender. Add the corn and sausage and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
- Add the shrimp to the pot and cook for 2-3 minutes or until pink and opaque.
- Drain the shrimp mixture from the pot, reserving 1 cup of the broth.
- Melt the butter and whisk it into the reserved broth. Pour the broth over the shrimp mixture.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and lemon wedges. Sprinkle with additional Old Bay seasoning to taste, then serve.
Harue says
I’m wondering if I can a scale this recipe and make a triple batch. Probably shouldn’t just triple all the ingredients, because that’s just to much broth, right? Or is that the best move?
Sara says
You can put the number of servings you need into the recipe card and it will automatically adjust the ingredient amounts accordingly. You basically want to make sure everything is submerged in the boiling water, so it may end up being less than triple the amount of liquid.
Stephanie says
This really is the BEST shrimp boil. I made this last night and it was the most flavorful boil I have tasted. I live in the low country and have made several but the amount of Old Bay and the aromatics made the most flavorful broth. The addition of the butter at the end gave it a richness that some boils are lacking. This is a keeper!
TeresA Simuel says
How do you serve this wonderful dish on plates or on throw on table
Sara says
I typically serve it on sheet pans!
Sharlene Iglesias says
This looks delicious 😋 am gonna try cook this tomorrow thanks guys for this wonderful recipe ❤️❤️❣️
Morgan says
I made this last night and it was perfect – so flavorful and an incredible summer dish! My husband said it was one of the best things I’ve ever made. Thank you for the amazing recipe! I’ll be making again soon!
Becky Hardin says
Yum! This looks so delicious!
Beth Pierce says
What a sensational meal this was! Perfect blend of flavors and awesome for a hot summer evening! My whole family loved it; looking forward to making this again soon!
lauren kelly says
These are such great tips for a delicious recipe! Thank you so much! I am definitely making it again!
Mallory Lanz says
Thanks for all the tips and tricks for the perfect shrimp boil! It’s such a fun summer meal.
kim says
raise your hand if you drank that broth!!
Billy says
LOVE LOVE LOVE Shrimp boils and this one is so awesome!
Brenda Wilson says
This looks great and I intend to make it. I wonder if you could add Bay scallops
Sara says
Yes that would be a great addition!
Jacquelyn Hastert says
For the longest time, I was afraid to make shrimp, because I thought it was going to be a challenge. However, I now know the truth! This is a delicious way to feed a crowd.
Des says
This is the perfect recipe for this weekend! We are having friends over and this is easy enough to feed everyone!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
Yum!!! This is such a great dinner idea. Love it.
Beth Pierce says
Love eating seafood in the summertime and this is no exception! Can’t wait to serve this to my family tomorrow; sounds amazing!
Katerina @ diethood .com says
Oh my, this is such a wonderful dish!! Perfect for summer!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
Oh! This dish screams summer, doesn’t it! How lovely – it looks amazing!
Kim Seghers says
This Shrimp Boil Recipe looks so delicious! I love a good Shrimp Boil. Thanks for sharing.