Shrimp Boil Recipe

Shrimp Boil! A Southern favorite that includes tender shrimp, hearty potatoes, flavorful sausage, and sweet corn all boiled together in one big pot. An easy, delicious classic!

It’s brimming with a well balanced blend of spices – including an addictive kick of heat. And the blend of flavors throughout is spot on delicious!

You’ve got the distinctive and enticing flavor of the shrimp, richness from the sausage, the pops of seasoning from the celery salt and sweet paprika (in the Old Bay blend), nice hints of bright lemon, rich and decadent butter, vibrant herbs and then you get plenty of freshness throughout with all the veggies.

A dinner that’s fit for a simple weeknight meal or a hearty treat to look forward to over the weekend.

Truly a recipe that needs to be made at the very least, once a summer if you ask me.

You’ll notice in this recipe it only takes 1 – 2 minutes to boil shrimp. Shrimp cooks very quickly and you want to be careful not to over-cook it or it will ruin the texture.

The boiled version is a staple but there are many other ways to prepare it. Also try these:

Oven: Shrimp boil can also be scaled down and baked on a sheet pan in the oven, try this variation.

Really it’s a meal in one but you can definitely add a cozy side to pair with it. Good options include:

shrimp boil recipe

Shrimp Boil

shrimp boil recipe

A Southern favorite that includes tender shrimp, hearty potatoes, flavorful sausage, and sweet corn all boiled together in one big pot. An easy, delicious classic!

Prep: 20min

Total: 50min

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 589 kcal, Carbohydrate 34 g, Protein 41 g, Fat 33 g, Saturated Fat 14 g, Cholesterol 372 mg, Sodium 826 mg, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 7 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 4 quarts hot water
  • 1 large red onion (or yellow onion, sliced into 4 – 6 wedges)
  • 1 garlic bulb ((whole head), halved horizontally)
  • 1/2 cup Old Bay seasoning
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves ((or 1 1/2 tsp dried))
  • 1 1/2 lbs medium red potatoes, (cut into fourths)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 ears corn, (husked, cut onto fourths or broken into halves)
  • 14 oz. andouille sausage, (sliced into 1-inch thick pieces)
  • 1 1/2 lbs shrimp, (deveined, peeled if preferred)
  • 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, (melted)
  • 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, (or more to taste)
  • 2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley

Instruction:

  1. Fill a large pot (about 12 quart) with 4 quarts water. Stir in onion, garlic, Old Bay seasoning, and thyme. Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
  2. Add potatoes and season with salt (I use 1 Tbsp). Let cook until potatoes are about nearing tender, about 10 – 15 minutes.
  3. Add corn and continue to cook 3 minutes. Add sausage and cook 4 minutes longer.
  4. Gently stir in shrimp and cook until just opaque and pink, about 1 – 2 minutes.
  5. Drain mixture (you can reserve 1/4 cup of the broth if you’d like for serving). Spread over an extra large serving platter or a baking sheet.
  6. Drizzle with butter and lemon juice. Sprinkle with parsley, Old Bay seasoning and pepper to taste, and serve warm.

Shrimp Boil

shrimp boil recipe

Prep: 0 15min0

Total: 0 40min0

Yield: 4 servings

Nutrition Facts: calories 379, Fat 10 grams, Saturated Fat 5 grams, Cholesterol 225 milligrams, Sodium 735 milligrams, Carbohydrate 41 grams, Fiber 9 grams, Protein 30 grams

Ingredients:

  • 2 lemons, halved, plus wedges for serving
  • 1/2 cup Old Bay Seasoning
  • 8 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 1 large red onion, quartered
  • 6 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 pound baby red potatoes
  • 4 ears corn, husked and snapped in half
  • 1 1/4 pounds large shrimp, unpeeled
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Hot sauce, for serving (optional)

Instruction:

  1. Fill a large pot with 4 quarts of water. Squeeze the lemon juice into the water and add the squeezed lemon halves. Add the Old Bay, garlic and onion. Tie the thyme sprigs together with kitchen twine and add to the pot. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook about 5 minutes.
  2. Add the potatoes to the pot and cook until just tender, about 10 minutes. Add the corn and cook 5 more minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, slice along the back of each shrimp through the shells; remove the veins and rinse the shrimp. Add to the pot, cover and cook until the shrimp curl and are just opaque, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the shrimp and vegetables with a slotted spoon or skimmer to a large bowl. Add the butter and about 1 cup broth to the bowl and toss until the butter is melted. Transfer the shrimp and vegetables to a platter. Serve with the remaining broth, lemon wedges and hot sauce, if desired.

Old Bay Shrimp Boil

shrimp boil recipe

Classic shrimp boil that includes a mixture of shrimp, smoked sausage, corn on the cob, potatoes all boiled in a lemon broth and tossed with seasoned butter.

Prep: 10min

Total: 28min

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 697 kcal, Carbohydrate 43 g, Protein 46 g, Fat 40 g, Saturated Fat 18 g, Cholesterol 477 mg, Sodium 2041 mg, Fiber 6 g, Sugar 8 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds large jumbo shrimp (peeled and deveined, leave tails on)
  • 1 pound smoked sausage (kielbasa or andouille, cut into 1 inch pieces)
  • 4 ears corn (each cut into 4 pieces)
  • 1 pound small red potatoes (cut in half)
  • 1 medium onion (cleaned and cut into large pieces)
  • 4 lemons (2 for cooking, 2 for serving)
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic (cleaned and smashed)
  • ⅓ cup seafood seasoning like Old Bay
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley plus more for garnish (chopped)

Instruction:

  1. Fill large pot with water. Quarter two lemons and add to the water. Then add onion, garlic and seafood seasoning to water. Bring water to boil.
  2. Clean and cut potatoes in half. Add the potatoes to the boiling water, cook for 10-12 minutes or until just barely fork tender
  3. Clean and cut corn, add to boiling water along with the sliced smoked sausage. Cook for 5-6 minutes.
  4. Add shrimp to boiling water and cook an additional 2-3 minutes or until pink.
  5. Drain water and place the shrimp mixture on a large baking sheet.
  6. In a microwave safe bowl melt the butter. Add salt, pepper and 2 tablespoons chopped parsley to butter and whisk to combine.
  7. Pour ½ of butter mixture over shrimp mixture and stir to coat. Reserve remaining butter mixture for serving.
  8. Garnish with additional chopped parsley and lemons
  9. Sprinkle additional seafood seasoning to taste, if desired
  10. Serve immediately with reserved butter mixture.

Old Bay Shrimp Boil

shrimp boil recipe

Every year in May we have a big Shrimp Boil. I got this recipe from Old Bay and we love it. Roll up your sleeves and dig in.

Prep: 15min

Total: 45min

Yield: 8 serving(s)

Nutrition Facts: calories 816.4, Fat 35.7, Saturated Fat 11.1, Cholesterol 355.9, Sodium 4033.9, Carbohydrate 70.6, Fiber 7.8, Sugar 10.1, Protein 53.3

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup Old Bay Seasoning
  • 2 tablespoons salt
  • 4 quarts water
  • 1 (12 ounce) can beer
  • 8 medium red potatoes, cut in quarters
  • 2 large vidalia onions, cut in wedges
  • 2 lbs smoked sausage, cut in 2 inch lengths
  • 8 ears frozen corn on the cob, thawed (I use Birdseye Little Ears)
  • 4 lbs large shrimp, in shells

Instruction:

  1. In an 8-quart stock pot, bring Old Bay, salt, water and beer to a boil.
  2. Add potatoes and onions; cook over high heat for 8 minutes.
  3. Add smoked sausage; continue to cook on high for 5 minutes.
  4. Add corn to pot; continue to boil for 7 minutes.
  5. Add shrimp in shells, cook for 4 minutes.
  6. Drain cookin liquid; pour contents of pot into several large bowl or shallow pails.
  7. Sprinkle with additional Old Bay.

EASY Shrimp Boil Recipe

FAQ

What is shrimp boil seasoning made of?

Preparation. In a small bowl, combine the coriander seeds, mustard seeds, red pepper flakes, dill weed, allspice, salt, and bay leaves. Add the spice mix to a large pot with 3 quarts of water, then add the potatoes.

How long does it take to boil shrimp?

You’ll bring a large pot of salted water to a boil with some fresh lemon juice. Once boiling, add the shrimp and boil until they’re pink and cooked through, about 2 minutes. Remove the shrimp to an ice bath, which is a bowl of water and ice.

Why do you put vinegar in boiled shrimp?

Day Dream Kitchen explains that vinegar helps to loosen the attachment between the shell and the meat of the shrimp. They claim it is not 100 % effective, but it does help. Vinegar also helps to add flavor to the shrimp. Live Strong says that adding vinegar enhances the taste of shrimp, and Black Tail NYC agrees.

What type of shrimp is the best to boil?

For a dish where the shrimp stand alone, like shrimp cocktail or fried shrimp, bigger is better. For a shrimp boil, which includes other ingredients like corn and potatoes, you can go for a slightly smaller size. If you like stuffed baked shrimp, look for ones labeled colossal or super colossal (U 10 or 12).

About the author

Helen is an author and editor at helenbackcafe.com, who has a passion for writing about recipes. She loves to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create delicious and unique dishes.

Among all the foods, pizza holds a special place in her heart, and she loves exploring different variations and toppings to create the perfect slice. Through her writing, Helen hopes to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen and share their love for food with the world.

Leave a Comment