Shrimp is always a quick and easy meal option, whether it’s teriyaki shrimp stir fry, orange shrimp and broccoli, grilled shrimp skewers, shrimp Alfredo 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.
Shrimp Boil Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need lemons, Old Bay seasoning spice, garlic, onion, potatoes, corn, large shrimp, sausage, butter and fresh parsley.
How Do You Make A Shrimp Boil?
Place lemons, Old Bay seasoning, garlic and onion in a large pot of water and bring everything to a boil. Add the potatoes and cook until tender, then add the corn and sausage to the pot to cook. Finally, add the shrimp. Drain the shrimp and vegetables, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Whisk the butter into the liquid, then pour the mixture over the shrimp, sausage and veggies. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Tips For Shrimp Boil
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 has the most flavor – 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 sausage or andouille sausage. Andouille sausage can be a bit spicy, so I’d recommend using that variety if you prefer a little heat. This dish is best when served immediately. Leftovers will stay fresh in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Flavor Variations
This recipe is fabulous as-is, but you can add other ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes.
Seafood: You can use one pound of shrimp and one pound of some other type of seafood such as clams, mussels, crab, lobster, crawfish or scallops to make a seafood boil. Scallops and crawfish will cook in the same amount of time as shrimp. Clams or mussels will take 6-8 minutes. Creamy: Make your broth creamy by stirring in a half cup of heavy cream when you add the butter to the reserved boiling liquid. Spicy: Feel free to turn up the heat by adding some crushed red pepper flakes or hot sauce to the boiling liquid. Vegetables: Although not traditional, sometimes I add some fresh veggies during the last few minutes of the cooking time. Some great options include green beans, broccoli, carrots or asparagus. Flavorings: You can add other ingredients to the boiling liquid such as black pepper, lemon juice, bay leaves, beer or a pinch of salt. Instead of Old Bay seasoning, you can use Cajun seasoning.
You just can’t go wrong with this shrimp boil recipe, 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!
