Also known as a low country boil, this classic shrimp boil recipe comes together quickly by boiling shrimp and veggies together in a simple beer broth flavored with Old Bay seasoning. This is such a fun dish to make for an interactive dinner, while on vacation, or for summer parties!
The Easiest One-Pot, 30-Minute, All-in-One Meal EVER
My first shrimp boil was at an impromptu family party in Pensacola, FL. where I peeled and dipped and suckled every nugget of extra-sweet locally caught Gulf shrimp I could elbow my way in for. I’ve been fixated with hosting my own shrimp boil ever since.
Like my classic peel-n-eat beer steamed shrimp, shrimp boils are the ultimate interactive party food and will give you mega beach vibes whether you’re on vacation or not.
This shrimp boil is made on the stove in one pot (the biggest one you have) and is ready for eating in just about 30 minutes. The ingredients are as simple as the method, with fresh shrimp (in their shells), baby potatoes, andouille or kielbasa sausage, and chunks of sweet corn on the cob.
Everything cooks in an Old Bay seasoning, lemon, and beer-infused broth that when done, is scattered on a newspaper-topped table for an old-school nostalgic vibe, or served on a big platter or sheet pan if you’re feeling more civilized. It’s casual, it’s fun, and perfect for a crowd because it makes a lot and is hands-on.
Enjoy! Heidi
My Top Tips for Shrimp Boil Success
- Don’t have a stockpot large enough to hold all of the ingredients? Divide everything between two smaller stockpots instead, no big deal!
- The shrimp, sausage, and vegetables all cook at different rates, so you’ll need to add things to the pot in stages. If you throw everything in all together, you’ll overcook the shrimp and they’ll turn out rubbery.
- Don’t overcomplicate the seasoning. Some recipes call for a blend of spices, but in my recipe testing I found that Old Bay seasoning by itself was just perfect.
The Key Seasonings and Ingredients
The full recipe, with amounts, can be found in the recipe card below.
Shrimp
Rinse and drain the shrimp, but leave the shells on since you’ll be eating them the same way you eat peel-n-eat shrimp. Look for large shrimp, since they hold their own against the chunks of corn on the cob and potatoes and don’t overcook as easily as smaller shrimp. (Frozen shrimp are fine! Just thaw and drain before using.)
Sausage
I recommend using a smoked sausage, like kielbasa or andouille. Cut your sausage of choice into 2-inch chunks to cook alongside the vegetables.
Veggies
This classic shrimp sausage boil calls for just baby potatoes (red, white, or a mix is fine) and corn on the cob. So simple, yet so good.
Broth & Seasoning
The broth is made by combining your favorite pale ale beer with water and halved lemons, that’s it! As for seasoning a shrimp boil, you can’t beat Old Bay.
How to Make a Shrimp Boil on the Stove
- Bring your water and aromatics to a boil. The broth is made with a simple combination of beer, water, lemon halves, and Old Bay seasoning. You want the broth to be at a rolling boil before you add any of the shrimp boil ingredients to it.
- Cook the potatoes, sausage, corn, and shrimp. First, the potatoes and sausage cook together, then the corn gets added. Lastly, the shrimp go in for a quick boil of just 2-3 minutes — more like a nice dip in this Old Bay bath.
- Drain and serve. Save about a cup of the beer broth before draining, as it’s delish drizzled over the boiled shrimp, sausage, and vegetables along with a generous splash of lemon juice and some melted butter. We also serve our shrimp boil with cocktail sauce, additional lemon quarters, Old Bay, and hot sauce.
Don’t Boil the Shrimp for Too Long!
Shrimp doesn’t take long to cook at all, especially when it’s poaching in boiling water. After adding to the hot water, cook these shrimp just until they’ve turned pink, which should only take about 2-3 minutes. They’ll continue to cook as they rest due to the carryover heat from the pot.
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
How to Make a Shrimp Boil
Ingredients
- 5 quarts water
- 12 ounces beer (a pale ale works great)
- ½ cup Old Bay seasoning
- 4 lemons , divided (two cut in half; 2 quartered)
- 3 pounds baby potatoes (red or white, or a mix)
- 28 ounces andouille sausage or kielbasa , cut into 2-inch chunks
- 8 ears sweet corn , husked, cleaned, and cut in half
- 2 pounds shrimp , with shells still on, rinsed and drained
- 4 tablespoons salted butter , melted
- Cocktail sauce , for serving
- Hot sauce , for serving
Instructions
- Add water, beer, Old Bay, and just TWO of the lemons (cut in half) to the largest stockpot you have, and bring to a roaring boil. (Alternatively, you could divide everything between two stockpots).5 quarts water, 12 ounces beer, ½ cup Old Bay seasoning, 4 lemons
- Reduce to a steady boil, over medium heat. Add the potatoes, and sausage (you may need to turn up the heat to get the boil going again), and cook for 10 minutes.3 pounds baby potatoes, 28 ounces andouille sausage or kielbasa
- Next, add the corn and cook for 5 minutes.8 ears sweet corn
- Finally, add the shrimp and cook just until pink; about 2-3 minutes.2 pounds shrimp
- Drain the mixture, reserving 1 cup of the hot broth, and add the ingredients to a large serving platter or sheet pan. Squeeze the lemon halves from the mixture overtop and drizzle with the melted butter and as much of the reserved broth as you like. Toss to combine everything. Then sprinkle with more Old Bay and serve with the remaining lemon quarters, cocktail sauce, and hot sauce.4 tablespoons salted butter, Cocktail sauce, Hot sauce
Notes
Nutrition
What Goes With Shrimp Boil
More Great Shrimp Dishes to Try
- The BEST Shrimp Scampi
- Crispy Baked Garlic Shrimp
- Shrimp Cocktail
- Pan-Seared Citrus Shrimp
- Mediterranean Shrimp Salad
- Coconut Shrimp
- Shrimp Creole
- Fried Shrimp Po Boy Sandwiches
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