Published Jun 05, 2024 Updated Aug 12, 2024
The Best Cajun Shrimp Boil Recipe
No summer is complete without a good old-fashioned seafood boil, crawfish boil, or shrimp boil party. An entire day spent with family and friends, enjoying the warm weather outdoors, sipping cold drinks, and feasting on fresh, juicy seafood! It’s an all-American summer tradition that you can easily enjoy with one of the classic Louisiana shrimp boil recipes like this one. And this recipe won’t even take you more than 30 minutes to prep and cook! Want to grill your shrimp instead? Make my Old Bay Shrimp recipe for a quick and easy summer meal!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Quick and easy. You can’t go wrong with anything that takes just 20 minutes to make! This cajun shrimp boil recipe is perfect for a last-minute gathering or a quick weeknight dinner. Bold, satisfying flavors. A blend of Old Bay and Cajun spices gives this dish a spicy, smoky kick that tastes amazing with shrimp, potatoes, corn, and sausage. All without being too overwhelming! Meant to be shared. No need for individual plates or utensils. Just dump everything onto a large serving platter or a newspaper-covered table and let everyone dig in!
Shrimp Boil Ingredients
Shrimp – the main ingredient! I use shelled and deveined medium-sized shrimp with the tail on. You can also use large or jumbo shrimp and even frozen shrimp if that’s all you have. Potatoes – I use baby potatoes for easier prep, but you can opt for red potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes, preferably the smaller ones. Make sure to chop them into uniform-sized pieces before boiling. Corn – adds natural sweetness and texture to your shrimp cajun boil. And it’s something you can munch on in between bites of juicy shrimp! Sausage – for that added smoky flavor and protein. I use Hillshire Smoked Sausage Rope, but you can use other types of smoked sausage. Seasonings – I use Old Bay and Cajun seasoning for their distinct flavors. More info on these below!
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
What Is Shrimp Boil Seasoning Made Of
Shrimp boil seasoning is typically a blend of herbs and spices that give the dish its signature bold flavors. To keep things simple, I’m using store-bought Old Bay seasoning as the base for boiling all the ingredients. It’s a simple blend of celery salt, red pepper flakes, black pepper, paprika, and a lot more spices! For the sauce, I’m mixing Cajun seasoning and melted butter to give the cooked shrimp boil extra heat, richness, and a little bit of tanginess. You can either make homemade Cajun seasoning or use a pre-made blend like I did.
Recipe Variations
Sausage. Use other types of sausage like Andouille sausage or beef sausage for a different flavor profile. Load it up. Transform your shrimp boil to a seafood boil by adding clams, crawfish, mussels, crabs, and if you’re feeling fancy, lobster. Extra spicy. Add a dash of Louisiana hot sauce, cayenne pepper, or smoked paprika to the Cajun butter sauce to dial up the spice! Shrimp foil packets. Make this recipe even more convenient by mixing the boiled ingredients with Cajun butter sauce in individual foil packets. You can then grill or bake the packets in less than 15 minutes!
How To Make Cajun-Style Shrimp Boil
Two great things about this cajun shrimp boil recipe: it’s extremely quick and easy to make AND it’s packed with the most amazing flavors! Here’s how you can make low country shrimp boil at home in just 20 minutes:
Can I Make Shrimp Sausage Boil In The Oven
Yes, absolutely! You can choose to pre-boil the ingredients or put them straight in the oven with the Cajun butter sauce on a sheet pan. Mix well and bake at 425°F (220°C) for 10-12 minutes, or until the shrimp and corn are cooked through.
Helpful Tips for Home Cooks
I find Zatarain’s seasoning too salty so I don’t recommend using it. It takes practically 1 minute to cook medium-sized shrimp in boiling water. Be careful not to overcook the shrimp or they will turn rubbery and bland. For an extra saucy dish, make more of that delicious Cajun butter sauce to drizzle on top or use as dipping sauce.
What To Serve With This Recipe
This spicy shrimp boil recipe goes well with many summer side dishes. For a complete summer feast, I recommend the following recipes: I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
