Seafood Boil Crab Shrimp (Printer View)

A festive Southern-style boil with crab, shrimp, sausage, potatoes, corn, tossed in Cajun spices.

# What you'll need:

→ Seafood

01 - 2 lbs snow crab legs, cleaned
02 - 1.5 lbs large shrimp, shell-on, deveined

→ Meats

03 - 1 lb andouille or smoked sausage, sliced into 1-inch pieces

→ Vegetables

04 - 1.5 lbs baby potatoes, halved
05 - 4 ears corn, cut into thirds
06 - 1 large onion, quartered
07 - 1 lemon, sliced

→ Aromatics & Spices

08 - 4 cloves garlic, smashed
09 - 1/4 cup Old Bay or Cajun seasoning
10 - 2 tsp smoked paprika
11 - 2 tsp salt
12 - 1 tsp black pepper
13 - 1 tsp cayenne pepper, optional

→ Liquids

14 - 8 cups water
15 - 12 fl oz light beer, optional

→ For Serving

16 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
17 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
18 - Lemon wedges

# Method:

01 - Combine water, beer if used, Old Bay or Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, cayenne, garlic, onion, and lemon slices in a large stockpot. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
02 - Add halved baby potatoes to the boiling liquid and cook for 10 minutes.
03 - Incorporate corn pieces and sliced sausage into the pot. Boil for 7 minutes.
04 - Add crab legs to the pot and boil for 5 minutes.
05 - Add shrimp to the boiling liquid and cook until pink and opaque, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
06 - Drain the seafood and vegetables thoroughly, discarding the cooking liquid and aromatics. Transfer to a large serving platter or arrange over parchment paper on a table.
07 - Drizzle melted butter over the boil, sprinkle with chopped parsley, and serve with lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Crowd-pleasing for gatherings and celebrations
  • Full of bold Cajun flavors and customizable heat levels
02 -
  • Seafood boils are easily adapted to the ingredients you have at home
  • Check your sausage and beer labels if you need gluten-free options
03 -
  • Add extra Cajun seasoning and melted butter after cooking for more flavor
  • For less heat, skip or decrease the cayenne pepper
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