Shrimp Boil

Shrimp Boil recipe loaded with all the good stuff!

When fresh corn on the cob is at it’s prime in the summertime, you have to have a good Shrimp Boil! It’s a Summer must! It’s a fun meal to share with friends. It all cooks up fast and it sure is fun to eat! Shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes all perfectly cooked and covered in a delicious seasoned butter. I could eat this every week!

Ingredients for a Shrimp Boil:

Here’s what you need to make a shrimp boil.

• Shrimp: we are using large frozen shrimp, deveined and mostly peeled with just the tails on. Simply thaw the frozen shrimp in a bowl of cold water.
• Andouille sausage: If you can’t find andouille sausage another type of smoked sausage will work fine.
• Corn on the Cob: we love to make this recipe in the Summer, when fresh corn on the cob is in season.
• Red potatoes: or small round gold potatoes work as well. Any size of potato will work, just make sure to cut them into 1 1/2-inch chunks. Small round potatoes can be left whole.
• Red onion: we prefer the mildness and the color of the red onion for this
• Water: yep…4 quarts of water is needed for this Shrimp Boil.
• Old Bay seasoning: If you don’t have it, you can make your own!
• Salt: season the water with salt
• Butter: we are using salted butter, but you can use unsalted butter too, you just might want to add a little extra salt if desired.
• Lemon : Fresh Lemon Juice is great as a finish. It is optional
• Fresh Parsley or Cilantro: These chopped fresh green herbs add a nice pop of green color right before serving.

Recipe Options:

• make your own Old Bay Seasoning (see recipe below)
• serve with more seafood like crab, lobsters or clams
• cook the shrimp with the peel on or off as preferred
• Serve with Tabasco if your family or friends like it hot!
• add more vegetables like cut green beans or asparagus
• add herbs to the boiling water like parsley or bay leaves

Shrimp Boil recipe directions:

1. Bring the water to a boil: Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Season the water with 2 tablespoons of water for every 4 quarts of water.
2. Cook the Potatoes: Add the potatoes to the water. Let cook until potatoes are fork tender, about 20+ minutes. Take the potatoes out of the water and place on a sheet pan near the pot of water.
3. Cook the corn and sausage: Add corn and continue to cook 3-5 minutes. Optional: cook the sliced sausage in a skillet rather than add to the boiling water. If adding the sausage to the water, cook it for 4 minutes. Move the corn and potatoes to the sheet pan.
4. Quick Cook shrimp: Finally add in the shrimp and cook until the shrimp turns pink. Don’t overcook the shrimp. Move the shrimp out of the water to the sheet pan.
5. Finish with butter, fresh lemon and seasoning: Drizzle all with melted butter and lemon juice. Finish with a sprinkle with Old Bay seasoning, cracked pepper and chopped flat leaf Italian Parsley or chopped Cilantro to taste.

How much salt should you add to the water to boil potatoes?

We are using regular table salt or sea salt to season the water for this Shrimp Boil. Old Bay seasoning is most commonly used to season the water for this recipe, but we are reserving all those spices in the Old Bay Seasoning for the finishing flavor and just salting the water with regular salt for the cooking method.

How long does it take for shrimp to fully cook?

Shrimp is the last thing we add to this shrimp boil, because they are the fastest to cook! Shrimp only take 1-2 minutes to fully cook. Careful not to overcook the shrimp, because the texture of the shrimp can change for the worst when over cooked.

How to cook the fully cooked sausage?

Because the sausage comes already fully cooked, I opted to sauté the sausage slices in a skillet to brown them up a little rather than putting them into the water to boil. This option is up to you. I prefer the flavor of the sausage better this way.

What to Serve with a Shrimp Boil?

• old fashioned cucumber salad
• corn bread muffins
• sour dough bread to dip in the delicious seasoned butter

Print

Shrimp Boil

When fresh corn on the cob is available, this recipe for a classic shrimp boil is a summertime must! Loaded with shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes, this is a fun meal to share with family and friends!

Author Kami | NoBiggie.net

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs. medium to large shrimp deveined, peeled with the tails on
• 14 oz. Andouille Sausage sliced into 1-inch thick pieces
• 4 ears fresh corn on the cob husked, cut onto fourths
• 1 1/2 lbs medium red potatoes cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1/2 large red onion sliced into wedges
• 6 tablespoons butter melted (1 stick of butter)
• 4 quarts hot water
• 1/4 cup Old Bay seasoning
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice or more to taste
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or cilantro chopped fine

Instructions

1. Fill a large pot with 4 quarts of water. Season the water with 2 tablespoons salt. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat.

2. Add the potatoes. Let the potatoes cook until fork tender about 15 - 20 minutes. Remove the potatoes from the water to a sheet pan.

3. Add the corn on the cob to the water and continue to boil the corn for 3-5 minutes.

4. Next add the sausage to the water and cook 4 minutes longer. OR brown the sausage slices in a skillet...you decide for the sausage. Move both cooked corn and sausage to the sheet pan.

5. Gently stir in the shrimp and cook until pink, about 1 - 2 minutes. Move the shrimp out of the water to the sheet pan.

6. Drizzle all with butter and lemon juice. Sprinkle with the Old Bay seasoning and fresh cracked pepper to taste. Finish with the chopped Flat Leaf parsley or chopped cilantro. Serve warm.

Making This Recipe? Tag us on Instagram: @NoBiggie using the hashtag #NoBiggieRecipes, so we can see what you are making in the kitchen!

Homemade Old Bay Seasoning:

If you don’t have Old Bay Seasoning, good news, it’s super easy to mix up at home. That is if you are lucky to have all the ingredients listed here. Here’s what you need:

• 1 tablespoon celery salt
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 pinch ground dry mustard
• 1 pinch ground mace (may substitute a teensy pinch nutmeg)
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon
• 1 pinch ground cardamom
• 1 pinch ground allspice
• 1 pinch ground cloves
• 1 pinch ground ginger

Mix all together. Store in an airtight container.

Shrimp Boil Foil Packets:

It’s easy to make this Shrimp Boil into individual packets to grill or to bake in the oven.
Preheat your grill or your oven to 425F.
To start, precook the potatoes to ensure they are fully cooked…potatoes take the longest to cook out of all the things in this recipe. You can do this by microwaving for 2-3 minutes making sure to poke them with a fork for steam to escape. Or you can boil the potatoes for 12-15 minutes (until fork tender) before adding to the foil packets.
Add the Old Bay seasoning to the melted butter. Toss all ingredients together with the seasoned butter.
Divide all ingredients evenly between the foil packets.
Double up the foil if grilling outside.
Cook in the foil packets for 12-15 minutes in the oven or on the grill.
Finish with fresh lemon juice and chopped green herbs.

Are you a shrimp boil pro for serving a crowd? I’d love to hear any tips and tricks you have!

More Southern Style Cooking Recipes we love:

• Jambalaya
• Our favorite Potato Salad
• Red Beans and Rice
• Corn Chowder

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