Enjoy this classic shrimp boil made with a medley of sausage, corn, and baby potatoes. Skip takeout and bring out the sheet pan for this delicious seafood meal.
Did you know? Seafood boils are a popular Southern dish made with a variety of shellfish and veggies — but they’re actually not always “boiled.” Contrary to the name, they can also be cooked by steaming or baking.
How To Make Shrimp Boil
This shrimp boil recipe is an easy weeknight dinner that looks fancy but is actually crazy easy. Toss the ingredients in a bowl, season, then bake — that’s it!
- Boil the potatoes and corn: In a large pot of water, boil the potatoes for 10 minutes, then add the corn. Boil for an additional five minutes, then drain the liquid.
- Combine the ingredients in a large bowl: Place the potatoes and corn in a large bowl. Add in the shrimp and sliced sausage.
- Add the butter seasoning: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, and Old Bay seasoning. Add the mixture into the large bowl and stir everything together well.
- Bake: Pour the mixture onto a large baking sheet and bake at 400°F for about 15 minutes or until the shrimp is fully cooked. Serve with lemon wedges.
Ingredient Variations & Substitutions
Are you looking for a way to tweak this boil to better suit your tastes? We’ve got all the ideas on what to substitute and/or add to your sheet pan meal.
- Sausage: Andouille sausage is the classic choice for seafood boil, but any Cajun-style sausage will work as well. For less spice, opt for Polish kielbasa.
- Corn: If fresh corn is out of season, use frozen corn cobs. They cook at nearly the same rate as fresh cobs.
- Baby potatoes: We love using colorful baby potatoes for the diversity in color, but Yukon Gold potatoes work well too! If using larger Yukon Gold, make sure to halve them to ensure they cook through.
- Beer: Beer adds a earthy, malty flavor to the shrimp boil. Add one can of beer to the water when boiling the potatoes and corn.
- Seafood: Who said shrimp boil can’t include other seafood options like clams, crawfish, crab, or lobster? Toss them in and bake away!
- More vegetables: In case you want more veggies in your meal, add in asparagus, onion, green beans, or okra for a colorful and nutritious array of choices.
- Spices: For a way to add more flavor with spices, opt to use spices like bay leaf, red pepper flakes, and onion/garlic powders. If you don’t have Old Bay, Cajun seasoning works well, too.
Tips & Tricks For A Delicious Shrimp Boil
Are you ready for a sheet pan dinner that’s perfect for a weeknight and for hosting? Follow these tips and tricks to get the best boil each time.
- Use large shrimp: Large or jumbo shrimp are the best for this boil. They’re meatier, plus they soak in the juices best. Tiger shrimp will work, too! Peel the shells but leave the tail on for the best lookin’ boil!
- Cut the corn and potatoes equally: Cut the corn cobs into small, equal pieces so everyone at the table has a chance to dig into a delicious cob of corn. Don’t forget to do the same with the potatoes!
- Opt for unsalted butter: To avoid over-salting the boil, use unsalted butter. It’s much easier to add salt later than attempt to remove it!
Serving Shrimp Boil
When eating a seafood boil in the South, it is common to see people enjoying them with gloved hands and no utensils. Feel free to do this at home if you don’t mind the temporary mess! To serve the shrimp boil, garnish it first with fresh parsley and lemon wedges. If you have spicy-lovers at your table, offer up a bottle of hot sauce.
If you’re looking for side dishes to serve the shrimp boil with, opt for a cold contrast like broccoli cauliflower salad or a simple green salad with a vinaigrette dressing. Or, go classic with a side of mac and cheese, okra, and garlic bread. For dessert, serve strawberry jello poke cake, lemon bars, key lime pie or chocolate chip cookies!
Storing & Reheating Leftover Shrimp Boil
Do you have leftovers? Nothing to worry about — we’ve got you covered on how long to store and how to best reheat your leftovers.
- Refrigerator: To store for up to three days, place leftover shrimp boil in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Reheating: For the best flavor, reheat leftover shrimp boil in the oven. Place the leftovers on a baking sheet, add a splash of water, and cover with foil. Heat at 400°F for 5-10 minutes or until heated through.
Hot tip: We don’t recommend freezing leftover shrimp boil because the texture of the shrimp usually becomes gummy after freezing and thawing again.
More Shrimp Recipes
- Shrimp Fried Rice — Fried rice with scrambled eggs, sesame oil, and juicy shrimp
- Creamy Shrimp Scampi — Shrimp mixed with pasta in a white wine buttery sauce
- Shrimp Stir Fry — A combination of colorful veggies and shrimp in a soy-based sauce
- Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp — Shrimp coated in breadcrumbs and coconut flakes
Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz baby potatoes cut into halves or equal sized pieces
- 4 ears of corn each cut into 6-7 pieces
- 1 lb extra large shrimp raw with tail on
- 1 lb smoked andouille sausage cut into similar sized pieces
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tbsp Old Bay Seasoning
- 2 lemons cut into wedges
Instructions
- Boil the potatoes in a large pot of water for 5-10 minutes.
- Then, add the corn to the water, and continue boiling until the potatoes are done (about 5 more minutes). Drain the corn and potatoes.
- Place the potatoes and corn in a large mixing bowl.
- Clean and pat the shrimp dry, then add them to the bowl. Add the sliced sausage.
- In a small bowl, combine the melted butter with minced garlic and Old Bay seasoning.
- Pour the butter mixture over the ingredients in the large bowl, and toss it all together.
- Transfer the mixture to a large baking sheet and bake at 400°F for about 15 minutes or until the shrimp are thoroughly cooked. Serve with lemon wedges.
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