Shrimp Boil Recipe

Easy, classic shrimp boil that is a mixture of corn on the cob pieces, shrimp, smoked sausage and baby potatoes. It’s cooked in a flavored broth then tossed in a seasoned butter. Best part is it’s ready in about 30 minute.

One of our favorite meals to make during the summer is a shrimp boil! This hearty dinner is a great way to enjoy summer corn. Plus, it’s loaded with so much flavor from andouille sausage, potatoes, shrimp and Old Bay seasoning.

I’ve seen a lot of sheet pan shrimp boil recipes that you bake in the oven, but my recipe is made the classic way: all of the ingredients are cooked in a large pot on the stove. I mean, it’s called a “shrimp boil” for a reason! You’re going to love this super easy seafood boil.

You Will Love This Shrimp Boil Recipe!

• This is a perfectly portioned recipe that serves six people. A lot of recipes are for serving a crowd, but these days we’re not really doing that so I’ve scaled it for a perfectly sized family dinner.
• Since this is an Old Bay shrimp boil recipe, it’s super easy to make – you don’t have to go out and buy a bunch of spices.
• Everything cooks perfectly! Not all of the ingredients have the same cooking time, so I am showing you exactly how to make it so that everything comes out perfectly cooked at the end.
• It’s ready in 30 minutes! It’s so easy you can make it on a weeknight!

Everything is boiled in the most flavorful seasoned lemon broth and then served with herb butter. It’s so delicious!

Shrimp Boil Ingredients

• Water – Using hot water will help speed this recipe up. You can also add a can of beer to the water to get even more depth of flavor.
• Shrimp – We like to get our shrimp with the tail still on, but shell off. If you get shell on make sure you remove it. I recommend a large, jumbo shrimp.
• Smoked sausage – An andouille or kielbasa sausage works great in this recipe. Andouille is spicier than kielbasa, so if you don’t love spice I recommend going with the milder kielbasa sausage.
• Corn on the cob – During the summer I always get fresh corn on the cob when available, but if you are making this during the winter you can also use frozen corn on the cob.
• Red potatoes – Yukon gold potatoes will also work in this recipe too. Make sure to cut them to about 1 1/2 inch chunks.
• Onion – Use yellow or red onion for the most bold flavor.
• Lemon – A squeeze of fresh lemon juice brings out the flavor of all the other ingredients.
• Butter – Unsalted butter is recommend, but salted will work too since this recipe just calls for about 1/4 teaspoon of butter.
• Garlic – Fresh garlic cloves are best. Smash them to release the delicious flavor and add a lovely flavor this dish.
• Old Bay seasoning – This seasoning gives the shrimp boil it’s famous taste.
• Salt and pepper – Adjust to preference.
• Chopped fresh parsley – Feel free to ommit this garnish as it just adds a pop of color at the end.

How to Cook Shrimp Boil

Because there is a variety of ingredient, it definitely matters how soon you add each one. You don’t want to just toss them all in the broth at the same time – by the time the potatoes are done, everything else will be overcooked!

Follow my steps and you will get amazing results – tender juicy shrimp, perfectly cooked corn and potatoes that aren’t too hard or too mushy.

Broth: Get a really large stockpot and fill it with water and add halved lemons. Add the garlic, onion and ⅓ cup old bay seasoning, and the salt and pepper. Bring the broth to a boil over high heat.

Potatoes: Add the halved potatoes first to the broth and cook them for 10 to 12 minutes or until they are just barely fork tender.

Corn and Sausage: Add your corn on the cob and sausage and cook them with the potatoes for five to six minutes.

Shrimp: Add the shrimp last and cook them for two to three minutes.

Drain: Drain the liquid and place everything on a sheet pan.

Serve: Melt the butter in the microwave and then season it with salt and pepper. Add the fresh parsley and then drizzle the mixture over the shrimp and other ingredients on the sheet pan. Reserve some of the butter for serving.

Garnish: I love to sprinkle a little extra Old Bay seasoning over the top of the shrimp boil and then place lemon wedges along the side so people can squeeze it over their serving. Add a sprinkle of chopped parsley, too!

What goes well with shrimp boil?

It’s really a whole meal, but you can serve it with some bread on the side. When I make this as part of a potluck or BBQ I love to add summer salads on the side like Macaroni Salad or Potato Salad.

Classic sides like fried okra or hearty mac and cheese would also be super tasty!

Can You Boil Frozen Shrimp?

You can use frozen shrimp, but you will want to thaw them first! If they are large shrimp, they’ll need plenty of time to thaw so be sure to prep that ahead of time.

How long to boil shrimp?

It will take about 2-3 minutes to boil the shrimp, depending on their size. Make sure to thaw frozen shrimp before boiling.

How do you boil shrimp without overcooking?

Make sure to watch your shrimp closely as they cook quickly. Once they turn pink they are done cooking. Drain the shrimp boil immediately to stop the cooking process and spread it out on a baking sheet so that the shrimp does not overcook.

Can You Substitute Frozen Corn On The Cob?

When I make this during the summer I love using fresh corn because it tastes amazing and is usually pretty inexpensive. During the winter, I’ve used frozen corn on the cob – it cooks in the same amount of time as fresh.

How Do You Serve A Shrimp Boil Recipe?

You can serve it straight from the sheet pan or place newspapers all over your table and place everything directly on it. If you have an extra large serving platter, that would work too. Just have plenty of napkins on hand! During the summer we do this at our table outside and the kids love it!

This is such and easy shrimp boil recipe and the flavors are amazing! It’s a whole meal you can make in one pot and there’s something for everyone – juicy corn, tender shrimp, smoky sausage and perfectly cooked potatoes! I hope you give this one a try soon.

More Easy Dinner Recipes

• Tender, juicy, tangy steak with roasted tomatoes make these Balsamic Steak Kabobs the ultimate dinner during the summer!
• Easy Parmesan Pork Chops baked in the oven and paired with roasted vegetables all on the same sheet pan!
• One Pan Sausage and Potatoes is an easy dinner your family will love! It’s so easy to make and even easier to clean-up!

MORE MUST-TRY RECIPES!