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! It’s a great way to enjoy summer corn and it’s a hearty dinner that’s loaded with so much flavor from sausage, potatoes, and shrimp.

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 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.
• It’s an Old Bay shrimp boil recipe and so 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 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.
• Shrimp – We like to get ours 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 would work in this recipe too. Make sure to cut them to about 1 1/2 inch chunks.
• Onion – Use yellow or red onion.
• Lemon – Brings out the flavor.
• Butter – Unsalted butter is recommend, but salted will work it just adds about 1/4 teaspoon of butter to the recipe.
• Garlic – Fresh is best!
• Old Bay seasoning – Gives this shrimp boil it’s famous taste.
• Salt and pepper – Adjust to preference.
• Chopped fresh parsley – Can 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 ingredients it matters how soon you add each ingredient. You definitely 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 big pot and fill it with water and add halved lemons, the garlic, onion and seasonings. 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 parsley and then pour 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!

Serving Suggestions

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.

FAQ For Old Bay Shrimp Boil

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. 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!