Published 4/3/2021
Fancy (but easy!) Dinner Alert
This easy seafood boil really is a showstopper! Not to mention, it’s fun to eat. And don’t you worry one little bit — it’s 100% easy to make. In this post we’ll walk you through the elements of a delicious seafood boil, how to make it step-by-step as well as what to serve it with. Let’s do this, seafood lovers!
Elements of a Seafood Boil
The elements of this seafood boil can be broken down into a few delicious categories. Seafood and meat (obviously!), veggies, seasoning and broth, as well as a delicious butter sauce that should NOT be skipped 😀
Seafood & Meat
Jumbo shrimp, deveined, tail-on, shell-onFresh lobster tailsAndouille sausage
Veggies
Yukon gold potatoes (red potatoes work, too!)Ears of cornYellow onionCanned diced tomatoesGarlic cloves
Seasoning & Broth
Homemade Cajun seasoningButterDry white wineBeef broth (or seafood broth!)Ground corianderGarlic powderSliced fresh lemonSalt
Butter Sauce
Fresh parsleyUnsalted butterJuiced fresh lemon
The Perfect Cajun Seasoning
Ditch the store-bought cajun spice blend for our homemade cajun seasoning that is perfectly savory and spicy with a touch of sweetness. And comes together in just 9 ingredients you likely have in your spice cupboard already! You’ll need:
Smoked paprikaGarlic powderOnion powderChili powderDried oreganoCayenne pepperBrown sugarSaltPepper
What does cajun seasoning taste like?
Cajun seasoning has a savory and smokey taste that is commonly found in traditional Louisiana dishes like gumbo or seafood boils like this recipe. Some cajun spice blends are spicier than others, and while ours contains a very small amount of cayenne (helloooo, “Minnesota spicy” lovers!), you can feel free to amp up the spiciness by increasing the cayenne.
How Big of A Stockpot Do I Need?
We recommend a large stockpot for this recipe! Ours is 12 qt. and provided plenty of room for the broth and as well as all the rest of the seafood boil ingredients.
How to Make a Seafood Boil
No need to be intimidated by this seafood boil! We’ll walk you through exactly how to make it. Exact ingredient amounts are found below in the recipe card!
Season Shrimp
First, remove shrimp from packaging and rinse it under cold water. Then, pat it dry. Place shrimp into a large bowl and then sprinkle on 2 tablespoons of homemade Cajun seasoning. Let rest in the seasoning while preparing the rest of the dish.
Sauté Onion, Garlic & Sausage
Next, melt 4 tablespoons of butter in your large stockpot over medium/high heat. Once melted, add onion, garlic, salt, and 1 sliced andouille sausage (you’ll use the rest later) and saute for 3-4 minutes until it creates a fond (crust) on the bottom of the pot. These flavors are going to help create the base of your broth 😀
Deglaze & Make Broth
Deglaze the pot with white wine and then add beef broth, diced tomatoes, the rest of the cajun seasoning, ground coriander, and garlic powder. Bring to a boil over medium/high heat. Once boiling, turn the burner to low and let simmer for 15-20 minutes. After 15-20 minutes of simmering, turn the burner up to medium/high and add in 1/2 the sliced lemon.
Seafood Time
Once boiling, it’s time to start cooking your seafood!
Add in potatoes and boil for 7 minutes. Then, add the lobster tail and boil for another 4 minutes. Add in corn and boil for another 5 minutes. Finally, add in seasoned shrimp and the rest of the sliced andouille sausage and boil for another 3 minutes.
Prepare Butter Sauce
While the seafood boil is cooking, prepare butter sauce. Chop fresh parsley and melt butter. Then, mix them together and add fresh lemon juice. DO NOT SKIP THIS!
Toss w/ Butter Sauce & Serve
Use a slotted spoon to remove everything from the broth and place it into a large serving dish. Then, pour the butter sauce on top and toss. Serve with your favorite southern rice, cornbread, and more melted butter.
How Long to Boil Seafood
One of the best parts about this seafood boil is that you don’t have to worry about over or undercooking any seafood ingredients as we’ll walk you through exactly when to add the shrimp and the lobster to the pot. Once boiling, shrimp and lobster will cook as follows: Jumbo shrimp: 3 minutes Lobster tails: 10-12 minutes
What to Serve with a Seafood Boil
This seafood boil can absolutely be served as-is, or is delicious served alongside red beans and rice, a classic cornbread, creamy coleslaw or any of our healthy salads. Some of our fave pairings are:
Red Beans and RiceCornbreadCreamy ColeslawThe Best Arugula SaladFarro SaladBroccoli Salad
How to Store A Seafood Boil
This seafood boil is best enjoyed fresh! But if you do have leftovers, they will keep in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
How long does a seafood boil last?
This seafood boil will keep for up to 3 days when stored in an air-tight container in the fridge.
How to reheat a seafood boil
To reheat the seafood boil, spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray and spread the leftover seafood boil out evenly on the baking sheet, and splash with water or broth if the leftovers are dry. Cover in tin foil, and reheat in the oven at 200°F for 10-15 minutes, or until warm.
Recipes with Seafood
Oven Baked Salmon in FoilParmesan Crusted TilapiaEasy Shrimp Panang CurryBaked Cod Fish TacosSeared Ahi Tuna Poke BowlALL Fish & Seafood Recipes
