Shrimp Boil

4.52 from 237 votes

In just 20 minutes, you can bring the taste of summer right to your table with this easy Cajun shrimp boil recipe. Think juicy shrimp, tender potatoes, sweet corn, and smoky sausage, all tossed in Old Bay seasoning and coated in a rich, Cajun butter sauce.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Course: Shrimp

Cuisine: American Recipes

Keyword: Shrimp Boil

Servings: people

Author: Bee Yinn Low

Ingredients

water for boiling
4 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning
8 oz. (230g) baby potatoes cut into halves
2 ears corn on the cob cut into 2-inch (5cm) pieces
12 oz. (350g) smoked sausage cut into pieces (Hillshire Smoke Sausage Rope)
1 lb. (500g) shrimp shelled, deveined, tail-in
1 tablespoon chopped parsley for garnishing

Cajun Butter

6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
1 1/2 tablespoons cajun seasoning McCormick

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Fill a large stockpot halfway with water. Bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add the Old Bay seasoning, followed by the potatoes and corn. Cover the pot and boil for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
In the meantime, prepare the Cajun butter by combining melted butter with Cajun seasoning. Stir well to mix and set aside.
In the stockpot, add the shrimp and smoked sausage, and boil for one minute, or until the shrimp turns orange-pink. Remove the pot from heat and carefully drain all the ingredients using a colander. You may need to do this in two batches if your colander isn’t large enough.
Heat a skillet over high heat. Add the Cajun butter sauce to the boiled ingredients and stir to combine well. Transfer the shrimp boil to a sheet pan or serving platter, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve immediately.

Video

Notes

I personally find Zatarain’s seasoning a bit too salty, so I usually avoid using it.
I always recommend using fresh shrimp for the best flavor. If you’re using frozen, just make sure to thaw them properly before cooking to avoid that watery texture. And whatever you do, don’t use precooked shrimp! They won’t have the same juicy, tender bite you’re after in a good shrimp boil.
Medium-sized shrimp cook super fast—just about 1 minute in boiling water. I always make sure not to overcook them, or they turn rubbery and lose that juicy flavor.
If I’m in the mood for extra sauce, I’ll make more of that Cajun butter sauce to drizzle over the shrimp or use for dipping!

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