Description
A flavorful Cajun seafood boil featuring shrimp, crab, sausage, corn, and potatoes, topped with a delicious garlic butter sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound large shrimp (peeled or unpeeled, tail-on for best presentation)
- 1 pound crab legs (king or snow crab)
- 1 pound smoked sausage (cut into thick slices)
- 4 ears corn on the cob (cut into halves or thirds)
- 1 pound baby potatoes (Yukon gold or red potatoes work well)
- 1 lemon (halved)
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning (optional for added flavor)
- 1 tablespoon paprika (for color and depth)
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 6 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Start by prepping everything in advance. Wash and scrub the potatoes, and cut them in half if they’re large. Slice the corn and sausage, and rinse the shrimp and crab legs under cold water. Set everything aside so it’s ready to go once the water’s boiling.
- Boil the Vegetables and Sausage: Fill a large stockpot with water—enough to cover all your ingredients once they’re added—and bring it to a boil. Add the Cajun seasoning, Old Bay, paprika, cayenne, black pepper, and salt directly to the water, along with the halved lemon. Let the spices infuse the water for a couple of minutes. Add the potatoes first and boil for about 10–12 minutes, or until they’re just starting to soften. Next, add the corn and sausage, and boil for another 5–7 minutes.
- Cook the Seafood: Once the potatoes and corn are nearly tender, add the shrimp and crab legs. Boil everything together for about 4–5 minutes, or until the shrimp are pink and opaque, and the crab legs are heated through. Be careful not to overcook the seafood—it only needs a few minutes.
- Make the Garlic Butter Sauce: In a large skillet or saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook gently for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly to avoid burning. Add Cajun seasoning, lemon juice, and stir to combine. If you like, sprinkle in some chopped parsley for color and freshness.
- Toss and Serve: Place all the boiled ingredients in a large serving bowl or tray. Pour the hot garlic butter sauce over the top and toss gently to coat everything evenly. Serve immediately while hot, with lemon wedges and extra butter sauce on the side.
Notes
- Adjust the level of cayenne pepper to control the spiciness.
- Feel free to use different types of seafood according to your preference.
- Serve with crusty bread to soak up the garlic butter sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 1300mg
- Fat: 42g
- Saturated Fat: 25g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 180mg