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August 22, 2023

Easy Shrimp Boil Recipe

This sheet pan Shrimp Boil bursts with deliciously plump shrimp, juicy corn, perfectly cooked potatoes, and savory sausage without all the fuss. It’s the easiest shrimp boil you’ll ever make, and it’s so incredibly tasty!

We love the ease of a sheet pan dinner like our Salmon and Asparagus or Spatchcock Chicken. It’s easy to prep, simple directions, and fast clean up. Our shrimp boil recipe is quick and easy, but the flavors of butter, old bay seasoning, and lemon juice are unmistakably authentic.

sheet pan shrimp boil with shrimp, corn, potatoes, sausage and Old Bay seasoning

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As the name suggests, a seafood boil is a dish made by boiling the ingredients in a large pot of seasoned liquid. The cook adds each ingredient at the precise time for even cooking, but with our old bay shrimp boil recipe, we’ve cut out the time it takes to babysit the boiling pot without sacrificing flavor.

What is a Shrimp Boil?

A classic shrimp boil is a southern meal and experience all wrapped into one. Ingredients vary slightly by region, but they always include:

Shrimp or seafood
Potatoes
Corn
Sausage
Old Bay seasoning

In the Southeast, it’s called a Low Country Boil or Frogmore Stew and it features local fresh-caught shrimp, crab, or crawfish. On the other hand, cajun shrimp boil uses andouille sausage for a spicy kick and sometimes a bit of Zatarain’s.

The seafood, sausage, and vegetables are boiled over an open flame outside in a large stock pot. Then, when the cooking is done, the food is drained and served spread out across a large picnic table that’s been covered in newspaper. Guests gather around a heaping pile of boiled goodies and then chow down using their hands and an occasional napkin.

Shrimp boil with shrimp, corn and potatoes baked on a sheet pan

Shrimp Boil Recipe

Our shrimp boil recipe keeps true to the fun experience without the hassle of cooking, cleaning, and serving. We parboil the potatoes and corn, then cover everything in an irresistible coating of Old Bay, lemon juice, and butter to bake to perfection in the oven.

The best part comes after the cooking. Take it out and serve dinner right off the sheet pan! No plates, and no serving utensils, so it’s the perfect summer meal and fun experience in one!

Ingredients

Some seafood boil ingredients may vary slightly by region, but our recipe stays true to the classic mixture of hearty seafood, sausage, and vegetables. It’s a simple list of ingredients, but it delivers big flavor.

Baby Potatoes – cut into equal-sized chunks so the potatoes cook evenly. Yukon Gold potatoes or red potatoes work well cut into equal pieces.
Corn – cut into 2” slices. You can also use frozen corn as it will cook at about the same time as fresh cobs
Unsalted Butter – coats the ingredients to help the seasoning stick
Garlic – fresh is best, but pre-minced works, too
Old Bay seasoning – this seasoning is a must. It’s what makes the shrimp boil authentic! You can find it at most local grocery stores or even online.
Smoked Andouille sausage – cut into pieces. Any cajun-style sausage will work, but you can use Polish kielbasa for less heat.
Large shrimp – Tail-on, large, or jumbo shrimp work best. If you can get your hands on tiger shrimp, do it!
Lemons – cut into wedges to serve on the side

Ingredients for Frogmore Stew including smoked sausage, Old Bay Seasoning, garlic, seafood, butter, potatoes and corn

Pro Tip

If you don’t have time to thaw your shrimp in the refrigerator overnight, thaw it quickly by placing it in a colander in your sink. Run cool water over the frozen shrimp for 7-8 minutes until the ice dissolves then drain and pat dry with paper towels.

Seafood Boil Variations

This basic shrimp boil recipe features the classic ingredients, but you can always make some simple swaps to fit your tastes. Try these variations:

Add a can of beer to the water when boiling the potatoes and corn
Include other seafood, like clams, crawfish, crab, or lobster
Add vegetables to the mixture: asparagus, red or yellow onion, or okra
Try including other spices, like bay leaf, red pepper flakes, or parsley
Serve with a garnish of fresh parsley, lemon wedges, cornbread, and some hot sauce

How to Make a Shrimp Boil

Follow these easy steps to nail this sheet pan shrimp boil. Bon appetite!

Boil – potatoes in a large pot of salted water for 10 minutes. Add corn to the boiling pot and cook until the potatoes are nearly tender, about 5 more minutes.
Drain – the corn and potatoes and place into a large bowl.
Prepare – the shrimp by cleaning and patting them dry (we keep the tails on). Add the shrimp and sausage to the potato and corn bowl.
Combine – butter, garlic, and Old Bay seasoning in a small bowl. Pour the mixture over the meat and vegetables. Toss to coat.
Arrange – the mixture onto a large baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until the shrimp is cooked. Serve with lemon wedges.

Step-by-step directions for making a seafood boil

Pro Tip

You’ll know when the Boiled Potatoes are done when you can easily pierce them with a fork. The shrimp is done when it is opaque and the tail curls to form a “C” shape.

What to Serve with a Shrimp Boil

A shrimp boil is a hands-down crowd-pleaser and a meal in itself, but just add a few of these sides to the mix, and you’ve got a feast on your hands.

Common Questions

What is the classic shrimp boil seasoning?

Old Bay seasoning is classically used for seafood boils. It’s a mix of many spices including celery seed, paprika, pepper, mustard, and red pepper. You could substitute cajun seasoning, but it won’t have exactly the same flavor.

Can I substitute the shrimp?

Shrimp is the traditional ingredient, but you can use crab, lobster, or clams as well. You can also omit the shrimp and double the smoked sausages.

Do I have to boil the potatoes before cooking in the oven?

Potatoes and corn take longer to cook than shrimp. We quickly boil the veggies before mixing everything together to ensure they are cooked when the shrimp are finished. Don’t skip this step!

Frogmore Stew baked and served on a baking sheet with sausage, corn, and potatoes

More Seafood Recipes

After you try this Shrimp Boil recipe, check out these other seafood favorites:

Shrimp Boil Recipe

4.98 from 71 votes

Author: Natalya Drozhzhin

This is the easiest shrimp boil you’ll ever do! Baked on a sheet pan, this recipe completely skips the mess while keeping all the flavor.

Save Pin Review Print

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 30

Total Time: 40

Ingredients

Servings: servings

1 lb baby potatoes, cut into equal pieces
3 ears of corn, each cut into 5 pieces
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp Old Bay seasoning
16 oz smoked andouille sausage, cut into pieces
1 lb large shrimp, raw, tail on
2 lemons, cut into wedges

Instructions

In a large pot of boiling water, cook potatoes for 10 minutes. Then, add the corn to the boiling water with the potatoes. Boil until the potatoes are finished, about 5 more minutes.
Drain corn and potatoes, and place them into a large bowl.
Clean and pat dry shrimp, and add them to the bowl. Also, add sausage to the bowl.
In a small bowl, combine butter with minced garlic and Old Bay seasoning. Pour the butter mixture over the shrimp boil ingredients and toss it all together.
Transfer everything to a large baking sheet and bake at 400 °F for about 15 minutes or until the shrimp is fully cooked. Serve with lemon wedges.

Nutrition Per Serving

571kcal Calories27g Carbs30g Protein39g Fat18g Saturated Fat284mg Cholesterol1397mg Sodium739mg Potassium4g Fiber4g Sugar574IU Vitamin A42mg Vitamin C153mg Calcium4mg Iron

Nutrition Facts

Shrimp Boil Recipe

Amount per Serving

Calories

571

% Daily Value*

Fat

Saturated Fat

113

Cholesterol

284

Sodium

1397

Potassium

739

Carbohydrates

Fiber

Sugar

Protein

Vitamin A

574

Vitamin C

Calcium

153

Iron

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Easy Shrimp Boil, Shrimp Boil

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $10-$12

Calories: 571

Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya is a food blogger who founded Momsdish.com to make cooking easier. Growing up on a farm in Ukraine, Natalya was inspired by the amazing dishes that were prepared using simple ingredients. Natalya is most notably known for making cooking approachable for any person.