American · Dinner

Shrimp Boil

Shell-on shrimp, smoked sausage, corn and potatoes cooked in one pot of spiced water and tipped onto a table. The Lowcountry summer feast.

Not yet ratedThis recipe has no ratings yet 45 min total Serves 6 servings Easy
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Method

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  1. Put the water, Old Bay, salt, lemons, garlic and onion in a very large pot and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes.

  2. Add the potatoes and boil for 12 minutes.

  3. Add the sausage and boil for 5 minutes.

  4. Add the corn and boil for 5 minutes more.

  5. Add the shrimp, turn off the heat and leave them in the water for 3 minutes, until pink and just cooked through.

  6. Drain everything in a colander and tip it out over a table covered with newspaper or onto big platters.

  7. Serve with the melted butter, lemon wedges and cocktail sauce.

Chef’s Tips

  • Add the ingredients in stages. Each one has a different cooking time.
  • Leave the shells on the shrimp. They protect the meat and flavour the water.
  • Take the shrimp out after 3 minutes. Overcooked shrimp are rubbery.

Common Substitutions & Variations

  • An eighth of a teaspoon of garlic powder per clove is the usual stand-in when you are out of fresh garlic — it will not caramelise the same way, but it carries the flavour.

Pairing Suggestions

  • Melted butter
  • Cocktail sauce
  • Cold beer

Storage & Reheating

Best eaten at once. Keep leftovers in the fridge up to 2 days and peel the shrimp for salads.

Common questions

How long does Shrimp Boil take to make?

About 45 minutes in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 6.

What are the key tips for making Shrimp Boil?

Add the ingredients in stages. Each one has a different cooking time. Leave the shells on the shrimp. They protect the meat and flavour the water. Take the shrimp out after 3 minutes. Overcooked shrimp are rubbery.

What should I serve with Shrimp Boil?

Melted butter; Cocktail sauce; Cold beer.

Is Shrimp Boil suitable for a special diet?

This recipe is high-protein and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.

How many calories are in Shrimp Boil?

About 620 kcal per serving, with 38 g protein, 45 g carbohydrate and 32 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.

Nutritional Highlights

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

620Calories
38gProtein
45gCarbs
32gFat
5gFibre
4gSugar
1500mgSodium

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Written and tested by Turab

One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.