Cajun-Style Seafood Boil 🦐🔥 Big Spice, Buttery Drip, and Everything in One Pot

Cajun Seafood Boil is the ultimate feast dish — shrimp, crab, sausage, corn, and potatoes all boiled in spicy, seasoned broth and tossed in a buttery Cajun garlic sauce.

It’s hot, messy, craveable, and meant to be dumped right on the table and devoured by hand.

Ingredients (Feeds 4–6)

Seafood & Add-ins

• 1 lb large shrimp, shell-on
• 1 lb snow crab legs or king crab (optional)
• 12 oz smoked sausage, sliced
• 1 lb baby potatoes
• 4 ears corn, halved
• 1 lemon, quartered
• Optional: mussels, crawfish, lobster tails, or clams

Boil Seasoning

• ¼ cup Old Bay seasoning
• 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 2–3 bay leaves
• 1 tbsp salt
• Optional: 1–2 whole lemons squeezed into the pot
• Large pot of water (about 6 quarts)

Cajun Garlic Butter Sauce

• 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter
• 4–6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• Juice of ½ lemon
• Optional: hot sauce or red pepper flakes

Instructions

Step 1: Boil the Base

Fill a large stock pot with water. Add all boil seasonings and lemon. Bring to a boil. Add potatoes and cook for 10–12 minutes. Add corn and sausage; boil another 5 minutes.

Step 2: Add Seafood

Add shrimp and crab legs. Boil 3–4 minutes or until shrimp are pink and crab is heated through. Drain immediately and set aside.

Step 3: Make the Cajun Butter

In a saucepan, melt butter. Add garlic, Cajun seasoning, paprika, and lemon juice. Simmer 1–2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in optional hot sauce if you want more heat.

Step 4: Toss and Serve

Toss all seafood boil ingredients with the Cajun butter in a large bowl or roasting pan. Or pour it over the top after laying it all out on a newspaper-covered table for full boil energy.

Flavor Variations

• Add beer to the boil water for depth
• Use clarified butter in the sauce for a cleaner finish
• Add sugar to the butter for a sweet-heat contrast
• Use your own spice blend to fine-tune the flavor profile

Serving Ideas

• Serve with lemon wedges and more melted butter
• With crusty bread, garlic toast, or cornbread
• Add a big side of slaw or pickled vegetables for balance
• Cold beer, sweet tea, or citrus punch to drink

Pro Tips

• Don’t overcook shrimp — they only need a few minutes
• Use shell-on shrimp for more flavor
• Have napkins, wet wipes, and a discard bowl ready — it gets messy
• Leftovers reheat best in a foil packet or covered skillet with a splash of broth or butter

Final Thoughts

Cajun-Style Seafood Boil is not a meal — it’s an event. Loud flavors, tender shrimp, buttery sauce, smoky sausage, and all the spice you can handle. It’s a crowd-pleasing, hands-on dinner that turns any night into a feast.

Boil big. Butter heavy. Eat messy. 🦐🔥🦀

🦐 Must-try Seafood Boil Recipes

Whether you’re hosting a backyard feast or prepping a mess-free weeknight boil, this guide has every type of seafood boil you’ll want to try — saucy, spicy, buttery, and bold.

🍲 Seafood Boil Recipes (Main Hub) – All-in-one collection of crowd-pleasing seafood boils, sauces, and cooking methods.

🧄 Classic & Signature Recipes

🦞 Classic Seafood Boil – Traditional Southern-style with shrimp, corn, potatoes, and sausage.
🔥 The Best Seafood Boil Recipe Ever – Boldly seasoned and crowd-tested — a showstopper.
🌶️ Spicy Cajun Seafood Boil – Heaps of heat, juicy shrimp, and big Cajun flavor.
🥄 Garlic Butter Seafood Boil Sauce – Drizzle or dip — buttery, garlicky perfection.

⏱️ Quick & Easy Options

⚡ Quick & Easy Seafood Boil – Perfect when you want the boil without the fuss.
👨‍🍳 Easy Seafood Boil for Beginners – Foolproof and flavor-packed, even if it’s your first time.
👩‍❤️‍👨 Small Batch Seafood Boil for Two – Date-night or solo-boil sized with no waste.

🧺 Creative & Nontraditional Twists

🍜 Seafood Boil with Ramen Noodles – A slurpable seafood boil hybrid that hits hard.
🛍️ Seafood Boil in a Bag (No Mess!) – Just shake and steam — ultra flavorful, zero cleanup.
🧄 Seafood Boil in a Bag with Garlic Butter – Butter-forward boil packed in a no-fuss bag.

🔥 Alternative Cooking Methods

🔥 Oven-Baked Seafood Boil – Baked in a pan, easy to scale for a crowd.
🥘 Foil Packet Seafood Boil (Oven) – Great for camping or single servings.
🐢 Slow Cooker Seafood Boil (Crockpot) – Dump, set, forget — the slow-simmered flavor is deep and delicious.
🌭 Hot & Spicy Seafood Boil with Sausage – Extra heat, extra sausage, extra satisfying.

🦐 More Coastal Seafood Recipes

From cozy casseroles to zesty grilled fish and elegant seafood pastas, this collection of Seafood Recipes covers every ocean-inspired craving — whether you’re planning a dinner party or a quick weeknight win.

• 🐟 Classic Seafood Dish Recipes – Think pan-seared salmon with lemon dill and timeless coastal favorites.
• 🦞 Delicious Seafood Boil Recipes – Spicy, saucy boils packed with crab, shrimp, and corn. The ultimate feast.
• 🍝 Seafood Pasta Recipes – Elegant and indulgent, like shrimp linguine in a white wine sauce.
• 🍤 Shrimp Recipes – Versatile, fast, and flavor-packed; smoky grills to sizzling stir-fries
• 🐟 Salmon Recipes – Baking & grilling to bowls, pastas, and more — healthy, flavorful, and easy to make/
• 🦞 Seafood Casseroles – Bubbly, Buttery & Oven-Ready. Comfort food meets coastal flavor.
• 🥣 Flavorful Seafood Soups – Rich chowders, bisques, and broth-based favorites.
• 🍽️ Easy Seafood Dinner Recipes – Quick, delicious, easy recipes bring bold flavor with minimal prep and cleanup
• 🥗 Healthy Seafood Recipes – Light, fresh & packed with protein and omega-3s with bright, satisfying flavor
• 🍚 Risotto Recipes with Seafood – Creamy, silky rice dishes meet the richness of the sea.
• 🌊 Seafood Stews – Mediterranean, Latin to classic American, hearty stews with satisfying depth in your bowl.
• 🍝🧀 Seafood Lasagna – Lasagna meets the sea in these rich and satisfying delicious twist classic bakes.