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. 🦐🔥🦀

🦐 Explore More Seafood Recipes

From cozy casseroles to zesty grilled fish and elegant seafood pastas, this collection 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/
🧀 Comforting Seafood Casseroles – Bubbly, cheesy bakes with crab, shrimp, or scallops.
🥣 Warm and Flavorful Seafood Soups – Rich chowders, bisques, and broth-based favorites.
🍽️ Easy Seafood Dinner Recipes – Quick and delicious mains like garlic butter tilapia.
🥗 Healthy Seafood Recipes – Light yet flavorful options like grilled mahi mahi with salsa.
🍚 Risotto Recipes with Seafood – Creamy rice dishes with seared scallops and fresh veg.
🌊 Seafood Stews – Hearty, rustic stews from the Mediterranean and beyond.