Small Batch Seafood Boil for Two 🦐💑Intimate, Buttery, and Packed with Big Boil Energy in a Small Pot

This seafood boil for two brings all the bold Cajun heat, garlicky butter, and juicy shellfish of a traditional boil — just scaled to fit one pot, two plates, and zero leftovers (unless you really hold back).

Ingredients (Serves 2 generously)

• ½ lb large shrimp, shell-on or peeled
• ½ lb snow crab legs or 1 lobster tail
• 6 oz smoked sausage, sliced
• ½ lb baby potatoes, halved
• 1 ear corn, cut into thirds
• ½ lemon, halved
• 1 tbsp Old Bay seasoning
• 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• Salt to taste

Garlic Butter Sauce

• ¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ tbsp Cajun seasoning
• Juice of ½ lemon
• Optional: a few dashes hot sauce or red pepper flakes

Instructions

Step 1: Boil the Base

Fill a medium pot halfway with water. Squeeze in lemon juice and drop in the halves. Add Old Bay, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, and a generous pinch of salt. Bring to a boil.

Add potatoes and cook for 10–12 minutes. Add corn and sausage, boil 5 minutes more. Add shrimp and crab/lobster last — boil 3–4 minutes until shrimp are pink and everything is cooked through.

Step 2: Make the Garlic Butter

While the pot’s going, melt butter in a small pan. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1–2 minutes. Stir in Cajun seasoning, lemon juice, and optional spice.

Step 3: Serve It Up

Drain the pot and transfer everything to a tray, bowl, or parchment-covered table. Drizzle with garlic butter or serve it on the side for dipping. Garnish with lemon wedges and herbs if you’re feeling fancy.

Flavor Variations

• Add mussels or scallops if you want more variety
• Try a honey-Cajun butter for a sweet-heat finish
• Swap Old Bay for lemon-pepper or garlic-parmesan seasoning
• Toss in pre-cooked ramen at the end for a noodle twist

Serving Ideas

• Crusty bread or cornbread to soak up the sauce
• Simple green salad or coleslaw on the side
• Serve with chilled white wine, light beer, or sparkling lemonade
• Candles optional — extra butter not

Pro Tips

• Don’t skip the garlic butter — it’s the flavor bomb that ties it all together
• Use shell-on shrimp for more flavor (but peeled makes for easier date-night eating)
• Line your tray with parchment for fast cleanup
• Want leftovers? Scale up the butter and boil mix and make seafood pasta the next day

🦐 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.

Final Thoughts

Small Batch Seafood Boil for Two is cozy, flavorful, and totally feast-worthy — proof that you don’t need a party to bring the boil. It’s big taste in a small pot, perfect for sharing (or not).

Boil just enough. Butter like it’s for four. Feast like it’s all yours. 🦐💑🔥

🦐 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.