Cajun Seafood Boil
No need to book a flight to NOLA – you can make a classic Cajun Seafood Boil right at home! This recipe’s got everything you love about cajun cuisine all in one big boil. It’s beyond flavorful and loaded with all kinds of ingredients like crab legs, clams, shrimp, and more!
Cajun Seafood Boil
Last summer when there were all kinds of travel restrictions and we really couldn’t leave our homes, I found myself craving all the foods I couldn’t have! I feel like that old saying has never been truer – you know, “you always want what you can’t have!” Well when I was cooped up in my own kitchen and couldn’t fly to Bourbon Street, all I was craving was a good ol’ classic cajun seafood boil. Nothing quite hits the spot like this ultra seasoned feast of seafood, sausage, and veggies.
From a little bit of trial and error, I’ve created what really might be the best and easiest cajun seafood boil! While I’m sure you have a restaurant in your city that offers something similar, I can guarantee two things. First, this seafood boil will probably be tastier – just saying! And secondly, this seafood boil will be far more budget friendly. Cajun seafood boils at restaurants outside of New Orleans typically tend to break the bank, so save a little cash by making your own boil at home! Plus, making it at home allows you to more easily add and omit ingredients as you see fit.
It doesn’t need to be Mardi Gras for you to enjoy a cajun seafood boil! However, Mardi Gras parties are certainly a perfect time for them, too. I’ve made this boil for football parties, pool parties, and entertaining guests! Heck, I’ve ever made it as a fun weeknight dinner for just the family, and believe me when I say it gets everyone pretty excited to sit down at the table. Teaching my little one how to crack into crab legs is a great experience, and it makes dinner even more engaging. Make this boil for any occasion, no matter how big or small, and you’ll be so happy that you did!
How to Make A Seafood Boil
I’ll let you in on a little secret – a classic cajun seafood boil is way easier to make than you may think it is!
- Cook the onions. Melt the butter in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the onions to the pot and cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly softened.
- Stir and boil. Stir in the garlic, lemons, cajun seasoning, bay leaves, sugar and water. Bring the water to a boil and then turn the heat to medium-low.
- Add the potatoes. Add the potatoes to the pot and cook until fork tender, approximately 12-14 minutes. Remove the potatoes with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Cook the clams. Add the clams to the pot and cook until opened, approximately 8-10 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and keep warm.
- Add the corn. Add the corn and crab to the pot and cook for 4-5 minutes.
- Add the sausage and shrimp. Stir in the sausage and shrimp, cook for 4-5 minutes more or until the shrimp is cooked through.
- Melt. While the shrimp is cooking, melt the remaining butter in a small saucepan.
- Spice it up! Stir in the garlic powder, hot sauce and cajun seasoning.
- Enjoy! Transfer all the seafood, potatoes and corn to a large serving tray, bowl or platter and serve with the butter sauce for dipping.
What Else Can You Add To Seafood Boil
While this is my favorite way to whip up a cajun seafood boil, you could certainly change up some of the ingredients! In fact, that’s part of why it’s so much fun to make at home. You could feel free to toss in crawfish, for example! Or if you can’t get your hands on dungeness crab legs, use snow crab legs instead. Also, there’s chicken andouille sausage at most grocery stores if you don’t eat pork.
More Easy Seafood Recipe Ideas
- Sautéed Garlic Butter Dungeness Crab Legs
- The Very Best Grilled Lobster Tail
- Old Bay Steamed Shrimp
- The Very Best Baked Clams Casino
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Get the Recipe: Cajun Seafood Boil Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons butter
- 1 onion, chopped
- 8 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
- 3 lemons, halved
- 1/3 cup Cajun Seasoning
- 3 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 10 cups water
- 1 1/2 pounds baby Yukon gold potatoes
- 1 pound littleneck clams
- 3 ears of corn, husked and cut into 2 inch pieces
- 2 1/2 pounds Dungeness crab legs, or other crab legs
- 3 links smoked andouille sausage, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 pound medium shrimp, deveined with shell and tail in tact
For the Cajun Butter Sauce:
- 2 sticks unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon cajun seasoning
Equipment
- stockpot
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large stockpot over medium-high heat.
- Add the onions to the pot and cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly softened.
- Stir in the garlic, lemons, cajun seasoning, bay leaves, sugar and water. Bring the water to a boil and then turn the heat to medium-low.
- Add the potatoes to the pot and cook until fork tender, approximately 12-14 minutes.
- Remove the potatoes with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Add the clams to the pot and cook until opened, approximately 8-10 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and keep warm.
- Add the corn and crab to the pot and cook for 4-5 minutes.
- Stir in the sausage and shrimp, cook for 4-5 minutes more or until the shrimp is cooked through.
- While the shrimp is cooking, melt the remaining butter in a small saucepan.
- Stir in the garlic powder, hot sauce and cajun seasoning.
- Transfer all the seafood, potatoes and corn to a large serving tray, bowl or platter and serve with the butter sauce for dipping.