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Cajun Seafood Boil with Garlic Butter Sauce Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 99 reviews

This Cajun Seafood Boil with Garlic Butter Sauce is a festive, flavorful one-pot meal perfect for sharing. Succulent jumbo shrimp, snow crab clusters, and spicy andouille sausage are boiled with baby potatoes, sweet corn, and a blend of Creole and Old Bay seasonings, then drenched in a rich, garlicky butter sauce with a touch of smoked paprika for depth. This dish delivers a classic Southern seafood boil experience, full of bold spices and buttery goodness, ideal for gatherings and casual feasts.

Ingredients

Scale

Boil Ingredients

  • 3 quarts water
  • 1 (12-ounce) can of beer (optional but highly recommended)
  • 3 tablespoons Creole Cajun Seasoning (homemade or store-bought)
  • 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
  • Hot sauce, to taste
  • 1 medium yellow onion, roughly sliced into half-moons
  • 1 large lemon, cut into wedges, plus more for serving
  • 12 ounces andouille sausage, sliced into rounds
  • 1 lb baby potatoes, red or gold (or a mix)
  • 1 lb pre-cooked snow crab leg clusters, fresh or frozen
  • 1 – 1 ½ lbs jumbo shrimp, deveined, shell-on or peeled
  • 4–6 ears sweet corn on the cob (mini ears preferred)
  • 4–6 hard boiled eggs (optional)

Garlic Butter Sauce

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
  • 10 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
  • 1 teaspoon Creole Cajun Seasoning (homemade or store-bought)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Hot sauce, to taste
  • Additional Old Bay seasoning (amount not specified; a pinch recommended)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the boil: In a 10-quart or larger stockpot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, combine water and beer (if using) and bring to a boil. Add Creole Cajun seasoning, Old Bay seasoning, and hot sauce to taste. Add sliced onion and lemon wedges, stirring well. Let the mixture boil for 15 minutes to infuse flavors.
  2. Add the andouille & potatoes: Carefully add the sliced andouille sausage and baby potatoes into the pot. Stir to combine and cook for 15-20 minutes until potatoes are just about fork-tender.
  3. Add the seafood & corn: Gently nestle snow crab clusters, shrimp, and corn on the cob into the pot, ensuring all are submerged. Stir gently and continue boiling for 5-7 minutes or until shrimp turn pink and seafood is heated through. Meanwhile, prepare the garlic butter sauce.
  4. Make the garlic butter sauce: On a separate burner, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic, lemon juice, Old Bay seasoning, parsley, Creole Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, and hot sauce to taste. Stir and simmer for 5-7 minutes until butter melts and sauce is well combined, stirring often. Remove from heat.
  5. Assemble cajun seafood boil with sauce: Line a large baking sheet with foil, parchment paper, or newspaper. Using a spider strainer, remove seafood boil ingredients from the pot and place on the prepared sheet along with hard boiled eggs if using. Discard the onion and lemon pieces from the pot. If desired, thin the garlic butter sauce with some seafood boil broth before pouring. Pour the garlic butter sauce over the seafood boil ingredients and toss thoroughly, ensuring every ingredient is well coated.
  6. Serve seafood boil: Serve immediately on the baking sheet for a casual, hands-on feast or divide onto individual plates. Accompany with lemon wedges for squeezing and enjoy. Be sure to soak up any extra garlic butter sauce.

Notes

  • Read the full blog post for detailed tips, tricks, and variations.
  • Use pre-cooked snow crab clusters for quicker preparation; fresh or frozen both work well.
  • The beer is optional but adds depth of flavor to the boil broth.
  • Adjust hot sauce and seasonings to your preferred spice level.
  • If you prefer peeled shrimp, shell them before adding or leave shells on for more flavor.
  • Hard-boiled eggs are optional but add a traditional touch to the boil.
  • Use disposable gloves when tossing with sauce to keep hands clean.
  • This recipe serves approximately 6 people.

Keywords: Cajun seafood boil, garlic butter sauce, shrimp boil, seafood recipe, andouille sausage, Cajun seasoning, Southern cooking, creole seafood

Find it online: https://mjrecipe.com/cajun-seafood-boil-with-garlic-butter-sauce-recipe-2/