Low Country Shrimp Boil ~ this iconic Southern feast is the ultimate one pot meal ~ Vidalia onions, potatoes, corn, Andouille sausage, and shrimp get layered into a large stock pot with Cajun spices ~ just add friends and lots of ice cold beer!
*I’m thrilled to be partnering today with the historic Italian company Lagostina and their gorgeous line of pans.
a shrimp boil is the ultimate one pot meal!
I’m bursting with excitement today because I’m sharing one of the most iconic summer meals, the classic shrimp boil. It’s a feast for all the senses with vibrant ingredients, enticing aromas, and flavors that can’t be topped. This easy meal is summer all piled up in a pan!
what’s in a low country shrimp boil?
Lol it’s almost easier to list what’s not in it!
- corn ~ cut fresh corn on the cob into manageable pieces
- sausage ~ Cajun Andouille smoked sausages are traditional
- shrimp ~ leave the shells on, that makes them more fun to eat!
- onion ~ sweet Vidalia, of course
- beer ~ whatever you like to drink
- Old Bay seasoning ~ a must
- garlic
- lemon
- salt
TIP: I’ve made this with fresh shrimp and I’ve made it with a bag of frozen, shell-on shrimp, and both worked beautifully. No need to thaw the frozen shrimp, just allow a little extra cooking time.
Everything cooks together in this seafood boil, with each ingredient going into the pot at different times, depending on how quickly they cook.
The Lagostina large 6 quart stock pot with its drain basket is perfect for a good old fashioned shrimp boil. It’s large enough to hold all the ingredients as you layer them in, one at a time, depending on how long they need to cook.
how to cook a shrimp boil
It starts with making the simple stock. Water, beer, seasonings, garlic, and lemon bubble away for a few minutes before adding the onions and potatoes to the pot.
The sausage and corn are next into the pot, and finally the shrimp go in for the last few minutes.
After that it’s just a matter of lifting the basket, dumping out the delicious contents, and ringing the dinner bell! Traditionally a seafood boil is turned out onto newspaper right on a picnic table, with lots of hot sauce, and mayo dip handy. For a more elegant presentation bring it to the table in a skillet, bowl, or other large pan.
A final dusting of Old Bay, some fresh parsley, and lemon wedges finishes it off.
what to serve with shrimp boil?
This festive meal is perfect for summer gatherings, and it’s pretty much a meal in itself, but if you want to add side dishes, I suggest…
- Boston Market Style Cornbread Recipe
- Creamy Buttermilk Coleslaw
- Mediterranean Bean Salad
- Corn and Cucumber Salad
- French Potato Salad
more classic summer meals
- Easy Pasta Alla Checca
- Great Island Curried Chicken Salad Plate
- Grilled Chicken with Peach Jalapeรฑo Salsa
- Salmon Cobb Salad
- New England Shrimp Rolls
Low Country Shrimp Boil
Ingredients
- 4 quarts water
- 12 ounces of your favorite beer
- 1/3 cup Old Bay seasoning
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 lemon
- 1 head garlic
- 1 large Vidalia onion, peeled and cut in 4 wedges
- 1 lb baby red potatoes, left whole, or halved if large
- 4 ears yellow corn, cut in 2 inch slices
- 12 ounces Cajun Andouille smoked sausages
- 1 lb shrimp, shell on
Sriracha mayo dip
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- Sriracha or other hot chili sauce, to taste
Instructions
- Put the water, beer, Old Bay, and salt in a large stock pot. Cut the lemon in half, squeeze the juice into the pot, and drop the squeezed halves in too. Slice the top off the head of garlic to expose the cloves, and add it to the pot, along with the onion wedges. Bring the pot up to a boil and let it bubble away for 5 minutes.
- Add the potatoes to the pot and let them cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the sausage and corn and let boil gently for another 5 minutes.
- Add the shrimp to the pot, cover, and let cook for a few minutes more, just until they are cooked through.
- Drain the pot and serve the boil with a sprinkling of Old Bay, fresh parsley, lemon wedges, hot sauce, and the Sriracha mayo dip.
- Make the Sriracha mayo by stirring the chili sauce into the mayo to taste, start with 3 tablespoons and go from there.
Thanks for the giveaway
Angela
The cookware is gorgeous! What I wouldn’t give to have it!
Sue, thanks for the great low country boil recipe, can’t wait to try it and for the opportunity to enter your giveaway contest to win the Lagostina cookware. Have a great weekend!
OMG ! ! ! Just by leaving a message reply will enter me in for a chance to win the 11 piece set of Lagastina’s Luminos stainless steel newest collection cookware that you are offering this 4th of July drawing? Unreal ! ! ! Yes I truly would love to take that opportuninity to own one of the most innovation cookware, that maneuvers easy, as well as cook evenly; efficiently; and has a lifetime warranty. As one of your loyal subscriber’s, enjoying reading your post’s; collecting and printing off your recipes that the View from Great Island offers, please enter me in this drawing and I will be patiently waiting to hear who you have chosen on July 3rd, as your winner, Sue . Have a safe 4th of July.
I love your enthusiasm, Julia ~ I have a pet peeve about giveaways that require all sort of hoops to jump through, so when I can, I like to keep mine simple. Good luck!
Wow, those Lagostina pans look amazing. I’ve been invited to a friends for the 4th. I’m making your Wild Blueberry Ice Cream and now I will make your Shrimp Low Country Boil. Thank you. I would put those pans to endless use. Perfectly, Beautiful images you capture, BTW.
What a nice combo ~ Happy 4th Elizabeth!
Gorgeous pans! But more importantly, I love this recipe! We love making shrimp boil!
This recipe looks delicious and so easy. I will be trying this soon. I like that I can get the heat out of the kitchen by grilling this dish. Florida weather can be brutal!
I would love a new set of pans Please pick me
Thanks, Sue, for yet another intriguing recipe! I’ve found what I’m going to prepare our the neighborhood July 4th block party! And I have Vidalia onions! Enjoy your holiday weekend, and keep cooking!
I would love to be the recipient of the Lagostina pans!
Can’t wait to cook the Low Country Shrimp Boil!
Have a great day!