Cajun Garlic Butter Seafood Boil Recipe

It’s 6 PM. You’re hungry. The family is hangry. The thought of another boring chicken dinner makes you want to order pizza.

But wait. What if I told you a feast was 30 minutes away? A crazy-flavorful, hands-on, fun dinner that feels like a party. If you love bold, buttery flavors, you should definitely try our Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken next.

You need this Cajun Garlic Butter Seafood Boil. It’s your weeknight superhero. We’re talking juicy shrimp, sweet crab, and smoky corn, all swimming in a garlicky, buttery, spicy sauce. Let’s cook.

Recipe Overview

• Cuisine: American (Cajun-inspired)
• Category: Main Course
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Servings: 4 people

Ultimate Guide to Cajun Garlic Butter Seafood Boil

This is your only guide. Why? Because I’m a busy cook, just like you. I don’t have time for fussy steps or a sink full of pots.

This recipe gives you maximum flavor for minimum effort. The magic is in the single pot. Everything cooks together. The flavors marry right in the pot.

You get the punch of Cajun seasoning. The rich, garlicky butter sauce. The sweet pop of seafood and corn. It’s a complete, messy, delicious meal in one. No fancy skills needed. Just big flavor.

The Simple Ingredients

Here’s the best part. You probably have half of this already. The rest is easy to grab. This is about pantry power, not a special trip.

• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled & deveined (tails on or off)
• 1 pound snow crab legs or clusters
• 4 ears corn on the cob, cut into thirds
• 1 pound small red potatoes
• 1 smoked sausage link (like Andouille), sliced
• 1 whole lemon, cut into wedges

For The Legendary Garlic Butter Sauce:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 8-10 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (see FAQ for store-bought vs. homemade!)
• 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• Juice of 1/2 a lemon
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Let’s Get Cooking! (The Step-by-Step)

Grab your biggest pot or Dutch oven. Put on some music. We’re moving fast. This is a 30-minute mission.

Recipe

Cajun Garlic Butter Seafood Boil Recipe

Make Cajun Garlic Butter Seafood Boil Recipe with simple ingredients and clear steps. Prep, cook, and enjoy—perfect for cozy evenings.

Author: [email protected]

Prep: 10 min | Cook: 20 min | Total: 30 min

Serves: - 4 + bites

★ Rate 🖨 Print

The Simple Ingredients

• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled & deveined (tails on or off)
• 1 pound snow crab legs or clusters
• 4 ears corn on the cob, cut into thirds
• 1 pound small red potatoes
• 1 smoked sausage link (like Andouille), sliced
• 1 whole lemon, cut into wedges

Let’s Get Cooking! (The Step-by-Step)

1

Boil the potatoes and corn. Fill your pot with water. Add a big pinch of salt. Bring it to a boil. Add the potato pieces. Cook for 10 minutes.

2

Add the corn. After 10 minutes, add your corn pieces to the pot with the potatoes. Let it all cook for another 5 minutes. We’re getting them tender.

3

Start your sauce. While that boils, make the sauce. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic. Cook for just 1-2 minutes until it’s fragrant. Don’t let it burn!

4

Spice it up. Turn the heat to low. Stir in the Cajun seasoning, Old Bay, and smoked paprika. Let it simmer for 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon juice and parsley.

5

Add the seafood & sausage. To the big pot with potatoes and corn, add the crab legs and sausage slices. Let it cook for 4-5 minutes to heat through.

6

Finish with shrimp. Add the shrimp to the big pot. They cook fast! Give it just 2-3 minutes until they’re pink and curled.

7

Drain and sauce it! Carefully drain all the water from the big pot. Dump your glorious boil onto a huge platter or right onto a table covered in newspaper.

8

The grand finale. Pour that incredible Cajun garlic butter sauce all over everything. Toss it gently with tongs. Squeeze lemon wedges on top. Dig in immediately!

Notes

Enjoy your homemade Cajun Garlic Butter Seafood Boil Recipe!

Nutrition Information

Calories: ~650 kcal

Carbohydrates: 35g

Protein: 45g

Fat: 40g

Saturated Fat: 22g

Cholesterol: 350mg

Sodium: 1800mg

Fiber: 4g

Sugar: 6g

Did You Make This?

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1. Boil the potatoes and corn. Fill your pot with water. Add a big pinch of salt. Bring it to a boil. Add the potato pieces. Cook for 10 minutes.
2. Add the corn. After 10 minutes, add your corn pieces to the pot with the potatoes. Let it all cook for another 5 minutes. We’re getting them tender.
3. Start your sauce. While that boils, make the sauce. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic. Cook for just 1-2 minutes until it’s fragrant. Don’t let it burn!
4. Spice it up. Turn the heat to low. Stir in the Cajun seasoning, Old Bay, and smoked paprika. Let it simmer for 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon juice and parsley.
5. Add the seafood & sausage. To the big pot with potatoes and corn, add the crab legs and sausage slices. Let it cook for 4-5 minutes to heat through.
6. Finish with shrimp. Add the shrimp to the big pot. They cook fast! Give it just 2-3 minutes until they’re pink and curled.
7. Drain and sauce it! Carefully drain all the water from the big pot. Dump your glorious boil onto a huge platter or right onto a table covered in newspaper.
8. The grand finale. Pour that incredible Cajun garlic butter sauce all over everything. Toss it gently with tongs. Squeeze lemon wedges on top. Dig in immediately!

What to Serve With This Dish

This is a full meal. But you might want a little something extra. Keep it simple.

Crusty bread is non-negotiable. You need it to soak up every drop of that butter sauce. A baguette or dinner rolls work perfectly.

A super simple green salad balances the richness. Just greens, a light vinaigrette, done. If you want to skip sides, just add more sausage or potatoes to the pot. For another fantastic skillet meal packed with potatoes, check out this Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes Skillet.

Make This Recipe Your Own (Quick Swaps)

This recipe is a template. Make it work for you. Use what you like or what’s on sale.

Swap the protein. Use mussels or clams instead of crab. Add scallops. Use all shrimp to save money. It’s flexible. For a quicker chicken option with similar garlic butter vibes, these Garlic Butter Chicken Bites are a huge hit.

Change the heat. Love spice? Add a chopped jalapeño to the butter sauce. Need it mild? Use a low-sodium Cajun seasoning or less of it.

Veggie power. Throw in some halved baby bell peppers or chunks of onion with the corn. They add great flavor and color.

How to Store Leftovers (If You Have Any!)

Let’s be real. This often gets devoured. But if you have leftovers, they’re gold.

Let the boil cool. Store everything in an airtight container in the fridge. It’s good for 2 days.

Reheat gently in the microwave or in a covered skillet with a splash of water. The sauce might separate a little, but the flavor is still amazing.

NUTRITION INFORMATION

• Calories: ~650 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 35g
• Protein: 45g
• Fat: 40g
• Saturated Fat: 22g
• Cholesterol: 350mg
• Sodium: 1800mg
• Fiber: 4g
• Sugar: 6g

*This is an estimate. Values can change based on your specific ingredients and swaps.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What if I don’t have Cajun seasoning?

Make your own! Mix 2 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp each garlic powder & onion powder, 1 tsp each oregano, thyme, black pepper, and cayenne (to taste). It’s easy and fresh.

Can I make this less messy?

For sure. Serve it in bowls instead of on the table. Provide lots of napkins and small bowls for shells. The mess is part of the fun, though!

Is this really a 30-minute meal?

Yes! The clock starts when you put the water on to boil. If you prep your sauce ingredients while the potatoes cook, you’ll hit 30 minutes. It’s a fast-paced, efficient cook.

See? I told you we could do it. A restaurant-worthy feast on a random Tuesday. You didn’t need a magic wand. Just one big pot and a killer butter sauce.

This Cajun Garlic Butter Seafood Boil is your ticket out of dinner boredom. It’s fun, it’s flavorful, and it makes you look like a kitchen rockstar with almost no effort. Go win your weeknight.

I want to hear all about your boil! Did you add extra spice? Try it with mussels? Let me know how it goes by leaving a comment and rating below!