seafood boil recipe cajun

Seafood Boil Recipe

This seafood boil recipe is loaded with crab legs, shrimp, clams, sausage, corn, and tender potatoes for the ultimate crowd-pleasing feast. Seasoned with lemon, thyme, and bold Old Bay flavor, this dish delivers the perfect balance of spice and freshness. Whether you’re making a classic cajun seafood boil recipe for summer gatherings or a holiday family meal, this recipe is guaranteed to impress.

It’s hearty, flavorful, and surprisingly easy to prepare making it ideal for both beginners and experienced home cooks.

seafood boil recipe not spicy
seafood boil recipe not spicy

Ingredients

  • 4 lemons, halved
  • 2 medium sweet onions (such as Vidalia), quartered
  • 4 serrano chiles, split lengthwise and seeded
  • 2 heads garlic, peeled and halved
  • 2 bunches fresh thyme, tied together
  • 1 ⅔ cups seafood seasoning (such as Old Bay), or more to taste
  • 6 teaspoons kosher salt, or more to taste
  • 6 bay leaves
  • 3 pounds medium red potatoes, halved
  • 5 (13-ounce) packages smoked kielbasa sausage, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 6 ears sweet corn, halved
  • 30 littleneck clams, scrubbed
  • 4 pounds jumbo shrimp, deveined with tails on
  • 2 ½ pounds Alaskan king crab legs

Directions

  • Fill a very large stockpot fitted with a basket insert with about 8 quarts of water (about halfway full).
  • Squeeze lemons into the water and add the lemon halves to the pot.
  • Add onions, chiles, garlic, thyme, seafood seasoning, kosher salt, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Add potatoes and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Stir in sausage and corn. Cook for 5 minutes, keeping everything submerged in the liquid.
  • Add clams and boil until they open, about 8 minutes.
  • Add shrimp and turn off the heat. Cover and let shrimp steep in the hot broth for 10 minutes. Add crab legs during the last 5 minutes, pressing them into the liquid.
  • Drain and carefully spread crab, shrimp, sausage, clams, corn, potatoes, and onions onto a newspaper-covered table or large serving trays. Sprinkle with extra Old Bay if desired.

Serve immediately with lemon wedges and plenty of napkins.

seafood boil recipe sauce
seafood boil recipe sauce

Preparation Details

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 14
Calories: Approximately 738 per serving