How many minutes should you boil shrimp?

Shrimp should be cooked just until pink and opaque. In this recipe, we let our jumbo shrimp stand, covered, in the hot liquid for about 5 to 8 minutes.

Is frozen shrimp OK for a boil?

You can use frozen shrimp for a boil—just make sure to thaw and drain before using.

Can you overcook shrimp in a boil?

Yes, if your shrimp are left in the cooking liquid too long, they can become overcooked and rubbery in texture.

Do you remove the bay leaves, lemon quarters, onion quarters, garlic head halves before adding the rest of the ingredients?

There's no need to remove these ingredients. In fact, they'll continue to deepen the flavor of the cooking liquid as it cooks. Use a slotted spoon to transfer your potatoes, corn, and shrimp out of the liquid when they're ready.

Shrimp Boil Recipe

Southern Living Shrimp Boil ready to serve — Photo:
Stacy Allen, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Active Time:

1 hr 30 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 30 mins

Servings:

The secret to a great Southern shrimp boil? Seasoned cooking liquid.

Hear us out: Broth is beefed up with wine, one whole garlic head, a sweet onion, bay leaves, and Old Bay seasoning. Sweet plump corn and tender potatoes are all cooked—and seasoned—in this liquid. And then shrimp is added to it just before serving, when the boiling liquid will cook it rapidly without ruining the texture.

To finish it all, a lemony-garlicky spicy butter coats everything, and while the whole dish is tossed in the butter mixture, any respectable shrimp boil famously needs more, more, more, so you have more on the side.

Learn how to make a Southern shrimp boil. "This is going to be my new go-to for summer gatherings!" one Southern Living Test Kitchen pro said.

What Is A Shrimp Boil?

A shrimp boil isn't just a meal—it's a reason for family and friends to gather, share food, and swap stories in a casual setting. Boils, whether a crawfish boil or shrimp boil, are traditional Southern-style culinary events and social gatherings.

To serve, a flavorful broth is boiled in a large stock pot, and potatoes, corn, sausage, seafood, and other items are added in, to be cooked and served family-style on newspaper or large sheets of butcher paper.

Everyone is invited to gather round and enjoy. It's a hands-on experience, with drinks and conversation to make the meal even more fun and delicious. Just don't forget the napkins.

Ingredients for Shrimp Boil

A flavorful broth with lemons, onion, garlic and Old Bay infuses flavor into a mix of potatoes, andouille sausage, corn, and shrimp in this hearty, family-style meal. To prepare a shrimp boil, you'll need:

Tap water: The base of the cooking liquid.
Dry white wine: Adds a subtle acidity and depth to the cooking liquid.
Kosher salt: Seasons the liquid.
Dried thyme: Adds an earthy, floral note.
Cayenne pepper: For a hint of heat.
Dried bay leaves: For a subtle, herbal flavor.
Lemons: To add a bright, citrusy flavor.
Sweet onion: For a sweet, aromatic addition.
Garlic head: Adds a rich, savory flavor to the boil.
Old Bay seasoning: A classic seasoning blend that enhances all types of seafood.
Small red potatoes: Adds a hearty, starchy element to the boil.
Smoked andouille sausage: For a smoky, spicy, and meaty addition to play against the shrimp.
Yellow corn: For a sweet and colorful addition.
Unpeeled raw shrimp: The main protein of the dish, cooking up as they soak up the flavors of the cooking liquid.
Unsalted butter: Tossed with the main components to add richness and flavor.
Louisiana-style hot sauce: For a tangy heat.
Flat-leaf parsley: Adds a fresh pop of color and flavor.
Lemon wedges: For serving, to squeeze over the boil to enhance the flavor.

Southern Living Shrimp Boil ingredients — Stacy Allen, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

How To Make A Shrimp Boil

Grab a large stockpot, fresh shrimp, corn, and a smattering of other ingredients, and don't forget to invite your favorite people to serve it all to. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started:

Step 1. Make fortified broth: Combine water, wine, salt, thyme, cayenne pepper, bay leaves, lemon quarters, onion quarters, garlic head halves, and 1/2 cup Old Bay seasoning in a large stockpot; bring to a boil. Cover and maintain a steady boil for 10 minutes.
Step 2. Cook potatoes: Add potatoes, and cook, stirring occasionally, until almost tender.
Step 3. Cook sausage and corn: Add sausage and corn. Bring back to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until corn is tender.
Step 4. Cook shrimp: Add shrimp. Remove from heat, cover and let stand until shrimp are cooked through.
Step 5. Make butter sauce: Whisk together butter, hot sauce, lemon juice, garlic, and remaining Old Bay seasoning. Pour half into a very large bowl.
Step 6. Toss shrimp boil with butter mixture: Using a slotted spoon, transfer shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes to the bowl. Add parsley, and stir to coat.
Step 7. Serve: Serve with Old Bay, reserved butter mixture, lemon wedges, and hot sauce.

Shrimp Boil Variations

To add a unique twist to this classic shrimp boil, consider these additions and substitutions:

Shellfish: Add clams, mussels, or crab legs for a more diverse boil.
Liquid: Use broth in the place of water for an even richer base.
Veggies: Add in green beans, bell peppers, or other favorite veggies for additional color and nutrients.
Sausage: Swap the andouille sausage with chorizo, kielbasa, or Italian sausage as desired.
Beer: Use beer in the place of the wine for additional depth.

Tips for the Best Shrimp Boil

To host the best shrimp boil, keep these tips in mind:

Large stockpot: Make sure you have a large pot that can easily accommodate all of your ingredients.
Fresh shrimp: Use high-quality, fresh (or thawed frozen) shrimp.
Taste the broth: After simmering the broth, give it a taste and adjust the seasonings as desired.
Go in order: Add the ingredients to the pot as directed, based on their cooking times.
Don't overcook the shrimp: Cook only until the shrimp are pink and just opaque to keep them tender.
Serve family-style: Whether you serve on platters or butcher paper, a fun, casual presentation is welcomed for a shrimp boil.
Dipping sauces: You can never offer too many dipping sauces. Serve the shrimp with Creole Mayo, melted butter, a remoulade sauce, aioli, or other favorite sauces.
Provide plenty of napkins and drinks: Keep the party going (and your guests clean) with plenty of napkins and drinks!

What To Serve With A Shrimp Boil

This one-pot meal is pretty satisfying all on its own, especially when you offer up some additional dipping sauces at the table. But if you do want to bulk up your offerings for a crowd, serve with favorite Southern sides like mac and cheese, cornbread, coleslaw, and more. And of course, don't forget the beer, wine, iced tea, or lemonade to serve alongside.

How To Store and Reheat Shrimp Boil Leftovers

Refrigerate leftovers in airtight containers, separating the shrimp from the remaining ingredients, if possible, for up to three days. Check for any off odors or signs of spoilage before serving.

To reheat, heat in a steamer basket over simmering water, in the microwave, or in a skillet with butter or oil until heated throughout. You can also reheat, covered, in a preheated 425°F oven until hot throughout.

More Seafood Boil Recipes You'll Love

Whether you love crawfish, crabs, or shrimp, these traditional recipes are guaranteed to be a hit at your next gathering:

Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse.

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Ingredients

6 qts. tap water
2 cups dry white wine
6 Tbsp. kosher salt
1 Tbsp. dried thyme
2 tsp. cayenne pepper
4 dried bay leaves
3 large lemons, quartered, plus 2 Tbsp. fresh juice
1 large (14 oz.) sweet onion, peeled and quartered lengthwise, root end intact
1 large garlic head, halved crosswise, plus 3 medium cloves, grated, divided
1/2 cup, plus 1 Tbsp. Old Bay seasoning, divided, plus more for serving
2 lbs. small red potatoes, scrubbed
1 1/2 lbs. smoked andouille sausage, sliced on a diagonal into 1 1/2-in. pieces
8 ears yellow corn, shucked and cut in half crosswise
4 lbs. jumbo unpeeled raw shrimp
1 1/2 cups (12 oz.) unsalted butter, melted
2 tsp. Louisiana-style hot sauce (such as Crystal), plus more for serving
1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Lemon wedges, for serving

Directions

Make fortified broth:

Combine water, wine, salt, thyme, cayenne pepper, bay leaves, lemon quarters, onion quarters, garlic head halves, and 1/2 cup of the Old Bay seasoning in a large stockpot.

Stacy Allen, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Bring to a boil over high. Cover and reduce heat to medium-high to maintain a steady boil. Let boil undisturbed for 10 minutes.
Cook potatoes:

Add potatoes, and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are almost tender but still firm and not quite able to be pierced with a fork, about 12 minutes.

Stacy Allen, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Cook sausage and corn:

Add sausage and corn. Increase heat to high, and return to a boil; cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until corn is tender, about 5 minutes.

Stacy Allen, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Cook shrimp:

Add shrimp, and remove from heat. Cover and let stand until shrimp are opaque and cooked through, 5 to 8 minutes.

Stacy Allen, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Make butter sauce:

Meanwhile, whisk together melted butter, hot sauce, lemon juice, grated garlic, and remaining 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning in a medium bowl until combined. Pour half of the butter mixture into a very large bowl; reserve remaining butter mixture for serving.

Stacy Allen, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Toss shrimp boil with butter mixture:

Remove shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes with a slotted spoon, and place directly into large bowl with melted butter mixture. Add parsley, and stir until evenly coated.

Stacy Allen, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Serve:

Scatter shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes on a large platter, and season with additional Old Bay seasoning as desired. Serve immediately with reserved butter mixture, lemon wedges, and additional hot sauce.

Stacy Allen, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Frequently Asked Questions

How many minutes should you boil shrimp?

Shrimp should be cooked just until pink and opaque. In this recipe, we let our jumbo shrimp stand, covered, in the hot liquid for about 5 to 8 minutes.
Is frozen shrimp OK for a boil?

You can use frozen shrimp for a boil—just make sure to thaw and drain before using.
Can you overcook shrimp in a boil?

Yes, if your shrimp are left in the cooking liquid too long, they can become overcooked and rubbery in texture.
Do you remove the bay leaves, lemon quarters, onion quarters, garlic head halves before adding the rest of the ingredients?

There's no need to remove these ingredients. In fact, they'll continue to deepen the flavor of the cooking liquid as it cooks. Use a slotted spoon to transfer your potatoes, corn, and shrimp out of the liquid when they're ready.