Seafood Boil with Spicy Garlic Butter Sauce

Name: Seafood Boil with Spicy Garlic Butter Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 (3 oz) bag crab boil seasoning; 1 medium onion, quartered; 12 garlic cloves, peeled; 4 bay leaves; 3 lemons, halved; 3 ears of corn, halved; 1 lb baby potatoes, halved; 1 (14 oz) package andouille sausage, sliced; 2 lbs snow crab legs; 2 lobster tails; 1.5 lbs large shrimp, deveined; 5 sticks unsalted butter; 3 tbsp minced garlic; 1 packet seafood boil sauce mix; 1 tbsp paprika; 1 lemon, juiced

A classic American seafood boil loaded with crab legs, lobster tails, and shrimp boiled with corn, potatoes, and sausage, then tossed in a rich spicy garlic butter sauce. This one-pot showstopper is ideal for feeding a crowd.

🌍American 🏷️Seafood boil 🏷️Crab boil 🏷️Shrimp boil 🏷️Crab legs Lobster

🏷️

🏷️Shrimp

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TikTok

Total

35 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$29–$48

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

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TikTok

Ingredients

1 (3 oz) bag crab boil seasoning
1 medium onion, quartered
12 garlic cloves, peeled
4 bay leaves
3 lemons, halved
3 ears of corn, halved
1 lb baby potatoes, halved
1 (14 oz) package andouille sausage, sliced
2 lbs snow crab legs
2 lobster tails
1.5 lbs large shrimp, deveined
5 sticks unsalted butter
3 tbsp minced garlic
1 packet seafood boil sauce mix
1 tbsp paprika
1 lemon, juiced

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Instructions

1
In a large stock pot, bring water to a boil. Add the crab boil seasoning bag, quartered onion, garlic cloves, bay leaves, and halved lemons, squeezing the juice in first.
2
Bring the water back to a boil, then add the corn, potatoes, and sliced sausage. Cook for 5 minutes.
3
Add the crab legs and lobster tails to the pot. Continue to boil for 8 minutes.
4
Add the shrimp and cook for another 7 minutes, or until they are pink and cooked through.
5
Carefully drain the seafood and vegetables and transfer everything to a large serving tray or aluminum pan.
6
To make the sauce, melt the butter in a separate saucepan over medium heat.
7
Stir in the minced garlic, seafood boil sauce mix, and paprika until well combined.
8
Squeeze in the fresh lemon juice and stir.
9
Pour the spicy garlic butter sauce all over the seafood boil in the tray.
10
Serve immediately, with any extra sauce on the side for dipping.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Add crab boil seasoning, onion, garlic, bay leaves, and lemon to water before bringing to a rolling boil to infuse flavor throughout.
Add potatoes and corn first (they take longest), then sausage, then seafood last to prevent overcooking delicate shellfish.
Toss finished seafood and vegetables gently with garlic butter sauce just before serving to avoid breaking apart crab legs and lobster meat.
Have melted garlic butter ready in a separate bowl so guests can drizzle additional sauce over their portions.

Substitutions

snow crab legs → king crab legs or Dungeness crab (adjust cooking time slightly for larger crabs)
lobster tails → large shrimp or scallops (reduce cooking time to 2-3 minutes)
baby potatoes → fingerling potatoes or new potatoes (cooking time unchanged)
corn → green beans or broccoli crowns (reduce boiling time to 3-4 minutes)

Storage & make-ahead

Store cooled seafood and vegetables separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a skillet with fresh garlic butter sauce over medium heat.

Equipment

large stockpot or Dutch oven (8+ quarts) · colander · kitchen shears (optional, for cutting sausage)

Common Questions

How do I know when the seafood is cooked through?

Crab legs and lobster tails should be heated through after 4-5 minutes in boiling water. Shrimp turns opaque and curls when done, usually 2-3 minutes. Potatoes should be fork-tender.

Can I make this seafood boil ahead of time?

Boil the vegetables and sausage ahead and refrigerate. Cook seafood fresh just before serving and toss with warm garlic butter sauce to prevent overcooking.

What can I substitute for andouille sausage?

Kielbasa, smoked sausage, or spicy chorizo work well. Adjust seasoning since these have different heat levels.

How much water do I need for the boil?

Use enough water to cover all ingredients by 2-3 inches. A large stockpot or Dutch oven (8+ quarts) is ideal for this recipe.

Is this recipe scalable for a large party?

Yes. Double or triple the ingredient amounts and use a larger pot or multiple pots. Cooking time remains similar since boiling water temperature stays consistent.