When you hear those four words, Low Country Shrimp Boil do memories come flooding back? They do for me.

Low Country Shrimp Boil is one of our go-to meal ideas for any big family get-together no matter the occasion. It is also a fabulous one-dish dinner with easy clean-up and you will love the easy ways to serve this fun meal.

This article contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.

Ingredients for shrimp boil

• 4 lbs. shrimp peeled and divined
• 5 lbs. small red potatoes, washed Do not cut up.
• 3 (16 oz.) pkgs. smoked sausage
• 1 (12 count pkg.) frozen corn-on-the-cob minis
• 4 Tbsp. Old Bay seasoning

My hubby is usually in charge of the cooking for our Lowcountry boil and I am his trusty assistant. We have been making this meal together for quite a few years for many different occasions, including this Mardi Gras party.

You are going to need a giant pot for this classic southern recipe. Go ahead and invite a bunch of folks over and plan on having a good time.

You can cook a good Low country boil in a large stockpot like a big dutch oven on the stovetop for a small crowd or in an outdoor fry/boiler pot like this one.

How to cook low country boil

It is important what order you place the ingredients into the seasoned boiling water!

Step 1

Fill the large pot about halfway with water and bring it to a full rolling boil. Add the seasoning to the water.

Does your crowd enjoy a more spicy flavor? Go ahead and a whole cup of Old Bay Seasoning. Then if you are really feeling brave, toss in a dash of cayenne pepper. We don’t usually get the whole meal too spicy for a party. You can serve additional seasonings on the side for those who prefer more heat.

Step 2

Potatoes go in first. Carefully drop the potatoes into the boiling seasoned water.

Red potatoes are best. If you can’t find the baby red potatoes use the larger ones and cut them in half. You could also use Yukon gold potatoes. Allow the potatoes to boil for about 5 minutes.

Step 3

Next, add the sausage and boil for 10 minutes.

We like Smoked sausage in our shrimp boil but you could also use Andouille sausage, spicy sausage, beef sausage, or whatever flavor you prefer.

A recent poll among our low country boil guests revealed that the most favorite part of the boil was the sausage!

Step 4

Now add the corn and allow to boil for about 10 more minutes. 

You can buy full-size corn and cut it in half but it is simply easier to buy the mini corn cobs. You can drop it into the pot frozen, no need to thaw.

Step 5

Add the shrimp last because it only needs about 3 minutes to cook.

Should you peel the shrimp before cooking?

Yes and no. That is up to you. We always peel ours first to make the eating process much easier. It is perfectly fine to cook them unpeeled. It just means more work to eat them.

How much shrimp per person?

A good rule of thumb with the shrimp is a minimum of about 1/2 lb. to 1 lb. per person for a lowcountry shrimp boil.

What kind of shrimp to use for lowcountry shrimp boil

Jumbo shrimp are best with a low country boil party. I like to buy the “e-z” peel variety that you can find at the grocery store in the seafood department.

Be sure to adjust the amount of seasoning to your family’s tastes. We use 4 Tbsp. of Old Bay to get a good flavor but you may want yours either stronger or not as strong.

You know if your family likes spicy. We don’t prefer too much spice. Leave a bottle of hot sauce on the table for those who may want more kick.

How to serve low country boil

One of the fun aspects of this meal is how it is served. Typically you just dump everything out onto the center of the serving table which has been covered with either newspaper or brown wrapping paper. We prefer brown paper.

What to serve with low country boil

A good low country boil recipe is a full meal by itself. So if you don’t want to serve sides, there is no need. That being said, it is also perfectly fine to serve a few sides if you are having a big low country boil party.

Bread is a good side with melted butter.

Coleslaw is another southern favorite and serves well as a side with any seafood dish.

Some folks enjoy a nice Southern Potato Salad with this fun meal.

Lemon wedges, tartar sauce, and cocktail sauce should be served on the side.

The best thing about this low country boil recipe for me is that it is one of my favorite one-pot meals. You can even serve it dumped into a cooler if you are feeding a crowd. Let them dip their own. The cooler keeps it nice and warm.

Shrimp Gumbo Recipe

We always prefer to have too much rather than not enough. If you have some leftovers, try this recipe for a yummy Shrimp Gumbo the next day.

More Family Favorite Recipes From My Kitchen

• Campfire Grilled Chicken & Veggie Foil Pack Dinner
• Easy Classic Lasagna
• Oven Baked Smothered Cube Steak
• Skillet Cabbage Rice & Sausage One Dish Dinner

Popular Cookbooks Loaded with Great Recipes

• Miss Kay’s Duck Commander Kitchen: Faith, Family & Food
• Instant Pot Cookbook (100 Recipes Including 30 Under 150 Calories)
• 30 Day Whole Food Slow Cooker Challenge
• Fix-It and Forget-It Big Cookbook 1,400 Best Slow Cooker Recipes