Best 30 Minute Low Country Boil Recipe

Learn how to make the easiest low country boil recipe that is ready in 30 minutes, making it the perfect dinner when you need something quick or want to feed a crowd!

During the hot summer months, I’m always on the lookout for meals that are simple, delicious, and feed a crowd without keeping me stuck in the kitchen. Enter this classic Southern recipe: the Low Country Boil. Whether you’re planning a Low Country Boil party with friends, craving an easy one-pot meal, or just need dinner on the table fast after a long day at the pool, this lowcountry boil recipe checks all the boxes.

The best part? It's packed with fresh shrimp, spicy sausage, sweet corn, and tender potatoes, all seasoned with plenty of Old Bay seasoning. Plus, cleanup is a breeze. Just cover a picnic table with butcher paper, dump the boil right on top, and let everyone dig in. At the end of the night, roll it all up and toss it in the trash. Could there be a better way to end a summer day?

Ingredients Needed

Potatoes - you can use red potatoes or regular baking potatoes. 

Fresh corn, shucked and halved

Shrimp - fresh or frozen shrimp will work. 

Sausage - you can use smoky sausage (or andouille sausage for a kick), cut into pieces

Old Bay seasoning

Optional for serving: melted butter, hot sauce, cocktail sauce, and lemon wedges or lemon juice.

How to Make a Low Country Shrimp Boil

Fill a large pot of water (about 6 quarts) and bring it to a rolling boil over medium-high heat. Stir in your Old Bay seasoning.

Once the water’s boiling, add the potatoes and sausage. Let them cook for 20 minutes, so the potatoes become nice and tender.

Next, add the ears of fresh corn and cook for 10 minutes more.

Finally, add the shrimp and cook for just 3 minutes, until they turn pink and delicious.

Drain the pot, let everything sit for a minute or two, and then dump the whole feast onto your prepared table. Serve with melted butter, garlic butter sauce, cocktail sauce, and hot sauce on the side. Don't forget the lemon wedges for squeezing over the top!

Pro tip: If it’s your first time making a boil, just keep an eye on your timing, and you’ll be golden. It’s truly hard to mess this up.

Helpful Tips

• Use a big pot: This is not the time for your little saucepan. Bust out your giant pot, extra-large pot, or even a Dutch oven to make sure you’ve got enough water for everything to cook properly.
• Make it your own: While this easy recipe sticks to the basics, some folks like to add other seafood like crab legs or crawfish. 
• Grocery store hacks: Don’t feel like shucking corn or peeling shrimp? Many grocery stores sell them prepped and ready to go, which is a great way to save time.
• Storing leftovers: If you somehow end up with extras (unlikely!), place them in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat gently the next day, but seafood is always best enjoyed fresh.
• Doubling: Perfect for feeding your family or a large crowd. You can easily double it for bigger gatherings, just make sure the pot is big enough. 

Common FAQs 

Variations

Want to try something different next time? Here are a few ways to switch things up:

• Try cooking it in seafood stock instead of water for extra flavor.
• Swap the smoky sausage for a different sausage recipe like kielbasa sausage or spicy sausage.
• Add extra-large shrimp, whole crab (or blue crab), or lobster tails for a fancier boil.
• Toss in extra garlic cloves or squeeze in some fresh lemons for more zing.
• Turn it into a full-on seafood boil with crab boil seasoning or cajun boil spices.

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