Mardi Gras Shrimp Boil (Print View)

Succulent shrimp, tender potatoes, corn, and spicy sausage with bold Creole seasonings deliver festive Southern flavors.

# What You'll Need:

→ Seafood & Protein

01 - 2 lbs large raw shrimp, shell-on, deveined
02 - 12 oz Andouille sausage, sliced into 1-inch pieces

→ Vegetables

03 - 4 ears corn on the cob, husked and cut into thirds
04 - 1.5 lbs small red potatoes, halved
05 - 1 large yellow onion, quartered
06 - 1 lemon, sliced

→ Boil Flavorings & Seasonings

07 - 1/3 cup Creole or Cajun seasoning
08 - 2 bay leaves
09 - 4 cloves garlic, smashed
10 - 1 tbsp black peppercorns
11 - 1 tbsp salt
12 - 1 tsp cayenne pepper

→ For Serving

13 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
14 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
15 - Extra lemon wedges

# How to Make:

01 - Fill a large stockpot with 4-5 quarts of water. Add Creole seasoning, bay leaves, garlic, peppercorns, salt, onion, lemon slices, and cayenne pepper. Bring to a rapid boil over high heat.
02 - Add halved potatoes to the boiling water. Cook for 10 minutes until slightly tender.
03 - Add sliced Andouille sausage and corn pieces to the pot. Boil for another 8-10 minutes until potatoes are nearly tender.
04 - Add shrimp to the pot. Boil for 3-4 minutes just until shrimp turn pink and opaque. Avoid overcooking to maintain texture.
05 - Drain the boil in a large colander. Discard bay leaves and lemon slices. Arrange shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes on a large platter.
06 - Drizzle with melted butter and sprinkle with chopped parsley. Serve hot with extra lemon wedges.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The way all those flavors meld together in one pot feels like magic, and cleanup is basically nonexistent
  • Theres something deeply satisfying about dumping everything onto a newspaper and watching everyone dive in together
02 -
  • I once forgot to halve the potatoes and they took forever to cook while everything else got mushy. Learn from my mistake.
  • The shrimp continue cooking after you drain them, so pull them slightly underdone. Theyll be perfect by the time everyone digs in.
03 -
  • Taste your broth before adding the shrimp. If it needs more salt or heat, add it now. You cant adjust once the proteins are in.
  • Let the boil rest for about 5 minutes after draining. The flavors settle and everything stays hot longer.

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