Southern Low Country Boil (Shrimp and Sausage Recipe)

Donna Elick — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 22:05:00 +0000

This Low Country Boil features crab legs, shrimp, sausage, and veggies for a spicy, flavorful feast! Cook everything in one pot in under an hour. When it comes to seafood boils, this is the perfect way to feed a large crowd!

Simple ingredients, easy to make, and incredibly delicious — now that’s my kind of recipe! There’s nothing like a good seafood boil to share with family and friends!

While this might be a classic Southern recipe, everyone anywhere can make this lowcountry boil recipe!

The tender potatoes paired with the smoky sausage and fresh corn make for a delicious one-pot meal.

If you’ve been looking for an easy shrimp boil recipe to make and toss on an outdoor table, this is a great option.

This also makes for easy clean-up, too! Check out the recipe card below for all the details on how to make your first low country boil. It’s a good time for all!

Low Country Boil with Crab Legs

Crab low country boil is such a great meal for summer since you can serve a lot of people and do it outdoors.

Just line your table with newspapers, spread out the food, and let everyone dive in when they’re ready to eat.

If it’s the first time eating a recipe like this, the best part is that it won’t be the last time! It’s so much fun to share with a large group of people – like at a family reunion or backyard gathering for summer fun.

Craving more Southern dishes?

My Cajun Shrimp Pasta is smothered in a spicy Parmesan sauce, and this biscuits and gravy skillet couldn’t be any easier to throw together.

What is a low country boil?

It’s a dish and an event all rolled into one! It originated in areas of Georgia and South Carolina and is also known as Frogmore Stew.

While every recipe for a low country boil is a little bit different, they all share a few common ingredients.

First, there’s got to be seafood, potatoes, and corn on the cob. You will often find sausage in the mix, along with plenty of seasoning.

Then, everything is cooked together in one big pot so the flavors can meld together into one delicious meal.

Crab Low Country Boil Ingredient Notes

I recommend getting fresh seafood if you have access to it — the flavor is simply unmatched. For this low country boil recipe with crab legs, I used the following:

Wild caught, precooked Dungeness crab legs – I thawed these according to package directions.
Frozen, precooked extra large shrimp – These came peeled and deveined and were thawed under cold water for 5-6 minutes.

Serving Suggestions

This low country shrimp boil has everything you need for a complete meal, saving you the time and energy needed for side dishes.

Add a few bowls of melted butter and cocktail sauce around the table, and you’re all set!

However, you can’t go wrong with cornbread or biscuits and something green.

Coleslaw is a popular choice alongside a crab low country boil, but veggies like broccoli and z ucchini would work as well.

Feeding a crowd? Add a pasta or macaroni salad, baked beans, or your favorite mac and cheese.

Low Country Shrimp Boil Tips and Tricks

Check your cook times. Because fresh seafood comes in a variety of sizes, check with your seafood handler for the appropriate times so everything is cooked through.
Use all-metal tongs. Ones with silicone grips can become slippery and increase the chance of burns when used with hot, boiling water.
And a strainer too! A must for this low country boil recipe with crab legs.

Lower each batch of ingredients into the pot with a strainer to avoid splashing, then lift them back out once everything is cooked.
Adjust the spiciness. As listed, this low country shrimp boil should be mild enough for most people.

If you prefer, add extra Old Bay seasoning or swap in some spicy kielbasa instead. You can also make a spicy stock full of amazing flavors suited to your own personal preference.

When you’re throwing your own boil, you get to handle the meal preparation any way that you want!

Low Country Boil FAQ

Do you devein shrimp for a low country boil?

Yes, but because it’s such a time-consuming process, I recommend buying ones that are peeled, deveined, and ready to go. I also like using extra-large shrimp so I really get that shrimp flavor!

In case it’s needed, you can find instructions for deveining shrimp in this post.

How long do leftovers last?

According to the USDA, seafood can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

Use a storage container with a lid so the smells from your low country boil with crab legs don’t transfer to other foods.

What seasonings do I add to this low-country boil?

That’s really up to you. I love to use Old Bay Seasoning because it perfectly adds flavor to everything in the large pot. You can also add garlic cloves, bay leaves, cajun seasoning, Creole seasoning, celery salt, and don’t forget the juice from fresh lemons for a yummy flavor.

How do I host a low country boil party?

It’s all about grabbing some butcher paper, laying it on a picnic table, and putting the tender shrimp, small red potatoes, corn cobs, crab, and other ingredients onto the paper after everyone has been cooked!

People then grab the ears of corn or sweet corn, smoked sausage, and more – and eat. It’s as easy as that.

Have the napkins ready, and just dig in!

Enjoy!

With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.

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