Festive Cajun Seafood Boil with Garlic Butter Sauce

By , Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

A lively seafood boil featuring shrimp, crab, and sausage cooked with Cajun spices and finished with a luscious garlic butter sauce. This American-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs large shrimp, crab legs, Andouille sausage for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 American cuisine 480 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a large pot, bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Add 3 tbsp Cajun seasoning, 1 tsp salt, halved 4 medium red potatoes, and 2 ears of corn cut into thirds. Cook for 10 minutes until potatoes begin to soften.
  2. Step 2: Add 8 oz sliced Andouille sausage, 1 lb crab legs cut into sections, and 1 lb peeled and deveined shrimp to the pot. Continue boiling for an additional 5-7 minutes until shrimp turn pink and crab legs are heated through.
  3. Step 3: While the boil cooks, melt 6 tbsp unsalted butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add 6 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in 2 tbsp lemon juice and 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, then remove from heat.
  4. Step 4: Drain the seafood boil and transfer to a large serving platter. Drizzle the garlic butter sauce evenly over the seafood, veggies, and sausage, tossing gently to coat.
  5. Step 5: Serve immediately with extra lemon wedges and crusty bread to soak up the flavorful sauce.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Festive Cajun Seafood Boil with Garlic Butter Sauce take to make?

Total time is about 35 minutes (15 min prep + 20 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Festive Cajun Seafood Boil with Garlic Butter Sauce?

Refrigerate in a covered airtight container for up to 3–4 days (FDA FoodKeeper guideline for cooked fish). Store any fresh salsa or citrus-based garnish in a separate container — it keeps for up to 2 days. Freeze cooked fish (without fresh garnishes) for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently at 275°F until just warmed through to preserve texture.

Can I substitute ingredients in Festive Cajun Seafood Boil with Garlic Butter Sauce?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Festive Cajun Seafood Boil with Garlic Butter Sauce for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Festive Cajun Seafood Boil with Garlic Butter Sauce?

American seafood like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

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