Cajun Shrimp Boil Corn (Printable)
A vibrant Southern seafood feast of shrimp, corn, potatoes, and smoky Cajun spices ready in under an hour.
# What You Need:
→ Seafood
01 - 1 pound large raw shrimp, shell-on, deveined
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 pound baby potatoes, halved
03 - 4 ears corn, cut into thirds
04 - 1 large yellow onion, quartered
05 - 4 cloves garlic, smashed
→ Sausage
06 - 12 ounces smoked Andouille sausage, sliced into 1-inch pieces
→ Spices & Seasonings
07 - 1/4 cup Cajun seasoning
08 - 2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
09 - 1 lemon, sliced
10 - 2 bay leaves
11 - 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
12 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
13 - Salt, to taste
→ For Serving
14 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
15 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
16 - Lemon wedges
# Directions:
01 - Fill a large stockpot with 4 quarts water. Add Cajun seasoning, Old Bay, bay leaves, peppercorns, onion, garlic, and lemon slices. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
02 - Add halved potatoes to the seasoned boiling water. Cook 10 to 12 minutes until nearly fork-tender.
03 - Introduce corn pieces and sliced Andouille. Continue boiling 5 to 6 minutes until corn yields slightly to pressure.
04 - Add shrimp and cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring once, until shells turn pink and flesh becomes opaque throughout.
05 - Drain contents through a colander, discarding bay leaves and spent lemon slices. Spread onto a large platter or newspaper-lined surface for communal dining.
06 - Drizzle melted butter over the hot boil, scatter chopped parsley, and accompany with fresh lemon wedges for squeezing.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one pot, which means you spend less time washing dishes and more time actually talking to your guests.
- The timing works like a relay race where each ingredient drops in at exactly the right moment, so nothing turns rubbery or mushy.
02 -
- Adding shrimp too early is the most common disaster; they need barely any time and will continue cooking from residual heat.
- The broth should taste almost too salty and spicy before anything goes in, since the ingredients dilute the intensity significantly.
03 -
- Toss the raw shrimp with an extra tablespoon of Cajun seasoning before they hit the pot for a more intense crust.
- If your sausage is particularly lean, add a tablespoon of oil to the pot with the corn to maintain that silky broth texture.