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A bowl of rich brown Seafood Boil Sauce Recipe garnished with herbs, served with corn on the cob, shrimp, and crab legs around it.

seafood boil sauce recipe

A rich, cajun-inspired seafood boil sauce recipe perfected over 15 years of coastal cooking and family tradition. Garlic butter, Old Bay, Cajun seasoning, and fresh lemon juice blend into a silky, spicy sauce that transforms crab, shrimp, and lobster into an unforgettable feast.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Condiment, Sauce
Cuisine: American Coastal, Cajun, Creole, Southern
Keyword: Best seafood boil sauce recipe, Cajun seafood boil sauce recipe, Lemon pepper seafood boil sauce recipe, Seafood boil butter sauce recipe, Seafood boil ingredients, Seafood boil recipe, Seafood boil sauce recipe easy, Seafood boil sauce recipe garlic butter
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 180kcal
Cost: $12

Equipment

  • 1 Heavy-bottom saucepan (Builds the sauce base evenly without burning)
  • 1 Wire whisk (Helps emulsify butter and stock)
  • 1 Small ladle (For serving sauce while warm)
  • 1 Heat-proof measuring cups (Optional, for a smooth sauce texture)
  • 1 Stove / Burner (Maintains gentle simmer for best flavor)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Unsalted butter Base of the sauce, can swap - for ghee or plant-based
  • 6 minced Fresh garlic cloves - Key aromatic flavor
  • 1 small, diced Shallot or sweet onion - Adds depth and sweetness
  • 2 tablespoon Fesh lemon juice - Brightens and balances flavors
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce - Adds savory umami
  • 1 cup Seafood stock - Or chicken broth as substitute
  • ¼ cup White wine - Optional, can swap with lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning - Classic seafood seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning - Brings Cajun-style spice
  • 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika - Smoky depth
  • ½ teaspoon Cayenne pepper - Adjust heat to preference
  • 1 tablespoon Brown sugar - Balances spice; can use honey or maple
  • 1tsp leaves Fresh thyme - Or ½ teaspoon dried
  • 2 Bay leaves - For aromatic simmer
  • 1–2 teaspoon Hot sauce - To taste
  • 2tbsp optional Crab fat - Family secret for extra depth

Instructions

  • Melt butter in a heavy-bottom saucepan over medium-low heat. Add minced garlic and shallots. Cook until fragrant (about 2 minutes). Do not let garlic brown.
    Minced garlic being sautéed in melted butter in a frying pan, stirred with a wooden spoon.
  • Whisk in seafood stock gradually. Stir in Worcestershire, lemon juice, Old Bay, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, cayenne, brown sugar, thyme, and bay leaves. Bring to a gentle simmer.
    A saucepan with melted butter and spices, with three cubes of butter melting into a reddish-brown sauce, stirred by a wooden spoon.
  • Reduce heat to low. Simmer 8–10 minutes until slightly thickened. Taste and adjust seasonings. Strain if a smooth sauce is preferred.
    A saucepan with shrimp cooking in seasoned seafood boil sauce, whisked with garlic and herbs.
  • Remove from heat. Swirl in extra butter for richness. Add hot sauce to taste. Whisk in crab fat if using. Serve immediately while warm.
    A pan of tomato-based sauce simmering with fresh herbs, while a wooden spoon drizzles some sauce back into the pan.

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Nutrition

Serving: 60g | Calories: 180kcal (9%) | Carbohydrates: 4g (1%) | Protein: 1g (2%) | Fat: 18g (28%) | Saturated Fat: 11g (69%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 45mg (15%) | Sodium: 420mg (18%) | Potassium: 45mg (1%) | Fiber: 0.5g (2%) | Sugar: 2g (2%) | Vitamin A: 950IU (19%) | Vitamin C: 3mg (4%) | Calcium: 25mg (3%) | Iron: 0.6mg (3%)
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