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Crab Boil with Seasoned Butter Sauce Recipe

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4 from 15 reviews

A classic Crab Boil featuring a flavorful blend of spices, smoked sausage, potatoes, corn, shrimp, and Dungeness crab, all boiled together and served with a rich, seasoned butter sauce. This hearty seafood feast is perfect for gatherings and brings a taste of coastal tradition to your table.

Ingredients

Boil Base

  • 2 gallons water
  • 2 quarts chicken broth
  • 1 large onion, cut into wedges
  • 8 garlic cloves, whole and peeled
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup Old Bay Seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 2 lemons, halved (plus more for garnish if desired)

Main Ingredients

  • 4 pounds small potatoes (red and yellow)
  • 24 ounces smoked sausage, cut
  • 6 corn cobs, halved
  • 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled with tails on
  • 4 Dungeness crab sections, cooked

Seasoned Butter Sauce

  • 1 cup butter (2 sticks)
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 4 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 teaspoon Old Bay seafood seasoning
  • Hot sauce, optional (a few dashes or to taste)
  • Fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Boil Base: In a large stock pot, combine water, chicken broth, onion wedges, whole peeled garlic cloves, sugar, Old Bay Seasoning, paprika, salt, and halved lemons. Bring to a vigorous boil and let it boil for 10 minutes to infuse the flavors.
  2. Cook Potatoes, Sausage, and Corn: Add the small potatoes, cut smoked sausage, and halved corn cobs to the boiling stock. Continue boiling for 15 to 20 minutes, checking at 15 minutes to ensure potatoes are fork-tender but not too soft. During this time, proceed to prepare the seasoned butter sauce.
  3. Add Crab and Shrimp: Gently add the cooked Dungeness crab sections and raw peeled shrimp to the pot. Boil together for an additional 7 minutes to heat the crab and cook the shrimp thoroughly.
  4. Drain and Serve: Remove the pot from heat and drain all the contents well. Discard the onion pieces, lemon halves, and garlic cloves from the pot. Spread the potatoes, sausage, corn, crab, and shrimp on a large baking sheet or serving platter. Brush generously with the prepared seasoned butter sauce. Garnish with fresh lemon wedges and chopped parsley before serving.
  5. Prepare Seasoned Butter: In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Once melted, whisk in the lemon juice, crushed garlic, Old Bay seafood seasoning, and hot sauce if using. Keep warm until ready to serve. Brush some of this butter onto the seafood boil and serve the remainder as a dipping sauce.

Notes

  • Check potatoes during cooking to avoid over-softening—they should be tender but not mushy.
  • Using cooked crab sections reduces cooking time and helps maintain texture.
  • Adjust hot sauce amount in the seasoned butter to match your preferred spice level.
  • Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
  • This recipe is perfect for outdoor gatherings or seafood feasts with family and friends.

Find it online: https://bitezly.com/crab-boil-with-seasoned-butter-sauce-recipe/