Old Bay Shrimp Boil (in the Crockpot!)

This Old Bay Shrimp Boil is the perfect summer recipe. It’s full of juicy shrimp, smoky sausage, and fresh veggies, cooked in a perfectly seasoned broth in the crockpot. Serve it with garlic butter on the side for a meal that will knock your socks off!

For more great summer recipes, be sure to check out my Peach Cobbler, Avocado Corn Salad, and The Best Strawberry Crisp.

One of my all time favorite recipes to enjoy in the summer time is a shrimp boil.

Not only is it a simple meal to put together (everything cooks together in one pot, in this case the crockpot!) it’s super flavorful thanks to our star seasoning ingredient, Old Bay!

Shrimp, potatoes, fresh sweet corn, and sausage come together with plenty of garlic, hot sauce, and seasoning to make a delicious Old Bay Shrimp Boil to enjoy with your family, or for a summer party or get together!

If you’re looking for some more southern or Cajun style crockpot recipes, you might also enjoy some Crockpot Gumbo or my super popular Mississippi Pot Roast!

What is a low country boil?

A low country boil, or shrimp boil, is a traditional seafood dish originating from the coastal south, namely in Georgia and South Carolina. You may have also heard it called “Frogmore Stew,” as its roots have been attributed to  a small community named Frogmore on St. Helena Island near Beaufort, South Carolina.

What is in a low country boil?

There are four basic ingredients that comprise a shrimp boil including shrimp, corn, sausage, and potatoes. These ingredients are the starting point, but others can be added, like crab or crab legs, mushrooms, ham, etc. All of the ingredients and seasoning for an Old Bay Shrimp Boil are cooked together in a large pot, then tradionally spread out across the table for serving.

Ingredients for Old Bay Shrimp Boil

• raw shrimp
• Old Bay seasoning
• chicken broth
• Yukon Gold baby potatoes
• lemons
• hot sauce
• garlic
• ears of corn
• andouille sausage
• fresh parsley
• fresh chives
• unsalted butter

How to Make an Old Bay Shrimp Boil – Step by Step

Step 1: Cook the potatoes in the crockpot 

In the bowl of your slow cooker, combine the chicken broth, juice from one lemon, Old Bay seasoning, 7 cloves minced garlic, and hot sauce. Add in the potatoes. Cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours.

Step 2: Add the sausage and corn

Once potatoes are done, add in the sliced sausage and corn. Cook on high for 1 more hour or on low for 2 hours. Once done, take out the corn and set aside in a covered dish to keep warm. 

Step 3: Add the shrimp

Add in the raw shrimp and cook on high for 20-30 minutes until the shrimp are pink and cooked through, stirring occasionally.

Step 4: Make garlic butter

Right before serving, make the garlic butter. Melt 1 stick of butter in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and stir for one minute, being careful not to burn. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste and 1 Tablespoon of minced parsley, if desired.

Step 5: Serve

Serve your Old Bay Shrimp Boil sprinkled with freshly chopped parsley, chives, and a squeeze of lemon. Pair with the prepared garlic butter or cocktail sauce on the side. You can serve on plates, or on parchment paper or newspaper spread out on your table for a traditional shrimp boil feast!

Old Bay Shrimp Boil – Tips and Notes

• Use fresh ingredients. All of the ingredients in your Old Bay Shrimp Boil should be fresh for best flavor.
• De-vein your shrimp, but peeled or unpeeled is fine! Peeling your shrimp before cooking is totally based on personal preference. Feel free to leave it on during the cooking process, and peel while eating. This meal is traditionally eaten with your hands anyway, so why not?

Recipe Variations

While the basic ingredients of this Old Bay Shrimp Boil include shrimp, corn, potatoes, and sausage, there are a few ways you can mix things up to your preferences.

Beer: You can substitute the chicken broth for a mild lager or Pilsner beer. It adds a great depth of flavor!

Seafood: Other types of shellfish taste great in a low country boil, especially crab. We add crab legs whenever we can get them fresh (and for a decent price!)

Potatoes: I used Yukon Gold baby potatoes, but you can use red potatoes or regular Yukon Gold potatoes.

Sausage: You can use any kind of fully cooked sausage that you like, including smoked sausage or Kielbasa in place of the andouille.

Veggies: Make sure to use fresh corn in your shrimp boil for the best flavor. I like to use bi-color or yellow sweet corn when its at its peak in the summer time. I also love to add whole mushrooms or sliced sweet onion to my Old Bay Shrimp Boil.

How to Make Old Bay Shrimp Boil in the Instant Pot

Add the chicken broth, juice from one lemon, Old Bay seasoning, garlic, and hot sauce to a 6 quart Instant Pot. Stir in the potatoes, sausage and corn. Cook over manual high pressure for five minutes and then perform a quick release. Add the shrimp, then pressure cook for 1 additional minute, then perform a quick release. Follow directions in the recipe card below for serving.

How to Make a Shrimp Boil on the Stove

Add the chicken broth, juice from one lemon, Old Bay seasoning, garlic, hot sauce, and potatoes to a large soup pot and bring to a boil. Cook until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes, then add the corn and sausage. Reduce heat to medium and cook for five minutes. Finally add the shrimp and cook for 2-3 minute more before removing from the heat and serving per directions in the recipe card below.

If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and rating below. I love to hear from you and always appreciate your feedback!