Shrimp boils are a classic festive meal to share with a group. They’re really fun and easy to make at home anytime you need to feed a crowd.
You want to make a shrimp boil at home? This is the best and simplest way to do it! It’s also a great recipe for a big group because it only has a few ingredients and doesn’t require much work. You’re mostly just cooking and then laying it all out there.
There is both information on how to make a shrimp boil and a Shrimp Boil Calculator below. The calculator tells you how much of each ingredient you need for each person. Grab a big pot and let’s get boiling!.
To find out more about how to make a shrimp boil at home, scroll down. You can also click here to go straight to the recipe.
Low country boils are a quintessential Southern dish, perfect for feeding a crowd. These one-pot meals are full of corn potatoes sausage, and of course, shrimp. Figuring out how much shrimp to buy per person is key for getting this right. Below, we’ll go over exactly how much shrimp you need for a successful low country boil.
What is a Low Country Boil?
A low country boil, also called a Beaufort stew or Frogmore stew, originated in the coastal areas of South Carolina and Georgia It’s a communal dish where everything goes into one big pot – usually outside over a propane burner The ingredients absorb flavor from each other while cooking, creating an incredible spread of food.
Traditional low country boils contain
- Smoked sausage (like kielbasa or andouille)
- Corn on the cob, cut into chunks
- Small red potatoes
- Zesty seasonings like Old Bay
- And of course, sweet shrimp
After cooking, everything gets dumped out onto a table covered in newspaper or butcher paper. The feast is then devoured by hand, with plenty of napkins and cold beer. The experience is just as important as the food itself!
How Much Shrimp Per Person?
When buying shrimp for a low country boil, you’ll want to plan for at least 1/2 pound of shrimp per person. For big eaters, I’d recommend 3/4 pound per person just to be safe. Here’s a handy shrimp per person chart:
- For 10 people – buy at least 5 pounds of shrimp
- For 15 people – buy at least 7-8 pounds
- For 20 people – buy at least 10 pounds
The shrimp is added last, once the potatoes and corn have cooked through. It only takes the shrimp 3-5 minutes to cook since it’s going into an already boiling pot. Be careful not to overcook it or the shrimp can become rubbery.
Selecting Shrimp for a Boil
There are a few things to look for when buying shrimp for your low country boil:
Buy Raw, Shell-On Shrimp
You’ll want to use raw, uncooked shrimp for this recipe. Peeled, cooked, or frozen shrimp won’t work as well since they can easily overcook and become tough. Look for fresh shrimp still in the shell.
Shell-on shrimp retains more flavor while cooking. The shells help keep the meat moist and tender. Just provide extra napkins for easy shell peeling at the table!
Go For Big Shrimp
Opt for large shrimp sizes like jumbo (16-20 count) or colossal (10-15 count per pound). The bigger the shrimp, the easier they are to peel after cooking. Smaller shrimp can be tedious and tricky to remove the shells.
Wild-Caught or Farm-Raised Are Both Fine
You can use either wild-caught or farm-raised shrimp for your low country boil. Just make sure they were caught and frozen at their peak freshness. Thaw shrimp in the fridge overnight before cooking.
If buying farm-raised shrimp, look for certification from places like Global Aquaculture Alliance to ensure sustainable practices were used.
Tips for a Delicious Low Country Boil
Here are some top tips to make your shrimp boil over-the-top delicious:
Season the Water
Use shrimp or crab boil seasoning bags to quickly flavor the cooking liquid. Zatarain’s and Old Bay are great options. You can also make your own seasoning with Old Bay, coriander, mustard seeds, red pepper flakes, and other spices.
Layer the Ingredients
Add hardier ingredients like potatoes and corn first so they have time to become completely tender. Bring the water back to a boil after adding each ingredient.
Don’t Overcook the Shrimp
Closely monitor the shrimp cook time. They only need 3-5 minutes once added to the pot. Overcooked shrimp are rubbery and sad.
Add Extra Flavor
Consider tossing in halved lemons, quartered onions, minced garlic, or even beer to the pot. The seasonings will infuse the boil with even more flavor.
Provide Dipping Sauces
Set out melted butter, cocktail sauce, and lemon wedges for dipping. Maybe even go bold with sriracha mayo dip!
Embrace the Experience
Cover your table in newspaper or butcher paper. Provide big bowls for tossing shells. Make it an interactive, family-style feast!
Serving Sizes for Low Country Boils
The great thing about shrimp boils is they provide built-in portion control. Each person gets their own piece of sausage, potato, corn, and pile of shrimp. Here are some serving size estimates per person:
- 3-5 ounces of smoked sausage
- 2-3 small red potatoes
- 1 ear of corn, cut into 2-3 pieces
- 1/2 pound of shrimp (6-10 large shrimp)
That ends up being a very hearty meal with protein, carbs, and veggies all in one bowl. Some boiling pros even skip the cornbread or biscuits because the boil provides such a complete meal on its own!
Make Ahead Tips
For convenience, you can prep the vegetables and sausage a day in advance:
- Clean and halve the potatoes. Store in water in the fridge.
- Shuck the corn and cut into chunks. Place in an airtight container.
- Chop the smoked sausage into segments. Refrigerate.
- Rinse the shrimp and leave shelled. Store covered in the coldest part of the fridge.
This way on boil day, all you need to do is fire up the pot and dump everything in!
How to Reheat a Low Country Boil
Leftovers from a shrimp boil reheat beautifully. Here’s how:
- Separate the components into smaller containers or ziploc bags.
- Refrigerate leftovers immediately, using within 3-4 days.
- Reheat sautéed shrimp in a skillet with butter.
- Steam corn and potatoes until warmed through, about 5 minutes.
- Microwave sausage slices to reheat.
Bring it all back together in a bowl for an easy weeknight meal using your shrimp boil leftovers!
Make Your Next Low Country Boil Amazing
A low country shrimp boil is the ultimate summer entertaining dish. Use approximately 1/2 pound of shrimp per person. Select raw, shell-on shrimp for the best texture and flavor. Layer the ingredients, season the pot, and don’t overcook the shrimp. Embrace the communal, family-style eating experience. Now get ready for the most amazing, hands-on feast of corn, potatoes, sausage and tender shrimp!
Seasonings For A Shrimp Boil
The final essential ingredient is the Old Bay Seasoning. This just works and I can’t explain why. It’s a mixture of all kinds of things, including celery salt, which doesn’t show up in many recipes. Somehow though, it’s just got this magic that works on shrimp boils. If you’d like to make your own homemade version of Old Bay, it’s a wonderful thing to try.
I also squeeze lemon into the simmering liquid and serve the shrimp boil with extra lemon wedges. Make sure to put a bottle of hot sauce on the table too. It’s required.
You can also give people bowls of melted butter with minced garlic in them to dip their food in. Read more about this below.
Video: How To Do A Shrimp Boil
Shrimp are the most important ingredient of a shrimp boil. I like to use uncooked large shrimp, but medium and jumbo also work well. You’ll need about a third of a pound of shrimp for each person. I’ll give you more exact amounts below.
My favorite shrimp to use are already peeled but have the tail on. That way, the tail acts as a handle if you want to dip the shrimp in butter. You will want to dip the shrimp in butter, of course. If you have easy-peel shrimp, you can use those instead of already-peeled shrimp.
Louisiana Shrimp Boil
How much shrimp do I need for a low country boil?
I would generally recommend 1/4 pound of shrimp per person. What are the best shrimp for low country boil? For the easiest eating experience, look for raw shrimp that is peeled, but still has tails.
How many people can cook a shrimp boil?
Drain the water and dump the shrimp boil onto a table with a plastic tablecloth or place in serving dish – allow everyone to help themselves! Enjoy! I use a 10 gallon pot to cook the shrimp boil recipe in and it holds the ingredients for 25 people if you only add about 2 gallons of water.
What is low country shrimp boil?
Low Country Shrimp Boil ~ this iconic Southern feast is the ultimate one pot meal ~ Vidalia onions, potatoes, corn, Andouille sausage, and shrimp get layered into a large stock pot with Cajun spices ~ just add friends and lots of ice cold beer! This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
How much shrimp do you need for a bay boil?
Because this old bay boil is also made with potatoes and sausage, you don’t need as much shrimp, but you can double the recipe if you’re cooking for a crowd and want to be sure you have enough. I would generally recommend 1/4 pound of shrimp per person.