This seafood boil sauce recipe is one for the record books. The rich sauce is made with garlic, butter, and a hint of spice. It goes well with seafood boils.
This simple sauce only takes 20 minutes to make and only needs a few simple ingredients. Get your favorite seafood ready and let’s make this tasty sauce!
This sauce is essential for seafood boil recipes. You have to try this recipe, whether you’re having a crab boil, a crawfish boil, a shrimp boil, or just want to dip your fish tails or snow crab legs. That being said, I can promise you that this will become your favorite seafood boil sauce and you will never want to go to a seafood restaurant again. Its such a treat for your taste buds.
Best part? Cooking time from start to finish is 20 minutes. Youll have a delicious seafood butter sauce on your plate in no time!.
Juicy crab sauce is the ideal accompaniment for seafood boils and crab dishes. It provides a spicy, garlicky, buttery flavor that enhances the sweet brininess of crab meat beautifully. However, creating the perfect juicy crab sauce takes some skill. I’ve tested numerous recipes to determine the key steps for making restaurant-quality juicy crab sauce at home.
Select High Quality Ingredients
Juicy crab sauce starts with fresh, quality ingredients. Here are some tips:
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Butter: Use unsalted butter. It has a purer, richer flavor that lets the other ingredients shine. Salted butter can make the sauce overly salty.
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Seafood stock: Opt for a good seafood stock, broth, or boiling liquid over plain water to add extra crab essence. The stock’s briny flavor boosts the overall taste.
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Spices Go for fresh spices over pre-ground Whole spices like cayenne pepper, paprika, and peppercorns have much stronger flavor when freshly ground
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Crab: Splurge on fresh lump crab meat. The sweet pieces mix into the sauce beautifully. If you have leftover crab shells, simmer them in the sauce for more flavor.
Sauté the Aromatics
The first step is sautéing the aromatic ingredients, This builds a flavorful base
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Mince 3 cloves of garlic and 1 onion. I prefer using a food processor for quick, even dicing.
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Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
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Add the minced garlic and onions. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
Simmer the Sauce
Next, let the sauce simmer to develop the spices’ flavors.
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Stir in the spices like cayenne, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, Cajun seasoning, etc. Start with 1 tablespoon of each spice.
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Let the mixture simmer on low, stirring occasionally, for 5-10 minutes. This blooms the spices’ essential oils.
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The sauce will start to thicken and darken slightly. This is the perfect time to finish it.
Finish the Sauce
Finally, stir in the wet ingredients and seafood stock to finish the sauce.
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Deglaze the pan with 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice, scraping any browned bits.
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Add Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, and chicken or seafood stock. The umami flavors intensify the sauce.
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Let the sauce simmer for 10-20 more minutes to meld the flavors. Add more stock if it gets too thick.
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Stir in lump crab meat during the last 5 minutes so it just lightly cooks.
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Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Add more lemon juice for brightness or hot sauce for heat.
Variations
There are many ways to customize juicy crab sauce:
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Use half butter, half olive oil for a lighter sauce.
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Add herbs like parsley, oregano, thyme for extra flavor.
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Swap the chicken stock for clam juice or shrimp stock.
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Use Old Bay seasoning instead of Cajun seasoning.
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Add a splash of white wine for acidity and complexity.
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Finish with a pat of cold butter for a richer texture.
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Mix in cream cheese or heavy cream for an ultra creamy sauce.
Serving Suggestions
Juicy crab sauce pairs perfectly with:
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Boiled shrimp, lobster, crawfish, clams, mussels
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Seared scallops or fish like mahi mahi
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Grilled, broiled, or roasted crab cakes
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Steamed whole Dungeness or snow crab legs
Drizzle the hot sauce over seafood for a spicy, buttery coating. Or use it as a dip for cracking and peeling shellfish. Bread and vegetables also make great vessels for soaking up the fabulous flavor. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to two weeks and reheat gently before serving.
Common Mistakes
While juicy crab sauce may seem easy, there are a few pitfalls to avoid:
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Burning the garlic or spices: Cook over too high heat and you’ll burn the garlic and spices, leaving a bitter taste. Use medium-low heat.
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Not simmering long enough: The sauce needs a good 20-30 minutes for the flavors to meld properly.
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Canned seafood stock: Opt for fresh stock for the best flavor. Canned stock tastes metallic and artificial.
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Overcooking the crab: Stir in lump crab at the end just to warm through. Overcooking makes it rubbery.
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Skimping on spices: This sauce relies on spices for flavor. Don’t be afraid to add plenty of seasonings.
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Thin consistency: If the sauce is too thin, thicken it with a cornstarch slurry. For thinner sauce, add more stock.
Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
Follow these simple photo instructions for foolproof juicy crab sauce every time:
![Minced garlic and onions][]
Mince the garlic, onions, and optionally red bell pepper.![Melted butter][]
Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.![Sauteing vegetables][]
Sauté the garlic and onions until soft.![Spices][]
Add the spices and seasoning blends.![Simmering][]
Let the sauce simmer until thickened and fragrant. ![Adding liquid][]
Stir in the chicken stock, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce.![Finished sauce][]
Let simmer until ready to use. Add lump crab meat at the end.
FAQs
Get answers to some common questions about making juicy crab sauce:
Can I prepare the sauce ahead of time?
Yes, you can make juicy crab sauce 1-2 days in advance. Store it covered in the fridge and gently reheat on the stovetop or microwave before using.
What’s the difference between crab boil and juicy crab sauce?
Crab boil is a seasoning blend for cooking seafood. Juicy crab sauce is a spicy, garlicky butter sauce made from scratch for dipping. Boil can be used in the sauce.
Do I need special equipment to make it?
No special equipment needed! Just a cutting board, knife, saucepan, spoon, and measuring cups and spoons. A food processor makes prep easier.
Can I freeze leftovers?
Abs
How to make Seafood Boil Sauce
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Put in the diced onions and cook for 5 minutes after the butter melts. After that, add the garlic slices and cook for three more minutes in the butter.
- Salt, pepper, onion powder, old bay, brown sugar, and red pepper flakes should be added now. Stir together and cook for 5 minutes. Then add chicken stock. Add the spices and stir them in. Let the sauce boil, then turn it down and let it cook for 6 to 8 minutes. Take it off the heat and add the parsley and lemon juice.
- Pour over seafood that’s been cooked, and use any extra as a dipping sauce.
What to serve with Seafood Boil Sauce
Eat this great recipe with fresh seafood or any seafood dish. If you need some inspiration, try these recipes:
For more, heres an entire post on what to eat with a seafood boil.
Old Bay seasoning, garlic, onion powder, red pepper flakes, onions, butter, brown sugar, chicken stock, lemon juice, and fresh parsley are all used in this seafood sauce recipe.
Reheat the sauce two ways. For best results, add it to a pan over low heat and allow it to warm. You can also heat in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time to keep the food from burning when you start cooking it again.
Juicy Crab Sauce
FAQ
What is crab sauce made of?
What is seafood boil sauce made of?
Can you just buy sauce from juicy crab?
What are the ingredients in crab boil liquid?
How to make juicy crab sauce?
If you’re wondering how to make juicy crab sauce, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s take a look. Garlic — 3 cloves, minced. Onion — 1 large, diced. Butter — 3 tbsp. unsalted. Chicken broth — ⅔ cup. Using a food processor, blend together the onion, garlic, and butter. Blend until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a saucepan, and simmer on low.
How do you spice up crab sauce?
To spice things up you can also add a pinch of the red pepper flakes or even a shake of black pepper. As the name implies, the crab sauce works wonders for seafood boils, crabs, and shrimps. However, the savory, buttery, and garlicky flavors pair perfectly with any dish you need to add some “extra” to.
How long do you cook juicy crab sauce?
The blend of spices is key to achieving that irresistible depth of flavor synonymous with Juicy Crab Sauce. Allow the sauce to simmer on low heat for about 20-30 minutes. The low and slow cooking process melds the flavors together beautifully, creating a sauce that’s rich in taste and perfect in consistency.
Is juicy crab sauce good?
However, the quality of the seafood is beyond excellent at every Juicy Crab. Although they serve a variety of seafood, it’s their spicy, lemony, and garlicky sauces that really leave a long-lasting effect. So today we’re going to share a tempting Juicy Crab Sauce Recipe that will make any dish unforgettable.