With the best side dishes for an easy shrimp boil party, you can enjoy a Lowcountry boil with a lot of people. The food will be delicious, and the party will be a lot of fun.
If you love seafood boils and want to have one at home, this post will help you plan a menu with lots of great side dish ideas.
A big low country boil is almost a full meal on its own, but you might want to serve some tasty sides to go with it.
Love the classic shrimp boil and need some ideas for what to serve with it? This post is for you.
I just had a Sheet Pan Lowcountry Boil at my house, and I wrote this post to show you how to do it too. I really like the idea of a shrimp boil, but not everyone can get to the big pot that can hold everything.
You can host one of my favorite meals in your own home at any time of the year with just an oven and a sheet pan. You can read the full instructions on how to host and a detailed plan for your event above.
Fresh Shrimp — choose jumbo shrimp that have been deveined. You can leave the shells on, but I’d rather have them taken off. You can leave the tails on, though. It makes it easier for everyone at the table.
Smoky Sausage — I like to do a combo of both andouille sausage and turkey kielbasa sausage.
Baby potatoes—red potatoes, yellow potatoes, or just plain potatoes cut up! Any kind works!
We got fresh corn just in time for summer. A shrimp boil is the best way to use it.
Onions — for the best results use a sweet onion like a yellow or Vidalia onion
Other options for a seafood boil are to include crawfish when they’re in season, clams, lobster, and shellfish!
A lot of people like to add Brussels sprouts and other vegetables to their boil, but I like it pretty plain.
Something to put on top, like hot sauce, bread, like sourdough bread, to soak up the sauce, and a simple green salad. It never hurts to put out some extra cajun seasoning and black pepper on the table, too!.
People will want to come to this dinner party over and over again!! To make things easier for you, send them this post with the side dish they should bring to the main event!
Tip for Entertaining: If your guests ask, “What can I bring?,” have an answer ready. This will make them feel like they are part of the party. It’s also a fantastic conversation starter! “Tell me about what you brought!”.
Boiled shrimp make for a delicious and versatile main dish. Their sweet, briny flavor pairs well with a variety of sides that can complement contrast or accent the shrimp.
Having a shrimp boil? Throwing together a weeknight dinner? Whipping up a spread for a party? Whatever the occasion, this guide will provide you with over 18 delicious side dish ideas to serve with boiled shrimp.
Classic Sides for Shrimp Boils
First, let’s cover some classic sides that are staples at a traditional shrimp boil
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Corn on the cob – The sweet flavor and juicy crunch of corn is a perfect match for boiled shrimp. Grill the corn or boil it right along with the shrimp.
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Potatoes – Small red potatoes hold up well in the boil and soak up all the seasonings. New potatoes or fingerling potatoes also pair nicely.
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Sausage – Spicy smoked sausage adds hearty flavor to balance the shrimp. Andouille or kielbasa work well.
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Garlic bread – A crusty loaf for dipping in the seasoned boil broth is a must. Brioche, baguette, or sourdough all hit the spot.
Creative Side Dishes for Boiled Shrimp
Looking to shake up your usual shrimp boil sides? Here are over 15 creative options:
Salads and Slaws
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Watermelon salad – The juicy sweetness pairs perfectly with shrimp. Toss watermelon cubes with feta, mint, and a lime dressing.
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Coleslaw – Crunchy cabbage slaw with a creamy dressing compliments shrimp. To lighten it up, use plain Greek yogurt instead of mayo.
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Fruit salsa – A pineapple, mango, or peach salsa brings a fresh, fruity accent. The sweet and spicy flavors complement shrimp well.
Warm Vegetable Dishes
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Roasted broccoli – Charred broccoli florets add color and a tasty crunch. Toss them with olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes before roasting.
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Creamed spinach – Silky spinach made creamy with Parmesan and heavy cream makes a rich side.
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Corn pudding – For a comforting side, bake cornbread-studded creamed corn in the oven until set and browned.
Carb and Bread Accompaniments
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Cheesy garlic bread – Garlic bread gets even better with oozing, melted cheese. Try Parmesan, mozzarella, or Gruyère.
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Biscuits – Flaky, hot biscuits are perfect vessels for soaking up the seasoned boil broth.
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Rice pilaf – Cook rice in shrimp broth amped up with garlic, onions, and herbs.
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Pasta salad – Chilled pasta tossed with veggies, Parmesan, and Italian dressing makes a refreshing salad.
Skewers and Fried Bites
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Shrimp skewers – Alternate shrimp and chunks of vegetables like zucchini, bell pepper, and onion on skewers for grilling.
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Vegetable fritters – Zucchini, corn, and potato fritters fried up crispy are tasty counterparts to shrimp.
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Hushpuppies – No shrimp boil is complete without these fried cornmeal dumplings.
More Tips for Serving Sides with Shrimp
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Opt for vibrant, seasonal sides to complement the light flavors of shrimp. Think summery fruits, veggies, and herbs.
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Mix up textures with crunchy, creamy, and crispy sides to contrast the shrimp’s tender bite.
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Cooling sides like salads balance out spicy seasoned shrimp.
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Hearty carb-loaded sides can act as a base to soak up shrimp boil broth.
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Round out the meal with a refreshing beverage like lemonade, iced tea, or beer.
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Don’t forget dessert! Peach cobbler, banana pudding, or beignets make sweet endings.
5 Perfect Shrimp Boil Side Dish Recipes
Here are a few crowd-pleasing recipes to get you started:
Silky, sweet creamed corn spiked with crispy chopped bacon. The perfect rich side to pair with shrimp.
Cornmeal fritters punched up with spicy jalapeños and stuffed with melty cheese.
Potatoes tossed in a spicy remoulade-style dressing with peppers and scallions.
Thinly sliced, melty zucchini baked with cheese and crisp breadcrumbs.
Sweet pineapple and creamy avocado tossed with jalapeño and cilantro.
With this guide, you’ll never be stuck on what sides to make for boiled shrimp again. Round out your meal with a few of these delicious options.
The Best Side Dishes for a Shrimp Boil
Typical side dishes include hush puppies, sweet potato fries, and a simple potato salad.
Usually, with this easy seafood dish, I don’t include anything but a simple salad. However, if you’re wanting to serve a crowd, it’s nice for them to bring something. More than that, not everyone likes shrimp or crawfish that are soft and juicy. Having good side dishes will help the meal go well and give everyone something they like.
One way to help get a few more veggies on the menu is to make some vegetable skewers. Fill a skewer with bell pepper, onion, zucchini, and anything else you like. Grill it while your shrimp dish is cooking, and you’ll have one of the best sides!.
Garlic Butter Seafood Sauce — Buerre Blanc is THE perfect sauce to serve with your shrimp boil! And, if you’re adding crab legs to the boil, this sauce is a must-have! Fresh garlic, lemon zest, and fresh lemon juice are all gently whisked into melted butter for the ultimate decadent dipping sauce for any seafood.
Seafood Boil Sauce — Butter, garlic, and plenty of seasoning! This sauce was made for dipping shrimp, corn, and everything in between!
When you have an outdoor event, like a crawfish boil (or any other kind of boil!), another fun tip is to line the tables with parchment paper first. Then, top with kraft paper. Newsprint is often used to line tables, but it’s very dirty! You eat this meal right off the table, without plates or silverware. So! Using a heavy-duty kraft paper is nice. But, the pre-lining of parchment paper helps keep your table safe, and clean up a breeze!.
Classic Macaroni Salad – Filled with surprising veggies and a creamy dressing, this pasta salad is a classic side dish that’s welcome on any dinner table!
Southern Cucumber and Tomato Salad — nothing screams summer entertaining more than a deliciously classic cucumber and tomato salad. It’s so refreshing to have summer’s fresh harvest on your table and enjoy the (literal!) fruits of your labor. People make theirs all different ways, but this recipe is a pure classic Southern recipe! Give it a try!
Spicy Coleslaw — It’s the classic creamy coleslaw recipe but with a bit of a spicy kick from some mild green Tabasco sauce. Love the idea of adding that kick to an ordinary side dish to make it extraordinary!
Fourth of July Fruit Salad — if you’re hosting your gathering during a patriotic holiday, this watermelon salad is a great addition! Plus, the festive star-shaped apples are a fun way to make the buffet look extra exciting!
Sauteed Spinach with Garlic — Sauteed spinach is a great side dish to add to your menu. It’s easy to prepare while your seafood is cooking, and it adds some extra veggie excitement to the meal. It’s super simple with olive oil, fresh garlic, and a little salt and pepper.
Cilantro Rice — everyone loves rice! And this is a flavor-packed side dish your people will love! White rice is combined with cilantro for a side dish everyone will love.
Air Fryer Cornbread — The crispy exterior of air-fried cornbread is incredible! It’s the classic southern dish, either homemade or using a Jiffy mix, but made in your air fryer. Saving your oven space, y’all!! Woo hoo!!
Jalapeno Cornbread — Alright, y’all, if you’d like a spicy cornbread for dipping in the flavorful broth, this is the recipe you’ve got to try!
Crock Pot Green Beans — Everything you love about Southern cooked green beans, but made in the slow cooker! And this accompanies the main dish so well. Green beans are plentiful during the summer months, and this is a great recipe to share your bounty with your people. Plus, by using your crock pot, the oven space is saved, and if you’re doing your boil outside, everything can stay outside. No heating up your house!
Cheesy Potatoes — This is a great option for a baked potato casserole. Filled with sour cream, cheddar cheese, and green onions, these creamy potatoes will be the classic dish everyone reaches in for.
The best side dishes for seafood
What to serve with a shrimp boil?
However, if you have a large gathering, you may want to complement the shrimp boil with a few side dishes. The best side dishes for shrimp boil are mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, corn on the cob, deviled eggs, coleslaw, salads, and baked beans. If you are ready to explore more dishes, jump right in.
What side dishes go well with shrimp?
Another star side dish, caprese is always a crowd pleaser. Stick with a classic mozzarella, red tomato, and basil stack, or mix things up with honeydew melon, green tomatoes and burrata. Either way you get a bright, refreshing, and delectable salad that goes oh so well with hot-off-the-grill shrimp. 10. Elote-Style Corn
Can you serve a shrimp cocktail with a boil?
Yes, the same side dishes can complement both a shrimp boil and a shrimp cocktail. For a shrimp cocktail dinner, ideas like a crisp garden salad, buttery garlic bread, and creamy coleslaw can enhance the flavors. These sides provide a perfect balance of textures and flavors for a satisfying meal.
What goes well with grilled shrimp?
When in doubt, a Caesar salad is a perfect side next to grilled shrimp. It’s as simple as romaine lettuce, crispy croutons, Parmesan cheese, and Caesar dressing, but it is oh so tasty. Fresh, crunchy, and flavorful, there’s no going wrong! 13. Coleslaw Another traditional side that pairs marvelously with shrimp, or any seafood dish, is coleslaw.