Low Country Shrimp Boil on the Grill

With Independence Day right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about one of the best things about the holiday – what’s cooking ?!

If you want to fire up that grill but need a change of pace from the traditional burgers, chicken, and steak, then our CEO Greg Workmon’s famous low country shrimp boil recipe is for you. Cooked on the grill in only 25 minutes, Greg’s secret recipe is like fireworks for your tastebuds!

🦐 Ready to get cooking? Click to JUMP TO THE RECIPE.

Low Country Shrimp Boil Foil Packs

For those of you not in the know, there’s nothing more fun or delicious than a low country shrimp boil. For those of us in the South, this is one of our favorite meals to prepare when the weather is warm and there’s cause for celebration.

When you cook a shrimp boil, it’s a meal that doubles as a party. Add a long table, some twinkling lights, and a few cold drinks, and you’ve got the perfect way to celebrate with friends and family on a balmy summer evening.

How to Throw a Shrimp Boil on the Grill Party

The most important element of hosting a low-country shrimp boil is SIMPLICITY.

All you really need to do is prepare the basics so that when your guests arrive, you can enjoy the party right along with them. A shrimp boil is designed to be fun and casual, so all you really need to worry about is having enough super yummy food to go around.

Set The Table

Think of the table as your stage. The table is not only where everyone will be eating, but where everyone gathers in conversation, fellowship, and joy. Below are a few ideas to get you started on creating a table that will facilitate the perfect atmosphere for that.

Themed Silverware

We really love this idea for the silverware set. It creates a nautical theme that’s also super easy to make.

Use a Functional Centerpiece

This is an awesome idea for a centerpiece. Your guests can get their messy hands clean and lemony-fresh at the table in style!

Decorate on Theme

This is pretty much the ultimate shrimp boil table setting. It’s got places for the boil to go, and tins for the scraps. Plus, it’s super cute. When fashion meets function, it’s a major win.

Provide Fun Activites

Now that we’ve covered the basics on controlling that hunger, let’s throw in a dash of pizazz. You might want to provide some yard games for your guests while the food is cooking on the grill. Some of our staff favorites are corn-hole, badminton, KanJam, and Twister.

Serve Drinks Upon Arrival

You’ll also want to consider what drinks you’d like to serve. For a real Southern experience, we suggest pairing sweet tea or lemonade as a non-alcoholic option.

If some of your guests are beer-lovers, try Atlanta microbrewery Sweetwater’s 420 IPA or Athens Terrapin’s Watermelon Gose. Expecting wine enthusiasts? Try serving Southern Charm Ruby Royale, a semi-sweet muscadine rosé from Georgia-based Frogtown Cellars.

Cook Enough Food for All Your Guests

A lot of people think that with such a large amount of food to be cooked, this needs to be done in the kitchen. Cooking the perfect shrimp boil recipe is actually much, much simpler than you’re probably imagining.

You can cook all the ingredients together in a foil roasting pan on the grill. This way, you get some great flavor and the added bonus of being able to hang out with everyone outside and enjoy the party with them!

Everyone has their own “secret recipe” for a low country shrimp boil. If you’re still a beginner or are just this minute hearing of a shrimp boil for the first time in your life, we suggest trying this recipe. This recipe comes to us from LoadUp’s own founder and CEO, Greg Workmon.

YIELD: 10–12 servings
ACTIVE TIME: 20 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 45 minutes

INGREDIENTS

For the shrimp boil:

• 2 lemons, quartered
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 tablespoons kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns
• 1/2-3/4 cup crab and shrimp boil seasoning, such as Old Bay, plus more
• 4 pounds small red-skin potatoes (about 1 1/2″ in diameter)
• 2 pounds andouille sausage, cut into 2″ pieces
• 2 yellow onions, peeled and quartered
• 8 ears of corn, shucked and cut in half
• 4 pounds fresh large shrimp (preferably wild-caught), unpeeled

For the cocktail sauce:

• 1 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
• 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• Louisiana-style hot sauce, such as Tabasco (to taste)

For the lemon butter sauce:

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons (or more) fresh lemon juice
• Louisiana-style hot sauce, such as Tabasco (to taste)

PREPARATION

Shrimp boil:

Fill foil roasting pans with about 1” water in each pan. Add lemons, bay leaves, salt, peppercorns, and 1/2 cup seasoning. Cover with foil, and bring to a rolling boil.

Add potatoes and then re-cover, cooking for 7 minutes. Add sausage and onions, re-cover, and cook another 5 minutes. Add corn, re-cover, and cook until corn is cooked and potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife, about 5 minutes more.

Add shrimp and cook, stirring gently, until shrimp turn pink, about 3 minutes. Remove foil and serve directly on the table. Dust with additional Old Bay, if desired, and serve with sauces.

Cocktail sauce:

Stir ketchup, horseradish, Worcestershire, lemon juice, and hot sauce in a medium bowl. Serve with shrimp boil.

Lemon-butter sauce:

Melt the butter in a small pan over medium-high. Transfer to a medium bowl and stir in the lemon juice and Tabasco. Add more lemon juice to taste. Cover with foil and let sit in or on grill (so that it stays warm but doesn’t burn) until ready to serve.

🌶️ PRO TIP: You can use 3/4 cup Old Bay for more flavor. Add cayenne pepper for a little spice.

Host Your Own Low Country Boil Bash

There you have it. Now you’re ready to host your very own, knock-their-socks-off, super duper yummy, low country shrimp boil.

We hope we’ve inspired you to invite your friends and family over for this fun experience soon. Whether for the 4th of July or just a Tuesday evening.

Related Articles for Grill Masters everywhere:

• In the market for a new grill? Check out our Guide to Buying a New Grill.
• Need to get rid of an old grill? Check out How to Recycle or Dispose of Your Gas Grill.

Thanks for reading, and Bon Appétit, y’all!