This Cajun shrimp boil, a copycat of Boiling Crab’s ‘The Whole Sha-Bang’ sauce is the cream of the crop when it comes to shrimp boil sauces! A mix of butter, garlic, lemon pepper, cajun, seasoning, old bay, cayenne pepper and paprika, make it so flavorful and addicting, you’ll be making this over and over again!
When the restaurant Boiling Crab opened up years ago in Los Angeles, my friends raved about how delicious and addicting their sauce was so of course I had to try it out myself.
One bite and I was hooked! I never had shrimp prepared that way before and immediately I knew I had to try to recreate it at home.
I’ve actually been making this Boiling Crab copycat recipe for years and I don’t know why I haven’t shared it on LCA sooner. Well, better late than never!
If you haven’t had this Cajun style shrimp before, get ready because you’re in for a fascinating and addicting treat full of flavor and spice! And be prepared to get dirty because the only way to eat this Cajun shrimp boil is with your bare hands!
What is a Cajun style shrimp boil?
Our version of Cajun style shrimp boil is a copycat of the restaurant Boiling Crab’s ‘Whole Sha-Bang’ sauce. Shrimp is boiled and then mixed with a sauce made with butter, tons of garlic, lemon pepper, cajun seasoning, old bay, cayenne pepper, and paprika. The result is a buttery, garlicky sauce full of heat and spice.
What other ingredients can I add into the shrimp boil?
Traditionally, a shrimp boil comes with corn and potatoes, but to keep it low carb friendly I only add sausages. Feel free to add your favorite spicy or non spicy sausages and other seafood like crab, lobsters, clams, mussels, etc.
How should I eat cajun style shrimp boil?
Carefully peel shrimp, then optional, you can dip the shrimp in the excess sauce or just eat as is with your hands. No utensils are traditionally used for a shrimp boil.
Any tips on making this boiling crab copycat shrimp boil?
- Make sure not to overcook the shrimp because the shrimp will become hard and rubbery.
- If you prefer, after peeling, you can use the excess sauce to dip your shrimp in for even more flavor and make sure to use to eat with your hands for the full shrimp boil experience!
Looking for other shrimp recipes?
- Garlic Shrimp Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Dynamite Mayo Shrimp
- Shrimp Cocktail
- Old Bay Pan Fried Garlic Shrimp
- Shrimp Asparagus in Garlic Butter
Now, let’s get making some Cajun Shrimp Boil – Boiling Crab style!
- Prepping Time 1M
- Cook Time 8M
- Total Time 9M
- Net Carb/Serving ~4g
- Servings 2
Ingredients
- 1 lbs Shrimp (shell and tail on)
- 12oz Kielbasa Sausage (or sausage of choice)
- 8 oz Butter (2 sticks)
- 6-8 Clove Garlic
- 1 tbsp Old Bay Seasoning
- 1 tbsp Paprika
- 1 tbsp Cajun Seasoning
- 1 tbsp Lemon Pepper
- 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1/2 tbsp Sweetener (sugar alternative, sugar or preferred sweetener)
Directions
1) Gather all the ingredients.
2) Mince garlic and chop sausage and then set aside.
3) In a large stove top pot, melt butter on medium low heat. Once butter is melted, reduce heat to low and add in chopped garlic, Old Bay Seasoning, paprika, Cajun Seasoning, Lemon Pepper, Cayenne Pepper and sweetener. Mix well and simmer for 5 minutes.
4) In the meantime, in a new large stove top pot, add enough water to cover the sausage and shrimp, and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, turn off the heat, add in chopped sausage and shrimp, cover and cook for 90-120 seconds or until shrimp is pinked.
5) Once sausages and shrimp are cooked, transfer them into the large stove top pot with the sauce, toss and transfer to a serving plate. Enjoy this dish with your hands!
Hope you enjoy your homemade Cajun Shrimp Boil – Boiling Crab Copycat!
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Cajun Shrimp Boil - Boiling Crab Copycat
Ingredients
- 1 lbs Shrimp shell and tail on
- 12 oz Kielbasa Sausage or sausage of choice
- 8 oz Butter 2 sticks
- 6-8 Clove Garlic
- 1 tbsp Old Bay Seasoning
- 1 tbsp Paprika
- 1 tbsp Cajun Seasoning
- 1 tbsp Lemon Pepper
- 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1/2 tbsp Sweetener sugar alternative, sugar or preferred sweetener
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Mince garlic and chop sausage and then set aside.
- In a large stove top pot, melt butter on medium low heat. Once butter is melted, reduce heat to low and add in chopped garlic, Old Bay Seasoning, paprika, Cajun Seasoning, Lemon Pepper, Cayenne Pepper and sweetener. Mix well and simmer for 5 minutes.
- In the meantime, in a new large stove top pot, add enough water to cover the sausage and shrimp, and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, turn off the heat, add in chopped sausage and shrimp, cover and cook for 90-120 seconds or until shrimp is pinked.
- Once sausages and shrimp are cooked, transfer them into the large stove top pot with the sauce, toss and transfer to a serving plate. Enjoy this dish with your hands!
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Nutrition
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I just made this tonight for dinner and it’s just like the whole shebang ala boiling crab. We ate a lot of steamed rice with it. I’ll be making this again for sure. Thanks for the recipe!!! 😍😍😍
Hey Raquel – you are very welcome and glad you liked the recipe!!
This made a hit! but I got confused about the water you boiled shrimp and kielbasa in. are you suppose to drain it.
Hey Rhonda – glad to hear that! Yes, discard the water and only transfer the cooked shrimp and kielbasa into the sauce.
IT WAS SO GOOD. Definitely hit that craving 😋 thank you!
Glad you liked the recipe Ari!
What spice level would you consider this recipe? My husband is a little sensitive to spiciness.
Hello Joanne – I would say it’s a 4-5. If you want it to be as mild as possible, omit the cayenne pepper and that would take it down to 2-3.
Do you use salted or unsalted butter?
Hi Sarha – we use salted at our house, but you can use either.
Just tried this now and mine came out pretty salty. I used Kerrygold Irish butter. Do you recommend any certain butters? Or unsalted even? I was tasting my spices individually and my lemon pepper spice was salty.. does lemon pepper usually come already salted? Thanks!
Hi Alan! Lemon pepper does vary in saltiness from brand to brand, so that could be the reason. The other reason could be accident incorrect measurement of an ingredient.
Is this recipe keto friendly? (:
Hey Jenny – yup it’s keto friendly as long as you don’t put corn or potatoes in there!