Low Country Boil

This Authentic South Carolina Low Country Boil is a true Southern classic loaded with shrimp, sausage, sweet corn, and tender potatoes. It’s an easy, one-pot meal that’s perfect for feeding a crowd and bringing folks together.

Y’all, the first time I had a proper Low Country Boil, it wasn’t just a meal it was an experience. One of my dear friends from Aiken, South Carolina, knows how to do Low Country Boil the right way. Now I’d grown up around plenty of good Southern seafood, but I’d never had the real-deal South Carolina version until she showed me. We had the best time putting this feast together, and I’m here to tell you — it was absolutely delicious.

This recipe comes straight from that fun day, and I don’t think you could tweak it to make it any better. It’s simple, satisfying, and perfect for feeding a crowd. So if you’ve never made a Low Country Boil or maybe you’ve only had the touristy version here’s your chance to do it just like they do down in the Low Country.

What is Low Country Boil?

Low Country Boil is a classic coastal Southern dish, most popular in the Low Country region of South Carolina and Georgia. Traditionally, it’s a one-pot boil of shrimp, sausage, corn, potatoes, and seasonings. It’s often served outdoors drained straight onto a newspaper-covered table where folks gather ‘round with plates, fingers, and a whole lot of good conversation and paper towels for sure!

This dish is meant to be easy, casual, and full of flavor the kind of meal where you make memories as you eat. It’s perfect for summer cookouts, beach weekends, tailgates, or any time you want to feed a crowd without fuss.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s simple and foolproof, no fancy cooking skills required. You don’t have to peel or chop the potatoes!
• Feeds a crowd great for parties and gatherings.
• Big flavor in every bite shrimp, sausage, potatoes, and sweet corn all soak up the savory seasoned broth.
• Customizable  want to add crab legs or mussels? Go for it!
• Just plain FUN you can’t help but smile when you eat this meal.

Ingredients You’ll Need

(The full printable recipe with exact measurements is below this post.)

• Water
• Salt
• Zatarain’s Shrimp & Crab Boil Seasoning
• Sweet onions (Vidalia or yellow ( I prefer Vidalia)
• Hillshire Farm beef sausage (or kielbasa sausage)
• Little red or yellow potatoes
• Mini ears of corn (frozen or fresh Bird’s Eye mini frozen corn is my favorite.)
• Shrimp (Medium size) fresh or frozen, tails off, peeled and deveined.

How to make Low Country Boil

1. Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil in a large stockpot. (You can start with 3 quarts and add more if needed.)
2. Add 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon salt and the 2 teaspoons of Shrimp & Crab Boil seasoning.
3. Once the water is at a rolling boil, add the chopped onions and sausage that has been cut into about 1 1/2 inch slices.
4. Next, add the potatoes. Cook for about 2 minutes before adding the corn. Note: Don’t wait for the potatoes to be fork tender before adding the corn otherwise they will be overcooked and mushy. Cook only 2 minutes before adding the corn. The potatoes are small so they don’t take too long to cook.
5. Add the corn and cook for 6 more minutes.
6. Add the shrimp last, cooking just 1–2 minutes until they turn pink and are cooked through. Do not overcook the shrimp. Note: the shrimp doesn’t take long to cook. If it’s over cooked, it will taste rubbery. That’s it!
7. Taste the broth and adjust the seasoning if needed. If you want a little more heat or spice or salt or pepper, feel free to add extra Shrimp & Crab Boil seasoning to taste.
8. Carefully drain all the water from the Low Country Boil and place on newspaper or a platter. Enjoy!

Serving Tips

The traditional way to serve Low Country Boil is to drain it and pour it out onto a table covered with newspaper or butcher paper. Let everyone dig in with their fingers it’s casual Southern fun at its best.

You can also serve it family-style on large platters if you prefer a more formal presentation.

Have bowls of cocktail sauce, melted butter, extra salt and pepper, hot sauce, and lemon wedges on hand for seasoning.

What to Serve With It

Though Low Country Boil is plenty satisfying on its own, here are some great sides to round out the meal:

• Collard greens the perfect Southern green to go with shrimp and sausage.
• Oriental coleslaw my crunchy Oriental cabbage slaw is a fresh, bright contrast to the rich boil.
• Cornbread or Mexican cornbread great for soaking up the flavorful broth and juices.

Final Tip:

If in doubt about your corn, always go with the Birds Eye frozen mini ears they are consistently sweet. If using fresh, Silver Queen corn is your best bet.

The Bottom Line

Low Country Boil is one of those timeless Southern dishes that brings people together. Whether you’re serving it at a big family cookout or a casual beach party, it never fails to make folks happy.

Thanks to my talented South Carolina friend, I now make this the right way — and I’m passing it along to you. Enjoy every bite!

Storage & Freezing Tips

Refrigerator:

• Store leftovers in large Ziploc bags or an airtight container.
• Keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• To reheat, place in a microwave-safe dish, cover loosely, and heat in short bursts until warmed through.

Freezer:

• You can freeze Low Country Boil, but note that potatoes may become soft or grainy after thawing.
• Shrimp, sausage, and corn freeze well.
• For best results, freeze shrimp, sausage, and corn in freezer-safe Ziploc bags.
• Lay bags flat in the freezer for easy storage.
• Use within 1 to 2 months for best flavor and texture.

Be sure to check out these recipes that will be delicious including dessert with your Low Country Boil Party!

Crunchy Oriental Coleslaw

Southern Collard Greens

Southern Buttermilk Cornbread

Cheesy Mexican Cornbread

Southern Sweet Tea

Easy Peach Cobbler

Coca-Cola Cake

Be sure to leave a comment below if you have any questions about the recipes.  I would love to hear from you and if you make it, be sure to use #deliciouslysouthern and let me know how you like it. Lastly, please follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.

Click here to purchase an autographed copy of my cookbook “Deliciously Southern “. It features over 370 delicious Southern recipes!Deliciously Southern (Autographed Edition)

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