Shrimp boil is a traditional Southern style dish which is heavily associated with New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. Shrimp is boiled with red baby potatoes and corn on the cob seasoned with creole and/or cajun style spices for a nourishing dish with a warm, deep flavor.
Some recipes also include other vegetables like onions or celery, extra seafood like crab or mussels, and sometimes smoked sausages.
This tasty meal is fairly straightforward to make but has a delightful flavor which you won’t be able to get enough of. If you want to have a go at making this amazing dish at home, check out our top 10 recipes for spicy cajun shrimp.

This Ole Mom – Spicy Cajun Shrimp Boil
This recipe is very easy to prepare and is ready in less than 30 minutes. This makes it the ideal recipe for when you are in a rush and you want to make something simple but delicious.
This boiled shrimp also makes a nice change from traditional BBq style food if you are entertaining guests on a summer evening. You can use thawed frozen shrimp, but fresh shrimp will taste better.
Feel free to experiment with the ingredients- extra vegetables like celery make a nice addition as well as chopped up hot dogs.
New York Times – Cajun Shrimp Boil
This traditional Southern dish is great for sharing with friends and family in the traditional way – with everyone sitting around a large table lined with newspaper.
The trick to getting this recipe just right is to add the ingredients in layers at the right time- this ensures that everything finishes cooking at the same time and is cooked to perfection.
Don’t shy away from the spice- this meal is supposed to have a strong flavor that makes your nose run a little!
Tasteful Selections – Spicy Cajun Seafood Boil
This recipe takes 15 minutes to prep and around 50 minutes to cook. This means that you can have this tasty meal ready and on the table in just over an hour.
Along with shrimp, the recipe uses mussels and crawfish for even more yummy seafood flavors and textures. The addition of smoked sausage gives this dish a meaty layer and makes it even more substantial. It is also packed with healthy vegetables so it is very nutritious.
Chili Pepper Madness – Spicy Cajun Shrimp Boil
In this recipe, the juicy shrimp are cooked in a tomato based sauce which is flavored with cajun spices and chili peppers for a warm kick.
Shrimp is low in calories but high in protein, making it the perfect thing to eat if you are trying to diet or watch your weight.
Onions and bell peppers accompany the shrimp and the jalapenos for a delightful blend of flavors and textures that will leave you feeling very satisfied.
Rasa Malaysia – Shrimp Boil
The secret to this amazing recipe is the use of cajun butter which coats the shrimp, corn, smoked sausage and baby potatoes in a rich and tasty sauce.
Fresh herbs are added to really lift the flavors and the fresh lemon garnish adds a zingy layer which complements the shrimp. Everything is added in the correct order to ensure that the potatoes are soft but the shrimp is not overcooked and rubbery.
TfR Recipes – Spicy Shrimp Boil
This classic New Orleans style recipe will definitely impress your family and friends next time they come over for dinner. With plenty of Cayenne pepper and cajun seasoning the strong and complex flavor will blow you away.
This recipe uses onions, celery, potatoes and corn so is packed with tasty vegetables as well as the succulent shrimp. Fresh lemons add a zesty flavor which brings the whole dish together nicely.
African Bites Cajun Shrimp Boil
This Creole recipe uses andouille sausages, baby red potatoes and juicy corn on the cob for a fresh and authentic flavor. The colors are vibrant and the meal looks very appetizing in a large serving dish in the center of the table.
This recipe is just as easy as grilled shrimp but is a much more exciting treat for your tastebuds, with lemon juice and herbs and Creole seasoning.
Blackberry Babe – Cajun Shrimp Boil
This easy recipe for Cajun shrimp boil uses Old Bay seasoning for an authentic New Orleans flavor which will be a great feast for the whole family.
One of the best things about this recipe is that there is hardly any clean up required – all of the ingredients get cooked in one pot and then finished off in a tray which you can use to serve the cajun shrimp boil.
You can either put plates on the table or line it with newspaper in the traditional way, then let everyone tuck in!
Exploration America – Authentic Cajun Louisiana Seafood Boil
This recipe has two versions – an authentic Cajun recipe which is packed with flavor and a less spicy version that is better suited to young children or people who don’t like spicy food.
Whilst shrimp is the main ingredient, this recipe also uses crab meat for extra flavor. This also adds another texture to the dish. As well as potatoes and corn on the cob, this dish has chopped celery stalks and onion which adds flavor and extra nutrients.
Garlic and lemon season the dish alongside the traditional cajun spices and cayenne pepper.
Julia’s Album – Spicy Cajun Shrimp
This tasty recipe is ready in less than 30 minutes. The delicious sauce is made with chicken broth, hot sauce, cajun spice, ketchup, garlic, and green onions.
25 jumbo shrimp should be enough to feed 3 adults, but you can use more or less and add other types of seafood if you want to. You can also customize the recipe by adding whatever vegetables you want to, and extra meat like chicken or smoked sausage.
This recipe uses chipped green onions as a garnish but you can also use fresh parsley and some slices of fresh lemon.