Low Country Boil is a Southern favorite that’s a great crowd pleaser! Tender shrimp are boiled with hearty potatoes, smoked sausage, sweet corn, and the delicious old bay seasoning. Also called Frogmore Stew, this easy one-pot meal is perfect for a party as well as a casual weeknight dinner!
What is Low Country Boil?
Also called “Frogmore Stew”, “Beaufort Stew”, the low country boil is a famous dish in the low country of Georgia, Louisiana, and South Carolina. It’s a delicious combination of boiled shrimp, corn, sausage and potatoes, all cooked in a large pot with an all-you-can-eat buffet style. Traditionally it’s served outdoors on picnic tables covered with newspaper.
It’s the perfect summer meal with a well-balanced blend of spices. It has an enticing seafood flavor from the shrimp, smoky flavor from the sausage, and plenty of freshness throughout with all kinds of vegetables.
Low Country Boil Ingredients and Substitutes
- Old Bay Seasoning: Adds just the right blend of spices to season this dish. You can find it at most supermarkets, or order from Amazon. Alternatively, you can use crab boil seasoning, seafood boil seasoning, or Cajun seasoning.
- Lemons: Adds a zesty flavor to this low country boil. You can sub limes.
- Baby Potatoes: I like to use baby potatoes in this recipe as they cook much faster. You can also use large potatoes, and cut them into smaller pieces.
- Yellow Onion: It adds another dimension of flavor to the dish. You can also use red onions.
- Garlic: It’s best to use fresh garlic and smash it for the maximum flavor. You can replace it with garlic powder.
- Smoked Sausage: This special ingredient will rock your taste buds! If you don’t have smoked pork sausage, you can also use any sausage like chicken, turkey, or beef sausage.
- Corn: I like to use fresh corn in this recipe. You can also use frozen corn in a pinch.
- Large Shrimp: You’ll need de-veined, but shell-on shrimp. No need to thaw the shrimp ahead of time. You can sub crab legs, crawfish, or other seafood.
- Butter: It’s optional for serving.
How to Make Low Country Boil
1. Cook the potatoes with the seasoning: Fill the pot with plenty of water. Add old bay seasoning, quartered lemons, smashed garlic, potatoes, and onions. Boil for about 10 minutes or until potatoes are just beginning to become tender.
2. Cook the corn and sausage: Cut corn into small chunks, and slice the sausage into small pieces. Add the corn and sausage to the pot, and cook for 4-5 more minutes.
3. Cook the shrimp: Quickly rinse the shrimp and add them to the pot. Cook for about 2 minutes until the shrimp becomes pink and opaque.
4. Drain and serve: Turn off the heat and reserve 1 cup of the broth. Drain the liquid, and transfer the shrimp and vegetables to a platter or dump onto newspaper. Serve with reserved broth and optional melted butter.
Tips and Tricks for the Best Frogmore Stew
- Use baby potatoes for this dish, as they have great flavors and cook much faster.
- Add the shrimp to the pot last as shrimp cooks so fast, and easy to be over-cooked. It only takes 1-2 minutes to boil shrimp.
Low Country Boil Variations
- Slow Cooker Low Country Boil: You can easily make this recipe in a crock pot. Simply add all ingredients except the shrimp to the crock pot. Cook on HIGH for 3 hours. For the last 10 minutes, add the shrimp and cook until pink and opaque.
- Use a mix of seafood for a delicious seafood boil.
- Add hot sauce or chili flakes for a nice kick.
- You can use other seasonings such as seafood boil or cajun seasoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the Difference Between Low Country Boil and Frogmore Stew?
They are basically the same dish. A low country boil is a simple seafood stew that’s served on newspaper. Folklore has it that National Guardsman Richard Gay created this dish when he had to feed 100 soldiers. So this dish was named after Gay’s hometown as Frogmore Stew, but later on Low Country Boil or Shrimp Boil become a more popular name for this dish.
What to Serve with Low Country Boil?
With all kinds of vegetables and proteins, it’s a complete meal by itself. However, you can definitely add a side to pair with it. Some of my favorites include:
There are a few popular ways to serve low country boil. You can cover the table with newspaper and spread the food on top. Then you can eat it using your hands. Alternatively, you can also transfer everything to a large serving plate. Another way is to serve it in a bowl and toss it with a cup of broth and butter.
How Long Does Low Country Boil Last in the Fridge?
If you have some leftover, you can first let it cool down to room temperature. Then place the food in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. They’ll last for 3 to 4 days.
If You Love This Recipe Try These Out
If you tried this recipe, let me know how your Low Country Boil turns out in the comments below!
Best Low Country Boil Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup old bay seasoning (or seafood boil seasoning)
- 2-3 lemons (quartered)
- 1 lb baby potatoes
- 1 large yellow onion (cut into 1-inch chunks)
- 6 cloves garlic (smashed)
- 1 lb smoked sausage (cut into 1/4-inch pieces)
- 4 ears corn (husked and cut into pieces)
- 2 lb raw large shrimp (shell-on and deveined)
Optional for Serving
- butter
- chopped parsley
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with about 4 quarts of water. Add old bay seasoning, quartered lemons, smashed garlic, potatoes, and onions. Then bring to a boil.
- Boil for about 10 minutes or until potatoes are just beginning to become tender.
- Add the corn and sausage. Cook for 4-5 more minutes.
- Add the shrimp and cook for about 2 minutes until the shrimp becomes pink and opaque.
- Turn off the heat and reserve 1 cup of the broth.
- Drain the liquid, and transfer the shrimp and vegetables to a platter or dump onto newspaper.
- Serve with reserved broth, optional melted butter, and chopped parsly.
Notes
- If you use large potatoes, make sure to cut them into smaller pieces so that they can cook faster.
- Add the shrimp to the pot last as shrimp cooks so fast, and easy to be over-cooked. It only takes 1-2 minutes to boil shrimp.
Nutrition
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