This seafood sauce is packed with flavor and perfect to use as your next seafood boil sauce! This seafood sauce is inspired by those delicious Cajun and Louisiana flavors that will be perfect for your next backyard barbeque or party!
Seafood sauce is a key component of a seafood boil, a popular dish that’s often associated with Southern and Cajun cuisine.
A seafood boil typically involves boiling a variety of seafood such as shrimp, crab, or lobster, sausage, potatoes and corn on the cob in a large pot filled with seasoned water.
Once everything is cooked, this seafood boil sauce can be used as a seafood dipping sauce or poured generously over the seafood for a rich, spicy and umami flavor.
A seafood boil is a fun event that includes cooking with friends and family and gathering around a communal table to enjoy the seafood feast! Be sure you make enough seafood sauce because it is the way!
I recommend serving your seafood boil on a large platter or directly on the table, with the seafood and vegetables piled high in the center and the seafood boil sauce drizzled over the top.
The communal aspect of the seafood boil is an important part of the experience, and the seafood sauce unites all the flavors together.
In addition to a seafood boil, this seafood sauce can be used as a dip or condiment for a variety of seafood dishes, such as pan seared shrimp, drizzled over air fryer tilapia or even on smoked chicken breast!
The bold and complex flavor profile elevates any seafood dish or other protein or veggie of choice.
WHY THIS SEAFOOD SAUCE IS SUPERIOR!
- You can make this seafood sauce in less than 10 minutes!
- This seafood sauce recipe works with a traditional seafood boil or as a seafood dipping sauce for shrimp, drizzle over fresh fish or even chicken and steak.
- Seafood boil sauce is the key to a perfect seafood boil and this will not disappoint. Most of these simple pantry spices can be used again and again.
INGREDIENTS
- Butter: I recommend using unsalted butter so you can adjust salt to your taste as necessary. Some Cajun seasonings can have higher salt levels.
- Onion
- Garlic
- Old Bay seasoning
- Cajun Seasoning
- Cayenne Pepper: Optional but recommended if you enjoy spice.
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Optional but recommended if you enjoy spice.
- Fresh Lemon Juice
- Brown Sugar: Light or dark.
- Chicken Broth: You can use premade chicken stock or make your stock using better than bullion. Seafood stock is even better.
HOW TO MAKE SEAFOOD BOIL SAUCE
- From 1.5 cup butter, set aside 2-4 tablespoons in separate dish (to sauté the onions and garlic).
- In medium skillet or saucepan, over medium heat, add 2-3 tablespoons of butter and onions and sauté until soft. Can use more butter as needed.
- Add garlic and sauté for another 30-60 seconds.
- Add Old Bay seasoning, Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, lemon juice and brown sugar. Mix and add remaining butter.
- Reduce heat to low, simmer and stir until butter is melted and all seasonings are thoroughly mixed.
- If you wish to use as a butter based seafood dipping sauce (without chicken or seafood stock), remove from heat and enjoy.
- If you wish to use a seafood boil sauce, add chicken broth or seafood stock and reduce until slightly thickened and pour over seafood boil.
Storage: Seafood sauce can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for 1-2 weeks.
Seafood Boil Ingredients: A typical seafood boil will include seasonings, corn, smoked sausage, potatoes, onions, shrimp, crawfish, clams, crab claws, legs and/or lobster.
Seafood Boil Recipe: In a large pot, add seasonings, vegetables and seafood and boil until done. Drench in seafood sauce and enjoy!
Homemade Old Bay Seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon celery salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon cloves
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon ginger
WHAT IS A SEAFOOD BOIL?
A seafood boil is a popular cooking method for preparing a variety of seafood and involves boiling seafood, vegetables, and seasoning together in a large pot or container, typically outdoors.
Typically a seafood boil is served with seafood sauce or seafood boil sauce and is served family-style on a large platter or directly on a table.
The best part about seafood boils is they can bring a community together to share in a mutual love of food and good company.
WAYS TO USE SEAFOOD SAUCE
- Dipping Sauce: This seafood sauce is the perfect dipping sauce for boiled or fried seafood, such as shrimp, crab, or crawfish.
- Seafood Boil: Of course, seafood sauce is an essential component of a seafood boil! Perfect for dipping the cooked seafood.
- Marinade: Seafood boil sauce can be used as a marinade for seafood and other proteins such as chicken or beef.
- Poaching Liquid: You can use seafood boil sauce as a flavorful poaching liquid for seafood. Simmer the seafood in the sauce until it’s cooked through and get ready for a flavor explosion.
FAQ AND EXPERT TIPS
Ingredients
- 1½ cup butter (unsalted)
- ½ cup onion (diced)
- 5 cloves garlic (minced)
- 3 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
- 1 tablespoons Cajun Seasoning
- ½ tablespoons cayenne pepper (optional)
- ½ tablespoons crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 3 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ¾ cup chicken broth or seafood stock
Instructions
-
From 1.5 cup butter, set aside 2-4 tablespoons in separate dish (to sauté the onions and garlic).
-
In medium skillet or saucepan, over medium heat, add 2-3 tablespoons of butter and onions and sauté until soft. Can use more butter as needed.
-
Add garlic and sauté for another 30-60 seconds.
-
Add Old Bay seasoning, Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, lemon juice and brown sugar. Mix and add remaining butter.
-
Reduce heat to low, simmer and stir until butter is melted and all seasonings are thoroughly mixed.
-
If you wish to use as a butter based seafood dipping sauce (without chicken or seafood stock), remove from heat and enjoy.
-
If you wish to use a seafood boil sauce, add chicken broth or seafood stock and reduce until slightly thickened and pour over seafood boil.
Notes
- 1 teaspoon celery salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon cloves
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon ginger
