Have you ever eaten at a seafood boil restaurant and thought, “Wow, this dinner is amazing. I wonder what kind of seafood sauce they use?” Well, wonder no more!

I love a great seafood boil sauce at restaurants, but I love that you can make it right at home even more. And the trick to an exceptional seafood butter sauce is a hefty amount of butter!

This article will uncover more secrets to my favorite butter sauce for seafood boil dinners.

What Is Seafood Boil Sauce?

Seafood boil sauce, sometimes called crab, shrimp, or crawfish boil sauce, is key to an excellent seafood boil. But what is seafood boil sauce made of?

Generally, the ingredients in seafood boil sauce are Old Bay seasoning, cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, oregano, thyme, and of course, butter!

The sauce gets used to season the water you’ll boil your seafood in. It adds flavor and spice, making for a tasty and memorable meal.

Tips & Tricks for Making the Best Seafood Boil Sauce

Here are a few of my tips and tricks for how to make an outstanding shrimp, crawfish, or crab boil sauce:

Extra Spice

If you want a little extra spice, feel free to add more cayenne pepper to the sauce. Just be aware that a little goes a long way!

Butter, Butter, Butter

As I mentioned earlier, the key to a great seafood boil sauce is lots of butter. So don’t be afraid to go heavy on the butter when making this recipe.

Use Fresh Garlic

Use fresh garlic cloves in this recipe for the best flavor. You can use garlic powder in a pinch, but fresh garlic will take the flavor of this sauce to the next level.

Old Bay Seasoning

Old Bay seasoning is a crucial ingredient in any seafood boil sauce. If you don’t have Old Bay on hand, you can try substituting it with a similar seasoning, like Cajun seasoning.

Storage

Once cooled, store the sauce in a fridge-friendly container for up to 2 weeks.

Other Seafood Items To Try the Sauce On

In addition to using this sauce for boiled crab, shrimp, and crawfish, it’s also great on other seafood items like shrimp scampi, baked or grilled fish, or even roasted shrimp.

Frequently Asked Questions

For further assistance and info, here are a few seafood boil sauce questions people commonly ask.

What other spices can I add to my seafood boil sauce?

If you’d like to get creative with your seafood boil sauce, you can add spices like lemon pepper, celery seed, or bay leaves.

Can I use this sauce for other seafood dishes?

Absolutely! This sauce is also delicious on baked or grilled fish, shrimp scampi, and roasted shrimp. You can even use it for other meats like sausages or chicken.

What are other sauces that are good with seafood?

In addition to seafood boil sauce, which helps flavor the water the seafood gets boiled in, many other flavors go swimmingly with seafood. These sauces include but aren’t limited to:

• Fresh herb sauce
• Lemon cream sauce
• Mint sauce
• Red wine sauce
• Rich ketchup sauce
• Tartar sauce

What is the difference between seafood boil and crawfish boil?

A seafood boil is a type of cooking where the seafood gets boiled in a mixture of water and spices. 

A crawfish boil is very similar, but as the name suggests, it specifically refers to boiling crawfish. Seafood and crawfish boils are popular in Louisiana and other parts of the Southern United States.

How long does it take to boil seafood?

The amount of time it’ll take to boil seafood will depend on the type and size of the seafood you’re cooking. For example, shrimp will take 3-4 minutes to cook, while crab legs will take 8-10 minutes.

What is the best seafood for boiling?

Some of the best seafood for boiling include shrimp, crab legs, lobster tails, and crawfish.

How do I know when my seafood is done boiling?

The best way to tell if your seafood is done boiling is to use a meat thermometer. Seafood is typically finished cooking when it reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

Nutrition Information for Seafood Boil Sauce

This recipe makes approximately one cup of seafood boil sauce.

Here is the nutrition information for one tablespoon of sauce:

• Calories: 100
• Fat: 11 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg
• Sodium: 180 mg
• Carbohydrates: 3 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Sugar: 0.5 g
• Protein: 0 g

As you can see, seafood boil sauce is relatively high in calories and fat. However, it is also low in carbohydrates, making it a fantastic option for those on a low-carb diet.

Additionally, this sauce is relatively high in sodium. So if you are watching your sodium intake, you may want to limit the sauce you use.

Conclusion

Seafood boil sauce is a delicious and easy way to add maximum flavor when boiling seafood like crab, shrimp, and crawfish.

Whether you’re looking to make a seafood boil for a special occasion or want to spice up your weeknight dinner, this seafood boil sauce is sure to please.

So go ahead and give this recipe a try! I guarantee you’ll get hooked after just one taste.