Best 11 Crawfish Boil Recipes

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Crawfish boils are a delicious and fun way to enjoy crawfish with friends and family. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a complete beginner, there are a few things you should keep in mind when preparing a crawfish boil. First, you'll need to gather the right ingredients, including live or frozen crawfish, corn on the cob, potatoes, sausage, and seasonings. Next, you'll need to build or find a pot large enough to accommodate all of your ingredients. Finally, you'll need to cook the crawfish boil over high heat until the crawfish are bright red and the vegetables are tender.

Here are our top 11 tried and tested recipes!

CRAWFISH BOIL



Crawfish Boil image

Crawfish boils are a messy, fun, hands-on, social experience and not as intimidating as one would think. Add as little or as much heat as you like-these little guys get more flavorful the longer they sit. Bring the spicy bold flavors of this Louisiana shellfish to your next backyard gathering. Don't forget the paper towels!

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

10 pounds live crawfish (18/22 pp size)
2 cups kosher salt
1 1/2 pounds crab and crawfish boil seasoning, such as Zatarain's
1 1/2 pounds smoked sausage, such as andouille or kielbasa, sliced into 2-inch pieces
4 ears corn, broken into 3-inch pieces
2 large onions, peeled and quartered
3 lemons, juiced, rinds reserved
2 heads garlic, cut in half crosswise
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter
1 bunch fresh thyme
4 fresh bay leaves
3 pounds small red potatoes
6 to 8 pounds ice cubes
Seafood boil seasoning, such as Old Bay, for serving

Steps:

  • Place the crawfish in a large cooler, cover with cold water and add 1 cup of the salt. Allow the crawfish to purge in the salted water for 5 to 10 minutes. (This Southern tradition is said to remove mud and impurities before cooking.) Strain the crawfish and set aside.
  • Fill a 42-quart stockpot fitted with a boil basket halfway with water. Add the crab and crawfish boil seasoning and remaining cup kosher salt. Then add the sausage, corn, onions, lemon juice and rinds, garlic, butter, thyme and bay leaves. Bring to a boil. Add the potatoes and boil until just cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Carefully add the crawfish to the stockpot and cook until they're bright red, about 8 minutes. Immediately remove from the heat and add the ice to the stockpot to halt the cooking. Allow the crawfish and other ingredients to sit in the iced water for 25 to 30 minutes (the longer the crawfish sit, the more flavorful they become).
  • Pull the crawfish, sausage and vegetables from the water using the boil basket. Serve over newspaper spread out on a table and sprinkle with seafood boil seasoning.

CREAM OF CRAWFISH BOIL SOUP



Cream of Crawfish Boil Soup image

I just invented this tonight, after getting "stuck" with a couple of pounds of crawfish from a crawfish boil. It's so good I wanted to hop around the kitchen singing. This recipe is for crawfish boil leftovers; it won't be the same otherwise. You'll need two pounds of whole crawfish plus the corn, potatoes, etc, that were boiled with them. (My two-pound package contained two short corns on the cob, four little new potatoes, and two pounds of whole crawfish.) You can use whatever proportions you like, and don't let anybody tell you otherwise.

Provided by lolsuz

Categories     Crawfish

Time 25m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
1 (49 ounce) can chicken broth (I used fat-free to make up for all the butter)
crawfish tail, peeled (see note above for quantity)
2 ears corn, cut off the cob
4 new potatoes
1/2 pint half-and-half

Steps:

  • Peel the crawfish, cut the corn off the cob, and set aside with the potatoes.
  • In a soup pot, saute the flour in butter, but do not brown it.
  • Pour in the chicken stock all at once, stirring with a whisk until blended. Don't worry if there's a few lumps because you'll get them with a stick blender later. Bring to a simmer.
  • Break up the potatoes with your fingers into the pot and add most of the crawfish tails and corn as well. Save a handful of crawfish and corn to add later. Bring the pot back up to a simmer.
  • Use a stick blender to blend the soup until it is mostly smooth. BE CAREFUL not to spatter hot soup on yourself!
  • Add the half and half and the remainder of the crawfish tails and corn. Stir well while heating for about five minutes more, then you're ready to serve.

EMERIL'S TAILGATING CRAWFISH BOIL



Emeril's Tailgating Crawfish Boil image

Provided by Emeril Lagasse

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h

Yield 6 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 29

3 gallons water
2/3 cup salt
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
2 packages dry crab boil
1 cup liquid crab boil
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1 tablespoon Essence, recipe follows
2 bay leaves
12 new potatoes
3 ears corn, cut into thirds
3 artichokes
1 foot andouille, cut into 8 equal links
3 lemons, halved
2 yellow onions, peeled and quartered
2 heads garlic, halved
6 pounds live crawfish
6 pounds large, head on shrimp
1 pound asparagus, ends trimmed
1 cup melted butter, as an accompaniment
Beer, as an accompaniment
French bread, as an accompaniment
2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme

Steps:

  • In a large stockpot fitted with a basket insert, combine the stock ingredients and bring to a boil.
  • Add the potatoes, corn, and artichokes. Cover and bring back to a boil, about 5 minutes. Add the sausage, lemons, onions, and garlic, cover the pot and return to a boil, about 5 minutes. Taste the stock and adjust seasoning as needed. Add the crawfish and shrimp, cover, and turn off the flame. Allow the mixture to steep for 10 minutes. Add the asparagus, cover, and let steep until the vegetables and crawfish are tender, 5 to 15 minutes.
  • To serve, line a table with brown paper bags and newspaper. Lift the basket from the stock and drain. Dump the basket ingredients directly on newspaper. Serve with melted butter, beer, French bread, and paper towels.
  • Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
  • Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, published by William and Morrow, 1993.

LOUISIANA CRAWFISH BOIL



Louisiana Crawfish Boil image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h30m

Yield 15 to 20 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

One 35- to 40-pound sack live crawfish
3 pounds small (size "B") red potatoes
3 pounds smoked sausage, cut into 3-inch pieces
8 to 10 oranges, sliced
6 artichokes, halved
6 heads garlic, halved
2 stalks celery, cut into 2-inch pieces
One 4 1/2-pound bag powdered crawfish boil mix, such as Louisiana Fish Fry
8 ounces liquid crawfish boil, such as Louisiana Fish Fry
Twenty-four 3-inch ears frozen corn
One 16-ounce container white mushrooms
One 1-pound bag frozen Brussels sprouts

Steps:

  • Wash the crawfish with fresh water in a large plastic tub; let the water run until clear, then drain.
  • Fill an 80-quart pot halfway with enough water to cover the seafood and fixin's. Add the potatoes, sausage, oranges, artichokes, garlic and celery -- things that take longer to cook. Bring to a boil, then add the crawfish boil mix and liquid crawfish boil. Continue to boil for 3 minutes.
  • Add the crawfish and return to a boil; cook for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat, then stir in the corn, mushrooms and Brussels sprouts. Let the crawfish soak for 20 to 25 minutes. The longer they soak, the spicier and juicier they get.

OLD-FASHIONED CRAWFISH BOIL



Old-Fashioned Crawfish Boil image

Boiling crawfish is an art - something that quickly becomes apparent to anyone who's watched a cook prepare the cooking liquid. This recipe has been modified for ease of preparation at home. Most Cajuns have a strong opinion about what should or should not go into the pot. Use this recipe as a guide and modify it to your own tastes - more vegetables or less, spicier or not. And remember, when live crawfish in the shell are not in season, you may simply substitute shrimp.

Categories     Potato     Shellfish     Mardi Gras     Lemon     Spice     Corn     Spring     Family Reunion     Boil

Yield Makes 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 gallon water
2 3-ounce packages crab boil
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup hot sauce
2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
1 1/2 pounds small red potatoes
6 small onions, peeled
4 - 6 ears corn, halved
1 bell pepper, coarsely chopped
2 stalks celery, coarsely chopped
1 head garlic, halved
3 large lemons, halved
5 pounds live crawfish, rinsed and purged in salt water

Steps:

  • In very large pot over high heat bring water, crab boil, salt, hot sauce, and cayenne pepper to a boil. Add potatoes, onions, corn, bell pepper, celery, and garlic. Reduce heat to simmer; cover and cook until vegetables are barely tender, about 10 minutes.
  • Squeeze lemons over pot, add lemons and crawfish, and stir to combine. Cover and return mixture to the boil. Cook until shells turn bright red, about 8 minutes. Serve immediately.

CRAWFISH BOIL CHOWDER



Crawfish Boil Chowder image

I made this up after looking at all the leftover corn and potatoes (and crawfish) from our last crawfish boil. The leftovers just screamed "USE US!" so I did. I usually have leftover Andouille, onion, garlic, corn, and potatoes in addition to the crawfish. If I have other stuff leftover, like mushrooms, I throw that in the stock. The good thing is, if you had anybody worth his salt actually doing the boiling, all that residual spice from the boil will come out in the chowder, so you shouldn't have to season at all!

Provided by spaghetti_soprano

Categories     Chowders

Time 2h

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 -3 lbs crawfish, heads and shells
8 cups water
1 cup andouille sausage, diced (from boil)
1/2 cup chopped onion (from boil or fresh)
1/2 cup chopped garlic (from boil or fresh)
8 cups crawfish stock (see above)
3 cups corn, cut from cob (from boil)
3 cups unpeeled potatoes, chopped (from boil)
1 -2 lb crawfish tail meat (from boil)
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup chopped parsley

Steps:

  • Make stock by peeling all your crawfish. Reserve tails for later, and throw all the peelings into a stock pot. Cover with about 8 cups water, bring to boil and simmer for about 20 minutes. Strain through fine mesh strainer and discard solids.
  • Brown sausage in large stock pot, add onions and garlic, sauté til translucent. Add stock and bring to boil, simmer for 20-30 minutes.
  • Add corn and potatoes, bring back to simmer. Add crawfish and cream, heat through. Check seasonings.
  • Stir in parsley.
  • Serve with hot bread and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 612.9, Fat 33.4, SaturatedFat 18.9, Cholesterol 396.6, Sodium 243.6, Carbohydrate 36.3, Fiber 4.1, Sugar 4.8, Protein 44.4

CRAWFISH BOIL RECIPE FOR 40 TO 45 POUNDS OF CRAWFISH



Crawfish Boil Recipe for 40 to 45 Pounds of Crawfish image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Yield about 40 pounds, 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 sticks unsalted butter
1 (4.5 pound) bag Crawfish Crab and Shrimp Boil
5 pounds of #1 red potatoes, cleaned but not peeled
40 to 45 pounds live crawfish, cleaned
24 ears of corn, shucked and cut into halves

Steps:

  • Leaving the crawfish in the broth for a longer time results in more spiciness. Sprinkling additional spice mixture on the crawfish after draining also will increase the spiciness.
  • Crawfish Crab and Shrimp Boil: There are many manufacturers to choose from. This is a spice blend of salt, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, lemon juice, and additional spices. Typically a bag of spice mix costs about $5.00. The brand used for the show was Lousiana Fish Fry Products Crawfish Crab and Shrimp Boil.
  • Instructions:
  • Place the cooking pot with its basket on the propane burner and fill with 11 gallons of water, about halfway. This should be about the right amount of water to protect against spillage when the potatoes or crawfish are added later. Add the 2 sticks of butter and 2/3 of the bag of Crawfish Crab and Shrimp Boil, and the 5 pounds of red potatoes. Cover and bring to a boil. Cook potatoes for 15 minutes and, while the potatoes are cooking, rinse the crawfish.
  • Place the bag of crawfish in 1 of the coolers, or, on the ground and hose down the bag until the water runs clear, about 5 minutes. Open the bag and pour the live crawfish into 1 of the coolers. With the drain of the cooler open, continue to rinse the crawfish for 5 minutes or until the water runs clear.
  • After the potatoes have cooked for 15 minutes, add the corn and continue cooking the corn and the potatoes for 15 minutes more. Remove a potato and test for doneness, continuing to cook, if needed. Remove the basket and dump the corn and potatoes into 1 of the coolers. Close the cooler in order to keep the corn and potatoes warm.
  • Pour the crawfish into the cooking basket and lower the basket into the pot. Bring to a boil and cook the crawfish for 15 minutes. Turn the heat off and allow the crawfish to simmer in the liquid for an additional 15 minutes.
  • Remove the crawfish and serve with the potatoes and corn. Traditionally, the crawfish is dumped onto a newspaper covered table (we used a door on 2 sawhorses). Additional spice mix can be sprinkled on the crawfish, if desired.
  • Variation: Some cooks add 1 to 2 pounds of sweet onions, peeled and cut in wedges, and/or the juice from 1 dozen lemons to the cooking liquid.
  • Variation: With proper ventilation, several pounds of shrimp could be cooked with approximately 1/2 to 1 cup of the spice mixture indoors. However, without proper ventilation the spice mixture fumes will overwhelm the typical house.

INSTANT POT® LIVE CRAWFISH BOIL FOR FOUR



Instant Pot® Live Crawfish Boil for Four image

Every spring I do a crawfish boil and every year I think there has got to be an easier way. It takes 30 minutes to get the stockpot full of water to come to a boil and then the crawfish require 30 minutes of soaking, which results in overcooked potatoes and corn. This year I was determined to simplify the process and set out looking for an Instant Pot® method online. There were plenty of recipes that called for frozen crawfish but I couldn't find one single one that used live crawfish. Challenge accepted!

Provided by Soup Loving Nicole

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Pork     Sausage

Time 1h20m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 cups water
2 tablespoons concentrated liquid shrimp and crab boil (such as Zatarain's®)
2 tablespoons seafood seasoning (such as Old Bay®)
2 pounds live crawfish, rinsed
1 pound bite-sized red potatoes (such as Ruby Sensations®)
3 ears corn, shucked and cut into thirds, or more to taste
1 (12 ounce) package andouille sausage, sliced
1 tablespoon seafood seasoning (such as Old Bay®)
2 cups water

Steps:

  • Combine water, dry crab boil, and seafood seasoning in a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®). Add live crawfish. Close and lock the lid. Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 0 minutes. Allow 15 minutes for pressure to build.
  • Release pressure carefully using the quick-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, about 2 minutes. Carefully pour crawfish and the liquid into a large bowl and let sit for 30 minutes to soak while you prepare the rest of the meal.
  • Add potatoes, corn, andouille sausage, and 1 tablespoon seafood seasoning to the pot. Pour in water and stir until evenly combined. Close and lock the lid.
  • Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 5 minutes. Allow 15 minutes for pressure to build.
  • Release pressure carefully using the quick-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, about 2 minutes. Divide the mixture between 4 plates and serve with crawfish.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 570.5 calories, Carbohydrate 34.4 g, Cholesterol 291.6 mg, Fat 27.7 g, Fiber 4.9 g, Protein 45.8 g, SaturatedFat 8.8 g, Sodium 5130.6 mg, Sugar 3.4 g

STOVE-TOP CRAWFISH BOIL



Stove-Top Crawfish Boil image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 40m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 44

2 bags crab boil (such as Old Bay seasoning)
1 tablespoon liquid crab boil (available from specialty food stores)
3 lemons, halved
1 pound small red bliss potatoes
4 garlic bulbs, halved horizontally
2 onions, quartered
3 pounds live crawfish (seasonally available in some places -- there is no substitute)
12 ounces link Andouille sausage, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 ears corn, cut into 2-inch pieces
1/2 pound button mushrooms
Salt and cayenne
2 bags crab boil (such as Old Bay seasoning)
1 tablespoon liquid crab boil (available from specialty food stores)
3 lemons, halved
1 pound small red bliss potatoes
4 garlic bulbs, halved horizontally
2 onions, quartered
3 pounds live crawfish (seasonally available in some places -- there is no substitute)
12 ounces link Andouille sausage, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 ears corn, cut into 2-inch pieces
1/2 pound button mushrooms
Salt and cayenne
2 bags crab boil (such as Old Bay seasoning)
1 tablespoon liquid crab boil (available from specialty food stores)
3 lemons, halved
1 pound small red bliss potatoes
4 garlic bulbs, halved horizontally
2 onions, quartered
3 pounds live crawfish (seasonally available in some places -- there is no substitute)
12 ounces link Andouille sausage, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 ears corn, cut into 2-inch pieces
1/2 pound button mushrooms
Salt and cayenne
2 bags crab boil (such as Old Bay seasoning)
1 tablespoon liquid crab boil (available from specialty food stores)
3 lemons, halved
1 pound small red bliss potatoes
4 garlic bulbs, halved horizontally
2 onions, quartered
3 pounds live crawfish (seasonally available in some places -- there is no substitute)
12 ounces link Andouille sausage, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 ears corn, cut into 2-inch pieces
1/2 pound button mushrooms
Salt and cayenne

Steps:

  • In a very large pot heat 3 gallons of water until nearly boiling. Add dry and liquid crab boil, squeeze in lemons, then throw in potatoes, garlic and onions. Boil 10 minutes. Add everything else. Cover and boil 5 minutes. Turn off heat. Uncover, sprinkle in 1/4 cup salt and 1 tablespoon cayenne, stir it up, cover again and let sit for 10 minutes. Drain off liquid. Line table with newspaper and dig in.
  • In a very large pot heat 3 gallons of water until nearly boiling. Add dry and liquid crab boil, squeeze in lemons, then throw in potatoes, garlic and onions. Boil 10 minutes. Add everything else. Cover and boil 5 minutes. Turn off heat. Uncover, sprinkle in 1/4 cup salt and 1 tablespoon cayenne, stir it up, cover again and let sit for 10 minutes. Drain off liquid. Line table with newspaper and dig in.
  • In a very large pot heat 3 gallons of water until nearly boiling. Add dry and liquid crab boil, squeeze in lemons, then throw in potatoes, garlic and onions. Boil 10 minutes. Add everything else. Cover and boil 5 minutes. Turn off heat. Uncover, sprinkle in 1/4 cup salt and 1 tablespoon cayenne, stir it up, cover again and let sit for 10 minutes. Drain off liquid. Line table with newspaper and dig in.
  • In a very large pot heat 3 gallons of water until nearly boiling. Add dry and liquid crab boil, squeeze in lemons, then throw in potatoes, garlic and onions. Boil 10 minutes. Add everything else. Cover and boil 5 minutes. Turn off heat. Uncover, sprinkle in 1/4 cup salt and 1 tablespoon cayenne, stir it up, cover again and let sit for 10 minutes. Drain off liquid. Line table with newspaper and dig in.

LOUISIANA CRAWFISH BOIL



Louisiana Crawfish Boil image

What a feast! Invite the family and dig into this messy, yummy boil. Combining crawfish, sausage, corn, mushrooms, potatoes, and artichokes, this is a dish you'll crave over and over. Add other seafood or vegetables to your liking.

Provided by IMANKAY

Categories     Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips     Sparkle

Time 1h45m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 heads garlic, unpeeled
5 bay leaves
2 (3 ounce) packages dry crab boil
1 tablespoon liquid shrimp and crab boil seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
3 large oranges, halved
3 large lemons, halved
2 large whole artichokes
15 red potatoes, washed
30 pieces baby corn
2 large onions, sliced
2 (16 ounce) packages mushrooms, cleaned
½ pound fresh green beans, trimmed
2 (16 ounce) packages smoked sausage, cut into 1/2 inch slices
50 live crawfish, rinsed

Steps:

  • Fill a very large pot about 1/3 full with water. Add the garlic, bay leaves, dry and liquid crab boil seasonings, salt, pepper, oranges, lemons, artichokes, and potatoes. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer, and cook for 20 minutes.
  • Stir in the corn, onions, mushrooms, and green beans; cook 15 minutes more. Stir in the sausage; cook 5 minutes more. Add the crawfish, return mixture to boil, then simmer until the crawfish shells turn bright red and the tails pull out easily, about 5 minutes. Test for doneness by peeling a crawfish. Be sure not to overcook, or crawfish will become tough.
  • Drain well. Serve crawfish hot, Louisiana-style, spread over a picnic table covered with newspapers.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 540.5 calories, Carbohydrate 38 g, Cholesterol 285.6 mg, Fat 22 g, Fiber 9.6 g, Protein 51.4 g, SaturatedFat 7.5 g, Sodium 1926.6 mg, Sugar 12.7 g

"CRAWFISH BOIL" FRIED CHICKEN RECIPE - (2/5)



Provided by á-7122

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 3 1/2 to 4 pound chickens (8 pieces each)
2 quarts cold water
4 tablespoons Zatarain's Crawfish, Shrimp and Crab Boil (available in the specialty section of some grocery stores and online)
3 cups flour (divided)
3 teaspoons salt (divided)
1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper (divided)
1 teaspoon Creole seasoning (various brands are available in the specialty section of some grocery stores and online)

Steps:

  • Combine the chicken, water and crab boil in a large pot and marinate chicken overnight or at least 16 hours. Remove chicken from brine and pat the skin dry. Combine 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and coat the chicken with the mixture. Place coated chicken on a sheet pan in a single layer and allow to sit in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours (this will help pull excess water from the chicken and create a crispier skin). Season 2 cups of flour with 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning. Toss the chicken in the new flour mixture to coat liberally and shake off excess flour. Fry chicken at 350 degrees F for 12-14 minutes. Strain and season with more salt and pepper to taste.

Tips:

  • Choose the freshest crawfish possible. Look for crawfish that are lively and have a firm shell. Avoid crawfish that are вялые or have a slimy texture.
  • Purge the crawfish before cooking. This will help to remove any dirt or debris from the crawfish.
  • Season the crawfish well. Use a variety of spices, such as Old Bay seasoning, Cajun seasoning, or lemon pepper, to flavor the crawfish.
  • Cook the crawfish in a large pot. This will help to ensure that the crawfish are cooked evenly.
  • Bring the crawfish to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes. The crawfish are done cooking when they are bright red and the meat is opaque.
  • Serve the crawfish with your favorite sides, such as corn on the cob, potatoes, and sausage.

Conclusion:

A crawfish boil is a delicious and easy-to-make meal that is perfect for a party or a casual get-together. With a little planning and preparation, you can create a crawfish boil that will be enjoyed by everyone.

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