Make this classic Old Bay Shrimp boil recipe in advance and chill. Serve with cocktail sauce or butter and watch these Boiled Old Bay Shrimp disappear!
OLD BAY SHRIMP BOIL RECIPE
Have you ever wanted something really bad and not been able to have it? Well, my husband did, and what he wanted was these Old Bay Shrimp.
See, at his 16th birthday party, he found out that he was allergic to shellfish, not mildly, but anaphylaxis-carry-an-EPI-pen-emergency-hospital-admission type of allergic.
Now that I am a parent, I cringe to think of the horror that my mother-in-law had to endure when she saw her son start to have trouble breathing and not understand why.
Yikes right!?!
Fast forward to many years of avoiding shellfish at all costs while still being a good-enough sport to sit through clam bakes, crab-eating trips to Baltimore and a road trip through coastal Maine where someone made said person who is allergic to shellfish stop at every roadside stand in view for real clam chowder.
All the while, all he wanted was a big bowl of Old Bay Shrimp.
To sit and eat them, dirty fingers and all, in peace, with some spicy cocktail sauce.
After we had our son, our son’s pediatrician suggested that my husband get re-tested for his shellfish allergy, because apparently, you can “out-grow” your allergy. Who knew?
Yep, you guessed it – Mr. EverydayMaven is no longer allergic to shellfish or any food for that matter.
We found this out about a year ago and I am embarrassed to admit I just finally got around to making this for him.
Yes, he loved it.
And, ate one pound by himself in peace, dirty fingers and all.
How long does it take to make a shrimp boil?
Not long at all. In somewhere around 10 minutes (Including prep time!) you can have this Old Bay shrimp boil recipe finished and chilling in the fridge. If you’re making your own cocktail sauce for the shrimp, that will only tack on an extra minute or two.
Can you make this Old Bay shrimp boil recipe Keto or Whole30?
Yes, absolutely. For Whole30, leave out the sauce or just use sugar-free ketchup instead. For keto, serve with melted butter.
Looking for more Old Bay recipes?
Here are a few more recipes on the blog featuring Old Bay seasoning:
- Crispy Old Bay Shrimp
- Old Bay Shrimp Celery Boats
- Baked Old Bay Sweet Potato Fries
- Old Bay Grilled Salmon
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!
Make this classic Old Bay Shrimp in advance and chill. Serve with cocktail sauce or butter and watch these Boiled Old Bay Shrimp disappear!
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar *can sub beer
- 8 cups water
- 1/3 cup Old Bay seasoning
- 4 cloves garlic
- 6 whole peppercorns
- 2 pounds large Wild-caught Shrimp
- 2 T Old Bay seasoning for tossing
- 1 cup ketchup natural or organic
- 3 T horseradish
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce gluten free if necessary
- pinch salt
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Combine vinegar, water, 1/3 cup Old Bay, garlic and peppercorns in a large soup pot.
Bring to a boil over medium high heat.
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When water is rapidly boiling, add shrimp, cover and cook 2 to 4 minutes (until shrimp are just pink).
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Immediately drain shrimp and toss with remaining 2 tablespoons Old Bay.
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Place uncovered in a bowl and refrigerate (at least 30 minutes) until ready to serve.
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Combine all ingredients.
I use 3 tablespoons of horseradish to 1 cup of ketchup but I like my cocktail sauce to have a kick.
Start with 2 tablespoons and slowly adjust to taste and spice level. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Serve with plenty of napkins and Enjoy!
- Click here to get help figuring out which Shrimp to buy! (Seafood Watch)
- For Whole30, omit the sauce or use a sugar free ketchup to make it.
- For Keto, serve with melted butter.
Note that the nutrition information is for the Old Bay Shrimp ONLY and doesn't include the cocktail sauce as many of you will serve this without the sauce or with melted butter.
Did you make this recipe? Tag @EverydayMaven on Instagram with the hashtag #EveryDayMaven and please give a star rating below.
Originally Posted: April 24th, 2012 | Updated: December 18th, 2018
Such a delicious party appetizer!
Yes, they always dissapear FAST!
This will be a sure hit for our parties!
Yay! Hope everyone loves it!
This recipe is the best!! Only one I will use. Always get rave reviews when use it! Thanks for sharing it.
Thank you so much Dawn!! It means so much to hear this feedback!
So simple yet flavorful! Love shrimp cocktail.
Thanks! So glad you loved it!
PS Thanks for the book and chocolates! Looking forward to diving into both! xo
You are soooo welcome!! I hope you love them – Merry Christmas 🙂
Whoa, these were so easy and so delicious!! Time to buy another huge can of Old Bay!
Always have to stay stocked in the Old Bay! So glad you loved them!
I tried this recipe today and it was DELICIOUS!!! Thank you so much for sharing.
Fantastic Sharon!! Thanks for letting me know 🙂
Just made tonight and NEVER have made shrimp with Old Bay like we get steamed at the grocer in Nags Head…this seriously mimics it and may even be better (I used twice as much garlic and saved it from the colander to add to my post-peeled scrumptious shrimp!) Thanks so much for this recipe…glad Costco sells huge bottles of Old Bay as I’ll be doing this recipe on a regular basis as its so quick, easy & delicious!
That is such a HUGE compliment – thank you!! 🙂
Amazing recipe! Just like a bar we go to in Baltimore in my travels. I go there only for that reason!! Very nice!!
Thank you John! Glad to hear it 🙂
Amazing results. Thanks a bunch
Hi Alyssa, I used your recipe this past christmas eve. I used colossal ready cooked shrimp and left the tail on. I will never eat raw shrimp again after that. Thank You
Glad you liked it!! Happy New Year 🙂
I never heard of eating “RAW” shrimp. Not sure I would eat it raw and never knew anyone who would.
I do not see where raw shrimp is suggested for eating. Please do not eat raw shrimp, and re-read the posts. You may have misunderstood the instructions.
Thanks Debbie!