• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Perfect Tide
  • Recipe Index
    • MEDITERRANEAN
    • SEAFOOD
      • Fish
        • Rock Fish & White Fish
        • Salmon
        • Tuna
      • Canned & Tinned
      • Shellfish
        • Crab
        • Mussels
        • Oysters
        • Razor Clams
        • Shrimp
        • Steamer Clams
      • PACIFIC COAST
    • Breakfast
    • Appetizers
    • Main Course
      • Mediterranean Main Dish
    • Sides
    • Desserts
    • Baked Goods
    • Drinks
    • Sauces & extras
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Seafood How-To
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Seafood How-To
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home

    Cajun Dungeness Crab Boil

    Last Updated: Jan 13, 2023 by Suzy Sakamoto · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Share on Facebook

    Cajun Dungeness Crab Boil that's an absolute crowd pleaser for a large crowd, as well as a date night for two.

    Made with whole Dungeness crab, Lit'l smokies, corn, and red potatoes - the boil comes together in just 40 minutes using simple ingredients and one pot!

    dungeness crab boil with corn sausage potato and lemon

    This Dungeness Crab Boil recipe is perfect for cooking up after your crabbing adventures, or picking up fresh crab from the market! Plus there's a full guide on how to open, clean and crack your crab so you have all the tools to become a pro at cracking crab!

    This is easily one of our go-to Dungeness crab recipes because of it's simplicity, yet always pleases the crowd. You can easily substitute for other crab or crustaceans.

    Living on the coast, we get our fair share of fresh, delicious seafood. Dungeness crab is no exception. We created this recipe shortly after moving to the coast when crabbing quickly became a rewarding family hobby.

    Shortly after realizing how easy and delicious this boil is, we continued to make this recipe more and more. It quickly became an easy one-pot dinner favorite at our house. Especially when we pair it with a seafood boil sauce that compliments it well!

    Make it your own using sausage of your choice, as well as adding other seafood to the recipe. This makes a great date night in meal, or dinner for guests!

    Either way, you've got to make it.

    EQUIPMENT YOU WILL NEED

    1. Cutting board. I've had this style of cutting boards for years and love having multiple lightweight options, for meals that I'm using veggies and seafood.
    2. Knife.
    3. One large pot with a strainer, or a separate colander.
    4. Measuring cups & Measuring spoons.
    5. Small bowl.
    6. Crab Cracking Set with Picks. These are what we use!

    cooked whole dungeness crab

    CAJUN DUNGENESS CRAB BOIL INGREDIENTS

    These are our go-to ingredients to an easy and delicious Dungeness crab boil recipe. However, we do substitute them from time to time. So, feel free to substitute any of the ingredients to best fit your preference - and report back in the comments section below on how it went.

    Here's What You'll Need:

    • Dungeness Crab. Live is best to use. I use live Dungeness crab that we catch ourselves, as one of many family activities we enjoy on the coast. You can substitute for other crab or crab legs.

    • Red potatoes. Use small or large potatoes cut in half. If you're going for an easy crab boil, then go with the baby potatoes.

    • Corn on the cob. We use fresh corn, that we cut in half.

    • Onion. Yellow onion preferred for strongest flavor. In a pinch, substitute for red onion, but not white onion.

    • Garlic. Fresh Garlic is best for most flavor, but you can substitute it for garlic powder.

    • Lit'l Smokies. Our sausage of choice is lit'l smokies because of it's simplicity. It also tends to hold it's shape and keeps all the flavor locked in. Feel free to substitute for 1 pound of another sausage. Another great option is Andouille smoked (can be spicy) or Italian Smoked, which is what we use for our Seafood Boil. I would avoid sweet sausage.

    • Spices. A variety of warm spices give this dish its signature flavor. Smoked Paprika is preferred, but if you can't find it at your local store, try regular paprika.

    • Other seafood: Feel free to add other seafood as you see fit. I will upload our Seafood Boil recipe soon, however, this has been our go-to recipe when we bring crab home for an easy yet memorable dinner!

    cajun crab boil seasoning recipe in a while bowl

    ABOUT THE BOIL SEASONING

    A mix of warm spices, garlic, herbs and a little tang from the mustard seeds, and of course - a little kick that gives this boil it's signature Cajun flavor. The amount of seasoning gives this Cajun crab boil the right amount of flavor without overpowering the crab taste we love!

    Cajun Seasoning Recipe

    • 3 tbsp smoked paprika. Smoked paprika is best to use for the smokey aspect. If you can't find it in your local store, you can substitute it for regular paprika.

    • 6 tbsp Old bay seasoning. Old bay is best to use over other seafood boil seasoning since it has less sodium added.

    • 1 tbsp ground cayenne or to taste. You will feel a little kick!

    • 2 tbsp mustard seeds. Can be substituted for mustard powder for half the quantity.

    • 1 tbsp ground coriander.

    • 1 tbsp dried thyme. I love using fresh thyme. If you have some extras, it makes such a beautiful garnish!

    • 1 tbsp sugar. Sugar helps round out all the salt. If you are sensitive to sugar, you can avoid adding it.

    • 1 tbsp black pepper.

    Easily Double this Crab Boil for a Crowd

    cajun crab boil spread across tables to feed a crowd

    This Crab Boil Recipe impressed a big crowd at our toddler's birthday! Becoming the talk of all our family and friends for the next several months, and it couldn't have been easier to make.

    This is the ultimate easy recipe for a crowd that will be sure to create lasting memories.

    Which is the only way to throw a party in my book!

    cajun dungeness crab boil with potatoes and corn

    HOW TO EAT CRAB BOIL

    This Crab Seafood Boil Recipe can be the perfect date-night-in meal idea for two with the recipe as-is. For a large crowd, double or triple the recipe depending on the number of guests. Our rule of thumb is at least half of a crab to a crab per person.

    WHAT TO SERVE WITH CRAB BOIL

    We typically serve Seafood Boil as-is, or with a side of green salad. You can also serve it with baguette or sourdough. Roasted veggies are a great option as well.

    HOW LONG CAN YOU STORE CRAB BOIL

    Once cooked, Seafood Boil can last in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.

    My other crab recipe favorites are:

    Crab Omelette is the perfect recipe to use up any leftover crab the next morning!

    Crab Rangoon. Crunchy and creamy! They make the best appetizer.

    Fresh Crab Tacos are light, easy to whip up, but so hard to forget. They're divine!

    Crab Pasta with tomato and lemon garlic sauce, to get your spaghetti fix in!

    If you enjoyed this recipe, let me know with a comment and a star rating below. Please share it on Facebook and save it on Pinterest for later!

    I'd love to see the dishes you've made using our recipes and share them with our followers! Please post them on social media and tag us on Facebook @perfecttide and Instagram @theperfecttide

    Cajun Crab Boil

    Cajun Crab Boil is a crowd-pleaser for a large crowd or a date night for two.
    With whole Dungeness crab, Lit'l smokies, corn, and red potatoes - the boil comes together in just 40 minutes!
    5 from 14 votes
    Print Recipe Share on Facebook Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 40 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Pacific Coast, Seafood
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 581 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
      

    SEAFOOD BOIL SEASONING

    • 3 tablespoon smoked paprika
    • 6 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
    • 1 tablespoon ground cayenne or to taste
    • 2 tablespoon mustard seeds
    • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
    • 1 tablespoon dried thyme
    • 1 tablespoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon black pepper

    FOR THE BOIL

    • 2 whole Dungeness crab
    • 16 oz Lit'l Smokies
    • 5 ears of corn cut in half
    • 5 large red potatoes cut in half
    • 1 large yellow onion cut in half
    • 1 large lemon cut in slices
    • 5 cloves garlic cut in half

    SEAFOOD BOIL BUTTER SAUCE

    • 1 stick butter salted
    • 1 tablespoon reserved Seafood Boil seasoning
    • 6 cloves garlic minced
    • ¼ cup reserved boil liquid

    Instructions
     

    TO MAKE THE BOIL

    • In a small bowl, mix all the seafood boil spices and reserve 1 tablespoon for the butter sauce.
    • Fill a large pot ⅔ of the way with water and bring to a boil. Place the onion, garlic, sliced lemon, and boil seasoning.
    • Add the potatoes and cook for 20 minutes.
    • Then add the crab and cook for 7 minutes.
    • Then add the corn and the sausage and cook for another 5 minutes.
    • Drain into a colander, reserving ¼ cup for the butter sauce.
    • Pour into a shallow platter.

    TO MAKE THE BUTTER SAUCE

    • Melt the butter and mix in the reserved seafood boil liquid, minced garlic and seasoning.
    • Pour half the sauce onto the seafood boil, reserve the other half for dipping.
    • Enjoy immediately. Garnish with extra lemon slices and fresh chopped parsley is optional.

    Notes

    Sausage: Feel free to use another sausage. Good options are Andouille and Italian, cut into slices prior to cooking.
    To Serve: Sprinkle additional Old Bay Seasoning once plated to taste. 
    Tried this recipe? Tag me on IG @ThePerfectTide or #theperfecttide on FB @PerfectTide

    Nutrition

    Calories: 581kcalCarbohydrates: 62.1gProtein: 48g
    Keyword Cooking crab, Crab recipes, seafood, seafood butter sauce
    Loved this recipe?Give us a 5 star review & Share!

    * I earn from qualifying purchases from the links at no extra cost to you.

    • Facebook
    • Link to our Youtube Channel
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    More Recipes

    • fish collars broiled on black plate
      Best Broiled Fish Collars
    • blueberry toast with prosciutto and goat cheese and herbs
      Blueberry Toast
    • homemade blueberry vodka in a mason jar
      Blueberry Vodka
    • blueberry gin and tonic cocktail with a bowl of fresh blueberries and lime wedges
      Blueberry Gin Cocktail

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. John White

      May 29, 2023 at 8:57 pm

      5 stars
      We hosted our out of town friends and made this for them as a welcome to the Pacific Northwest dish and they absolutely loved it! Thank you for your simple steps!

      Reply
      • Suzy Sakamoto

        May 29, 2023 at 9:08 pm

        Hi John! This boil has pleased many of our crowds, I'm so happy to hear the same for you!

        Reply
    2. Jesse

      September 15, 2023 at 7:05 pm

      5 stars
      Turned out so good and it was so easy to make. My family loved it and requested it the next time they come over.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    suzy-seafood-mediterranean-food-blogger

    Hi, I'm Suzy! Welcome to my Pacific Coast kitchen!

    Here you will find authentic Mediterranean recipes and a variety of fresh seafood recipes that are easy to achieve, feature fresh ingredients, and are packed with flavor! We aim for a catch-and-cook lifestyle for our family, and my seafood recipes are tested, perfected, and easy to re-create! Subscribe to get them via email.

    More about me

    Popular

    • fish fillet cooked in air fryer with roasted air fries carrots and parsnips
      Easy Air Fryer Frozen Fish
    • Cajun Dungeness Crab Boil
    • cooked crab in a pot crab legs crab sections and whole crab cooked
      The Easiest Way to Cook Crab
    • crab melts on english muffins with tomato and cheese
      Crab Melt on English Muffins

    Seasonal

    • sugar and salt rim with dark red alcoholic drink fresh huckleberry margarita
      Fresh Huckleberry Margarita
    • seafood boil recipe with butter sauce on the table
      Seafood Boil
    • Baked whole rockfish canary rockfish with thyme, lemon slices in white baking dish
      Baked Whole Rockfish Recipe
    • razor clam spaghetti with white sauce sauce angel hair pasta mushrooms red peppers parsley garnish
      Razor Clam Spaghetti with Wine Sauce

    Footer

    ⬆️ back to top

    ABOUT

    • ABOUT
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    NEWSLETTER

    • SIGN UP FOR FREE RECIPES

    CONTACT

    • CONTACT
    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • PINTEREST

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright ©️ 2023 THEPERFECTTIDE