Seafood Boil Sauce

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This Seafood Boil Sauce is made with melted butter, fresh lemon, Old Bay Seasoning, and optional Cajun spices for a kick of flavor. Drizzle this sauce or use it for dipping crab legs, shrimp, crawfish, lobster, or any of your favorites.

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This sauce is a delectable mixture of ingredients used to season and add flavor to seafood dishes, usually those that are boiled, baked, or steamed. It brightens up the flavor shrimp, crawfish, crab, lobster, and pretty much any seafood. It can be used as a dipping sauce or as a marinade for grilled or smoked meats.

It pairs wonderfully with my Seafood Boil in a Bag recipe.

Check out our post on What is a Seafood Boil for additional commentary and tips.

Key Ingredients

• Butter (Olive oil can be substituted)
• Garlic
• Fresh Lemon
• Old Bay Seasoning
• Parsley
• Dry, white wine (Broth can be substituted if you wish).

Taste and Flavor

Butter adds a rich, creamy taste and texture to seafood, and can also help to enhance the natural flavors.

Lemon adds a bright, acidic taste that complements the delicate flavor of seafood. Lemon helps balance out the richness of the seafood and butter used in the dish. It also gives a freshness to the dish and enhances the natural flavors.

Garlic works wonderfully here because it adds a strong, pungent taste that complements the delicate flavor. Garlic’s strong flavor can help add a depth of flavor to the dish.

How to Make Seafood Boil Sauce

Full detailed instructions are below in the recipe card.

1. Place a skillet or saucepan on medium heat and add the butter.
2. When melted, lemon, lemon zest, Old Bay Seasoning, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper to taste.
3. Stir for 3-4 minutes until combined.

How to Make it Spicy

You can add your favorite hot sauce or cayenne pepper to make it spicy.

Additional Ideas on How to Season it

• Lemon Pepper Seasoning
• Cajun Seasoning
• Creole Seasoning
• Homemade Ranch Seasoning
• Homemade BBQ Seasoning and Rub

How to Store Leftover Sauce and How Long it Will Last in the Fridge

Leftover sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 5 days.

How to Reheat

To reheat it, you can warm it in a saucepan on low heat, stirring occasionally. You can use the microwave. Stick to short bursts of time (I like to check in every 15 seconds) and stir in between to ensure that it is heated evenly. To keep the sauce from separating, it’s best to avoid boiling or overheating it.

Freezer Tips

You can freeze leftover sauce for up to 3 months. Use an airtight container or a freezer bag and make sure to press out all the air before sealing it. Thaw in the fridge overnight and follow the reheat steps noted above.

Pair With These Recipes

Grilled Snow Crab Legs
Dungeness Crab Legs
Grilled King Crab Legs with Garlic Butter
Smoked Swordfish
Pan Seared Shrimp

More Sauce Recipes

Creamy Dill Sauce for Salmon
Homemade Seafood Shrimp Cocktail Sauce
Crawfish Boil Sauce
Mango Dressing (Fresh or Frozen)
Remoulade Sauce for Crab Cakes and Salmon