Louisiana Crawfish Boil Recipe - Coop Can Cook (2024)

Posted on Author B. Coop

Louisiana Crawfish Boil Recipe - Coop Can Cook (1)

To my Cookies that aren’t familiar with Cajun cuisine, allow me to introduce you to a delicacy here in Louisiana. The Crawfish. Nothing gathers people together more than a good ole Crawfish Boil down here! Listen, this little red suckers bring a different kind of joy to our hearts! I can’t even explain the taste. But, let me try…It’s kind of like a mini lobster with 100x more flavor! Of course, everyone here has their own way of boiling. You already know I had to come up with the easiest method that also has the most flavor! Here’s how I prepare my Crawfish Boil and bless my folks!

Louisiana Crawfish Boil Recipe - Coop Can Cook (2)

Clean ‘Em Up!

Your sack of crawfish are going to be dirty! Don’t be alarmed. They come from the swamp. So, a little dirt is expected. We pour them into large cooler and place the water hose inside it. Then, open the drainage hole. Allow the water to run for about 20 minutes or until the water in the cooler is clean.

Louisiana Crawfish Boil Recipe - Coop Can Cook (3)

You should be able to see the crawfish clearly. You also want to remove any dead crawfish you see floating around. If their tails are straight, they’ve gone to glory. Toss ‘em! You definitely do not want to eat a crawfish that gave up the ghost before hitting that hot water. Gross!

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Just Right!

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Louisiana Crawfish Boil Recipe - Coop Can Cook (6)
Louisiana Crawfish Boil Recipe - Coop Can Cook (7)

You guys know I’m a flavor girl. I worked extra hard making sure these crawdaddies were seasoned to perfection. You want them to have the right amount of kick. If they’re too spicy, it’s hard to enjoy them. You want them jusssssst right! You know, like Goldilocks ole breaking and entering behind. Anyway, I like to season well! I use a mix of both Zatarain’s and Louisiana Fish Fry Products boil seasonings. Both are brands will incredible flavor! I also add one, 8 ounce bottle of liquid boil. The Garlic & Onion flavor is a tad bit less spicy than the original concentrate. It adds just the right amount of kick. If you like extra, EXTRA spicy crawfish, add another bottle.

Louisiana Crawfish Boil Recipe - Coop Can Cook (8)

I know what you’re thinking. “Coop, what the hell?” But, listen, you know if I don’t know anything else, I know how to add flavor to some food, okay? So, trust me on this. Do NOT skip this chicken bouillon!! Also, don’t skip the butter. Because, well, butter makes every damn thing good!

Louisiana Crawfish Boil Recipe - Coop Can Cook (9)
Louisiana Crawfish Boil Recipe - Coop Can Cook (10)

And don’t be shy with the veggies and citrus. They bring so much more out of the boil! And a secret, must have ingredient: vinegar. Plain, white, distilled vinegar. A cup will do. This makes the crawfish shells easier to peel. It also calms the smell. The scent of crawfish can linger on your fingers long after washing your hands. This little splash of vinegar takes care of that! You can even eat them inside of your house without worrying about stinking up your walls and furniture. Thank God for vinegar!

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Cool Off, Cool Off

Louisiana Crawfish Boil Recipe - Coop Can Cook (12)

The most important part of the boil, other than choosing the right amount of seasoning, is the cooling/soaking process. Crawfish boils super fast! Within 5 minutes, they will be beautifully red and floating at the top of the pot. This is when you need to drop that temperature. 150°F is ideal for soaking. Adding in frozen corn and sausages helps. But, you need to do more to drop the temperature fast enough. If not, the crawfish will overcook and become a mush. Some like to add ice. I don’t recommend that because ice can dilute the boil and take away some of the flavor we worked so hard to build. I use the Boil Boss! It’s an innovative and easy to use ring that attaches to your water hose. It works amazingly! It dropped my Boil from 220°F to 150°F in a little over 3 minutes! It also locks in the juice. I had the juiciest crawfish of my life using this thing!Get yours here (NOT SPONSORED): https://theboilboss.com

It is said that when the crawfish sinks to the bottom of the pot, it has sucked in as much flavor as possible. But, I find that the longer you soak, the spicier they become. So, taste as you soak. I soaked for about 40 minutes. Since the Boil Boss drooped the temp, I didn’t have to worry about my crawfish overcooking. It allotted them plenty of extra soaking time.

I was intimidated about boiling crawfish. But, there’s nothing to it! Just follow my instructions and watch the video until you’re ready to confidently tackle your first boil. You can do it! And just look at the reward!!

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Happy Boiling,

B. Coop

Louisiana Crawfish Boil Recipe - Coop Can Cook (14)

5 from 1 vote

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The Best Crawfish Boil Recipe

A good, ole Louisiana Crawfish Boil how-to including the recipe for the most flavorful boil you’ll ever enjoy!

Ingredients

  • 30-40lbslive crawfish
  • 2.5lbsZatarain’s CrawfishShrimp, and Crab Boil Complete
  • 2lbsLouisiana CrawfishShrimp, and Crab Boil
  • 8ozZatarain’s liquid Shrimp & Crab Boil Garlic & Onion flavor
  • 1cupdistilled vinegar
  • 7-8ozpowdered chicken bouillon
  • 1cupkosher salt
  • 3onions
  • 3bell peppers
  • 4celery stalks
  • 3garlic pods
  • 3oranges
  • 3-4lemons
  • 1stick salted butter
  • Boiling potatoes
  • Frozen corn
  • Sausagefrozen or thawed

Instructions

  1. Pour crawfish into a large cooler with a drainage hole

  2. Place water hose into cooler and run water into the cooler with the drainage hole opened.

  3. Remove any dead crawfish (if the tails are straight, they’re gone!)

  4. Continue until the water in the cooler is clear

  5. Turn on the fire and place the boiling pot on top

  6. Fill the pot with water until it is 2-3 inches over halfway full.

  7. And in the Zatarain’s seasoning (both powder and liquid), the Louisiana seasoning, chicken bouillon, salt, and vinegar.

  8. Stir well.

  9. Place the holed, steamer insert into the pot

  10. Add in the veggies

  11. Squeeze the juice from the oranges and lemons before toss them into the pot.

  12. Add the butter and stir well.

  13. Cover the pot with the lid to encourage the boil

  14. Once boiling, add on the potatoes

  15. Stir, cover with the lid, and allow to boil for 10 minutes.

  16. Carefully remove the steamer insert

  17. Pour crawfish into the insert on top of the potatoes.

  18. Carefully place insert back into the pot.

  19. Cover with a lid and boil the crawfish for 5-7 minutes

  20. Turn the fire off.

  21. Add in frozen corn and/or sausage to help cool the boil.

  22. Stir until the temp inside the pot has lowered to 150°F *see video and info above for instructions*

  23. Cover and allow the crawfish to soak for at least 30 minutes; or until the corn and sausage is done, and the majority of the crawfish has sunk to the bottom of the pot**

  24. Remove the steamer insert and allow it to drain.

  25. Enjoy!

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Louisiana Crawfish Boil Recipe - Coop Can Cook (2024)

FAQs

What can you cook in a crawfish 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. Host a fabulous and flavorful crawfish boil at home with this top-rated recipe.

How do you cook crawfish that are already cooked? ›

If your crawfish were boiled, she suggests dipping them in a pot of seasoned water for one or two minutes. Don't let them linger there any longer, though. Says Bickford, "over boiled whole crawfish can have a mushy texture making them not only unappetizing but very hard to peel."

What other meat can you put in a crawfish boil? ›

Meats, such as bologna or sausage, can add fat to the water, so consider adding them after the crawfish have been removed from the boil. Also, consider how you will time the boiling or poaching for the foods you add.

How many people will 32 pounds of crawfish feed? ›

One bag of crawfish is around 32 pounds. It feeds an army (around 12-14 people), but if you have more sides, it's even more than that!

Can I put shrimp in my crawfish boil? ›

Add the crawfish, cover again and cook 10 minutes. Add the shrimp and stir to combine. Cover and cook for 4 to 5 minutes more. Carefully strain the seafood, sausage and vegetables and serve on a large table covered with newspaper.

Why put oranges in crawfish boil? ›

Oranges and lemons – These should go in the boil early before adding your crawfish. Seither also highly recommends pineapple. “Those fruits really brighten up the crawfish boil and give it a nice citrus flavor,” he said.

What happens if you boil crawfish too long? ›

If you boil your crawfish for too long, they will get mushy and unpleasant to eat. However, if you don't boil them for long enough, they'll be tough and chewy. The best way to make sure you're cooking your crawfish correctly is to open one up every now and then to feel for the texture.

Can you reuse crawfish boil water next day? ›

Yes, the leftover water from a shrimp or crawfish boil can indeed be used as stock. In fact, it is commonly referred to as seafood stock and can add a wonderful depth of flavor to various dishes.

Can you eat leftover crawfish from a boil? ›

Leftover cooked crawfish are highly perishable and should be refrigerated or frozen as soon as everybody's finished eating. You can also freeze the crawfish tails if you're not planning on using them in the next few days. Consider freezing them in 1 cup portions, so you can take out what you need for specific recipes.

Why put lemons in crawfish boil? ›

Adding citrus fruits, like oranges, lemons, and pineapples will give the seafood boil a slight hint of sweet, yet citrusy flavor. If your seafood boil is spicy, this will even be better! Spicy, sweet, and citrusy go well together.

What alcohol goes best with crawfish boil? ›

"I think you're always looking for things that are refreshing, very cold, and acidic to pair with the boil," Simpkins says. "Of course, you can't go wrong with beers. We like to drink a classic, basic pilsner or lager with a crawfish boil. I also think saisons and fruit-driven sour beers are delicious with it.

Why is my crawfish meat gray? ›

When live, red swamp crawfish are red to nearly black in color; white-river crawfish are light to a darker shade of brown. All crawfish cook up bright red. Raw meat is grayish in color. Cooked meat should be a clean white.

How long do you let crawfish soak after boiling? ›

Allow the crawfish to soak for 20 - 30 minutes to add spiciness. When the crawfish are starting to drop in the water you know they are soaking up those spices. If you soak them too long the crawfish will turn into mush. Dump the crawfish and fixins on a table and tell your friends and family to gather around!

What is the brown stuff in crawfish? ›

That mysterious blob is actually the crawfish's hepatopancreas, which according to the Louisiana State University Agricultural Service, functions somewhat like the human liver, filtering out toxins and other substances that could potentially harm the crawfish.

How many crawfish per person? ›

A good guideline for any crawfish boil is 3 pounds per person. However, it is important to take your guests into consideration when you place your order. For example, if your guests are big eaters, you may want to order 5 pounds for those individuals.

What is the difference between crawfish and crawdads? ›

Crawfish, crayfish, and crawdads are the same animal. Which term you use may depend much on where you live. Louisianans most often say crawfish, whereas Northerners are more likely to say crayfish.

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