How to cook a seafood boil in the oven

Baked seafood boil is a family favorite here, usually eaten on special occasions. The recipe we are sharing with you allows each person to have their own customized seafood boil.

We love this method because this is basically a guide for a build-your-own-seafood-boil-in-a-bag!

Seafood can easily become a costly meal for a family. When eating out you have to include drinks, a tip, and the possibility that your food is not to your standard. This recipe is so easy, customizable, and perfect for any special occasion.

So, we will include a list of seafood we used, but feel free to include or exclude your desired ingredients. Let us know in the comments what are your favorite ingredients to make the perfect seafood boil!

Often seen in a seafood boil is shrimp, mussels, potatoes, corn, boiled eggs, sausage, clams, crawfish, etc. Like I mentioned, the best part is you can use your prefered ingredients.

We usually like to keep this simple and only include what we like most: Crab, shrimp, corn, and potatoes. But we made this specific recipe for the birthday dinner of our eldest boy. So, we have added crawfish, mussels, and sausage for the occasion.

I like to believe that the secret to the perfect seafood boil is to use fresh ingredients. For this recipe we suggest you shop at your local seafood market. This allows you to support local and ask any questions you may have. If you are local here in Largo, FL we recommend checking out Ward’s Seafood.

When it comes to baking your seafood boil you will need to follow a few steps:

• Ensure your ingredients are fully thawed.
• Clean the crab. Layer salt around the crab and use a toothbrush to remove any debris. Rinse and repeat until the crab are fully cleaned.
• Boil potatoes and corn until fork tender.
• Taste the butter sauce before pouring into oven bags. Adjust accordingly.

How to Prepare the Protein/Vegetables/Butter Sauce

Be sure everything is thawed properly. Then, the crab will need to be cleaned. The best method for this is to place the crab in a big bowl or on a plate. Place the bowl in the sink and cover the crab legs with a generous amount of salt. Use a new toothbrush and scrub the legs and body to remove any debris. Rinse and repeat twice.

Spread softened butter over the body of each crab leg. Liberally cover old bay over the butter.

Slice the sausage into 1 1/2-inch pieces.

The butter sauce can easily be made in a small pot. Allow the butter to fully melt then stir in remaining ingredients. If you’d like it to be spicy add more cayenne powder, red pepper flakes, and hot sauce. Taste for your likeness.

Then, place all your ingredients out on a table. To a bowl add the oven bag. Evenly distribute all items into 4 bags. Top with fresh parsley and sliced lemon. Pour the butter sauce into each bag. Remove excess air from the bags and secure appropriately. Bake in a 375-degree oven for 45 minutes.

The Final Steps/Notes for Baked Seafood Boil

We hope you have enjoyed this recipe. Leave us comment below and tag us on Facebook with @mealsbymr. Here are tips we have learned to help make this feast a little easier.

• Taste butter sauce before pouring into the oven bags.
• Cover your table in newspaper to make for an easy clean up.
• Place bowls around the table to discard shells.
• In addition, you will need seafood sheller, crab leg crackers. We got free bibs from our local Red Lobster. (Fun addition for the birthday boy)
• This can be made ahead of time! We prepped everything the day before so we could enjoy time with the birthday boy. Simply follow all instruction accordingly but do not distribute the ingredients until you are ready to bake. Store the crab, shrimp, potatoes and corn into separate Ziplock bags. Store the butter in a microwave safe dish and reheat just before use. Slice the sausage just before use as well.
• Make an extra half batch of butter sauce to pour over the seafood boil when it is done baking.
• Lastly, a box of Red Lobster’s cheddar bay biscuits is the perfect addition to this feast.

Check out this recipe for an easy weeknight dinner. Delicious Creamy Shrimp with Fettuccine.

Print Recipe

Baked Seafood Boil in a Bag- with Butter Sauce

Author: Mychelle & Ryan Courses: M.R. Meals, Seafood

Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time 30 min Cook Time 45 min Rest Time 10 min Total Time 1 hr 25 mins Servings: 4

Ingredients

Servings

• 2 cups Unsalted Butter
• 2 pounds Snow Crab Legs
• 1 pound Shrimp
• 16 ounces Smoked Sausage
• 1 pound Crawfish
• 4-6 tablespoons Softened Butter
• 2 tablespoons Minced Garlic
• 1 tablespoon Brown Sugar
• 2 tablespoons Paprika
• 2 teaspoons Cayenne Pepper
• 2 teaspoons Chili Powder
• 1 tablespoon Red Pepper Flakes
• 2 teaspoons Slap ya Mama Seasoning
• 2-4 Oven Bags
• 3 Lemons (sliced, 1 juiced)
• 1/2 Bunch Fresh Parsley
• 12 Baby Red Potatoes
• 3 Half Corn on the Cob

Instructions

1. Start by preheating your oven to 375° F. Melt 4 sticks of butter in a skillet on medium heat. Once melted add the seasonings (#7-13) and the juice of one lemon. Taste as you add ingredients and butter absorbs the flavor. Leave on low heat (stir occasionally) while you prepare the rest of your meal.

2. Place the crab in the sink and generously coat with salt. Scrub the crab legs to remove debris. Rinse and repeat twice. Spread softened butter and sprinkle old bay over the body of the crab and distribute to the oven bags.

3. Rinse the potatoes and corn. Boil until fork tender. Drain then evenly distribute to the oven bags.

4. To the bag add shrimp, mussels, sausage sliced lemons and fresh chopped parsley. Pour butter sauce into each oven bag. Tie a knot on each and place on a baking tray. Bake for 45 minutes.

   How do you cook a seafood boil?

   We recommend using a boil bag in a pot of water for best reheating results. If you have no alternative but to use a pan, put a little water in the pan and when it starts heating, add the boil and keep stirring to ensure it heats evenly and doesn't start cooking again. The maximum time in the pan shouldn't be 5 minutes.

   Can you cook raw crab in the oven?

   Preheat the oven to 350F. Place clean Dungeness crab on top of lemon slices, pour garlic butter sauce over the crab, season with salt & pepper. Bake for 15-20 minutes. While the crab is baking I like to place the crab's top shell back into the pot and boil for 10 more minutes.

   How long does crab boil take to cook?

   Gently drop crabs into pot and boil until crabmeat is cooked through, at least 10 minutes. Drain and serve.

   How long do you cook crab legs and lobster tails in the oven?

   15 - 20 min. Baking: Follow procedures for broiling. Bake in a 400 F oven and use Time Table guide to estimate cooking time.