If you’re here to find great ideas for what to serve with a shrimp boil, look no further than this list of 25 best side dishes for a shrimp boil.
One dish people love eating during picnics, barbecues, and other outdoor events is shrimp boil.
Aside from the main course, you also need to think about what to serve with a shrimp boil when you plan such events.
If you’re like me and you love seafood, wondering what to serve with a shrimp boil can be a challenge at times.
Before we tackle that question, let’s first address the question of “what is a shrimp boil?”
A shrimp boil is oftentimes a whole caboodle of shrimp with other ingredients mixed in, such as andouille sausage, corn, potatoes, and seasoning.
Sometimes, people add other kinds of seafood to their shrimp boil, and these can include mussels, clams, crab legs, and even lobster.
The most commonly used seasoning for shrimp boil is Old Bay seasoning, but some people love to mix it up.
Others use Cajun spices for their shrimp boil, while a few mixes in some pepper flakes, chili powder, or cayenne powder along with salt and pepper to give their shrimp boil some heat.
All of these ingredients are then boiled together in a large pot together with garlic, onions, the chosen seasoning, some broth, and butter.
Once everything is cooked, the liquids are drained, and the whole batch of seafood goodness, along with the accompaniments cooked with it, are poured out onto a table, ready for people to enjoy!
Now, here is where the conundrum of what to serve with a shrimp boil comes in.
There are some who simply eat the potatoes and corn that come with the shrimp, but why settle for only that?
There are lots of options for you to try to elevate the flavor and goodness of the shrimp on your table.
These include vegetable dishes like Sauteed Collard Greens and Vegetable Stir Fry.
If you want to keep it simple, #24 is worth considering.
One of my go-to side dishes for seafood is this easy but super tasty recipe.
If you want your mashed potatoes more garlicky, add roasted garlic or sprinkle some garlic powder into the mix.
Here’s another recipe that has the potato take center stage.
This dish is great not only for your next shrimp boil but also for barbecues, potlucks, and when you’ve got something roasting in the oven.
Speaking of roasting, this recipe for roasted veggies is another easy yet fantastic dish to pair with your seafood boil.
Choose vegetables that are in season–parsnips, carrots, and broccoli are great during winter, while peppers, squash, and zucchini are abundant in the summer months.
There are many different ways you can grill veggies.
You can cut them in chunks and skewer them, or slice them in half and grill them that way.
This is another one of my go-to side dishes when I’m serving shrimp.
Instead of using regular cabbage, this one uses red cabbage to give it lots of color and a slight bitterness that goes well with rich and buttery food.
Another great roasted vegetable to try when you’re not sure what to serve with a shrimp boil is this one.
Combining the slightly bitter sprouts with the sourness of the balsamic and the sweetness of the honey creates an awesome flavor profile that complements seafood really well.
This classic comfort food is made even better with a molten cheese top that’s crusty due to the baking process.
Note that you don’t have to bake this, though, and it can be served as is or simply broiled for a few minutes.
Here’s a vegetable side dish that perfectly complements the richness of your shrimp boil.
The addition of dill and mint gives this salad added freshness to this dish, while the red onion gives it some sharpness that contrasts with the mild cucumber.
Who says garlic bread is only good when paired with pasta?
This Herbed Garlic Bread can also be used to mop up those yummy shrimp juices.
10. Garlic Rice
Another garlicky side dish you can serve alongside seafood is this one.
It’s simple and easy to make, plus it’s filling too!
11. Crusty Bread
If you’re shying away from making your crusty bread because of all the kneading, here’s a recipe for you!
This no-knead crusty artisan bread will make the perfect partner for all that buttery and sumptuous seafood.
12. Fried Okra
Want a southern side dish to pair with your shrimp boil?
Here’s one of the simplest recipes you can make that packs a lot of flavor and crunch!
Another southern favorite that you can pair with your seafood spread is this dish that has a movie named after it.
This recipe is also gluten-free since it uses cornmeal instead of wheat flour for its breading.
14. Hush Puppies
Here’s a dish that everyone is sure to love partnering with a shrimp boil.
If you want to add more kick to each bite, chopped jalapeno should do the trick.
These biscuits are not only tasty but are also quick and easy to make.
This recipe can be made at the last minute if you find you don’t have enough side dishes for your meal.
16. Cornbread
Also perfect for seafood, this recipe for cornbread is easy enough to modify to fit your taste.
You can add cheese, chopped jalapeno, bell peppers, and any other ingredients you feel will make this dish extra special.
Our Special Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread
If you don’t want to bother with mixing batter or sauteing anything, these fries are a good side dish to consider.
Just cut up, season, and bake.
Another 20-minute side dish you can make for your shrimp boil is this one.
Not only is this recipe fast and easy to make, but it’s also low carb and great for those on keto.
Vegetables go really well with shrimp, and these buttered beans are no exception.
To keep these beans crisp, instead of boiling, opt to blanch and drop them in cold water before sautéing.
Most recipes for collard greens are pretty standard–greens plus butter plus garlic and that’s it.
This one adds a little sweetness to the greens with some apples and some richness with bacon fat.
21. Greek Salad
If you don’t feel like cooking anything other than your shrimp boil but still want a side dish, this salad is the perfect solution.
Peppers, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, and olives, plus a vinaigrette with feta cheese, are all you need here.
22. Garlic Oil Pasta
Also called aglio olio, this speedy pasta dish is made super special with the addition of spinach and red pepper flakes.
If you don’t want this pasta dish to be spicy, omitting the flakes is all you need to do.
This stir-fry recipe uses Asian veggies and oyster sauce to make it truly delectable.
It can be easily tweaked to include other kinds of vegetables, like bell peppers, cauliflower, and the like.
24. Zucchini Fries
For those who are doing keto or paleo, here’s a low-carb alternative to fries and sweet potato fries.
This recipe comes with a lemon parsley aioli, but you can omit this if you want.
I started this list with one of my favorite potato recipes, so let’s close it up with another one.
This twice-baked potato dish is so easy to put together; you won’t believe just how quickly it comes together!
The bottom line
Next time you plan to cook shrimp boil and don’t know what to serve with a shrimp boil, this list should come to mind.
Bookmark it so you can easily find it when you want to make one or more side dishes for your seafood feast.
More Ideas For What To Serve With A Shrimp Boil
- No-Mayo Carolina Coleslaw
- Roasted Butternut Squash
- Roasted Parmesan Green Beans
- Roasted Zucchini With Tomatoes
- Oven-Roasted Carrots With Thyme
- Oven Roasted Radishes
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes Recipe
- Easy Air Fryer Green Beans
- How To Sauté Cauliflower
What To Serve With A Shrimp Boil (25 BEST Sides)
If you’re here to find great ideas for what to serve with a shrimp boil, look no further than this list of 25 best side dishes for a shrimp boil.
Ingredients
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Cajun Potato Salad
- Roasted Vegetables
- Grilled Vegetables
- Red Cabbage Slaw
- Balsamic And Honey Roasted Brussel Sprouts
- Macaroni And Cheese
- Cucumber And Feta Salad
- Herbed Garlic Bread
- Garlic Rice
- Crusty Bread
- Fried Okra
- Fried Green Tomatoes
- Hush Puppies
- Cheddar Bay Biscuits
- Cornbread
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Garlic Parmesan Asparagus
- Buttered Green Beans
- Sauteed Collard Greens
- Greek Salad
- Garlic Oil Pasta
- Vegetable Stir Fry
- Zucchini Fries
- Twice Baked Potatoes
Instructions
- Find your favorite side from our What To Serve With A Shrimp Boil list.
- Gather all the ingredients needed.
- Start cooking and make us proud!