Side Dishes for Seafood Boil

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If you’re prepping to make a seafood boil and need some ideas on delicious side dishes, you’re in the right place! I’ve compiled a list of 10 of the best side dishes to compliment the main event.

Whether you’re making a low country boil, a crawfish boil, or a good old-fashioned shrimp boil, you’ll find a bunch of delicious recipes to make with your boil!

Shrimp, Lobster, Crab Legs, Clams, Corn, Mussels, and Sausages on a piece of newspaper with garlic butter sauce

What is a seafood boil?

A seafood boil is as big a party as it is a dish. It’s a bunch of different seafood thrown into a flavorful broth and boiled until it’s cooked. It’s a simple recipe but the finished product is so good.

A typical seafood boil consist of red potatoes, sweet corn or ears of corn, a smoky sausage like andouille sausage, crawfish, king crab (dungeness crab legs if you’re fancy), lobster, jumbo shrimp, clams, and mussels.

Use a few lemon wedges to squeeze on top and you’ve got a delicious dish for everyone to enjoy!

Side Dishes for a Seafood Boil

a slice of cheesy garlic bread cut in half

4.86 from 7 votes

Easy Homemade Cheesy Garlic Bread

Homemade Cheesy Garlic Bread is a hearty sliced loaf slathered with butter, garlic, herbs, and cheese, then baked to crisp perfection. Who doesn't love a cheesy bread full of garlic and herbs?!

Garlic Bread Recipe

5 from 23 votes

Smoked Mac and Cheese

This creamy smoked mac and cheese recipe is the cheesy, melty, and oh so good! It has a mix 5 different cheeses for the most epic cheese pull and is topped with panko bread crumbs for a nice buttery crunch.

Smoked Mac and Cheese Recipe

Fried Okra

This Fried Okra Recipe features fresh okra breaded in the most flavorful coating then fried until golden brown creating a perfect crunchy texture!

Fried Okra Recipe

Souther Sweet Onion Hush Puppies

This classic Southern hush puppy recipe is made with cornmeal batter, diced sweet onions, and the perfect amount of sweetness. These hushpuppies are crispy and golden brown on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside and will become a new family favorite!

Hush Puppies Recipe

Cilantro Lime Rice

Make chipotle’s cilantro lime rice rice right in your rice cooker! It's the perfect side dish to any of your dinner dishes, with plenty of herbs and fresh lime juice.

Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe

buttermilk biscuits on a plate with honey drizzled on top.

5 from 20 votes

Old Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits

These Easy Homemade Biscuits are buttery, soft, and have tons of flaky layers! Ideal for family dinners, holidays, and the perfect side dish!

Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe

No ratings yet

Cajun Coleslaw

Cajun coleslaw is a bold, zesty twist on your classic coleslaw recipe! It’s made with a creamy dressing packed with Cajun flavors, making it nice and flavorful with just the right amount of spice.

Cajun Coleslaw Recipe

Creamy Brown Butter and Herb Mashed Potatoes

4.87 from 29 votes

Brown Butter Garlic and Herb Mashed Potatoes

Buttery garlic mashed potatoes with fresh herbs and cream. These tots are easy to make and delicious to eat! Pair this with your seafood boil for a blissful savory experience!

Garlic Mashed Potatoes Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Soul Food Potato Salad

This soul food potato salad is my mom’s recipe—creamy, tangy, and full of love. A classic Southern side dish perfect for any occasion!

Potato Salad Recipe

5 from 17 votes

Grandma’s Buttermilk Cornbread Recipe

One of my favorite things to enjoy with a seafood boil is bread. In between grabbing mouthfuls of shrimp and lobster and crab, taking a bite of this sweet cornbread is heavenly. It's full of butter and vanilla flavors and will be perfect at your next boil.

Grandma’s Buttermilk Cornbread Recipe

5 from 1 vote

House Salad

Bring your favorite restaurant starter home with this Easy House Salad! It's loaded with fresh vegetables, crunchy croutons, a sprinkle of cheese, and crumbled bacon bits! Simply toss everything together and serve with your favorite dressing for a great side dish that's the perfect accompaniment for easy weeknight dinners!

House Salad Recipe

Seafood Boil Sauces

I LIVE for my garlic butter seafood boil sauce where I literally melt a stick of butter (or two) and saute garlic and onions, then add old bay seasoning and cajun seasoning. It has a kick of spice, fresh herbs, lemon juice, and just too much deliciousness to even describe.

I use a similar sauce in my low-country boil recipe as well. It goes well with any type of boil/seafood honestly. However, if you’re not using my garlic butter sauce, you can try using:

Drinks that go with Seafood

Did you think we’d stop at side dishes?! We’ve got to hook you up with a couple drink recipes so you can really get the party going at your seafood boil! Here are some delicious drinks to serve:

FAQs

What goes well with a seafood boil?

A seafood boil can be served with bread, mac and cheese, salads, vegetables, corn on the cob, okra, etc. The list goes on!

What do you put on the table for a seafood boil?

Typically, you place newspaper or butcher paper on the table prior to sprawling the seafood onto the table to eat. It makes clean up a lot easier. You can also use aluminum pans or just a large serving tray.

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If you make this recipe, please leave a star rating on the recipe card and comment below! You can also tag @BritneyBreaksBread on Instagram and hashtag #britneybreaksbread so I can celebrate your beautiful creations!