Easy One Pan Spicy Seafood Dinner – Perfect for a Party

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Our Virtual Book Club monthly book for May is “Big Little Lies” by Liane Moriarty.

On Thursday, my post was about hosting an Al Fresco “Big Little Lies” themed dinner party.

Today I’m sharing with you what I’m making for my Big Little Lies Al Fresco Dinner party. It’s an easy one-pan spicy seafood dinner. 

​Not only is this easy but it is perfect for a party.

Welcome to the Virtual Book Club – Culinary Version

Three other bloggers and I will share our interpretation of a different book each book on the fourth week of each month.

On Thursday we will be sharing something home decor related and on the following Saturday a culinary treat inspired by our book.

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​What is in this Spicy Seafood Dinner?

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The beauty of this is that you can put in the foods and the flavors that you like. I’m going to create my sheet pan dinner with my main ingredients with a buttery sauce that has a spicy cajun seasoning flavor.

However, based on your personal preferences you change out the ingredients and add more or less of the spices.

What I’m using:

  • Sweet Corn
  • Jumbo Shrimp
  • Red Potatoes
  • Spicy Andouille Sausage


You can also use other fresh seafood of your choice. some suggestions would be mussels, clams, crawfish, soft-shelled crabs, and oysters. 

​Instead of andouille sausage, you can also use kielbasa sausage or chorizo sausage. For the true low-country boil flavor you want a smoky sausage.

Here are some more things you could use in this recipe that are also great options.

  • quartered onions
  • sweet potatoes
  • zucchini
  • tomatoes

Baking vs. Boiling

If you want to cut the cooking time down and give your small new potatoes a head start you can parboil them. Bring 5 – 6 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot, add the potatoes, to the boiling water, and gently boil for about 10 minutes. This will cut the amount of time it takes to bake.

I used the one pan method and everything tasted wonderful but it took about an hour. I started with the potatoes first and baked them for 30 minutes. Then added the corn for 15 minutes and finally the shrimp and sausage at the end for another 15 minutes.

Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil and drizzle it with about 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Toss the potatoes with about 1/3 of the butter mixture on the prepared baking sheet. Make sure the potatoes are in a single layer.

I mix another 1/3 of the butter mixture with the corn and the last 1/3 with the seafood and sausage and set aside until it was time to add it to the sheet pan. 

I added about 1/4 cup of lemon juice (1/2 fresh lemon) to the seafood and sausage mixture and toss.

Difference of a Seafood Boil & Seafood Bake

There are all kinds of names for them; crawfish boil, low country boil, spicy seafood boil, traditional shrimp boil, crab boil, traditional seafood boil, and sheet pan shrimp boil recipe.

Whether it’s boiled in the butter mixture or baked it’s really about cooking a medley of seafood, with typically sausage and sweet corn.

It is also typically dumped on a table covered with paper and everyone can just eat what and when they want.

It’s a very Louisiana and East Coast tradition.

One-Pan Spicy Seafood Medley Dinner

The same flavor as the traditional Louisiana Shrimp Boil or East Coast Seafood Boil but much easier.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Cajun
Keyword: cajun cuisine, one-pan, seafood medley
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 484kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large baking sheet
  • measuring spoons
  • sharp knife
  • small bowl
  • large aluminum foil

Ingredients

  • 1-1-1/2 pounds large raw shrimp
  • 4 ears of fresh corn
  • 1-1/2 pounds new potatoes Can use red potatoes or fingerlings
  • 12 ounce Cajun Style Andouille Sausage
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice about 1/2 of a lemon
  • 1 stick butter
  • 1 tsp Redmond Real Sea Salt
  • 1 tsp thyme
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tbsp smoked paprika the smoked gives it real flavor
  • 3 green onions
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 cup parsley
  • 1 lemon cut into wedges

Instructions

  • Preheat Oven to 450°

Ingredient Prep

  • Break the corn into 2-3 inch pieces. I found it hard to break so if you decide to cut it be very, very careful.
  • Cut the sausage into 1/4" slices
  • Quarter or halve the potatoes, depending on the side (don't peel)
  • Wash the shrimp (seafood). I didn't take the shells off but you can.
  • Chop the green onions and finely chop the parsley

Butter Sauce

  • Melt the stick of butter in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave for about 1 minute.
  • Combine the butter with the spices

Prepare & Assemble

  • Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil
  • Drizzle about 2 tablespoons of olive oil onto the foil. I used my clean hands to spread it around but you can also use a pastry brush or the back of a wooden spoon.
  • Mix potatoes with 1/3 of the butter mixture. I did it in a bowl but you can also do it right on the baking sheet, being careful not to rip the foil. Make sure the potatoes are in a single layer
  • Put in preheated oven for 30 minutes, turning 1/2 way through
  • After 30 minutes, add the corn with another 1/3 of the butter mixture. Combine with potatoes and put back into the oven for 15 minutes. Again, make sure it's in a single layer.
  • Add the last 1/3 of the butter to the shrimp and the sausage, and stir in with the juice of 1/2 a lemon.
  • Lastly add the shrimp and sausage mixture to the pan, stirring well, making sure it's still a single layer and put back into the oven for the last 15 minutes
  • I prepped all of my ingredients in three different bowls all at once when the butter was still melted. It made a little more mess but worked better for me.
  • Garnish with parsley, green onions and lemon wedges
Yum

Fun Seafood Dinner

Eating the Meal

I cook the shrimp with the shells on as peeling the shrimp and eating the corn with your hands is part of the experience. If you don’t want to serve your shrimp this way you can peel them before you cook them. 

This is the kind of meal where a few rolls of paper towels on the table for napkins is a must.

While this can be an easy weeknight dinner recipe, it does take a little time.

The seafood boil is a time-honored tradition in many coastal regions of the country. Celebrating the warmer seasons and a bountiful catch~in perfect fashion~bringing communities (small and large) together in a social soirée of epic proportions

Sides

  • Crusty French or Sourdough Bread
  • Side Salad
  • Dirty Rice
  • Ice Cold Beer or Rosé Wine

Perfect Party Meal

This makes a lot of food so this is a crowd favorite at this small house.  

This is a perfect meal to serve for my Big Little Lies dinner party.

I hope you enjoy this meal. It’s a fun dinner party with good friends type of dish.

Enjoy!

Peace & Love,

Create an Outdoor Party

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4 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Looks so good Lynn! Still love that your neighbourhood had a dinner party for the season ender!

  2. 5 stars
    This was so great, a definite keeper! Everyone asked for the receipe.
    Question…can the leftovers be frozen?

  3. Linda Neufeld says:

    5 stars
    Really loved this recipe. Can I freeze the leftovers?

    1. Hi Linda – I have never tried to freeze this recipe but I don’t see why you couldn’t. There isn’t anything in it that isn’t freezable. My only suggestion would be to not leave it in the freezer more than a couple of months.