How To Make Boiling Crab Sauce (Copycat Recipe)

If you’re a fan of spicy shrimp and seafood boil, you’ll definitely want to try this copycat Boiling Crab sauce recipe, also known as “the whole sha-bang“.

This spicy-sweet buttery sauce is the perfect Cajun seasoning for all your favorite seafood.

It’s a blend of old bay seasoning, cayenne pepper, lemon, and garlic, all wrapped up with a spicy, medium heat.

Known for their seafood boils, the Boiling Crab has gained notoriety for their “Whole Sha-Bang” sauce, a concoction that takes a shrimp boil recipe and transforms it into an extraordinary culinary experience.

At its core, this sauce is a fusion of garlic and butter. However, the addition of Cajun seasoning – a quintessential ingredient in any Cajun seafood boil – along with lemon, cayenne pepper, paprika, and Old Bay seasoning, creates a sauce that will have you savoring every last drop!

This is one of my favorite methods for preparing shrimp, and I’m confident that we’ve nailed this copycat recipe, I’m pretty sure you’ll be equally blown away by the results.

Ingredients

• Unsalted Butter: 2 sticks. The butter adds richness and helps to mellow out the heat from the spices.
• Garlic: 1 head, minced. Fresh garlic has a much stronger and more aromatic flavor than pre-minced garlic.
• Garlic Powder: 1 tablespoon. This adds an extra layer of garlic flavor to the sauce.
• Lemon Pepper: 1 tablespoon. This seasoning adds a tangy, zesty flavor to the sauce.
• Cayenne Pepper: 1 tablespoon. This adds heat to the sauce. Adjust the amount to suit your taste.
• Paprika: 1 tablespoon. Paprika adds a sweet, smoky flavor to the sauce.
• Old Bay Seasoning: 1 tablespoon. This unique blend of spices gives the sauce its distinctive flavor.
• Sugar: 1 tablespoon. The sugar balances out the heat and acidity in the sauce.
• Chili Powder: 1 tablespoon. This adds additional heat and complexity to the sauce.
• Hot Sauce: 1 tablespoon. Use your favorite brand. Adjust the amount to suit your taste.
• Lemon: Juice of 1 large lemon. Fresh lemon juice adds a bright, tangy flavor to the sauce.

Here are some tips to get the best results from your ingredients:

• Butter: This is a proper butter sauce, so use real butter, not margarine or a butter substitute. The butter not only adds richness but also helps to mellow out the heat from the spices.
• Lemon juice: Pick a large fresh lemon to juice, not the green bottled kind. Fresh lemon juice will give your sauce a bright, tangy flavor that can’t be replicated with bottled juice.
• Garlic: Don’t use already minced garlic. Get fresh garlic cloves and mince them yourself. Fresh garlic has a much stronger and more aromatic flavor than pre-minced garlic.
• Old Bay Seasoning: There are copycat brands out there, but it’s best to be brand-specific on this one. Old Bay has a unique blend of spices that gives this sauce its distinctive flavor.
• Hot sauce: Use your favorite brand like Texas Pete, Franks, or Louisiana hot sauce. Each brand has a slightly different flavor profile, so choose the one you like best.
• Cajun seasoning: The recommended brand is Tony Chachere’s Original Creole for this recipe. It has a great balance of flavors that works well in this sauce.

What Seafood Is Best In A Seafood Boil?

A seafood boil is a versatile dish that can be customized to your liking. Here are some of the best seafood options to consider:

• Shrimp: Shrimp is a classic choice for a seafood boil. It cooks quickly and absorbs the flavors of the boil beautifully. Both shell-on and peeled shrimp work well.
• Crab: Crab legs add a touch of luxury to a seafood boil. Snow crab and king crab legs are popular choices. They’re usually pre-cooked and just need to be heated through in the boil.
• Crawfish: Crawfish are a staple in traditional Louisiana crawfish boils. They have a sweet, delicate flavor that pairs well with the spicy boil.
• Clams and Mussels: Clams and mussels can add variety to your seafood boil. They’re done when their shells open up.
• Lobster: For a truly decadent seafood boil, consider adding lobster. Lobster tails are the easiest to manage in a boil, but whole lobsters can also be used.
• Sausage: While not seafood, sausage is a common addition to seafood boils. It adds a savory, smoky flavor that complements the seafood. Andouille sausage is a traditional choice, but any smoked sausage will work.

How To Make Boiling Crab Sauce

The process of making the Boiling Crab sauce is straightforward and involves simply melting butter and incorporating all the seasonings.

Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, you can relish a Cajun shrimp boil in under 30 minutes.

To utilize this Boiling Crab sauce, take your steamed or boiled seafood (perhaps with sausages and potatoes), and place it in a large bowl.

Pour the sauce over the seafood and toss to ensure everything is well coated. Serve alongside corn on the cob, perhaps some cornbread, and don’t forget plenty of napkins!

Butter melting in a saucepan. Boiling Crab sauce simmering in a saucepan. Follow these steps to create your sauce:

1. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat.
2. Once the butter has melted, reduce the heat to low and add in the garlic powder, minced garlic, Old Bay seasoning, paprika, Cajun seasoning, sugar, cayenne pepper, chili powder, and lemon pepper. Allow these ingredients to cook for about 30 seconds until the aroma of the spices fills the air.
3. Stir in the hot sauce and lemon juice. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 5 minutes.
4. Your sauce is now ready to be used immediately. Boiling Crab sauce stored in a glass jar.

How To Use Boiling Crab Sauce

This delicious sauce is an easy recipe to make and can be used in a variety of seafood dishes. Here are a few ideas:

• Low Country Crab Boil: Also known as Beaufort Stew or Frogmore Stew, this classic dinner turns out perfect when you sauce it with this boiling crab sauce recipe. It typically includes shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes.
• Louisiana Crawfish Boil: A crawfish boil is another family favorite. Cook it the same way you make your low country boil but only put in crawfish instead of shrimp and crab.
• Shrimp Boil: A shrimp boil recipe can consist of just shrimp, or you can add in sausage, lemon halves, potatoes, and corn on the cob. Drain and toss it in the boiling crab sauce.

Variations

Sometimes we do not follow an exact recipe when adding ingredients to our large stockpot. Some years we change it up by adding some of these ideas:

• Whole peeled onions
• Whole artichokes
• Lime halves
• Asparagus: Place a pound or so in a veggie mesh cooking bag

Storage Tips

If you would like to make this a day or two before you need it that is just fine. Follow the recipe instructions. When finished cooking cool to room temperature. Pour into a glass jar and seal with a tight fighting lid. Will keep in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.

Reheat the sauce in a saucepan over medium heat. Do not allow it to boil, it could burn to the bottom of the pan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Boiling Crab?

Boiling Crab is a popular seafood restaurant chain known for its seafood boils served with their signature “Whole Sha-Bang” sauce. This sauce is a spicy, buttery, Cajun-flavored concoction that has gained a cult following. Our recipe is a copycat version of this famous sauce.

What is in the Boiling Crab “Whole Sha-Bang” sauce?

The “Whole Sha-Bang” sauce is a blend of various seasonings and spices, including garlic, lemon pepper, cayenne pepper, and Old Bay seasoning, all mixed into a buttery base. Our copycat recipe includes these ingredients, along with a few others, to recreate the flavor of the original sauce.

What can I serve with a seafood boil?

A seafood boil can be a meal in itself, featuring a variety of seafood, corn, and potatoes. However, you can also serve it with side dishes like coleslaw, hush puppies, or a fresh green salad. For dessert, consider something light and refreshing like a fruit salad or key lime pie.

How do I store leftover Boiling Crab sauce?

If you have leftover sauce, let it cool to room temperature, then transfer it to a jar with a tight-fitting lid. It can be stored in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days. To reheat, simply warm it in a saucepan over medium heat, being careful not to let it boil.

Can I adjust the spiciness of the sauce?

Absolutely! Feel free to adjust the amount of cayenne pepper and hot sauce to suit your taste. If you prefer a milder sauce, simply reduce these ingredients. If you like it extra spicy, feel free to add more.

That’s it from me for today, if you liked this recipe, be sure to check out my other content on WhatGoesWellWith, I post simple grills & BBQ recipes anyone can make in their back yard.

Be sure to get our free Recipe Template or Notion Template to power up your culinary skills!

You should also check our other copycat recipes:

• Big Mac Sauce (Copycat Recipe)
• Boiling Crab Sauce (Copycat Recipe)
• Arby’s Horsey Sauce (Copycat Recipe)
• In-N-Out Sauce (Copycat Recipe)
• Outback Bloomin Onion Sauce Copycat Recipe