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Onion Boil with Crab Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 507 reviews

A classic seafood boil featuring tender crab legs, sweet corn, and hearty potatoes simmered with aromatic onions and Old Bay seasoning for a flavorful, comforting meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Seafood and Vegetables

  • 2 pounds crab legs
  • 4 large yellow onions, peeled and quartered
  • 1.5 pounds red potatoes, halved
  • 4 ears corn on the cob, halved
  • 1 garlic bulb, halved crosswise
  • 2 lemons, sliced

Seasonings and Other

  • 3 bay leaves
  • 3 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 10 cups water

Instructions

  1. Prepare the stockpot: Place a large stockpot over medium-high heat to get it ready for boiling.
  2. Add aromatics and seasonings: Pour in the water along with onions, garlic, lemon slices, bay leaves, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and black peppercorns. Bring this mixture to a rolling boil to develop the base flavors.
  3. Simmer the broth: Reduce the heat slightly and simmer for 15–20 minutes. This allows the aromatics to infuse their flavors fully into the water.
  4. Cook the potatoes: Add the halved red potatoes to the pot and cook for 10 minutes, allowing them to soften.
  5. Add corn and continue cooking: Introduce the halved corn ears to the pot and cook for an additional 5 minutes, ensuring they become tender.
  6. Cook crab legs: Add the crab legs and cook for 6–8 minutes until they are heated through and flavors meld.
  7. Finish with butter and rest: Turn off the heat, stir in the unsalted butter to add richness, and let the pot rest for 5 minutes to allow flavors to settle.
  8. Serve: Use tongs or a slotted spoon to transfer the crab, onions, potatoes, and corn onto a serving tray. Ladle some of the flavorful broth over the top if desired before serving.

Notes

  • Use fresh or frozen crab legs; if frozen, thaw before cooking for even heating.
  • Feel free to adjust Old Bay seasoning amount based on your spice preference.
  • Butter adds richness but can be omitted or substituted with olive oil for a lighter version.
  • Serve with crusty bread or additional lemon wedges for added flavor.
  • Be cautious of shell fragments while eating crab legs.

Keywords: crab boil, seafood boil, crab legs, Old Bay seasoning, onion boil, corn on the cob, red potatoes, seafood recipe

Find it online: https://cookcrisis.com/onion-boil-with-crab-recipe/