How to Boil Crawfish on the Stovetop (family style)

This easy, family-style crawfish boil recipe is cooked on the stovetop using either fresh or frozen (thawed) uncooked crawfish. Spices may be adjusted based on personal preference.

A crawfish boil is typically a backyard affair that involves several dozen pounds of live crayfish cooked on a huge pot over an outdoor propane stove.

What if you just need a pound or so of tail meat for a dish like crawfish etouffee? Is it possible to scale a crawfish boil down to a family affair that is easily cooked on the stovetop using fresh or even frozen crawfish?

Yes, it is quite easy to boil crawfish indoors for a single-family dinner. It’s not that complicated, you just need to know how to navigate a few obstacles.

How Much Crawfish to Buy

The first order of business is purchasing the right amount of crawfish for your family size. Each crawfish consists of approximately 15% meat. So, if you need one pound of tail meat to make a Cajun or Creole dish, then between 6 and 7 pounds of whole crawfish will do the job.

I don’t recommend going the easy route and purchasing a pound of frozen tail meat because it is usually from Chinese crawfish, which are a far lower quality and potentially toxic choice. Going with domestic whole crawfish from the Southeast USA is the way to go!

Crawfish Boil Spices

Choosing the spices to use for boiling your crawfish is the next important decision that impacts the quality of the final dish. Most recipes call for crab and shrimp boil spice mix. However, choosing these off the shelf at the supermarket is not recommended.

The liquid crab and shrimp boil concentrates are perhaps the worst choice. The ingredients contain extracts of herbs (rather than the whole herb) combined with a synthetic emulsifier and artificial flavors!

Here’s what one of the more popular brands contains. Note that polysorbate 80 is a risk for organ toxicity according to the Environmental Working Group. (1) The “artificial spice flavors” is code for a stew of chemicals whose synergistic toxicity is completely unknown.

WATER, POLYSORBATE 80, EXTRACTIVES OF: RED PEPPER, BAY, CLOVE, BLACK PEPPER, THYME, MARJORAM AND ARTIFICIAL SPICE FLAVORS.

Why to Use Organic Spices for Boiling Crawfish

Ground spice mixes are a better choice, but still not optimal. Here’s what one popular brand of ground crab and shrimp boil spice mix contains:

MUSTARD SEED, DILL SEED, BAY LEAVES, RED PEPPER, BLACK PEPPER, AND CORIANDER SEED.

Whole herbs are used. Check.

No synthetic additives or artificial ingredients. Check.

Then why isn’t this choice the best? The reason is that non-organic herbs are usually irradiated for long shelf life.

Organic crab and shrimp boil spice mixes are not irradiated and aren’t that much more expensive than non-organic. This is really the way to go if you prefer the convenience route.

If you prefer to mix your own organic spice mix, all the better! Blend based on what flavors you enjoy. This is very important as the best spices to use for boiling crawfish is highly subjective.

A good crawfish boil blend will include many of the following spices.

• bay leaves
• coriander seeds
• dill seeds
• black peppercorns
• allspice
• dry mustard
• red pepper flakes
• cayenne pepper
• cloves
• paprika
• dried thyme
• dried oregano
• 1 – 1.5 cups sea salt

Boiled crawfish are typically served with corn on the cob and boiled potatoes cooked in the same pot. While these are delicious, I prefer to mix it up with fermented coleslaw or sauerkraut and homemade french fries.

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Stovetop Crawfish Boil Recipe

Family-style crawfish boil recipe cooked on the stovetop. May be used with fresh or frozen (thawed) uncooked crawfish.

Course Main Course

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 5

Calories 368 kcal

Author Sarah Pope

Ingredients

• 6-7 pounds whole crawfish fresh or frozen
• 2 large onions chopped
• 1 head garlic about 10 cloves, peeled and sliced in half
• 6-10 bay leaves adjust based on the size of the leaves
• 1 Tbl whole coriander seeds
• 1 Tbl dill seeds
• 1 Tbl whole black peppercorns
• 1 Tbl whole allspice
• 1 Tbl ground dry mustard
• 1 Tbl red pepper flakes
• 1-4 Tbl cayenne pepper
• 1-2 tsp whole cloves
• 1 Tbl paprika
• 2 tsp dried thyme
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 cup unrefined sea salt

Instructions

1. Bring 1 1/2 gallons water to a boil in a 19-quart stockpot over high heat. Add onions, garlic and spices to water. Stir. Return to a rolling boil.

2. Reduce heat to medium, and cook, uncovered, 30 minutes.

3. Add crawfish. Return the water to a rolling boil over high heat; cook 5 minutes.

4. Promptly remove stockpot from heat; let stand 30 minutes. (For spicier crawfish, let stand 45 minutes.)

5. Drain the water, and serve the crawfish whole in a large bowl at the table.

6. Only the tail meat is consumed, but don't throw out all those discarded shells! Be sure to use them to make delicious crawfish stock.

Nutrition Facts

Stovetop Crawfish Boil Recipe

Amount Per Serving (1 pound)

Calories 368 Calories from Fat 53

% Daily Value*

Fat 5.9g9%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Polyunsaturated Fat 2.1g

Monounsaturated Fat 1.1g

Cholesterol 619mg206%

Sodium 437mg18%

Potassium 1077mg31%

Protein 80g160%

Calcium 210mg21%

Iron 3.8mg21%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.