What To Serve With Shrimp Boil – 42 Delicious Side Dishes

If you’re wondering what to serve with your shrimp boil, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, I list 42 of the most popular side dishes for shrimp boil.

In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best side dishes for shrimp boil are hush puppies, coleslaw, jalapeno cornbread, and mac and cheese. You can also serve baked sweet potato fries, sourdough dinner rolls, or garlic rice pilaf. Try serving watermelon salad, vegetable skewers, or peach salsa for healthier options.

Ready? Let’s jump right in.

Snacks and sauces

Shrimp boils are joyous occasions, with everyone digging into the massive feast and taking what they want.

That’s why they work so well with snacks and sauces.

I always like to have a range of different smaller food options on the side like hush puppies, as well as a variety of sauces from spicy options to creamy ones.

That way, there’ll always be something for everyone.

Hushpuppies

Hushpuppies are a classic side dish for any southern meal (and shrimp boil is no exception). 

You’ll have to bring out a large, deep saucepan to fry them up. 

But the result – savory, sweet dough balls with a buttery texture – is worth it. 

Hushpuppies are sure to be a great hit with any kids you’re feeding too.

Try out this easy recipe from Rasa Malaysia. She pairs them with a tasty (and I mean TASTY) siracha dipping sauce.

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Hush puppies
Make it fun
Bacon jalapeno hush puppies
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Apple and cheese hush puppies

Onion rings

Stick with a steakhouse classic with these onion rings.

Thanks to the beer batter coating, they boast a beautiful golden, lightly crisp crust. 

And if you’d prefer to skip the beer, don’t worry – seltzer or other carbonated beverages like ginger ale will do the trick too. 

Pro-tip: coat the onions with cornstarch first to help the batter stick.

Why we love this recipe: it’s a crowd favorite.

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Beer-battered onion rings
Make it easy
Onion strings
Try some fusion
Onion bhajis

Cajun remoulade

Seafood boiled are usually drizzled in clarified butter, but if you want to shake things up, why not dip them in this Cajun remoulade?

It’s a creamy mayo-based sauce with a spicy kick, courtesy of the horseradish, grainy mustard, and of course, Cajun spices. 

Psst… want to go the extra mile? You can use homemade mayo for this sauce.

Why we love this recipe: it’s fabulous with other seafood dishes, sandwiches, salads, and more.

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Cajun remoulade
Go back to basics
Aioli
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Chimichurri

Salads

Shrimp boils are a summer affair, so it’s always a good idea to serve them with a salad.

My favorite salads are fresh and juicy, like peach salsa or something loaded with watermelons.

Slaw is also a classic that you can’t really skip!

Peach salsa

This vibrant peach salsa is the perfect juicy accompaniment for a seafood boil. 

It’s got sweet peaches, spicy jalapeños, creamy avocado, and a tangy lime and cilantro dressing that will bring all the flavors together.

Pro-tip: make sure the peaches and avocados aren’t too ripe to avoid a mushy salsa. 

Why we love this recipe: it comes together in just 15 minutes.

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Avocado peach salsa
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Cucumber kiwi salsa
Ditch the fruity note
Cowboy caviar

Creamy coleslaw 

Coleslaw is a must-have at potlucks and summer parties. 

It’s easy to whip up and will bring some color to your meal.  And the crisp shredded cabbage provides a crunchy bite that will complement the soft texture of your shrimp boil. 

Traditionally, coleslaw is dressed with a mayonnaise-based dressing.

But I prefer to use Greek yogurt. It adds a tangy flavor without compromising the creaminess. 

Plus, Greek yogurt is a lighter and healthier alternative!

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Greek yogurt coleslaw
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Mexican coleslaw
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Seriously good broccoli slaw

Watermelon salad 

Watermelon salad is a popular side to serve at barbecues, and it can help brighten up a shrimp boil too.

The fresh, light flavor will act as a palate cleanser and help cool your mouth down after a hit of heat. 

The best part? 

You can prepare this in a matter of minutes, so it’s perfect if you’re short on time. 

Recipe Runner has a delicious watermelon and cucumber salad recipe with feta cubes for creaminess, and a splash of lemon juice for a citrusy kick.

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Watermelon salad
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Grilled watermelon
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Watermelon skewers

Roasted potato salad

Like coleslaw, potato salad is a staple at summer parties and barbecue cookouts. 

It’s a creamy side dish that will add substance without being too heavy or overshadowing the shrimp boil.  

And if you’ve never tried it made with roast potatoes, you’re missing out big time!

The Dish On Healthy recipe suggests swapping out full-fat mayo for a lighter avocado oil mayo. I also like adding in some small chopped-up onions or pickles for a bit of extra crunch.

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Roast potato salad
Go meaty
Sweet potato and chorizo salad
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Double mint potato salad

Vegetables

If you’re trying to keep things relatively healthy (I know it’s hard when you’re throwing a party), then serving some tasty veggies is the way to go.

And vegetables don’t have to be boring! You can have veggie fries, veggie mash, or, my personal favorite… veggie skewers!

Vegetable skewers

Vegetable skewers are a fun way to make sure everyone gets one of their 5-a-day.

They’re easy to make ahead of time, and you can make a variety of different options to cater to all the fussy eaters. 

They’ll look great on the plate next to your seafood medley too. 

Tip: drizzle your skewers with some of the butter you’re using for the shrimp boil before serving (YUM). 

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Vegetable skewers
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Chili lime fruit skewers
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Caprese skewers

Roasted green beans 

Are you looking for a healthier alternative to crispy fries? 

Roasted green beans are the perfect dish to serve up when you want something crunchy to contrast with the tender texture of the shrimp.

Not a fan of green beans? Try asparagus or sugar snap peas instead. 

Want to get started with this dish? Check out Eatwell 101’s quick and easy recipe! 

The addition of garlic and parmesan really jazzes the beans up.

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Roasted green beans
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Lemony green beans
Go for a salad
Green bean salad

Bread or carbs

I think the most delicious part of a shrimp boil is the leftover pot licker…. So it’s very important I have something to mop it up with!

And that’s where carbs come in. An easy garlic bread is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, but fries or pasta are great options too.

Jalapeno cornbread 

Cornbread is great all on its own, but it’s even better once you’ve used it to mop up the broth from a shrimp boil. 

The quickbread has a delightful sweetness that complements the spicy and buttery flavors of your shrimp. 

Sounds good, right? 

This recipe from Will Cook For Smiles adds cheddar cheese and jalapenos to amp up the cornbread’s flavors.

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Jalapeno cornbread
Go old school
Cornbread stuffing
Keep it fresh
Cornbread salad

Baked sweet potato fries

Sweet potato fries are naturally sweeter than regular potato fries, and I think they pair better with the flavors of shrimp boil. 

However, one problem with sweet potato fries is that sometimes they can be soggy. 

But Gimme Some Oven’s recipe will solve that issue. 

They have some great tips on how you can get crispy sweet potato fries every time. 

Be warned: they’re super moreish, so make sure you cook enough.

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Sweet potato fries
Swap the veggie
Zucchini fries
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Sweet potato bread

Sourdough dinner rolls 

Shrimp boil is typically drizzled with warm, melted, seasoned butter.

The butter adds decadence and flavor to the whole dish, so you don’t want to leave any behind on the plate.

That’s where sourdough dinner rolls come in.

They’re the perfect side for soaking up the butter sauce, and they’ll fill everyone up so no one will leave hungry!

Bread by Elise has a fantastic sourdough dinner roll recipe that uses the tangzhong technique to make unbelievably soft, melt-in-your-mouth dinner rolls.

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Sourdough dinner rolls
Keep it simple
Garlic toast
Make it zesty
Chimichurri garlic bread

Garlic rice pilaf 

Shrimp boil could be considered a full meal already. 

But if you want a side dish to help fill you up, a nice bowl of rice should do the trick.

And rice doesn’t have to be boring. 

Instead of cooking it in plain water, cook it in a broth with some additional flavors (like garlic) and you have a simple, but super tasty side. 

Sprinkle and Sprouts has an easy-to-follow recipe for making delicious pilaf.

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Garlic rice pilaf
Try some fusion
Authentic Mexican rice
Go earthy
Baked mushroom rice

Mac and cheese 

Shrimp boil is all about indulgence, and what’s more indulgent than a bowl of creamy, cheesy mac and cheese? 

It’s a crowd-pleasing dish, so don’t bank on having any leftovers.

And to marry the two dishes together, why not add a sprinkle of old bay seasoning to the cheese sauce, or one of these substitutes for old bay seasoning?

Any basic mac and cheese recipe will work great with your shrimp boil, but I like this recipe from Damn Delicious. 

The addition of broccoli somehow makes you feel better about indulging in these decadent dishes.

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Broccoli mac and cheese
Make it fancy
Smoked mac and cheese
Go crispy
Crispy mac and cheese balls

The best shrimp boil side dishes

• Hushpuppies
• Peach salsa
• Creamy coleslaw
• Jalapeno cornbread
• Onion rings
• Watermelon salad
• Cajun remoulade
• Baked sweet potato fries
• Sourdough dinner rolls
• Roasted potato salad
• Vegetable skewers
• Roasted green beans
• Garlic rice pilaf
• Mac and cheese

What To Serve With Shrimp Boil – Peach Salsa

In this short recipe, I show how to make peach salsa to serve with your shrimp boil.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: peach salsa, shrimp boil, shrimp boil side dishes, what to serve with shrimp boil

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 83kcal

Ingredients

• 1 peaches ripe but still firm
• 1 avocado ripe but firm
• 3/4 cup corn
• 1 tbsp red onion finely diced
• 1 jalapeno diced and seeded
• 2 tbsp cilantro minced
• 1 lime juiced
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Finely chop all the ingredients into similar sized pieces.
• Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and toss until well combined.
• Let the salsa rest for 20-30 minutes before serving so the flavors can meld.
• Serve and enjoy.

Nutrition

Calories: 83kcal