Nothing symbolizes the culture and history of Louisiana like a crawfish boil. So what better way to celebrate Independence Day and NOLA than these 4th of July crawfish boil ideas? If the idea of preparing this traditional dish from scratch seems a bit overwhelming, don’t fret! We’ll cover the basics so your cookout is a success.
Must-try 4th of July Crawfish Boil Ideas
From classic recipes to side dishes, the team at Northeast Appliance Service compiled a list of tried-and-true 4th of July crawfish boil ideas. With this guide, you won’t have to wonder, “How do you do a crawfish boil?” for long.
The Basics: How to Boil Crawfish
We’ll get straight to the point and dive into the answer on how to boil crawfish. One of the most important items you’ll need for any crawfish boil is a VERY large pot. You’ll need one big enough to fit the crawfish, vegetables, and any other ingredients the recipe calls for. Then, follow these basic steps:
- Fill the pot 1/3 full with water and bring to a boil
- Add the spices (varies with the recipe)
- Add the crawfish and potatoes and boil for 15 minutes
- Add corn on the cob and any other vegetables and boil for another 10 to 15 minutes
- Drain once done (tip: the crawfish will sink when fully cooked)
Classic Louisiana Crawfish Boil
Now that you have a better idea of the process, you’re probably ready to get started! A good place to start when looking for 4th of July crawfish boil ideas is with a classic Louisiana recipe. You can’t go wrong with this one at your Independence Day bash!
You’ll need:
- 2 heads of garlic
- Bay leaves
- 2 3 oz packages of dry crab boil
- Liquid shrimp & crab boil seasoning
- Salt & pepper
- 3 oranges
- 3 lemons
- 2 artichokes
- 15 red potatoes
- 30 pieces of baby corn
- 2 onions
- 32 oz of mushrooms
- 1/2 lb green beans
- 2 packages of smoked sausage
- 50 live crawfish
Viet-Cajun Crawfish Boil
If you want to put a little twist on tradition, then you’ll love this crawfish boil recipe with a hint of Southeast Asian flavor. You’re sure to impress your family and friends with a blast of lemongrass and garlic flavor and all of the classic ingredients they know and love.
You’ll need:
- 1 1/2 cups Old Bay Seasoning (or the crawfish boil seasoning of your choice)
- 1/2 cup fish sauce
- 2 lemongrass stalks
- 2 lemons
- 2 heads garlic
- 3/4 cup kosher salt
- 2 lbs red potatoes
- 6 lbs live crawfish
- 3 ears fresh corn
Crawfish Boil Side Dish Idea
Louisiana Dirty Rice
Now you’re probably wondering what to eat with crawfish. Well, you can’t have a crawfish boil without some dirty rice! This recipe is a classic, so you can’t go wrong with this hearty rice.
You’ll need:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork sausage
- 4-5 cups cooked white rice
- 3/4 cup green bell pepper
- 3/4 cup yellow onion
- 1/4 cup celery
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- Various spices
We hope you enjoy these 4th of July crawfish boil recipes and have a happy and safe Independence Day!
