What To Do With Leftover Seafood Boil?

what to do with leftover seafood boil

So, your seafood boil was a smashing success, but now you’re stuck with a fridge full of leftovers?

Never fear, I’ve got some brilliant ideas on what to do with them.

From appetizers to main courses, there’s something for everyone here.

So get cooking and enjoy your delicious leftover seafood.

Make seafood salad

Making a seafood salad is one of the easiest ways to enjoy your leftover seafood.

Simply mix it with a creamy dressing and serve on bread or crackers for an easy appetizer, add to pasta salad for a hearty lunch, stuff into baked potatoes for a unique take on baked spuds, or just eat it by itself.

Make seafood quiche

Leftover boiled seafood is great in a delicious seafood quiche, which is similar to your classic chicken or vegetable quiche (with cheddar cheese, veggies, and spices mixed into the egg custard), but with leftover seafood instead of the latter two ingredients.

Just add all your leftovers in and bake for about thirty minutes (at 350 degrees) and you’ll have a delicious quiche for lunch or dinner.

Soup it up

You can add boiled seafood to your favorite chowder, cioppino, or gumbo for an easy main course.

Just add the shrimp, crab legs, and crawfish tails in just before serving so that they’re nice and hot when served.

This method works well with both chowders and gumbo.

Use the leftover boil as an ingredient for fried rice

For an easy main course that tastes great, just add leftover seafood boil to your favorite fried rice recipe.

It’s delicious when topped with fresh cilantro.

I really like this because it’s a great way to use up all that rice from the seafood boil.

Make shrimp and grits

Shrimp and grits are one of the most delicious ways to enjoy boiled seafood leftovers, particularly excellent with smoky bacon inside for added flavor.

To do this, simply fry up your leftovers (using the small shrimp whole and cutting up larger shrimp) along with some bacon and serve over creamy grits.

Top this dish off with some hot sauce or a fried egg for an amazing breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Make seafood pasta with your favorite sauce and vegetables

Pasta is another great main course for boiled seafood leftovers.

Just add the shrimp, crab legs, lobster meat, and crawfish tails just before serving so they’re nice and hot when served over your favorite pasta dish.

I like to use either pasta sauce or pesto as a base because it keeps things simple and easy.

Some vegetables mixed in (like mushrooms) is also a good idea.

Add the leftover seafood to your pasta sauce

Just add some boiled shrimp, crawfish, crab legs, and lobster meat to your favorite pasta sauce before heating.

I like this idea because it’s an easy way to use up all that delicious spice mix from my seafood boil.

Make a delicious seafood stew with your favorite vegetables

For a hearty and tasty dish, try making a seafood stew featuring all of your leftover boiled seafood.

Start by adding your veggies (I recommend carrots, onions, celery, garlic, and bell peppers) in with some butter or olive oil before heating.

Then add in your shrimp, crawfish, crab legs, and lobster meat.

This dish works well with both seafood chowder and cioppino.

Bake up some scallops in butter and garlic to serve over rice or potatoes

what to do with leftover seafood boil

I love the combo of butter, garlic, scallops, and rice.

This makes a great meal when you want something simple but tasty.

Simply bake up some scallops in butter with garlic until they are nice and golden brown for an excellent treat.

You can also serve this with your choice of sides like asparagus or green beans for added flavor.

Freeze the remaining

If you have leftover boiled shrimp, it makes sense to freeze it for later because it’ll be ready when you get home from work.

Simply place the boiled shrimp in a freezer-safe bag and lay it flat so that they are easy to stack.

This will also prevent them from getting freezer burn.

You can then use these frozen boiled shrimp later on inside of dishes like shrimp-fried rice.

Add your leftover seafood boil into a recipe for dirty rice or gumbo

Did you know that adding a seafood boil to your dirty rice dish is an excellent way to use up all that leftover goodness?

I like this idea because it’s delicious, easy, and makes for a flavorful rice dish.

Adding boiled crawfish or crab legs also works really well in this recipe when you want something extra special.

For seafood gumbo, try adding your leftover boiled crawfish and crab legs to a seafood stock.

I also recommend stirring in some dehydrated okra if you have it on hand since this is a staple for any dirty rice or seafood gumbo dish.

Make a seafood boil pizza with your leftover boiled seafood

Did you know that you can make a delicious seafood boil pizza right at home?

To start, simply cook up some garlic until it starts to turn slightly brown.

Then add in tomato sauce and let it simmer for about 10 minutes until the flavors are nice and melded together.

Next, stir in your leftover boiled shrimp, crawfish, crab legs, and lobster meat along with some seasonings like onion powder.

Once the mix is well-combined, spread it out onto your favorite pizza crust or dough then bake until everything is cooked through (about 15 minutes).

If you want to add another layer of flavor before baking, try adding in slices of fresh avocado or thin slices of cucumber.

What is a seafood boil?

A seafood boil is a type of Louisiana-style Cajun cuisine that consists of a variety of seafood and shellfish that is boiled in a large pot with spices.

What is the best way to cook a seafood boil?

The best way to cook a seafood boil is by using a large pot on the stovetop.

You’ll want to bring the water to a boil before adding in the seafood and spices.

What kind of seafood can be used in a seafood boil?

Any type of seafood can be used in a seafood boil, but I recommend using shrimp, crawfish, crab legs, and lobster meat.

What are the benefits of using a seafood boil?

Using a seafood boil is an excellent way to add flavor and nutrients from the sea into your meal.

It’s also a low-mess, low-stress cooking method that anyone can use.

How do I make a seafood boil on the stovetop?

To make a seafood boil on the stovetop, simply add the seafood and spices into a large pot of boiling water before letting it simmer for about 20 minutes.

How do I store cooked boiled seafood?

Simply let the cooked boiled seafood sit until it has cooled down completely, then place inside a freezer-safe bag and lay flat to freeze after removing as much air as possible.

This method will prevent the seafood from getting freezer burned and it’ll save you time when you want to cook with it later.

How do I store leftover boiled seafood?

The best way to store leftover boiled seafood is by placing inside containers and covering it with foil or plastic wrap before refrigerating.

You can also keep the cooked boiled seafood out on the counter for up to 3 hours before placing it inside the refrigerator.

Conclusion

There are many delicious and easy ways to use up all of that leftover boiled seafood.

In this article, we’ve shared some of our favorite ideas for using up your seafood boil leftovers.

From poke bowls to seafood stews and pizzas, there’s something here for everyone.

So get creative and start cooking.

Further reading:

Seafood Boil with Cajun Seasoning – Food & Wine Magazine

Calories in Seafood Boil – Spark Recipes

Tamara Pierce

Tamara Pierce is a food writer at Elapasony, passionate about exploring diverse cuisines and sharing recipes and food experiences. From trendy restaurants to local hotspots, she's always on the lookout for new and exciting flavors.

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