How to Host a Lobster Boil Party

Nothing says celebration quite like a lobster boil! Golden red lobsters, tender potatoes, smoky sausage, and corn all piled in the center of the table.  It’s festive, a little messy, and the most fun way to feed a crowd!

In this post, I’ll walk you through how to host a lobster boil and all the party essentials you’ll want on hand.

Jump to:

• 🦞 About This Recipe
• 🎉 What You’ll Need (Party Essentials)
• 📋 Ingredients for a Lobster Boil (6–8 people)
• ⏲️ Step-by-Step Timing
• 🦪 Variations + Options
• 📍Tips for Hosting a Lobster Boil
• Serving Suggestions
• Lobster Boil Party

🦞 About This Recipe

A lobster boil is the ultimate celebratory feast! And perfect for wrapping up summer, celebrating the Feast of the Seven Fishes, or checking off a true bucket-list party experience!

Whole lobsters are cooked until bright red and layered over tender potatoes, sweet corn, and smoky sausage that simmer in the most flavorful, slightly spicy broth.

Since everything cooks in layers, timing is key. Once done, scatter the veggies and sausage down the center of the table, pile the lobsters on top, and roll up your sleeves, it’s all about cracking, dipping, and eating together!

Huge thanks to ShopLobster for sending the freshest Maine lobsters right to my door! They made this unforgettable party possible!

🎉 What You’ll Need (Party Essentials)

Here are a few things that make the lobster boil easier, and more fun!

• Large stockpot (16–20 qt)
• Butcher paper for the table
• Seafood crackers + picks for shells
• Old Bay seasoning (lots of it!)
• Frank's Hot Sauce
• Mini pot for melted butter (I used mini Le Creuset pots)
• Lobster bibs + napkins (trust me!)
• Blue and white striped tablecloth

📋 Ingredients for a Lobster Boil (6–8 people)

• 8 whole lobsters (about 1 ¼–1 ½ lbs each)
• 2 pounds baby potatoes
• 6–8 ears of corn, cut in thirds
• 2 pounds smoked sausage, such as andouille, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1–2 pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined

For the flavorful broth:

• 3–4 lemons, halved
• 2 onions, quartered
• 1 head garlic, halved
• 4–5 bay leaves
• ½ cup Old Bay seasoning
• Zatarain's Seafood Boil concentrate (a little goes a long way)
• Salt + pepper

⏲️ Step-by-Step Timing

Here’s the basic order so everything cooks perfectly:

1. Flavor the broth: Bring water to a boil and add Old Bay, Zatarain's concentrate lemons, garlic, onion, bay leaves, salt.
2. Potatoes first: Add the potatoes and cook for 20 minutes, until nearly tender.
3. Corn + sausage: Add the corn and sausage next and continue cooking for 10–12 minutes.
4. Remove Vegetables and Add Lobsters: Remove the vegetables and sausage and keep warm. Add lobsters to the stock and cook 8–10 minutes, until shells turn bright red.
5. Shrimp: Cook for just 2–3 minutes until pink.
6. Drain and scatter everything down the table, serve with melted butter, and dig in!

🦪 Variations + Options

• Add clams or mussels → Clean first (see my guide on how to clean clams) and add in the last 5–7 minutes so they steam open.
• No whole lobsters? → Lobster tails work beautifully. Cook them at the same step, but only 5–6 minutes depending on size.
• Smaller lobster boil (2–4 people) → Just cut everything in half. Perfect for a smaller gathering without losing the fun.

📍Tips for Hosting a Lobster Boil

• Have 1-2 big bowl for shells.
• Scatter small bowls of melted butter around the table.
• Butcher paper for easy cleanup (just roll it up and toss!).
• Bibs, paper towels, and extra napkins keep the fun stress-free.
• Don’t overthink it, just have fun! It shold be casual and messy.

Serving Suggestions

• Leftover lobster meat? Save it for lobster mac and cheese or decadent lobster thermidor.
• Pair with a big green salad, plenty of bread, and crisp white wine or cold beer.

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