If you love Cajun food and hosting a crowd, knowing how to host a crab leg boil party is something you have likely already mastered. However, for anyone who is getting ready to host their first crab leg boil party, we have gathered some helpful tips and tricks to make the day a huge success.
What to Know About the Star of the Show: Boiled Crab Legs
There are two ways to go when it comes to hosting a crab leg boil party, either do it yourself or order out from a Cajun seafood restaurant.
If you choose to do it all from scratch, be prepared to spend a good portion of your day in the kitchen, and most of the day before the event prepping the party space. Hosting a crab leg boil you are doing yourself takes a great deal of both time and energy. Make sure you are up for the task before undertaking it.
Some supplies you will need if doing it yourself include:
- A burner and drain pot for boiling the crab legs
- The crab legs (plan on one to two pounds of crab legs per person)
- Cajun seasoning
- Wooden mallets or crab crackers
- Butter for dipping
Be sure you have plenty of sides on hand for the party as well. Some of the best items to serve with crab legs include hush puppies, corn on the cob, boudin balls, coleslaw, red potatoes, French fries and maybe even a salad.
Making any of these sides will require that you also buy the ingredients and prepare them for your dinner, in addition to preparing the crab legs.
For many people, the work required for preparing the meal makes the option of serving takeout that much more appealing. For those that choose this option, be sure to order takeout from a respected Houston seafood restaurant like 7Spice Cajun Seafood.
When you pick up your crab legs and fixings and take them home to share with guests, your to-do list gets cut in half and allows you to enjoy the meal and the company attending your party.
Once you have the menu figured out, and have decided who will handle the cooking, it’s time to consider the other important factors for your crab leg boil party.
Who To Invite
Seafood and crab leg boils are part of the Cajun culture that flourishes when family and friends are brought together. As the saying goes, the more, the merrier. Whether you are hosting family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, sports fanatics, your Sunday school class, or whomever for your crab leg boil party, keep in mind that the more people you have, the more fun there is to be had!
Invitation options can include a phone call, direct email, an online evite, or even special crab themed invitations that are sure to make the recipient smile. Whichever you choose, be sure to send them out at least two weeks in advance. Don’t forget to include a R.S.V.P. number or email so you can effectively plan to have enough food and drink for all your guests.
What You Will Need to Buy for The Table
One of the best things about hosting a crab leg boil party is that it can be done with a minimum of supplies. Some of the items that should be at the top of your list include:
- Plastic tablecloths. These can typically be found at local grocery or dollar stores. Plastic tablecloths are party friendly because they can cover all the tables for the meal itself and then be rolled up and thrown away when the party is over.
- Be sure to have some sturdy plates available. If you choose disposable plates, consider plastic plates or thick paper plates to avoid spills.
- Crab leg boils can be messy which means you will need plenty of paper towels, napkins and some wet wipes available. If you can find them, the big plastic bibs will work as well.
- Whether you choose to offer guests cans of soda and bottled water, or adult beverages that are already on ice, or you choose to offer Styrofoam or plastic cups, ice, and 2-liter drinks, make sure you have what you need before the party. Pro tip: If you are using disposable cups, be sure to include a sharpie or marker so that guests can write their names on their cups to keep track of them.
- Silverware optional. Emphasis on the optional. Some true Cajun Houstonians will tell you that no real crab leg boil participant uses silverware to eat anything, while others may be all about using utensils. To air on the side of caution, have some disposable utensils on hand that can be thrown away after dinner is over.
Remember, when you host a crab leg boil party, keep things as simple as you can so you can enjoy the good food and the company.
Setting Up the Seafood Boil Atmosphere
Atmosphere is important for any party, so consider how you would like to decorate and what type of vibe you want to create to make guests feel at home.
Consider decorating with seashells. It doesn’t matter if they are from your personal collection from the last trip to the beach or from a craft store. Having seashells strewn about on the counters can give off a fun beach vibe.
If you are hosting a crab leg boil outside, be sure to have plenty of games on hand for the kids and the adults. Some good places to start can be a game of cornhole, badminton, ladder golf, giant Jenga, or a few beach balls.
Put out the lawn chairs for guests to use, and if you don’t have enough seating on hand, ask your guests to bring their folding chairs with them so there is a place for everyone to sit.
Continuing with the beach vibe, you might want to pick up some of the brightly colored umbrellas that resorts use for drink garnishes. This is a great way to add the perfect touch of summer fun to an already festive atmosphere.
Tiki torches or candles placed inside of sand jars can be a fun way to add a little extra light to gatherings that go well into the evening.
Now that you have decided on the food, the guest list, invitations, and décor ideas, you are set to have an epic crab leg boil party! If you prefer to have someone else handle the cooking, call one of 7Spice Cajun Seafood’s locations throughout Houston and serve your guests some fantastic crab legs and sides.