LowCountry Boil Frogmore Stew

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Quick Bite

Lowcountry boil, also called Frogmore stew, is a one-pot feast of shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes boiled with seasoning and dumped onto a table for everyone to share. It is messy, communal, coastal, and not actually a stew.

History

Frogmore stew is one of the Lowcountry’s signature communal meals. Despite the name, it is not a stew in the soupy sense. The ingredients are boiled together, drained, and often served spread out on newspaper or butcher paper.

The dish is closely associated with the Sea Islands and the town of Frogmore on St. Helena Island. It grew from coastal practicality: fresh shrimp, smoked sausage, corn, potatoes, seasoning, a big pot, and a crowd.

Lowcountry boil became popular at family reunions, beach weekends, church gatherings, tailgates, and backyard parties because it is easy to scale up. Add more shrimp, more corn, more sausage, and suddenly you can feed the entire porch.

A good Lowcountry boil should be well-seasoned but not muddy. The shrimp should be just cooked, the potatoes tender, the sausage smoky, and the corn sweet enough to make everyone reach back into the pile.

Fun Facts

• Frogmore stew is named for Frogmore, a community on St. Helena Island.
• It is usually drained before serving, so “stew” is a charming lie.
• The best serving platter is often a newspaper-covered table.

Where to Try

Bowens Island Restaurant Charleston area, South Carolina
A classic Lowcountry seafood setting where shrimp, oysters, and casual coastal eating define the experience.

The Crab Shack Folly Beach / Charleston area, South Carolina
A coastal seafood stop where Lowcountry boil and shellfish-heavy plates fit the local beach-food mood.

Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
A longtime dockside seafood restaurant with the kind of shrimp-and-seafood setting that suits a Lowcountry boil.

About the Game

This recipe is part of Van Life Challenge, a travel-themed board game from Gray Dog Games where players explore the United States, discover regional foods, and collect memorable experiences along the way.

Each featured food celebrates a real place, a local flavor, and the kind of delicious roadside discovery that makes every trip feel like an adventure.

Recipe

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Home-Cook-Friendly Lowcountry Boil Serves: 6–8 Prep: 15 minutes Cook: 25 minutes Difficulty: Easy Style: South Carolina Lowcountry / Coastal Seafood Boil

Ingredients

• 4 quarts water
• ½ cup seafood seasoning, such as Old Bay or a Lowcountry-style blend
• 2 lemons, halved
• 1 onion, quartered
• 2 pounds small red potatoes
• 1 pound smoked sausage, cut into chunks
• 6 ears corn, cut into halves or thirds
• 2 pounds shell-on shrimp
• Melted butter, for serving
• Cocktail sauce, for serving
• Hot sauce, for serving
• Lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions

1. Start the boil: Bring the water, seafood seasoning, lemons, and onion to a boil in a large pot.
2. Add the potatoes: Add the potatoes and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, until they begin to get tender.
3. Add the sausage: Add the smoked sausage and cook for 5 minutes.
4. Add the corn: Add the corn and cook for 5 minutes more.
5. Add the shrimp: Add the shrimp and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, just until pink and cooked through.
6. Drain: Drain everything well.
7. Serve family-style: Spread the boil on a newspaper-covered table or large platter.
8. Finish: Serve with melted butter, cocktail sauce, hot sauce, and lemon wedges.

Traditional note: To make it more traditional, use fresh South Carolina shrimp if possible, serve everything family-style, and do not overcook the shrimp. The table dump is part of the fun.

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