How to Cook Perfect Shrimp in an Instant Pot Every Time

Instant Pot shrimp turn out perfectly cooked every time, whether you’re using frozen shrimp or fresh raw shrimp. You can cook these shrimp in the Instant Pot faster than in the oven. You can use them for shrimp cocktail or add them to your favorite salad or pasta dish.

But I don’t know how to cook shrimp! There’s a thin line between shrimp that is juicy and tender (yum!) and shrimp that is tough and chewy (yuck!).

Let me show you my favorite method for cooking shrimp – the Instant Pot!

You can add lemon juice, lime juice, and/or Old Bay Seasoning to the shrimp before or after cooking them to make them taste better. Homemade blackened seasoning would be tasty too!.

If you want to take this to the next level, add a pinch of finishing salt at the end of the recipe. I love Ava Jane’s Kitchen because it’s SO GOOD and doesn’t have microplastics (gross, right?). You can also get a free 8oz as little as $1.50 for a bag of sea salt. You can mix it in with your own seasoning or sprinkle some on top of your shrimp before serving.

Cooking shrimp in an instant pot is quick, easy, and results in tender, flavorful shrimp without any of the guesswork. With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you can have delicious shrimp on the table in under 30 minutes.

As someone who loves seafood but doesn’t always have time for complicated recipes, I rely on my instant pot for fast and foolproof shrimp. Over the years, I’ve perfected a simple, failsafe method for cooking shrimp in the instant pot that turns out perfect every single time.

In this article I’ll share my proven instant pot shrimp recipe as well as tips and tricks for getting tender shrimp with lots of flavor. Whether you’re cooking for a weeknight dinner or entertaining guests, this easy shrimp dish will be a hit!

Benefits of Cooking Shrimp in an Instant Pot

Here are some of the main benefits of using an instant pot to cook shrimp:

Super Fast – Shrimp cooks very quickly in the instant pot, in just 2-5 minutes depending on size. No need to wait for a pot of water to boil.
Perfectly Cooked – The instant pot cooks shrimp evenly and prevents overcooking. No more rubbery, chewy shrimp!
Loads of Flavor – The instant pot keeps all the juices and flavors locked in. Shrimp turns out tender and infused with flavor.
Hands-Off – Just throw in the ingredients, set the timer, and walk away. The instant pot does the work for you.
Versatile – You can make many different flavors of shrimp in the instant pot using various seasonings.

Tips for Cooking Shrimp in an Instant Pot

Follow these tips and tricks for guaranteed tender, juicy shrimp every time you use your instant pot

Use Raw Shrimp – Always start with raw, uncooked shrimp. Pre-cooked shrimp will turn out overdone.
Peel & Devein – For the best flavor and texture, peel and devein shrimp before cooking. Leave tail on or off.
Don’t Overfill – Shrimp needs room to cook evenly. Don’t overstuff the pot.
Add Liquid – The instant pot needs at least 1 cup liquid to pressurize. Water, broth, or wine work well.
Adjust Cook Time – Cook time depends on size of shrimp. See chart below for suggested times.
Quick Release – Quick release pressure immediately after cooking to prevent overcooking.
Avoid Stirring – Don’t stir shrimp as it cooks or it may break apart. Gently toss after cooking if needed.

Instant Pot Shrimp Cook Times

Follow these cook times based on the size of your shrimp:

Extra small (50/60 per pound): 1-2 minutes
Small (35/40 per pound): 2 minutes
Medium (27/30 per pound): 2 minutes
Large (20/25 per pound): 3 minutes
Jumbo (16/20 per pound): 4-5 minutes

Adjust cook time up or down if your shrimp is smaller or larger. It’s better to slightly undercook than overcook.

Instant Pot Shrimp Recipe

This simple recipe results in tender shrimp infused with lots of flavor. Feel free to swap out the seasoning to your liking. Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, garlic powder, or Old Bay all work well.

Ingredients:

1 lb peeled, deveined shrimp
1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
Juice of 1 lemon
Chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions:

Turn instant pot to Saute setting. Once hot, add olive oil.
Add minced garlic and saute for 1 minute until fragrant.
Add shrimp in a single layer and sprinkle with Cajun seasoning. Cook for 1 minute per side.
Pour in broth and lemon juice. Give a quick stir.
Secure lid and set to Manual/Pressure Cook on high for 2 minutes.
Quick release pressure immediately after cook time ends.
Garnish with parsley and serve shrimp warm. Enjoy!

More Instant Pot Shrimp Recipe Ideas

The basic instant pot shrimp recipe above is delicious on its own, but you can also get creative with different seasonings and ingredients. Some ideas:

Lemon garlic shrimp – Use lemon, garlic, butter, white wine
Coconut curry shrimp – Use coconut milk, red curry paste, cilantro
Cajun shrimp – Use Cajun seasoning, onion, bell pepper, garlic
Shrimp scampi – Use white wine, garlic, lemon, parsley
Shrimp boil – Use Old Bay, lemon, corn, potatoes
Shrimp fajitas – Use fajita seasoning, bell peppers, onion
Drunk shrimp – Use beer, lemon, Cajun seasoning
Honey garlic shrimp – Use honey, soy sauce, garlic, ginger

The options are endless! Use your favorite flavors to create a crowd-pleasing instant pot shrimp dish.

Serving Suggestions

Shrimp cooked in the instant pot is versatile and pairs well with many dishes:

Tacos – Serve in warm tortillas or taco shells with your favorite toppings
Pasta – Toss with linguine and olive oil or creamy sauce
Salad – Serve over fresh greens, couscous, or orzo pasta salad
Bowl – Add shrimp to rice bowls or buddha bowls
Sandwich – Pile shrimp on a sub roll for an easy po’ boy
Appetizer – Skewer shrimp for easy party appetizers

However you choose to use your instant pot shrimp, it’s sure to be a delicious addition to any meal!

Freezing and Storing Instant Pot Shrimp

One of the bonuses of cooking shrimp in the instant pot is that it stores well for meal prepping and freezing. Here are some tips:

Let shrimp cool completely before freezing. Flash freeze spread out on a sheet pan.
Portion shrimp into freezer bags or airtight containers once frozen. Remove as much air as possible.
Avoid freezing shrimp in liquid or broth to prevent ice crystals.
Shrimp keeps well in freezer for 2-3 months. Thaw in refrigerator before using.
Store cooked shrimp covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

With instant pot shrimp ready to go in the freezer, you’ll always have a quick protein on hand!

Common Instant Pot Shrimp Problems and How to Avoid Them

Cooking shrimp in the instant pot is fairly foolproof, but there are a few potential pitfalls to avoid:

Rubbery, chewy texture: This is a sign of overcooked shrimp. Be sure to use the quick release method immediately after pressure cooking, and adjust cook time based on size of shrimp.

Mushy, falling apart: Undercooked shrimp will turn out mushy. Follow suggested cook times in this article based on shrimp size.

No flavor: For full flavor infusion, make sure shrimp is in a single layer and not overfilled in pot. Add enough liquid to create steam and cook evenly.

Burn Message: This means there wasn’t enough liquid in the pot. Add at least 1 cup of water, broth or wine when cooking shrimp.

Follow the tips in this guide for tender, juicy, flavorful shrimp every time you use your instant pot!

Top Instant Pot Shrimp Recipes From Popular Food Blogs

Here are links to some of my favorite instant pot shrimp recipes from other talented food bloggers:

Easy Instant Pot Butter Garlic Shrimp by Pressure Cook Recipes
World’s Easiest Instant Pot Frozen Shrimp by The Garlic Diaries
Instant Pot Gochujang Shrimp and Grits Bowls by My Forking Life
Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp by Tastes Better From Scratch
Instant Pot Jambalaya by 365 Days of Crockpot

Browse these food blogs for more instant pot shrimp inspiration and new flavor ideas!

The Takeaway

Cooking shrimp in your instant pot is an easy, foolproof way to get tender, juicy shrimp infused with tons of flavor in under 30 minutes. Use raw shrimp, don

how to cook shrimp in instant pot

Is it better to boil or steam shrimp?

When you steam shrimp, they turn out much more tender compared to boiled shrimp. I prefer steaming over boiled shrimp, personally.

EASY SHRIMP INSTANT POT RECIPES FAQS

To heat up frozen shrimp, all you have to do is press the “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” button and set the time to ZERO. Use frozen raw shrimp and cook for one minute on HIGH pressure. After that, check to see if the shrimp are fully cooked.

How to Cook Shrimp Perfectly in the Instant Pot (in just 1 MINUTE!)

How to cook frozen shrimp in Instant Pot?

Pour 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot. Place the frozen shrimp in a steamer basket and place it in the Instant Pot. Close and lock the lid. Press “Steam” and immediately adjust the timer to 1 minute. Check that the release valve is set to “Sealing”. When the time is up, open the IP using “Quick Pressure Release”. Remove the shrimp from the pot.

How do you Pressure Cook shrimp in an Instant Pot?

In the Instant Pot, stir together the shrimp, butter, water/broth, garlic, salt, and red pepper flakes. With the steam release knob set to Sealing, set the Instant Pot to pressure cook on high for 1 minute. Once the heat builds up, the Instant Pot will pressure cook for 1 minute. When it is finished, turn the pressure release knob to Venting.

How do you steam shrimp in an Instant Pot?

To steam Instant Pot shrimp, place the shrimp in a steamer basket and add 1 cup of water to the pot. Set the Instant Pot to the “Steam” setting and the timer to 1 minute. For best results, use jumbo-sized shrimp and use quick-release for the pressure once the time is up.

How long does shrimp take to cook in Instant Pot?

Shrimp cooks super fast no matter what cooking method you use. That means that in the Instant Pot, it literally only takes 1 minute of cooking time. If you start with boiling water in the pot, you’ll cut the time down even more because the pot will come to pressure quicker. Serve this shrimp with your favorite cocktail sauce for dipping.