When you use this Slow Cooker Shrimp Scampi recipe, it will be easy and delicious to make a big batch of shrimp. Skip the restaurant and make the best shrimp scampi right in the comfort of your own kitchen. Disclaimer: you may want to double up on this recipe so there’s plenty for seconds (and thirds)!.
You can serve this garlic butter shrimp scampi with my Slow Cooker Grits or my Slow Cooker Spaghetti Squash (click the title and follow the cooking steps without the meat sauce).
Cooking shrimp in a slow cooker is a great way to infuse them with flavor and make sure they turn out juicy and tender. With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you can have delicious shrimp ready to eat or add to your favorite recipes.
Why Cook Shrimp in a Slow Cooker?
There are several advantages to using a slow cooker for shrimp:
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Infuses flavor – The longer cooking time allows seasonings and aromatics like garlic, lemon, herbs etc to fully permeate the shrimp.
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Prevents overcooking – Shrimp can go from perfect to rubbery and dry very quickly on the stove or grill The gentle heat of the slow cooker cooks them evenly without any risk of overcooking
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Adds convenience – Just throw the ingredients in the slow cooker in the morning or before leaving for work, and you’ll have perfect shrimp ready when you get home. No need to watch a pot or continually flip shrimp.
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Makes great recipes – Slow cooked shrimp works wonderfully in dishes like shrimp tacos, shrimp scampi pasta, seafood soup, shrimp burgers and more.
Tips for Cooking Shrimp in a Slow Cooker
Follow these simple tips for the best results when cooking shrimp in your crockpot:
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Use raw, shell on shrimp – The shells help keep the shrimp moist and add flavor to the cooking liquid. Peel after cooking.
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Don’t overcrowd – Shrimp need room to cook evenly. Use a single layer and resist stirring too much.
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Add liquid – Liquid is necessary to create steam and evenly cook the shrimp. Use broth, wine, lemon juice etc.
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Flavors to add – Garlic, onion, lemon, herbs, spices, butter and wine or beer. Cajun seasoning also works great.
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Cook time – For medium shrimp, cook on low 2-3 hours or high 1-2 hours. Jumbo shrimp may need slightly longer.
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Quick release pressure – If using a pressure cooker, quick release the pressure after cooking to prevent overcooking.
How to Cook Shrimp in a Slow Cooker Step-By-Step
Follow this simple step-by-step method for foolproof shrimp every time:
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds raw, shell on shrimp
- 1 cup chicken or shrimp broth
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/4 cup parsley, chopped
Instructions:
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Rinse shrimp under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Devein if desired by making a shallow cut along the back of each shrimp and removing the digestive tract.
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Pour chicken broth into slow cooker. Add garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and Cajun seasoning. Stir to combine.
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Add shrimp to cooker in a single layer without overcrowding.
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Cook on low for 2-3 hours or high for 1-2 hours until shrimp are pink and opaque throughout.
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Drain shrimp into a colander set over a bowl to catch the cooking liquid.
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Peel shrimp when cool enough to handle.
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Serve shrimp warm with cooking liquid on the side for dipping if desired. Garnish with chopped parsley.
And that’s it – easy peasy delicious shrimp ready to eat as is or use in all kinds of dishes like tacos, pasta, soup, skewers and more!
Slow Cooker Shrimp Recipe Variations
The basic slow cooker shrimp recipe can be adapted endlessly based on what flavors you love. Try these tasty variations:
Cajun Shrimp
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- Green onions and parsley for garnish
Lemon Garlic Shrimp
- Juice of 2 lemons
- 1/4 cup lemon slices
- 8 cloves garlic, minced
- Chopped parsley
Old Bay Shrimp
- 2 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 stick butter
- Sprinkle with Old Bay when serving
Coconut Curry Shrimp
- 1 can coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons red curry paste
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- Chopped cilantro
Drunken Shrimp
- 1 cup beer or white wine
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
- Lemon wedges
Best Uses for Slow Cooked Shrimp
Slow cooked shrimp is awesome on its own, but it also shines in these recipes:
Shrimp Tacos
Serve the shrimp in warm tortillas or lettuce wraps with your favorite taco toppings like pico de gallo, avocado, cotija cheese, lime juice and cilantro.
Shrimp Pasta
Toss the cooked shrimp with pasta, olive oil or butter, garlic, lemon juice, parsley and parmesan.
Shrimp Soup
Add the shrimp during the last 30 minutes to seafood soups and stews.
Shrimp Burgers/Cakes
For an easy meal, combine cooked shrimp with breadcrumbs, egg, seasonings and parsley. Form into patties and pan fry.
Shrimp Skewers
Thread cooked shrimp onto skewers alternating with cherry tomatoes, pineapple chunks, bell pepper etc. Grill 3-5 minutes until lightly charred.
Shrimp Salad
Chopped shrimp makes a protein-packed addition to leafy green or pasta salads.
Shrimp Appetizer
Serve chilled shrimp with cocktail sauce or lemon aioli for easy party appetizers.
FAQs About Cooking Shrimp in a Slow Cooker
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about making shrimp in the crockpot:
How long does it take to cook shrimp in a slow cooker?
For medium sized shrimp, cook 2-3 hours on low or 1-2 hours on high. Jumbo shrimp may need 30 minutes longer.
Can you overcook shrimp in a slow cooker?
It’s possible but less likely than other cooking methods. Check every 30 minutes at the end of the cook time to prevent overcooking.
Should the shrimp be peeled before cooking?
Cook shrimp with the shells on for added moisture and flavor. Just peel them after cooking.
Do you need to add liquid to the slow cooker?
Yes, shrimp releases liquid as it cooks so broth, wine etc. is necessary. Use 1-2 cups of liquid.
What temperature should slow cooker shrimp reach?
Cook until the shrimp reach an internal temperature of 145°F. Then they are safe to eat.
Can frozen shrimp be cooked in the slow cooker?
Yes, frozen shrimp can go straight into the slow cooker. Just add 30-60 minutes to the cook time.
Tips for the Best Slow Cooker Shrimp
Follow these tips and tricks for the most delicious shrimp every time you use the slow cooker:
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Resist the urge to stir the shrimp often as it can make them dry and rubbery.
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Quick release the pressure after cooking if using a pressure cooker and drain immediately.
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Add aromatics like lemon, garlic and herbs at the start so the flavors fully permeate the shrimp.
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Prevent overcooked shrimp by checking for doneness every 20-30 minutes at the end of cooking.
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Cook for the minimum recommended time, you can always cook longer if needed. It’s impossible to reverse overcooked shrimp!
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Chilling the shrimp after cooking helps them firm up. So cook ahead then chill for dishes like shrimp salad.
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Save the cooking liquid to use for making rice, pasta or soup. The infused flavors are amazing!
The Takeaway on Slow Cooker Shrimp
Cooking shrimp in the slow cooker is an easy, fuss-free way to get perfect results every time. With just a few ingredients like broth, garlic, lemon and spices you can infuse big flavors into tender, juicy shrimp right from your crockpot.
Follow the tips above like cooking in a single layer, adding enough liquid and resisting overcooking. Then all that’s left is to enjoy your delicious shrimp in tacos, pasta, soup or however else you love it. Dinners, appetizers and more are a breeze with this handy slow cooker shrimp technique in your arsenal.
So grab a bag of fresh shrimp and let your slow cooker work its magic for the easiest, most flavorful shrimp you’ve ever enjoyed!
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What is Shrimp Scampi?
Similar to shrimp, scampi are small, lobster-like crustaceans that have a palish-pink shell. Over time, Italian cooks swapped scampi for shrimp, hence, where we get the term shrimp scampi. Now, shrimp scampi is a seafood dish made with white wine, fresh garlic, and butter.
For this simple shrimp recipe, you’ll need a mix of those things plus a few classic seasonings to make shrimp that are perfectly cooked and shrimp scampi sauce. You only need very few ingredients and a short cooking time. We also like to make crockpot hot shrimp dip.
- For the shrimp, I used medium-sized frozen shrimp, but you can use big shrimp too.
- Butter: Two sticks, or eight ounces, of butter is all you’ll need.
- Large shrimp are cooked in olive oil to make them taste and feel better.
- Add lemon juice. The sour taste from the lemon juice makes it taste like “scampi” and helps make the best flavor.
- Garlic: I like to use a lot of garlic, but this recipe only calls for four cloves.
- Parsley: Used for garnish.
- Seasonings: This amazing recipe is unbelievably tasty thanks to salt, freshly ground black pepper, red pepper flakes, and paprika.
Step One – Pour the frozen shrimp into the crock pot.
Step Two – Add the remaining ingredients (except the parsley).
Step 3: Put the lid on top and cook on HIGH for two hours, or until the shrimp are pink and fully cooked.
- Serving shrimp scampi straight from the slow cooker is one of the fastest and easiest ways to do it. You can serve it as an appetizer or scoop it up and put it on top of pasta.
- If we’re talking about pasta, this shrimp tastes great with angel hair pasta, zucchini noodles, or any kind of linguine you choose.
- Put some fresh parsley on top, squeeze some fresh lemon juice on top, and serve with garlic bread or crusty bread. A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil goes well with it too. Don’t forget to add some butter sauce on top.
Yes, you can use fresh shrimp in this recipe. Just make sure they are peeled and deveined before adding them to the slow cooker. Note, that this will effect the cooking time.
You can add vegetables such as bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, or zucchini.
If you have slow cooker shrimp scampi left over, you can keep it in the fridge for up to three days in an airtight container. To reheat, put the shrimp and sauce in a skillet and heat them over low heat until they are hot. Be careful not to cook the shrimp too much.
Sure, you can add a splash of white wine to this recipe. But don’t use too much alcohol; alcohol can taste very strong in slow cooker recipes.
As soon as possible is the best time to serve this shrimp. If you’d rather serve it later, like tonight as a dish, you can turn off the crockpot and wait to warm the shrimp up.
