Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Shrimp
This easy slow cooker shrimp recipe turns frozen pink shrimp into a flavorful seafood dinner with just five simple ingredients. Tender shrimp are cooked with buttery garlic, Italian seasoning, and fresh lemon for a quick and comforting meal that takes very little effort.
If you’re looking for an easy frozen shrimp recipe, this one is perfect for busy weeknights. Serve the shrimp over fluffy white rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, or your favorite vegetables to soak up every drop of the delicious garlic butter sauce.
Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Shrimp Recipe
- Only 5 ingredients: Simple pantry staples keep this recipe affordable and convenient.
- Easy weeknight dinner: There is very little preparation involved.
- Uses frozen shrimp: No need to thaw the shrimp first when using raw frozen shrimp.
- Rich garlic butter flavor: Butter, garlic, Italian seasoning, and lemon create a savory sauce.
- Versatile meal: Serve it with rice, pasta, potatoes, or vegetables.
- Family-friendly: The mild lemon-garlic flavor can easily be adjusted with more seasoning or red pepper flakes.
Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen pink shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 packet dry Italian dressing mix
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
How to Make Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Shrimp
1. Add the frozen shrimp
Lightly coat the inside of your slow cooker with nonstick spray or a little butter. Add the frozen shrimp and spread them into an even layer.
2. Make the garlic butter sauce
In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, and dry Italian dressing mix. Stir until everything is evenly incorporated.
3. Season the shrimp
Pour the garlic butter mixture over the frozen shrimp. Arrange the lemon slices over the top to add fresh citrus flavor as the shrimp cook.
4. Cook until tender
Cover and cook on LOW for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, checking early. Shrimp cook quickly, so avoid leaving them in the slow cooker longer than necessary. They should be pink, opaque, and cooked through.
5. Serve
Gently stir the shrimp into the buttery sauce. Spoon the shrimp and sauce over hot rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, or vegetables and serve immediately.
What to Serve With Garlic Butter Shrimp
This easy crockpot shrimp recipe pairs especially well with:
- Steamed white or brown rice
- Buttered noodles
- Spaghetti or angel hair pasta
- Creamy mashed potatoes
- Steamed broccoli
- Green beans
- Roasted vegetables
- Fresh garden salad
- Warm crusty bread
The buttery lemon-garlic sauce is especially good with rice or bread because it gives you something to soak up all that flavorful sauce.
Tips for Perfect Slow Cooker Shrimp
Check the shrimp early. Shrimp can become tough and rubbery when overcooked. Start checking around the 1-hour mark.
Use raw frozen shrimp. Medium or large raw frozen pink shrimp work well because they cook quickly while staying tender.
Don’t overcook cooked shrimp. If you’re using shrimp that are already cooked, reduce the cooking time significantly and heat them only until warmed through.
Add some heat. A pinch of red pepper flakes gives this recipe a mild spicy kick.
Brighten the flavor. Finish the shrimp with fresh lemon juice and chopped parsley just before serving.
Make it a complete meal. Serve the shrimp over rice or pasta with a green vegetable for an easy, satisfying dinner.
Easy Variations
Spicy Garlic Butter Shrimp
Add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the butter mixture for a little heat.
Lemon Herb Shrimp
Add chopped fresh parsley, basil, or oregano before serving for a brighter herb flavor.
Shrimp and Rice Bowl
Serve the finished shrimp and garlic butter sauce over cooked rice with steamed broccoli or green beans.
Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
Toss the cooked shrimp and sauce with hot pasta for a simple seafood pasta dinner.
Recipe Benefits
This easy slow cooker shrimp recipe is a practical choice when you want a flavorful meal without complicated preparation. Frozen shrimp make it convenient to keep the ingredients on hand, while garlic, butter, Italian seasoning, and lemon provide plenty of flavor without requiring a long ingredient list.
It is also easy to customize. You can make it spicy, add fresh herbs, or turn it into a complete meal by serving it with rice, pasta, potatoes, and vegetables.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put frozen shrimp directly in the slow cooker?
Yes, this recipe is designed for raw frozen shrimp. Because shrimp cook quickly, keep a close eye on them and check them early to prevent overcooking.
How long does shrimp take in a slow cooker?
Raw frozen shrimp generally cook quickly. For this recipe, begin checking at about 1 hour on LOW and remove them once they are pink, opaque, and fully cooked.
Can I use fresh shrimp instead of frozen?
Yes. Fresh raw shrimp can be used, but they may cook faster, so check them early.
Can I use pre-cooked shrimp?
Yes, but pre-cooked shrimp should only be heated through. They require substantially less cooking time than raw frozen shrimp.
What is the best way to serve slow cooker shrimp?
Rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, and steamed vegetables are excellent choices. They complement the buttery garlic sauce and turn the shrimp into a more complete meal.
