Slow Cooker Shrimp Boil
29 Comments Jun 04, 2022
Updated Jun 03, 2025
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This slow cooker shrimp boil is a fun, easy way to serve up shrimp, sausage, and veggies with big flavor and minimal effort—perfect for summer gatherings.
We make this shrimp boil at least once a summer. It’s an economical way to feed a crowd for a special get-together.
The slow cooker acts as a steamer for the seafood feast. Leaving you with nothing to do but enjoy the summer day with your guests.
What You’ll Need
What makes this shrimp boil so flavorful? It’s all about the bold seasoning, fresh ingredients, and layers of flavor added throughout.
- Old Bay or Cajun seasoning – Brings the signature seafood boil flavor
- Lemon juice & Tabasco – Adds brightness and heat
- Red potatoes & corn – Classic, hearty shrimp boil veggies
- Andouille sausage – Smoky and spicy for depth
- Raw shrimp – Add at the end so they stay tender
- Butter & garlic – Rich, savory finish that ties everything together
- Large slow cooker – You’ll want to a crockpot that is at least 6 or 7 quarts big. This will ensure that everything fits.
Cook’s Tips
Thawing: Use thawed shrimp so the slow cooker stays hot—adding frozen shrimp can cool down the entire pot. Just run cold water over the shrimp in a colander to thaw.
Meat Swap: Kielbasa sausage or smoked sausage are typically the next options that can easily be substituted for the andouille.
Don’t skip the layering – Adding ingredients in stages (potatoes first, then sausage and corn, shrimp last) ensures everything cooks perfectly.
Clams – If you want to add clams, add them with the shrimp.
How to Serve a Shimp Boil
It’s a one-pot meal, but adding a few simple sides can really round out the table.
- Top it off – Don’t forget lemon wedges, melted butter, and chopped parsley. You can also serve it with cocktail sauce for dipping.
- Bread – For the best dipping of the juices, we love crusty sourdough bread that is coated in garlic butter and Parmesan, then broiled.
- More sides – This meal stands on its own, but crockpot mac and cheese, crockpot grits, slow cooker collard greens, or deviled eggs make great add-ons.
Featured Comment
“GOOD LORD THIS RECIPE WAS FINGER LICKING GOOD!!! easy, minimal ingredients but VERY tasty!”
– Sub
Slow Cooker Shrimp Boil
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup Old Bay Seasoning, (or use 3 tablespoons of cajun seasoning)
- 1 lemon, juiced (4-5 Tbsp.)
- 2 Tbsp. Tabasco
- 3/4 pound red potatoes, quartered
- 1/2 large red onion, cut into wedges
- 7 cloves garlic
- 5 sprigs fresh thyme, (or 1 tsp. dried thyme)
- 2 corn on the cob, husked and cut into thirds
- 12 oz. package smoked andouille sausage, cut into 1inch pieces
- 4 Tbsp. salted butter
- 1 lb. medium or large raw shrimp, deveined (thawed raw shirmp)
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Serving ideas
- melted butter, (salted butter)
- extra old bay seasoning
- lemon wedges
Instructions
- Stage One (3.5 Hour Cook Time)In a small bowl, whisk together the 2 cups of water, old bay seasoning, lemon juice, Tabasco and set aside.
- In the slow cooker pot, add the cut red potatoes, red onion wedges, garlic, fresh thyme and the old bay and water mixture. Stir and cook on high for 3.5 hours or until the potatoes are tender.
- Stage One (3.5 Hour Cook Time)When the potatoes are tender add the cut corn, andouille sausage and butter can cook on high for another hour or until corn is tender.
- Stage Three (30 more Minutes Cook Time):Remove the corn from the slow cooker and set aside. Add the shrimp and cook for another 30 minutes on high or until the shrimp are pink and cooked through. Add the corn back into the slow cooker and mix everything together.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve right from the slow cooker or on a newspaper lined platter.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More Seafood Slow Cooker Recipes
Enjoy a cozy bowl of Slow Cooker Manhattan Clam Chowder or creamy Cream of Crab Soup for seafood soup night.
For appetizers, try Hot Shrimp Dip or rich and cheesy Crockpot Crab Dip. Make dinner easy with Crockpot Shrimp Scampi or tender, flaky Slow Cooker Salmon.
And if you’re craving something with a kick, Crockpot Jambalaya is packed with bold flavor and hearty ingredients.
Can this recipe be doubled?
It won’t fit in a 6 quart slow cooker if it is doubled.
How would the time change if I omit the sausage?
The time will be the same since it goes in the same time as the corn.
How long would you say for a low cook instead of high?
6-7 hours.
I would cut the cajun seasoning to maybe 1 tbsp. It was way too overpowering.
Can I do shell on shrimp?
Yes!
My husband is allergic to shell fish, but this sounds delicious! Can I substitute chicken? Or possibly double thee amount of sausage?
I don’t see why not!
Just made it. Was worried that the amount of Old Bay Seasoning was too much. I was wrong. This recipe is nothing short of fantastic.
Great to hear! Glad you tried it.
This slow cooker Shrimp Boil is awesome. Thank you for this quick recipe,that cause a mess.
That looks delicious im going to try it.
This recipe sounds like something our family would devour. Do you have to use the hot sauce? Some of my family very sensitive to spicy.
You can leave it out!
Can I add lobster to this? How would I do it? Thanks
You could, it may be hard to fit. You would have to nestle the lobster in the hot liquid and be sure their is still room for the shrimp.