Instant Pot shrimp turn out perfectly cooked every time, whether you’re using frozen shrimp or fresh raw shrimp. Faster than the oven, you can cook these Instant Pot steamed shrimp with the shell for a shrimp cocktail or add them to your favorite salad or pasta dish!
There’s something fun and refreshing about shrimp, don’t you think?
The only problem, though, is how to cook shrimp! There’s a fine line between perfectly juicy and tender shrimp (delicious!) and tough and chewy shrimp (gross!).
Let me show you my favorite method for cooking shrimp – the Instant Pot!
INSTANT POT SHRIMP
You only need 3 tools to make this work:
- An Instant Pot.
- A steaming basket.
- A glass lid.
And you only need 2 simple ingredients:
- Water
- Shrimp
If you have these 5 items, you’re all set for this Instant Pot shrimp recipe.
OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS
If you’d like to add some flavor, add lemon juice, lime juice, and/or Old Bay Seasoning on top of the shrimp before or after cooking. Homemade blackened seasoning would be tasty too!
Psst! Want to kick this up a notch? Try finishing this recipe with a pinch of finishing salt! I love Ava Jane’s Kitchen because it doesn’t have microplastics (gross, right?) and it’s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt (just pay shipping and handling!) Mix it in with your homemade seasoning or add a dash to the top of your shrimp before serving!
INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT STEAMED SHRIMP
Step 1. Add water to the Instant Pot.
Step 2. Put the shrimp in the steaming basket accessory, and place the basket in the Instant Pot. Put a glass lid on top.
Note: You can either buy the official Instant Pot glass lid, or you can check to see if one of the glass lids from your cookware set works. The glass lid from my 5-quart pot fits my Instant Pot perfectly!
Step 3. Press the “steam” function and set the timer for 5 minutes.
Step 4. When the timer goes off, check the shrimp. If your shrimp are small or medium, they may be done. The shrimp are considered done when they are pink and slightly curled. They do NOT need to be fully curled to be considered done. (In fact, if they’re fully curled, they’re likely overdone.)
Step 5. If you’re cooking large shrimp, you will need to stir the shrimp and add an additional 4-5 minutes to the timer. Check the shrimp at 4 minutes and add 1-2 minutes, if needed.
Step 6. Serve the Instant Pot steamed shrimp immediately or keep them in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Cooked shrimp can also be frozen for 3-6 months if wrapped well.
TIPS FOR MAKING SHRIMP IN INSTANT POT
The cooking time for shrimp in Instant Pot will depend greatly on the size of your shrimp. I’ve written this recipe for large shrimp (approximately 16-20 per pound) because that’s what I usually buy. For smaller shrimp, reduce the cooking time to 3 minutes and watch the shrimp to prevent overcooking. Make note of the total cook time for the size of shrimp you bought so you can set the timer correctly the next time.
Keep in mind this is not pressure cooker shrimp. We’re using the Instant Pot to steam the shrimp. Even using a pressure cook with quick release to the steam valve would too easily overcook the shrimp!
Note: If your local stores don’t carry high-quality seafood, I recommend Butcher Box. You can read my honest review of their products here and how to make Butcher Box worth the cost here!
WAYS TO JAZZ UP INSTANT POT SHRIMP RECIPES
There are lots of easy ways to add some extra flavor to your instant pot shrimp recipes!
- Add lemon slices or lime slices to the water.
- Add lemon juice or lime juice to the water.
- Marinate the shrimp in lemon or lime juice + garlic powder + salt + pepper for 30-60 minutes before cooking.
- Sprinkle Old Bay Seasoning on the shrimp before cooking.
- Add minced garlic to the water.
- Drizzle melted butter on top.
TO SERVE INSTANT POT SHRIMP
Here are some of my favorite (quick and easy!) recipes to add Instant Pot shrimp to:
- Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Creamy Slaw
- Greek Quinoa Salad
- Crunchy Vegetable Quinoa Salad
- Vegetable Fried Rice
- Easy Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce
- Protein topping for Rice and Beans night
- Tacos with Mango Salsa tucked inside Homemade Flour Tortillas
- Dipped in Thai Peanut Dressing
EASY SHRIMP INSTANT POT RECIPES FAQS
Can you steam frozen shrimp in the instant pot?
Yes! All you have to do to reheat frozen cooked shrimp is press the “Pressure Cook” button or “Manual” button and set the time to ZERO. If you are using frozen raw shrimp, cook for 1 minute on HIGH pressure and check to see if the shrimp are cooked through.
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.
How long do you steam shrimp in Instant Pot?
Press the “steam” button and set the timer for 5 minutes. You may need to steam for 1-4 additional minutes for larger shrimp.
What is the best way to steam shrimp?
The Instant Pot! If you don’t have one, a medium saucepan can work. All you have to do is bring water to a boil on medium heat on the stovetop. Gently stir in the shrimp, then cover. Steam for 2 to 3 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink.
How to cook shrimp in the oven?
Set the oven to 450F, and when it’s preheated, place shrimp in a single layer on a baking sheet. Toss with a drizzle of olive oil and desired spices and cook for 5 minutes. Stir the shrimp and cook for additional time, as needed, until they’re cooked through. Try my Sheet Pan Hawaiian Shrimp if you want to spice it up!!
MORE SEAFOOD RECIPES
- Shrimp Creole
- Sheet Pan Hawaiian Shrimp
- Homemade Fish Sticks (Freezer Friendly)
- Blackened Salmon
- Easy Spicy Salmon Tacos with Slaw
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Instant Pot Steamed Shrimp
Instant Pot shrimp turn out perfectly cooked every time, whether you’re using frozen shrimp or fresh raw shrimp. Faster than the oven, you can cook these Instant Pot steamed shrimp with the shell for a shrimp cocktail or add them to your favorite salad or pasta dish!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4-6 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup of water
- 1–2 pounds of shrimp
- Lemon juice, lime juice, and/or Old Bay Seasoning, if desired (optional)
Instructions
- Pour water into the Instant Pot. Place the shrimp in a steaming basket, and place the basket in the Instant Pot. Place a glass lid on top.
Note: You can either buy the official Instant Pot glass lid, or you can check to see if one of the glass lids from your cookware set works. The glass lid from my 5-quart pot fits my Instant Pot perfectly! - Press the “steam” function and set the timer for 5 minutes.
- When the timer goes off, check the shrimp. If your shrimp are small or medium, they may be done. The shrimp is considered done when they are pink and slightly curled. They do NOT need to be fully curled in order to be considered done. (In fact, if they’re fully curled they’re likely overdone.)
- If you’re cooking large shrimp, you will need to stir the shrimp and add an additional 4-5 minutes to the timer. Check the shrimp after 4 additional minutes, and add 1-2 minutes, if needed.
- Serve immediately or keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Cooked shrimp can also be frozen for 3-6 months if wrapped well.
Notes
- The cooking time for shrimp in Instant Pot will depend greatly on the size of your shrimp. I’ve written this recipe for large shrimp (approximately 16-20 per pound) because that’s what I usually buy. For smaller shrimp, reduce the cooking time to 3 minutes and watch the shrimp to prevent overcooking. Make note of the total cook time for the size of shrimp you bought so you can set the timer correctly the next time.
- Keep in mind this is not pressure cooker shrimp. We’re using the Instant Pot to steam the shrimp. Even using pressure cook with quick release to the steam valve would too easily overcook the shrimp!
Nutrition
- Calories: 90
I wasn’t aware you could use the glass lid with the steam function! I thought only slow cook, sauté & yogurt were the only programs you could use the glass lid for! Good to know!
You can use the glass lid for anything that does not require pressurization.
What if I don’t have a glass lid?
I used your foil idea and spritzed lime juice n paprika on the shrimp! They were AMAZING!!! Wish I could leave a pic coz they are beautiful!
This sounds super easy but I don’t have a steamer basket. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Hi Melissa! It hasn’t been tested by us, but maybe you could make a foil bowl to put the shrimp in, and place it on the wire trivet inside (a trivet comes with most Instant Pots). I do this with meatloaf in the IP, and it works great. Let us know how it comes out if you try it. 🙂
Why can’t you use the instant pot lid with this? I use the instant pot lid with anything else I steam…
It is a suggestion in order to create the best flavor and texture. Some people like the Instant Pot lids, but it will steam better with a glass one, since the Instant Pot lid is for pressure cooking in most cases.
I appreciate it, thank you!
I signed up to recieve your downloads and I’m not getting any.
Hi Alaine! If you send me an email at tiffany(at)dontwastethecrumbs(dot)com, we’ll get you squared away!