Quick and Easy Boiled Shrimp Recipe

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Shrimp cooks quickly. The secret is to take them out before they turn rubbery and then cool them down to stop the cooking process. Your shrimp will be ready in less than 5 minutes! Easy Peasy. You may be wondering what I did with all these boiled shrimp.

First, I mustered up all of my self-control not to devour them after I finished taking pictures. Then I chopped ’em up and put them into the most fantastic shrimp and avocado salsa (click here for the recipe).

Ingredients for Boiled Shrimp:

1.15 lbs raw shrimp (equals about 1 lb after it’s cooked), peeled & deveined (keep the shells!)
**Leave shells on if you want to serve them that way**
8 cups filtered water
1 Tbsp garlic salt (I use Lawry’s brand)
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1-2 bay leaves

How to Boil Shrimp:

Watch my quick video on how to peel and devein shrimp here. 
1. Place the shells from the shrimp in a large saucepan along with 1 Tbsp garlic salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and bay leaf. Add 8 cups water and bring to a boil over med/high heat.

2. Once water boils, add the peeled and deveined shrimp and simmer until pink, about 2-3 minutes depending on the size of the shrimp. Drain and transfer cooked shrimp to a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process and let cool.

Serve with your favorite cocktail sauce or use them in any recipe that calls for cooked shrimp, like that shrimp salsa that I can’t wait to share with you. I’ll post it A.S.A.P.

P.S. What’s your favorite, I mean ABSOLUTE favorite shrimp recipe? Or do you just love them with cocktail sauce? 😉

Quick and Easy Boiled Shrimp Recipe

4.96 from 68 votes

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Shrimp cook quickly. The secret is to take them out before they turn rubbery and then cool them down to stop the cooking process. Your shrimp will be ready in less than 5 minutes! Easy Peasy. Serve with your favorite cocktail sauce or use them in any recipe that calls for cooked shrimp

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Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 10 minutes mins

Ingredients 

Servings: 1 lb cooked shrimp

• 1.15 lbs raw shrimp shell-on, equals about 1 lb after it's cooked
• 8 cups filtered water
• 1 Tbsp garlic salt, I use Lawry's brand
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1-2 bay leaves

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Instructions

• Depending on how you are serving your shrimp, you can leave the shells on or off. I peel and devein first and keep the shells for the shrimp boil.
• Place the shells from the shrimp in a large sauce pan along with 1 Tbsp garlic salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and bay leaf. Add 8 cups water and bring to a boil over med/high heat.
• Once water boils, add the peeled and deveined shrimp and simmer until pink, about 2-3 minutes depending on size of the shrimp. Drain and transfer cooked shrimp to a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process and let cool.

• Full Nutrition Label
• Nutrition Disclosure

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Boiled Shrimp

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $$