Learn how to make your own boiled shrimp at home! It takes just minutes to make and boiled shrimp can be use for any recipe that calls for cooked shrimp.

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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

Easy Boiled Shrimp

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.

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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.

Easy Boiled Shrimp-4Easy Boiled Shrimp-5Easy Boiled Shrimp Recipe with tips for tasty, juicy shrimp every time! @NatashasKitchen

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? 😉

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Quick and Easy Boiled Shrimp Recipe

4.96 from 67 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Learn how to make your own boiled shrimp at home! It takes just minutes to make and boiled shrimp can be use for any recipe that calls for cooked shrimp.
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
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

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

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.
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Boiled Shrimp
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$

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Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

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Comments

  • Doris Strauch
    March 17, 2024

    So easy and so delicious. The seasonings add so much favor to the shrimp – makes for a nice appetizer as is, or can shine even more with a plethora of shrimp appetizer recipes.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 17, 2024

      Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for sharing!

      Reply

  • Becca
    December 26, 2023

    Absolutely perfect recipe & method! So delicious! It came out perfectly in the oven! I’ll use this method every time!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      December 26, 2023

      Hi Becca, that’s great to hear! Thanks a lot for this review.

      Reply

  • Nora Berry
    December 23, 2023

    Hi Natasha! I love your recipes! Can you cook the shrimp from frozen or do I have to thaw before boiling?

    Thank you so much!
    Merry Christmas!🎄

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      December 23, 2023

      Hi Nora! We prefer them thawed. If you do throw it in frozen then definitely increase your cooking time. Merry Christmas!

      Reply

  • Laura Edwards
    December 6, 2023

    I’ve been waiting for this my whole life. Shrimp were cooked to perfection!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      December 6, 2023

      Thank you for trying the recipe! I’m so glad you loved it.

      Reply

  • Susy
    May 17, 2022

    We are at the shore and have made this twice. It is the best. Thanks

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 17, 2022

      Oh I bet this is so good with fresh shrimp! I’m so happy you loved that, Susy!

      Reply

  • Dease
    April 16, 2022

    My shrimp turned out very tender. I was afraid they would be bland after cooling in the cold water, but they were just right. Thanks for another great recipe!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 16, 2022

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!

      Reply

  • Rick
    September 10, 2021

    Your shrimp.
    Not you’re shrimp.
    Grammar matters on blogs

    Reply

    • Natasha
      September 11, 2021

      Thank you Rick! I fixed the typos. I hope you love the shrimp.

      Reply

    • Jeff
      September 11, 2022

      Ease up, blow hole. How did you like the recipe? I thought it was spot on. Grammatical errors do not bother me one bit.

      Reply

    • TB
      September 22, 2022

      Hi Rick,
      I added a period at the end of your last sentence. You’re welcome.

      Reply

  • Flora Mondecar
    August 14, 2021

    My absolute favorite? My mother’s Shrimp Puffs with a Shrimp Sauce. I’ll have to dig for the recipe, she may have found it 60 years ago in the Long Island Times.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 14, 2021

      Wow! That’s amazing, Flora! I hope you find it. Sounds delicious!

      Reply

  • Mike
    March 27, 2021

    This looks Awesome! I’m going to do this today with some nice Jumbo Key West Pinks I got! I usually grill them and they’re so good, but today I’m going to try them this way. My question is, can I use a cheesecloth bag to put all of the shrimp shells in during the boil so it’s easier to separate the shrimp when they’re done? Should still get that flavor right? TY!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      March 30, 2021

      Hi Mike, yes a cheesecloth would work fine and its a great idea.

      Reply

    • Natasha
      March 30, 2021

      Hi Mike, yes a cheesecloth would work fine and it’s a great idea.

      Reply

  • Pat Ross
    February 24, 2021

    Love your blog. Your’s is the best💕

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 24, 2021

      Aww, that’s the best! I’m so glad you’re enjoying my blog & recipes!

      Reply

  • Robert
    January 16, 2021

    Thanks for the hint I was frying them in a frying pan and then letting them cool for shrimp cocktail and they came out rubbery
    Regards Robert

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 16, 2021

      You’re welcome.

      Reply

  • Donna
    December 21, 2020

    This is simple, easy, and delicious. Followed recipe exactly…would not change anything.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      December 21, 2020

      That’s nice of you to share, Donna. Thank you!

      Reply

  • Christina
    October 18, 2020

    Question? Is filtered water necessary? Or can I use tap water?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 19, 2020

      Hi Christina, we prefer filtered but that should work!

      Reply

  • Dayle
    May 14, 2020

    Hi I have a question please. Do you start counting the two minutes after the water has come back to a boil after the shrimp is added to the pot? Thank you.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      May 14, 2020

      Hi Dayle, they should be simmering for 2-3 minutes, but you should gauge more based on the color of the shrimp since shrimp come in different sizes and the temperature of the shrimp will change the overall cook time.

      Reply

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