Just Throw Shrimp in a Slow Cooker with These 4 Things. Seriously, You’ll Think About It in the Shower Later.

You don’t need to be a five-star chef. You don’t need a kitchen full of gadgets or 87 ingredients.
You just need a bag of shrimp, some butter, garlic, lemon juice, a slow cooker, and maybe 10 minutes of your very chaotic day. That’s it.

This is the kind of meal you make when you’re tired, hungry, and vaguely annoyed at everyone who asked you a question today. It’s also what you make when your in-laws are coming over and you’re trying to seem like a person who “knows how to do dinner.” It’s perfect for both.

And it’s so stupidly good, it feels illegal.

I’ve made this on Tuesdays after 9-hour workdays. I’ve made it when I forgot I was in charge of dinner and panicked at 3pm. And I’ve made it just because I wanted to eat something buttery, garlicky, and deeply satisfying while watching the same three episodes of New Girl I always watch.

Every time? A win.

Why You’ll Keep Coming Back to This Like It Owes You Money

Let’s keep it real. You’ll love this because:

• There are five ingredients, and one of them is butter.

• No searing, no frying, no crying (unless you count garlic tears).

• You literally throw it all in a slow cooker and walk away.

• The smell? It’s like if a beach vacation and a hug had a baby.

• The shrimp cook in the buttery garlic sauce and taste like you did something impressive. (You didn’t. But no one needs to know that.)

Here’s What You’ll Need — and Don’t Panic, It’s Simple

This isn’t a “run to three different stores” situation. If you’ve got a grocery store shrimp section and a little butter, you’re golden.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled & deveined
  (Frozen is fine, just thaw it first. You can leave the tails on for ✨aesthetic✨ but I usually can’t be bothered.)

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  (Or salted. I’m not the butter police.)

• 4 garlic cloves, minced
  (The kind you forgot about in the back of the fridge still counts. No judgment.)

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  (Fresh if you’ve got it. Bottled if you’re like the rest of us.)

• Salt and pepper to taste
  (You know what you like. Trust yourself.)

Step-by-Step: Because You Deserve Instructions That Don’t Assume You’re on MasterChef

Step 1: Toss That Shrimp In

Grab your slow cooker and dump in the shrimp. Spread them out a little, but don’t overthink it. This isn’t Jenga.

Step 2: Garlic Butter = Life

In a little bowl or mug or whatever’s clean, stir together the melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, and a bit of salt and pepper. You can add a pinch of red pepper flakes if you want a little drama.

Step 3: Pour It All Over

Pour that liquid gold over the shrimp. Try to coat them all, but again — not a big deal if a few are only half-covered. They’ll be fine. We all get by on less sometimes.

Step 4: Slow Cook and Go Live Your Life

Put the lid on and cook on LOW for 1 to 2 hours. Set a timer if you’re like me and forget you started cooking.

You’ll know it’s done when the shrimp turn pink and opaque. Not bright white and angry-looking — that’s overcooked. Pull them out when they look like they’d RSVP yes to a beach party.

Step 5: Stir, Taste, Be Impressed

Once they’re done, give everything a good stir so the sauce hugs the shrimp a little more. Taste it. Add more salt or pepper if you feel like it. Or don’t. Honestly, it’s hard to mess this up.

What the Heck Do I Serve This With?

Here’s where it gets fun. This dish is like a people-pleaser. It works with anything.

• Rice — Classic. White, brown, jasmine. All welcome.

• Pasta — Toss the shrimp and sauce over spaghetti or angel hair and call it shrimp scampi. People will be impressed.

• Crusty bread — Toasted, buttered, and dragged through the sauce like you’re in a food commercial.

• A big green salad — Because balance. (Kind of.)

• Quinoa — If you’re feeling like you want to pretend this is a health food. It could be. It’s got lemon.

Or just stand over the sink with a fork and eat it right out of the slow cooker. No shame here.

Want to Switch It Up? Here’s How.

This recipe is chill. It’s not precious. You can absolutely tweak it to fit your mood, pantry, or cravings.

• Feeling spicy? Add red pepper flakes, cayenne, or even a splash of hot sauce.

• Want it herby? Chop up some parsley or cilantro and throw it on top.

• Love citrus? Swap lemon juice for lime, or add a little zest for fun.

• Craving something extra? Add a splash of white wine to the butter mix before cooking.

• Need veggies? Stir in spinach or cherry tomatoes near the end. They’ll soften right up.

Leftovers? Let’s Talk.

Okay, here’s the honest truth: these shrimp are best fresh. They’re tender and juicy right out of the slow cooker.

But if you do have leftovers:

• Store in the fridge for up to 2 days in an airtight container.

• Reheat gently — either in a skillet on low with a spoon of sauce or in the microwave in 30-second bursts. Don’t nuke it for two minutes straight unless you want chewy shrimp. (You don’t.)

• Freezing? Eh. Wouldn’t recommend. Shrimp and freezers aren’t besties.

One Last Thing Before You Go

Listen. I know there are a million shrimp recipes out there. But this one? It’s the one you pull out when you want something that feels homemade, comforting, and way fancier than it is.

It’s dinner magic. Like, “wow, I just threw this together” energy. The kind of meal that tastes good at the end of a long day, when you’ve been overthinking everything else and just need a win.

So yeah — bookmark this one. Print it. Text it to your friend who keeps ordering takeout. And when you make it, let me know how it turned out. Did you tweak it? Eat the whole batch alone? Dip an entire baguette in the garlic butter because you’re human and garlic butter is everything?

Whatever happens — I hope it made your day just a little easier. And a lot more delicious.

Catch you in the kitchen next time.

Slow Cooker 5-Ingredient Garlic Butter Shrimp

Ridiculously simple and delicious, this slow cooker garlic butter shrimp recipe is proof that fancy-tasting food doesn't have to be complicated. With just a handful of ingredients and minimal prep, you get juicy, flavorful shrimp bathed in garlicky butter — perfect for busy nights or when you just don't want to try too hard.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Main Course, Seafood

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 290 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined, tails on optional, thawed if frozen
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted (salted is okay too)
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tbsp lemon juice fresh or bottled
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Grab your slow cooker and dump in the shrimp. Spread them out a little, but don’t overthink it.
• In a bowl, stir together the melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, and a bit of salt and pepper. Add red pepper flakes if desired.
• Pour the garlic butter mixture over the shrimp, trying to coat them evenly.
• Cover and cook on LOW for 1 to 2 hours, or until shrimp are pink and opaque. Do not overcook.
• Stir the shrimp to coat in the sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve warm.

Notes

Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat, or serve over rice, pasta, or crusty bread to soak up the garlicky sauce. Fancy with zero effort.

Nutrition

Calories: 290kcal

Keyword 5 ingredients, Easy Cooking, garlic butter, shrimp, slow cooker

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