This quick and easy Instant Pot Shrimp Boil recipe is loaded with perfectly cooked potatoes, sausage, corn and jumbo shrimp, then doused in seasoned butter.
I love utilizing my pressure cooker to make full meals just like this Instant Pot Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes or my Instant Pot Orange Chicken with Rice!
Grab the napkins, cause this shrimp boil recipe is finger-licking-good!
We love to make this simple recipe for friends and family cause it’s so fun to have everyone gather around the table and dig in.
Instant Pot Shrimp Boil Recipe
What is a Shrimp Boil? A shrimp boil (or sometimes referred to as a low country shrimp boil) is Southern favorite that is commonly found at parties. It consists of tender potatoes, sausages, sweet corn and shrimp or an assortment of seafood that’s generally all cooked in the same pot. Since each seafood does not take very long to cook, it’s usually tossed in at the end.
Ingredients Needed For Shrimp Boil
Here’s the basic list of the ingredients you’ll need in order to make this recipe. As always, you can find the full list of ingredients in the printable recipe card below.
- Baby Red Potatoes – can use baby gold or a mix of the two
- Andouille Sausage – try different flavors like cajun, smoked, turkey, etc.
- Sweet Corn – fresh is best, but frozen can also be used
- Onion – you can use pearl onions or roughly chopped onion
- Shrimp – use frozen large (or extra large) shrimp. If using smaller size, you will decrease the cook time.
- Old Bay Seasoning – essential for the signature flavor
- Hot Sauce – a cayenne pepper hot sauce, use more or less for spice level
- Chicken Broth – you can also use beer, but the alcohol will not cook out in the pressure cooker, so it would be an adult only meal.
- Butter
- Lemon Wedges
How To Make Shrimp Boil In Instant Pot
I love being able to use my pressure cooker during the summer months so I don’t heat up my kitchen while cooking dinner. This recipe is perfect when corn is at it’s peak and you can enjoy a nice dinner on the patio!
- ADD POTATOES, SAUSAGE AND CORN Start by tossing the potatoes, sausage and corn segments into the liner of your pressure cooker. If you like your onions on the softer side, go ahead and add your onions now.
- MAKE SEASONED BROTH Combine the chicken broth with the hot sauce and old bay seasoning, then pour over the ingredients in the instant pot.
- HIGH PRESSURE Cook at HIGH pressure for just 5 minutes, followed by a quick release of the pressure valve.
- ADD SHRIMP Quickly add the shrimp to the pot and cover again, then cook at HIGH pressure for just 1 minute followed by another quick release.
- DRIZZLE WITH BUTTER Combine melted butter with garlic powder and old bay seasoning then drizzle over the shrimp boil and enjoy!
What To Serve With Instant Pot Shrimp Boil Recipe?
Bulk up this southern favorite with these simple side dishes that will pair perfectly…
You could even get away with serving this instant pot shrimp boil recipe by itself, as it’s plenty to feed a family of 6!
What Size Instant Pot Do I Need?
I’m using an 8 quart instant pot for this recipe. But it would also work well in the 6 quart instant pot.
If you cut the recipe in half, you could possibly fit it into a 3 quart instant pot.
How Long Does It Really Take In The Instant Pot?
While this instant pot recipe only has a total of 6 minutes on HIGH pressure, the actual total time will look more like 35 to 40 minutes depending on the size of your instant pot and temperature of ingredients when starting.
This is because the broth inside must come to a boil and create enough pressure to seal the valve BEFORE the timer starts ticking. Then, when you release the pressure it can also take a few minutes for it to fully release before you can open the pressure cooker.
I still believe this is a great, one-pot recipe that is perfect for busy weeknights, parties and even taking in your camper!
What Size Shrimp Do I Need?
For this recipe I’m using “Super Colossal” size shrimp. Or just an XL size shrimp (about 13 to 15 per lb.)
Shrimp is my favorite part of this recipe so I’ve amped it up to a full 2 lbs.
PRO TIP: If using a smaller size shrimp, reduce the cook time after you add the shrimp to 0 minutes at high pressure. Trust me, it’ll still cook the shrimp and they won’t turn out overcooked.
You’ll notice that I’ve left the peels and tails on my shrimp. I think this makes it more fun to eat cause you really get in there with your hands.
If you want to use shrimp that is already peeled and tails off, that works too. No need to make any adjustments to the recipe or cook time.
More Southern Favorites To Try
Here are some more delicious, quick and easy southern favorites you’ll really enjoy…
I can’t wait for you to give this awesome recipe a try! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Instant Pot Shrimp Boil
Equipment
- Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb baby red potatoes
- 13 oz andouille sausage, cajun style or smoked, cut into 2" segments
- 3 medium ears of corn, cut in half
- 1 cup onion, chopped, or pearl onions peeled
- 1½ cups chicken broth
- 1 tbsp hot sauce, cayenne pepper sauce
- 4 tsp old bay seasoning, divided
- 2 lbs shrimp*, frozen, extra large (13-15 per lb.)
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- parsley, freshly chopped
- lemon, cut into wedges
Instructions
- Add the potatoes, sausage and corn to the liner of the instant pot. Add the onion if you prefer really soft onions, or add with the shrimp for more texture to them.
- Mix together the chicken broth, hot sauce and 3 tsp of old bay seasoning, then pour into pot. Make sure your silicone ring is fitting snuggly, then attach lid to pressure cooker. Close vent to sealed position, cook on HIGH pressure for just 5 minutes, followed by a quick release of pressure (once timer has counted down the 5 minutes open valve to release pressure).
- Quickly add in the frozen shrimp and cover the lid, closing the valve again. Cook on HIGH pressure for just 1 minute, followed by a quick release. Drain any excess liquid from pot if desired.
- Pour mixture into a large, rimmed tray. Combine melted butter, garlic powder and remaining 1 tsp of old bay seasoning and drizzle over corn, potatoes, shrimp and sausage. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
PIN THIS IMAGE TO SAVE THE RECIPE:
Super Easy Grilled Fish Tacos with White Sauce
Susan
Turned out great. Everyone enjoyed it
Lori Robinett
My first time doing a seafood boil and I’m not a big Insta pot user. You made the directions easy to follow and it turned out great! I added crab legs to ours as well , no problems!
Janet
Can you add some crab claws in with the shrimp?
Mars
Seriously one of the best recipes I have ever made in my Ninja Foodi, we wanted Cajun food but didn’t want to go out. I doubled the amount of butter and hot sauce but that is because of our preference. The recipe is perfect
Darlene
This looks terrific……….wonder if you could convert this to a crockpot?
I don’t have an instant pot.
Sher
Made this last night with slight modifications (cut up idaho potatoes, chopped yellow onion, homemade deer sausage, and the smaller shrimp). Tasted fantastic. The only difference was after a minute, some of my “smaller” shrimp were still not cooked all the way through-still gray in some areas (I know! I was surprised!). Put it in for another minute, but released the pressure after more like 30 seconds and then all was good. I did drain all the liquid though because that’s what I thought I read, then afterwards I watched the video (should have watched it first). Oops! I think it would have been waaay better had I not done that. Will definitely make this again. Thanks!
Janet
If lobster tails come on sale, can I freeze them and add with the shrimp?
Leslie
I made this recipe in the instant pot this week after working late and was tired. The recipe was easy, cooked perfectly, and was so delicious. I am probably going to make it again tomorrow! We loved it 🙂
Shannon
Thank you, Great recipe!
You should join this Instant Pot Tips & Recipes Facebook group. I got a lot of new ideas and recipes. highly recommended! Here is a link to the group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/434020724110015/
Kim ALLEN
Thank you for your recipe! Everything was delicious!
Buffie
Made this last night and it was great! The flavors were so good and it was better than any shrimp boil we’ve had at a restaurant. It was super easy as well. Thanks for the great recipe!
Carol
Hi you state to cook on high. I get that but is that on meat/stew setting?
Sue
I don’t have an instant pot. How long would it be in a pot on the stove?
Nadine Farmer
Can any other pot be used besides an instant pot
Me
If you don’t have an instant pot or electric pressure cooker, maybe you can do a search for a stovetop shrimp boil recipe.
Lesley
So delicious! I loved this recipe so much. I live in Indiana and restaurants that serve shrimp boil are hard to come by. This beats the restaurant any day! Will definitely make again.
Amy Molina-Jones
This will become a regular for the Jones’es get togethers, thank you so much for the recipe! We did 2 pots for 6 people trying both colossal and jumbo from Sam’s Club. We will only use colossal and add a tablespoon or 2 of cajan seasoning in the future. Our party of 6 nearly finished everything :).
Olivia Hockwalt
OMG, not only a quick meal for several people but so very delicious. A total hit with everybody at the dinner table, there wasn’t one morsel left. Thanks for such a great recipe!
Kelly
If I sub or add crab legs to the pot how long would I cook it for?
Bethany Byrd
How else can u cook this if u don’t have a instant pot cause it looks very I want to try thank u.
Me
Traditionally shrimp boils are cooked in a pot on a stove or campfire. There are many recipes online for boiling in an open pot if you want to do a search and you can decide if you like the New England, Maryland, or Cajun versions better.
I appreciate this recipe so I can try the traditional recipe in my pressure cooker without having to figure out adjusting the cooking times on my own.
Joe nalder
Could I do half chicken breast chunks and half shrimp? I love shrimp, the better half does not…