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This Boiled Shrimp Recipe makes deliciously perfect boiled shrimp every time! So versatile for a quick and easy weeknight supper and especially for entertaining!
Pair this succulent Boiled Shrimp with garlic butter sauce or cocktail sauce for a special appetizer. It’s also simple to make a delicious meal in less than 15 minutes by adding a favorite side dish!
Fresh boiled shrimp always remind me of summer. As soon as school was out each summer, my family would start planning our trip to the beach. Almost as soon as we’d stuck our toes in the ocean, we planned a trip to the local fish market for fresh shrimp. Fresh fish and seafood, the smell of sunscreen, fun in the sun and sand – and these delicious Boiled Shrimp – have always been some highlights of summer!
The Best Boiled Shrimp Recipe
My sister and I loved going with Daddy to the docks when the fishing boats pulled in and we’d always stop into the little store to buy fresh shrimp and the fish of the day. Fast forward many years to my own family’s beach visits where so much has changed, yet the important things have stayed the same. There are still fish boats coming in with their catch in the afternoons and the store at the dock’s still sells the catch of the day and shrimp by the pound.
How to Make Boiled Shrimp
One of the easiest ways to prepare fresh shrimp is to boil it. For my boiled shrimp, I prefer to keep it simple. Just a few simple, yet essential ingredients are needed. In less than 15 minutes, you’ll have succulent, sweet and tender shrimp ready for serving or using in any recipe that calls for cooked shrimp! I love to serve it with either my garlic butter sauce (recipe included below) or scrumptious cocktail sauce (or BOTH!)
By following this simple recipe and tips I’ve included, you will have the most delicious, perfect boiled shrimp every time!
To make this recipe, you’ll need:
Ingredients
For the Boiled Shrimp
- water
- kosher salt
- large shrimp – with shells
- lemons – cut into wedges
For the Garlic Butter Sauce
- butter
- garlic cloves
Here’s how I make them.
Step by Step Instructions
- Boil water. Add water and salt to a large stockpot set over medium heat. Bring to a boil and allow to boil for 5 minutes.
- Cook shrimp. Stir in the raw shrimp, cover and remove the pot from heat. Allow to rest for about 8 minutes, until all the shrimp are cooked through. They will turn a beautiful shade of pink as shown in my photos. Then pour the shrimp and liquid into a colander to strain.
- Serve. Transfer the shrimp to a serving bowl or platter. You can serve them warm if you wish or chill them to serve cold. If serving cold, cover tightly with plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour in the refrigerator. Serve with lemon wedges.
How to Make Garlic Butter Sauce
- Melt butter. While the shrimp is resting, melt the butter in a small saucepan set over medium heat. After it’s melted, remove from heat and add the garlic.
- Add garlic. After it’s melted, remove from heat and add the garlic.
- Rest and clarify. Allow to rest for about 8 minutes. Skim the foam from the top of the butter to clarify.
- Serve. Remove the garlic cloves from the butter and pour the garlic butter sauce into a small serving bowl.
Leftover Makeover
If you have leftover boiled shrimp, use them in this delicious Citrus Shrimp Salad or our favorite Shrimp Taco Recipe Ready in minutes!
Other Favorite Shrimp Recipes
Here’s my Boiled Shrimp Recipe. I hope you love it as much as we do!
Boiled Shrimp Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 quarts water
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 2 pounds large shrimp with shells
- 2-3 fresh lemons cut into wedges
For the Garlic Butter Sauce
- 8 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic
Instructions
For the Boiled Shrimp:
- Boil water. Add water and salt to a large stockpot set over medium heat. Bring to a boil and allow to boil for 5 minutes.
- Cook shrimp. Stir in the raw shrimp, cover and remove the pot from heat. Allow to rest for about 8 minutes, until all the shrimp are cooked through. They will turn a beautiful shade of pink as shown in my photos. Then pour the shrimp and liquid into a colander to strain.
- Serve. Transfer the shrimp to a serving bowl or platter. You can serve them warm if you wish or chill them to serve cold. If serving cold, cover tightly with plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour in the refrigerator. Serve with lemon wedges.
For the Garlic Butter Sauce:
- Melt butter. While the shrimp is resting, melt the butter in a small saucepan set over medium heat. After it's melted, remove from heat and add the garlic.
- Add garlic. After it's melted, remove from heat and add the garlic.
- Rest and clarify. Allow to rest for about 8 minutes. Skim the foam from the top of the butter to clarify.
- Serve. Remove the garlic cloves from the butter and pour the garlic butter sauce into a small serving bowl.
Nutritional Information
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Simple. Came out perfect. After I drained the shrimp I put them in a plastic bag & then in an ice bath. Nice & perfectly done.
Thanks, Joyce!
I’m a New England girl so I can cook fish with my eyes closed, but shrimp is a different matter. I always overcook the shrimp. Your recipe was perfect! I had to take the shells off first to prepare the shrimp for sushi, so I just threw the shells in the pot and boiled for 6 minutes and then the shrimp. Easy peasy. They went into a cold bath, drained and into the fridge. Next time, I’m going to cook them just to try with your butter. It’s the simple things in life…
Hi Valerie,
You really do need to try them with the butter next time. Oh my goodness, it is so good. I’m so glad you liked this recipe so much. Thanks! xo
You need a whole lot more seasoning in your water than salt for true boiled shrimp.
Jenn, you can always any seasonings you like. This is the way my family and friends like boiled shrimp and I also have family members and friends who have allergies to some seasonings.
Jenn. Have you tried this recipe. It doesn’t need anything else. Try the shrimp warm with plain butter (poor mans lobster).
I love the shrimp recipe! Makes perfect shrimp every time. I wanted to ask about the garlic butter sauce. How do you prepare the garlic for the butter? Do you dice it or mince it?
Gloria, I put the whole cloves of garlic in the melted butter and let rest for about 8 minutes. Then, I remove the garlic cloves from the butter for serving. For future reference, there is a section in my post, How to Make Garlic Butter Sauce, that gives full instructions.
I am anxious to try this recipe, but I have 3 questions. Can this be made with frozen shrimp? I was surprise about the calories count. How many shrimp do you figure in this calorie count? Also when do you remove the shells so your guests don’t have to do it. Thanks Mary Lou
MaryLou, thanks so much for bringing this to our attention. The nutritional calculation had included the butter. It has now been updated. You would need to remove the shells before cooking the shrimp if you don’t want your guests to do so. You can use frozen shrimp. Just be sure to thaw and rinse the shrimp well before cooking. I hope you enjoy this recipe.
You are a Master with everything you make! My GOSH everything I have made was excellent!!!!!
I’m so happy you are enjoying my recipes, Brian. Thanks!