Making shrimp in the Instant Pot couldn’t be any easier! It’s topped with a delicious garlic butter sauce you’ll love.
Ingredients and substitutions
Shrimp
- Frozen uncooked shrimp – you could also use fresh uncooked shrimp for this recipe.
- Butter – substitute for a butter substitute of your choice like margarine.
- Lemon juice – fresh or bottled lemon juice would work. In a pinch, use lime juice.
- Garlic – freshly minced or jarred minced garlic can be used.
- Dijon mustard – stone-ground mustard would be the best substitute here.
- Chili flakes – leave these out if you don’t like spice.
- Salt & pepper – to taste.
- Fresh basil – fresh oregano or thyme would provide a similar flavor.
Bowl ingredients
- Brown rice – or another grain of your choice like quinoa.
- Vegetables – add in any veggies of your choice.
How to cook shrimp in the Instant Pot
Step 1: Add shrimp to the Instant Pot.
Step 2: Cook on high pressure.
Cook the shrimp on high pressure for 0 minutes for fresh shrimp or 1 minute for frozen shrimp.
Step 3: Make the sauce.
Remove the shrimp, then set the pressure cooker to sauté mode. Melt the butter, then add the lemon juice, garlic, Dijon and chili flakes.
Step 4: Add the shrimp.
Drizzle the sauce over the shrimp then garnish with fresh basil.
Step 5: Sauté the veggies.
While the shrimp cooks, make the rice and sauté the veggies until tender.
Step 6: Assemble your bowls and serve!
Serve the shrimp over rice with veggies and any other toppings of your choice.
What to serve with Instant Pot shrimp
There are so many Instant Pot shrimp recipes you can try! I love using the shrimp to make yummy bowls, but there are plenty of other ways you can serve your shrimp. Here are some more dishes you can use making your shrimp:
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do you cook shrimp for in the Instant Pot?
The cooking time varies based on whether you’re using fresh or frozen shrimp. If you’re making frozen shrimp in the Instant Pot, it will need to cook on high pressure for 1 minute; if you’re making fresh shrimp, it only needs to cook on high pressure for 0 minutes.
How do you cook it so it’s not rubbery?
Instant Pot shrimp is a pretty much foolproof way to ensure that your shrimp turns out juicy and not rubbery every time! Make sure to do a quick pressure release at the end.
Do you use fresh or frozen shrimp?
You can use either fresh or frozen shrimp for these Instant Pot shrimp recipes! It’s all a matter of preference. Just keep in mind that the cooking time will vary.
Can you use different seasonings?
You can season the shrimp however you’d like. I like to use a lemon garlic sauce, but you can also season it with any spices or blends of your choice like Old Bay seasoning.
Storing and reheating
You can store any leftover Instant Pot shrimp in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. If you’re making shrimp bowls, store all the components separately in the fridge, then assemble your bowls right before you eat them.
Reheat the shrimp in a pan on the stovetop until warmed through for the best results. You can microwave shrimp, but it might overcook, so it’s best to reheat it on the stovetop. Alternatively, if you’re making shrimp bowls, you can just eat them cold!
Freezing this recipe
If you’re making frozen shrimp in the Instant Pot, you won’t be able to refreeze it. However, if you’re using fresh shrimp, you can freeze it either raw or cooked for up to 3 months! From there, you can either defrost it in the fridge or cook it in the Instant Pot right from frozen.
More Instant Pot seafood recipes
- Instant Pot Shrimp Scampi
- Instant Pot Shrimp Boil
- Instant Pot Teriyaki Salmon
- More Easy Instant Pot Seafood Recipes
Meal prep tools for this recipe
- The Instant Pot DUO Plus 60 is the version I use in this recipe.
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on packing this shrimp up for lunch!
Instant Pot Shrimp with Garlic Butter Sauce
Ingredients
Shrimp
- 1 lb frozen uncooked shrimp
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1/4 tsp chili flakes
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp fresh basil finely chopped
Bowl ingredients
- 1 cup brown rice
- 2 cups water
- 1 red pepper chopped
- 1 red onion chopped
- 1 zucchini chopped
- 1 cup corn
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
To make the shrimp
- FRESH SHRIMP: Add fresh shrimp and water to the Instant Pot. Place lid on Instant Pot and make sure valve is set to seal. Press the pressure cook button and set to high, then cook for 0 minutes (yes, you read that right! The Instant Pot will just come to pressure, then turn off).
- FROZEN SHRIMP: Add frozen shrimp and water to the Instant Pot. Place lid on Instant Pot and make sure valve is set to seal. Press the pressure cook button and set to high, then cook for 1 minute.
- Whether using fresh or frozen, do a quick release of the pressure on the Instant Pot by flicking the switch at the top with a spoon. Open the lid when pressure gauge has dropped and the lid opens easily.
- Using oven mitts, drain shrimp and set aside on a platter. Place empty pot back inside the Instant Pot, then turn Instant Pot to saute mode.
- Once hot, add butter, stirring until melted. Add lemon juice, garlic, dijon, chili flakes and salt and pepper to taste, stirring occasionally for 1-2 minutes until sauce thickens.
- Drizzle sauce over shrimp, then garnish with fresh basil. Serve and enjoy!
Turn this recipe into a full meal as a bowl!
- While shrimp cooks, cook rice and water in a rice cooker until liquid has absorbed. You can do this up to 3 days in advance to save time.
- With a bit of olive oil, saute red pepper, red onion and zucchini together in a skillet over med-high heat until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in corn, cooking another minute. Season with salt and pepper, then serve over rice alongside shrimp. Enjoy!
