Slow Cooker Seafood Boil

Slow cooker seafood boil is a fuss-free version of a classic Southern recipe. Packed with your favorite seafood, red potatoes, corn, and smoky sausage, and Old Bay seasoning, this flavor-packed feast practically cooks itself. Great for summer gatherings, game days, or a fun weekend dinners, no more standing over boiling pots of water. Sit back and let the crockpot do the heavy lifting. 

Ingredients For Slow Cooker Seafood Boil

• Seafood (I use shell-on shrimp)
• Red Potatoes 
• Corn 
• Smoked Sausage 
• Onion
• Lemon
• Old Bay Seasoning

How To Make Slow Cooker Seafood Boil  

Making a seafood boil in the slow cooker or Instant Pot is very easy but there are a few things to note. If you use the slow cooker, add enough water to cover the food. That should be between 5-7 cups. With the Instant Pot, only use 3 cups of water. In both cases, all the ingredients EXCEPT the seafood cook together. For the slow cooker, you add the seafood the last 10 minutes of cooking time. Using the Instant Pot, I find that adding the seafood and letting them cook on the WARM setting (or off) with the lid on does the trick. You can also cook them on high pressure for 1 minute.

Slow Cooker

1. Add all ingredients EXCEPT the shrimp to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well.
2. Cook HIGH 2-3 hours or LOW 4-6.
3. Stir in shrimp gently and cook 10 minutes or until shrimp are pink. Drain water & serve.

Instant Pot

1. Add all the ingredients to the pressure cooker EXCEPT the shrimp.
2. Close and seal vent. Select high pressure for 4 minutes.
3. When cooking time is complete, quick-release the pressure. Open the lid. Add the seafood. Place lid back on the pressure cooker and let is on the WARM setting for 3-5 minutes or until the seafood is done. Drain water and serve.

FAQs & Tips

How do you serve a seafood boil?

After the food has finished cooking, drain the liquid through a colander.  You eat a low country boil by pouring the food what out on a table lined with newspaper. It’s fun plus it makes clean-up a heck of a lot easier.

Can you use frozen seafood?

Yes, you can use frozen shrimp, stir them in at the end of cook time same as you would raw. Thaw crab or lobster before adding them. 

Can you use seafood ?

Of course! Get creative with this. Lobster, mussels, clams, are all great additions to this slow cooker seafood boil. 

How do you store leftovers?

Store leftover crockpot seafood boil in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. 

What size slow cooker did you use?

I use a  6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot for this recipe.

Seafood Recipes

• Baked Shrimp Boil Casserole

• Seafood Boil

• Crawfish Boil

• Cajun Shrimp Boil

Slow Cooker Seafood Boil

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Slow cooker seafood boil is a fuss-free version of a classic Southern recipe. Packed with your favorite seafood, red potatoes, corn, and smoky sausage, and Old Bay seasoning, this flavor-packed feast practically cooks itself. Great for summer gatherings, game days, or a fun weekend dinners, no more standing over boiling pots of water. Sit back and let the crockpot do the heavy lifting.

• Author: Shannon Epstein
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 3 hours
• Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
• Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 pound uncooked seafood like shell-on shrimp or crab
• 3/4 pound baby red potatoes or red potatoes, quartered
• 12 ounces smoked sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 ears of corn, shucked and cut in half
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 lemon, cut in half
• 3 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning (see below for homemade)
• 1 bay leaf
• 5-7 cups water for slow cooker, 3 cups water for Instant Pot

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Instructions

Slow Cooker

1. Add all ingredients EXCEPT the shrimp to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well.
2. Cook HIGH 2-3 hours or LOW 4-6.
3. Stir in shrimp gently and cook 10 minutes or until shrimp are pink. Drain water & serve.

Instant Pot

1. Add all the ingredients to the pressure cooker EXCEPT the shrimp.
2. Close and seal vent. Select high pressure for 4 minutes.
3. When cooking time is complete, quick-release the pressure. Open the lid. Add the seafood. Place lid back on the pressure cooker and let is on the WARM setting for 3-5 minutes or until the seafood is done. Drain water and serve.

Notes

Homemade Old Bay Seasoning

• 1 teaspoon celery salt
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon mustard powder
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cardamom
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger

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