Make this Easy Shrimp Stew for a great option when you want something different and unique for dinner. This spicy and comforting dish will warm you up from head to toe.
Best of all, it uses ingredients you can easily pull out of your freezer or pantry! There’s no tedious chopping or extra prep required.
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💚 About This Recipe
Tired of beef? Sick of chicken? Not in the mood for pork? Yep, it happens. So from time to time, I like to change it up from my go-to proteins and get some seafood on the menu.
One of my go-to seafood recipes, especially during the winter, is this flavorful and easy shrimp stew.
Shrimp cooks up so quickly and easily, so it's a great ingredient to have in your arsenal. I keep a bag of shrimp in my freezer to pull out at a moment's notice!
Other great choices are my Shrimp Fettucine Alfredo or Creamy Coconut Shrimp, which are some of my favorites because they cook up in less than 30 minutes, just like these Air Fryer Fish Sticks!
🧂 Ingredients Needed
- diced tomatoes - an easy way to form a tasty base for this stew.
- pepper and onion strips - using frozen pepper and onion strips cuts down on prep time and adds flavor and nutrition.
- salt and pepper - to help bring out the other flavors of your shrimp soup.
- red pepper flakes - for a kick of subtle heat and warm flavor.
- oregano - pairs well with the pepper flakes and tomatoes.
- shrimp - gives this dish a tasty seafood twist that will differentiate it from typical stew proteins!
🔪 Instructions
- Combine tomatoes with pepper and onion strips.
- Stir until warmed through.
- Add salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and oregano.
- Mix in the shrimp and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes, or until shrimp is done.
❔ FAQs
For tender shrimp, cook either at a low temperature for a longer time, or at a higher temperature for a short time. Pan searing or frying is a great option, but this shrimp soup goes for the low and slow option.
The major thing to avoid is overcooking. This can result in rubbery or tough shrimp. Be sure to cook only until done, which is when the shrimp is opaque and slightly pink.
If you have the extra time and inclination, take fresh or thawed shrimp and toss it with about 1 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon baking soda, then let it sit in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes before using it in this recipe or any other.
💭 Expert Tips and Tricks
- If you buy peeled, deveined, tail-off shrimp, go ahead and toss it in right from the bag, without thawing it.
- I always buy at least peeled and deveined (I really don't have the patience to do those things), but I can't always find tail-off shrimp. In that case, I thaw the shrimp by placing them in a ziplock bag, squeezing out all the air, and then placing the bag under cool running water until they thaw. Once they are thawed, I can pretty easily pull off the tail prior to cooking.
- Don't overcook the shrimp! When the shrimp are pink and opaque, and curl (but not too tightly!) they are done.
📌 Not only are the ingredients convenient, this shrimp soup also cooks up in no time, all in one pot. So this is a great recipe to be your plan B for a night when you discover you are too tired to go ahead with whatever dinner you originally intended.
💡 Substitutions and Variations
- Depending on your preferences when it comes to spice, adjust the amount of red pepper flakes.
- You can use fresh pepper and onion strips if you like; the frozen strips are just meant for convenience and easy prep.
- Feel free to add other seasonings like basil, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, rosemary, or whatever you like!
🔊 What readers are saying...
"This is an excellent recipe for shrimp stew. The only variation I use is I sauté fresh green pepper and onion before I add the tomatoes and the frozen green pepper strip and onions. This gives it a fuller profile and adds to the texture of the stew. Serving with rice seems the natural way to present the stew."
- Rick
🥫 Storage and Reheating
Keep your shrimp stew in the fridge for 2-3 days. To reheat, you can pop it in the microwave, or pour it back into a pot over medium heat and stir until warmed through.
🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
Serve your Easy Shrimp Stew with warm crusty bread or a side salad, or both. Pair shrimp soup with Air Fryer Broccoli or Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts for an easy veggie, or serve with Homemade Cheddar Bacon Slow Cooker Bread or these Easy Drop Biscuits!
✔️ More Seafood Recipes You'll Love
- Brazilian Fish Stew - Another warm and comforting stew with bold flavors and delicious tilapia or other mild fish of your choice!
- Crab Cakes - Make your own crab cakes for a tasty main course, appetizer, or side dish.
- Seafood Pot Pie - Try this tasty twist on classic chicken pot pie featuring imitation crab and bacon.
- Lobster Bisque - This hearty and delicious recipe from Immaculate Bites is excellent for any lovers of seafood and soup!
Easy Shrimp Soup Recipe
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📋 Recipe Card
Easy Shrimp Stew
Ingredients
- 28 ounces diced tomatoes
- 12 ounces frozen bell pepper and onion strips (1 bag - up to 16 ounces is fine if you can't find a 12 ounce bag)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (adjust up to 1 teaspoon if you like it spicy!)
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- 12 ounces raw shrimp, cleaned (can use up to 16 ounces if you want to have a lot of shrimp)
Instructions
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the diced tomatoes and frozen pepper and onion strips.28 ounces diced tomatoes, 12 ounces frozen bell pepper and onion strips
- Add the salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and oregano, and bring to a simmer.½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon oregano
- Add the shrimp, and simmer about 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp are done.12 ounces raw shrimp, cleaned
Notes
- Watch the amount of crushed red pepper flakes that you add. It is better to be conservative if you aren't sure how spicy it will be. You can always add more later if you need to dial it up a bit!
- I usually buy shrimp that is at least peeled and deveined, but I can't always find tail-off shrimp. If you need to clean your shrimp prior to cooking, you can thaw the shrimp by placing them in a ziplock bag, squeezing out all the air, and then placing the bad under cool running water until they thaw.
- If you are able to buy peeled, deveined, tail-off shrimp, go ahead and toss them in the tomato mixture right from the bag. No need to thaw.
- Don't overcook the shrimp! When the shrimp are pink and opaque, and curl (but not too tightly!) they are done.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
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Happy cooking!
Jen says
I really liked this shrimp stew. It was a easy weeknight meal. Can't wait to enjoy the leftovers tomorrow.
Ali says
This was delicious! And just the perfect amount of spicy with the red pepper flakes.
Rick says
This is an excellent recipe for shrimp stew. The only variation I use is I sauté fresh green pepper and onion before I add the tomatoes and the frozen green pepper strip and onions. This gives it a fuller profile and adds to the texture of the stew. Serving with rice seems the natural way to present the stew.
Kristin King says
Sounds great! Thanks for sharing, Rick! 🙂
Gail says
Made this just as written and had a small bowl to taste. Needed more spice so I added. Still lneeded something. So I added rice and a bit of red pepper or cayenne. Perfect for my family. Without your base I wouldn’t have such a good dish. So thank you!
Kristin says
Those tweaks sound awesome! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
KW says
This recipe taste like shrimp with canned tomatoes. I was hoping for a lot more. Very disappointed.
Kristin says
I am sorry to hear that you were disappointed! It essentially is shrimp with canned tomatoes, and I layered some additional flavors with red pepper flakes and oregano, so my suggestion to you would be to increase those. The quantities I suggest are what worked for my family, and we really do love this dish! Remember too that it's possible that different brands of herbs and spices can have different intensity of flavor, so I always recommend using the recipe as a guideline and then adjusting as needed. I do appreciate you stopping by and providing feedback!
Ashley Kliebert says
are you suppose to add water
Kristin King says
No water needed! There is enough liquid from the diced tomatoes and the frozen vegetables.
Miz Helen says
This will be a great bowl of stew! Hope you are having a great week and staying warm. Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and come back soon!
Miz Helen
Ai | Ai made it for you says
Looks delicious Kristin! I haven't had shrimp in a while and your stew's making me crave some 🙂 Happy Fiesta Friday!
Kristin says
Thank you! 🙂
Jhuls | The Not So Creative Cook says
Oh yum! This looks so good!! I haven't had shrimps in while. I'd love to dig into this. Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday party.
T'onna | Sew Crafty Crochet says
This looks so delicious! Those shrimp are calling my name!!!! I'm pinning this! Thanks for sharing at the Snickerdoodle Create Bake Make Link Party!
Greg King says
This was very tasty!