Can I use frozen prawns in this slow cooker recipe?

Yes, you can use frozen prawns, but make sure they are fully defrosted and patted dry before adding them to the slow cooker. Adding frozen prawns can lower the temperature and result in uneven cooking.

What can I use instead of double cream to make this lighter?

You could use half-fat crème fraîche or light cream cheese stirred in towards the end. The sauce will be slightly less rich but still very tasty. Avoid using milk as it may split in the slow cooker.

How do I prevent the prawns from going rubbery in the slow cooker?

The key is to add the prawns only in the last 20–30 minutes of cooking on High. Prawns cook very quickly, so a long slow cook will make them tough. Keep the lid on and resist the urge to peek too often.

Can I prepare the sauce the night before?

Absolutely. You can sauté the onion and garlic, combine all the sauce ingredients (except the cream, parmesan, and prawns), and store it in the fridge overnight. In the morning, pour it into the slow cooker and follow the recipe from step 3.

I can’t stop making this Marry Me Shrimp #shorts

by HungryHappens

SeafoodSlow cooker adapted

Published 15 April 2026Original video

Marry Me Shrimp (or prawns, as we'd say!) is a dish so irresistibly good, it just might inspire a proposal. Succulent king prawns are bathed in a luscious creamy sauce loaded with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, parmesan, and fresh basil. This slow cooker adaptation builds the flavourful sauce low and slow, with the prawns added at the end to keep them perfectly tender. Serve it over pasta, rice, or with crusty bread to mop up every last drop of that incredible sauce.

Video thumbnail: I can’t stop making this Marry Me Shrimp #shorts

Watch: I can’t stop making this Marry Me Shrimp #shorts

Original recipe video — click to play

Original video by HungryHappens44k likes on YouTube

15 mins

Prep time

3 hrs

Slow cook (Low)

2 hrs

Slow cook (High)

Serves

3 hrs 15 mins

Total (Low)

Slow cooker setting:Low 3 hours or High 2 hours

Original method: 20 minutes on the hob

Slow cooker adaptation notes

• The creamy sauce base is cooked in the slow cooker on low to develop rich flavour. • Liquid has been reduced as slow cookers retain moisture. • Prawns are added in the final 20–30 minutes on high to prevent them becoming rubbery. • Double cream, parmesan, and fresh basil are added later to preserve their flavour and texture. • Browning the garlic and onion beforehand is recommended for best flavour.

Ingredients

Servings:

Units:

Main

500 g raw king prawns, peeled and deveined
Add in the final 20–30 minutes on high to avoid overcooking.

Sauce

1 tbsp olive oil
30 g butter
1 medium onion, finely diced
4 cloves garlic cloves
, minced
80 g sun-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped
Use the type packed in oil for best flavour.
180 ml chicken stock
Reduced from typical recipe to account for slow cooker moisture retention.
200 ml double cream
Add in the final 30 minutes to prevent splitting.
50 g parmesan cheese, finely grated
Stir in with the cream in the final 30 minutes.

Seasoning

1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp dried oregano
½ tsp red chilli flakes(optional)
Adjust to taste.
½ tsp salt
Season to taste.
¼ tsp black pepper, freshly ground

Garnish

10 g fresh basil leaves, roughly torn
Scatter over the finished dish just before serving.

Method

1
Heat the olive oil and butter in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for a further 1 minute until fragrant. Transfer to the slow cooker.
~5 mins
Tip: Browning the aromatics first gives the sauce a much deeper flavour.
2
Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, chicken stock, smoked paprika, dried oregano, red chilli flakes, salt, and black pepper to the slow cooker. Stir everything together to combine.
~2 mins
3
Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on Low for 2.5 hours or High for 1.5 hours, allowing the sauce to develop in flavour.
~2 hrs 30 mins
4
Stir in the double cream and grated parmesan cheese until well combined. Turn the slow cooker to High if not already.
~2 mins
Tip: Adding the cream later prevents it from splitting during the long cook.
5
Add the raw king prawns to the sauce, nestling them into the liquid. Replace the lid and cook on High for 20–30 minutes, or until the prawns are pink and cooked through.
~25 mins
Tip: Do not overcook the prawns — they only need a short time in the slow cooker.
6
Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if needed. Scatter over the torn fresh basil leaves and serve immediately over pasta, rice, or with crusty bread.
~2 mins

Nutrition

Detailed nutritional information is coming soon. For now, we recommend using a tool like MyFitnessPal to calculate values for your specific brands and quantities.

Frequently Asked Questions

: Yes, you can use frozen prawns, but make sure they are fully defrosted and patted dry before adding them to the slow cooker. Adding frozen prawns can lower the temperature and result in uneven cooking.

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