Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (2024)

Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (1)

Jamielyn Nye
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A delicious seafood recipe cooked in a tomato-based broth with potatoes. This slow cooker seafood stew is comforting and is an easy-to-make dinner idea!

Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (2)

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Table of Contents

  • Easy Seafood Soup Recipe
  • Why This Recipe Works
  • Stew Ingredients
  • Substitutions and Variations
  • How to Make Seafood Stew
  • 5 star review
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Slow Cooker Soups
  • Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Printable Recipe

Easy Seafood Soup Recipe

When it comes to comfort food, a hearty soup or stew always does the trick. You just can’t beat a warm bowl of flavorful soup. We love this seafood stew, as well as my hearty vegetable soup, corn chowder and crockpot jambalaya.

Don’t you just love how easy and delicious slow cooker meals can be? They are great for busy weeknights and long weekends. This slow cooker seafood stew is a delicate, rich stew that is easy to prep and is a healthy dinner option.

The great thing about this slow cooker seafood stew recipe is that you can use fresh or frozen shellfish, just like in my recipe for shrimp scampi. That way no matter where you live you can enjoy a delicious seafood recipe. Also, I like to use fresh vegetables whenever I can and they are perfect in this slow cooker stew. Easy, healthy and super tasty!

Why This Recipe Works

  • Easy slow cooker dinner. This seafood soup recipe will convert you to a slow cooker lover if you aren’t already. All of the ingredients cook in just one pot, giving this dish the true meaning of an easy dump-and-go meal!
  • Healthy. All of the ingredients are fresh, low in fat and pack a punch of nutrients and protein. This is a healthy soup recipe you can feel great about eating!
  • Hearty and comforting. Each bite is filled to the brim with chunky potatoes, shrimp, scallops and a flavorful and savory broth. This stew is the epitome of comfort food!

Stew Ingredients

The great thing about stew recipes is that you can modify the ingredients to your likes and needs. This seafood soup is hearty and healthy with all the great fresh vegetables and seafood. A good loaf of crusty French bread is what you need for soaking up all that amazing broth!

Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (3)

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Seafood: I recommended using any two pounds of seafood you would like for this seafood stew recipe. I used large deveined shrimpand large scallops You could also use lobster, crab, crawfish, mussels, clams or white fish like cod or halibut.
  • Broth and tomatoes: The base of this stew is made with a savory vegetable broth mixed with crushed tomatoes and tomato paste.
  • Vegetables: Diced yellow potatoes, a few cloves of minced garlic and chopped onion add aromatics and texture.
  • Seasonings: Lots of dried seasonings are the key for giving this seafood stew the perfect flavor! I like to use a mix of dried thyme, basil, oregano, celery salt, crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne and salt and pepper.
  • Fresh parsley: Right before serving, sprinkle some freshly chopped parsley on top for the perfect finishing touch!

Substitutions and Variations

As mentioned above, feel free to use your favorite type of fish when making this seafood soup. You can also add in other veggies such as carrots or peppers, or even mix in some fresh spinach or kale to wilt at the very end of cooking.

Make it a bit spicier with a little more red pepper flakes, cayenne, a dash of hot sauce or some cajun seasoning like my gumbo recipe. Or add in a bay leaf for more flavor or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for a small punch of citrus for brightness.

How to Make Seafood Stew

Only 15 minutes needed to prepare this recipe for seafood stew! Then the soup will cook low and slow all day until you’re ready to enjoy dinner. An easy dump-and-go meal at it’s finest!

Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (4)
  1. Add tomatoes, broth and spices to slow cooker.Add all the ingredients (minus the fish) in the bottom of your crockpot.
  2. Cook the soup. Cover with lid and cook until the potatoes are fork tender, about 2-3 hours on high or 4-6 hours on low.
  3. Add seafood. Mix in the thawed seafood and cook on high for an additional 30-60 minutes, or until the fish is fully cooked.
  4. Serve and enjoy! Add fresh parsley on top if desired and serve with hot French bread!
Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (5)

5 star review

What a delicious way to use seafood!! It’s packed with so much flavor and the shrimp goes so well with the tomato flavor. Definitely making again!

Kristyn

Expert Tips

  • Shrimp shells. I leave the shells on the shrimp during the cooking process because that’s where a lot of the flavor comes from. Just make sure to remove the shells and tails before eating.
  • Broth. Using veggie broth will make the seafood flavor more subtle, however you can also use seafood stock for a bolder taste.
  • Low and slow. Although you can cook the stew on high heat in your crockpot, I recommend using the low setting if you have the time. The longer the soup simmers, the more flavor it will have. The fish will also stay super tender this way.
  • Serving suggestion. A side of Red Lobster cheddar biscuits goes perfect with this stew!

Recipe FAQs

Can you cook this on the stovetop?

Yes, you can make this seafood soup recipe on the stove. I like to sauté the onions and garlic in a little bit of olive oil or butter first and then add the remaining ingredients. Simmer for about 30 minutes.

What’s another word for seafood stew?

A few others names it goes by is fish soup, shellfish stew, Cioppino, bourride, brodetto, cacciucco, zarzuela and gumbo.

What goes well with seafood stew?

We love to serve this stew with a loaf of artisan bread, a French baguette or homemade dinner rolls. You can also serve the soup over cooked white rice to make it even heartier.

How long does fish stew keep in the fridge?

Although it does taste best the day of preparing, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Just make sure not to overheat the stew when warming back up so the fish doesn’t get too chewy!

Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (6)

Love seafood? You’ll also love my sheet pan salmon, shrimp skewers and lemon baked fish. My ceviche and recipe for bang bang shrimp are some our favorite recipes with shrimp!

More Slow Cooker Soups

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Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (11)

Slow Cooker Seafood Stew

4.97 from 59 votes

↑ Click stars to rate now!

Author: Jamielyn Nye

A delicious seafood recipe cooked in a tomato-based broth with potatoes. This slow cooker seafood stew is comforting and is an easy-to-make dinner idea!

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 3 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Total Time: 3 hours hrs 45 minutes mins

Servings: 6

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Ingredients

  • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
  • 3 cups vegetable broth
  • 3 clove garlic , minced
  • 1 pound yellow potatoes , cut into bitesized pieces
  • ½ cup chopped white onion
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon celery salt
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Salt , to taste
  • Ground black pepper , to taste
  • 2 pounds seafood (I used 1 pound large shrimp and 1 pound scallops), defrosted if frozen
  • Chopped fresh parsley , for topping

Instructions

  • In a crockpot, stir together tomatoes, tomato paste, broth, garlic, potatoes, onion, thyme, basil, oregano, celery salt, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper.

  • Cover and cook on high 2 to 3 hours or low 4 to 6 hours, or until potatoes are tender.

  • Add seafood to crockpot and return to high heat. Cook 30 to 60 minutes, or until seafood is fully cooked.

  • Top with parsley. Serve hot with crusty bread.

Notes

Broth: To kick up the seafood flavor, use seafood stock in place of the broth.

Seafood: You can mix up the seafood with your favorite white fish, crab meat, or crawfish.

Storage: This soup is best eaten the first day, but leftovers will keep in an airtight container up to 2 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 184kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 2379mg | Potassium: 453mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 714IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Diet: Low Fat

Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

Categorized as: American, Crockpot, Crockpot, Crockpot, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, One Pot, One Pot, Soups, Whole 30

Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (12)

Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.

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59 comments

    • Jenness M Stock
    • Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (17)

    Absolutely delicious! I used frozen Aldi cod filets and a bag of frozen shrimp. So flavorful.

    • Reply
      • Jenness M Stock

      I did not use the celery salt. Hubby doesn’t like celery. It was great without it!

      • Reply
    • Crystal
    • Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (18)

    The idea of a tomato base with seafood didn’t seem too appealing to me at first but I didn’t have the ingredients on hand for chowder, so decided to give this recipe a try. I tweaked the spices a bit based on our preferences. Used haddock and scallops. SO GOOD! My husband loved it too!

    • Reply
    • Deborah Logan
    • Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (19)

    Excellent Stew!
    Made this yesterday. I didn’t have celery salt or fresh parsley, but the stew was amazing. I used 1 Lb of large, peeled, deveined shrimp with tail and 1 Lb bay scallops. Cooked on high 5 hours and seafood cooked in 30 minutes.
    All you need is French bread! Enjoy!

    • Reply
    • Alison
    • Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (20)

    This turned out great! We added celery and clams because we had them on hand. Big hit in our family!

    • Reply
    • Justin
    • Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (21)

    Making this right now. I pretty much did every step!

    Added some hot sauce and mixed the broth with clam juice. Wife came home from work, and needless to say she was surprised and excited! Shoot I’m excited too.

    Wait till my mom tries this!

    TY for the recipe! Next time I’m throwing in shrimp in addition. I only used red snapper this time

    • Reply
    • patricia heidle
    • Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (22)

    today i’m making it for the second time, the first time i loved it but it was a tad too spicy but still wonderful, i used zoup fish broth, shrimp, haddock and scallops. this time i’m using half vegetable broth and half seafood broth with semi cooked russet potatoes, since i started late, bigger shrimp, haddock and scallops, lots of onions and garlic, chili tomatoes instead of the cayenne pepper and pepper flakes.
    i love this recipe because i can change it depending on what’s on hand, in my house, that’s important. i will let you know, it smells wonderful. l love slow cooker recipes, please keep ’em coming.

    • Reply
      • Jamielyn Nye

      Sounds delicious! Thanks for your review :)

      • Reply
    • Paula Robinson

    Can you freeze this stew? I made a large crockpot full of Tuna, Minced clams, Shrimp, and Crab meat and have lots left over (including the potatoes onions, and the rest of the ingredients. I can only keep so much in the fridge. Hopefully, I can freeze the remainder in containers. Thanks!

    • Reply
      • Jamielyn Nye

      Yes you can definitely freeze it in containers and pull out as needed :)

      • Reply
    • Kristyn
    • Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (23)

    What a delicious way to use seafood!! It’s packed with so much flavor & the shrimp (what we use) goes so well with the tomato flavor. Definitely making again!

    • Reply
      • Sunnie @ I Heart Naptime

      So glad you liked the combination of flavors, Kristyn. Thanks for sharing.

      • Reply
    • Toni
    • Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (24)

    This is such a great addition to our weeknight favorites! My family loved it! I will definitely make it again soon! Thanks!

    • Reply
      • Sunnie @ I Heart Naptime

      Thanks for sharing, Toni. I am glad your family enjoyed it!

      • Reply
    • Allyssa
    • Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (25)

    This is my new favorite seafood stew recipe! Turned out really delicious and super tasty! Perfect for any gatherings! Will surely have this again! Thanks a bunch for sharing!

    • Reply
      • Sunnie @ I Heart Naptime

      Thanks for trying something new, Allyssa. Glad you found a keeper!

      • Reply
    • April
    • Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (26)

    I have to say that I was a naughty girl and I added cream cheese and milk. I subbed the potatoes for carrots and it took so long, over 3 hours on high in the Crock-Pot and carrots were still hard. So I switched it over to the Dutch oven on the stove. 40 minutes at a low boil later, carrots were finally softer so I added the seafood, cream cheese and milk. Delicious! Garnished with parmesan.

    • Reply
      • I Heart Naptime

      Your substitutes sound delicious! So glad you enjoyed the soup :)

      • Reply
    • SK

    I’m going to make this today, but I have a question. My store was out of vegetable broth/stock so I decided to try using Clam Broth. Should I use just 2 cups instead of 4 so the taste isn’t overpowering?

    • Reply
      • Jamielyn Nye

      I never tried but you could try 2 cups and mix in 2 cups water.

      • Reply
    • Hooks
    • Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (27)

    This is absolutely delicious! We used scallops and a fish medley from our local co-op (halibut, salmon and tuna steak pieces). We dropped the broth to 3 cups and also sauteed the onion plus added red peppers and grated carrots before putting the other ingredients in the crock pot. Loved it and will be adding this to our recipe rotation!

    • Reply
      • I Heart Naptime

      That sounds delicious! Glad you were able to make substitutions that work for you :)

      • Reply
      • Julie Blake

      May I ask what size you cut the fish pieces?

      • Reply
    • Susan Cary-Hanson
    • Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (28)

    This is an amazing stew! I subbed carrots for potatoes and had to use parsley flakes for oregano. It’s a delicious broth with the right spices. I used salmon, cod and halibut because that’s what I had in the freezer.

    • Reply
    • Honeyman
    • Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (29)

    Delicious! My wife loves this….the base of the soup/stew is so flavorful. Really easy too

    • Reply

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Slow Cooker Seafood Stew Recipe - I Heart Naptime (2024)

FAQs

Should I stir my slow cooker stew? ›

Due to the nature of a slow cooker, there is no need to stir the food unless it specifically says to in your recipe. In fact, taking the lid off to stir food causes the slow cooker to lose a significant amount of heat, extending the cooking time required. Therefore, it is best not to remove the lid for stirring.

Can I cook stew in slow cooker for 24 hours? ›

Don't leave it on 'warm' all day

Most appliances will automatically shut off after 20 or so hours on this setting, but you shouldn't leave food in a slow cooker for an extended length of time. The general rule of thumb is that 2-4 hours is the maximum length of time you can leave food in a slow cooker on warm.

Can you put already cooked meat in slow cooker? ›

Reheating leftovers in a slow cooker is not recommended. Cooked food should be reheated on the stove, in a microwave, or in a conventional oven until it reaches 165 °F. Then the hot food can be placed in a preheated slow cooker to keep it hot for serving—at least 140 °F as measured with a food thermometer.

Can you reheat fish stew? ›

If you are reheating a fish stew or sautéed fish, using the same method they were cooked (stovetop) can be used. In a skillet, heat the skillet on low, add oil, and add fried fish. Cover and check every three minutes to ensure it is heating evenly and you aren't overcooking.

Is it better to cook stew on low or high in slow cooker? ›

While many slow cooker recipes can be made on high for 3-4 hours, I highly recommend cooking this beef stew on low for the full 7-8 hours. This will ensure that the beef gets nice and tender. Thicken your stew properly.

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

Can I leave a crockpot on low overnight? ›

Yes, you can use your slow cooker for longer than eight hours, as long as you keep an eye on it. Many slow cookers do have an automatic shutoff after 24 hours.

Can you overcook slow cooked stew? ›

Can you overcook stew in a slow cooker? A slow-cooked stew is pretty forgiving, but cooking beyond the point of tenderness can dry out the meat as well as the cooking juices and sauce. If serving is delayed, switch your slow cooker to warm until you're ready to eat.

Is it safe to leave a slow cooker on for 9 hours? ›

So I did a little digging to get the hard facts. The truth is, yes, leaving the slow cooker on and going about your day is safe, as long as you are using the appliance properly. Here are some helpful safety tips.

What vegetables should not be added to a slow cooker? ›

Tender vegetables

Vegetables such as peas, asparagus and peppers can become a flavorless, mushy mess in a slow cooker.

What cannot be cooked in a slow cooker? ›

10 Foods You Should Never Make in a Slow Cooker
  1. Raw Meat.
  2. Seafood.
  3. Pasta.
  4. Rice.
  5. Delicate Vegetables.
  6. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts.
  7. Dairy.
  8. Wine and Other Liquor.
Jan 19, 2024

Is it safe to leave a slow cooker on for 12 hours? ›

Yes, if you use them correctly. The slow cooker cooks foods slowly at a low temperature, generally between 170 and 280 degrees F, over several hours. The combination of direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking and steam, destroys bacteria making the slow cooker a safe process for cooking foods.

How long does seafood stew last in the fridge? ›

Fish stew, like any soup or stew, has a shorter shelf life once it's been prepared due to its multitude of ingredients. While homemade fish stew should be eaten within 2-3 days of cooking, store-bought variants can last up to 5 days in the fridge if unopened or 2-3 days once opened.

Can you eat fish stew the next day? ›

Information. Cooked fish and other seafood can be safely stored in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days. Refrigeration slows but does not prevent bacterial growth. Therefore, it's important to use food within recommended time before it spoils or becomes dangerous.

Is fish stew better the next day? ›

You can eat it right then, but I will say that it's so much better the next day, once all of its contents have had time to marinate overnight (a very crucial step in developing flavors in anything stewed). So consider making it for your future self. Put a lid on your stew and leave it overnight.

Are you supposed to stir stew? ›

Since stewed foods will cook for a long time and become soft, vigorous stirring could damage the integrity of their shape or cause them to become stringy or mushy. Again, though specific recipes may vary slightly, most call for gentle, rhythmic motions.

Does beef stew get more tender the longer it cooks? ›

The most important key to making stew meat tender is being sure to cook it for a long time. If you want super tender beef, you'll need to cook it on a low heat in a Dutch oven on the stove or a slow cooker for at least a few hours.

Will stew thicken in slow cooker? ›

The nature of slow cookers is that they don't ever get very hot, so this means that any thickener may not, depending on the model, ever get hot enough for the starch to swell – remember that both flour and cornflour need to be boiled. It may be necessary to transfer the sauce or gravy to a saucepan in order to boil it.

Why is my beef stew tough in slow cooker? ›

“Beef may be tough in the slow cooker if you haven't added enough liquid, or haven't cooked it for long enough,” Kristen Carli, M.S., R.D., owner of Camelback Nutrition & Wellness, tells SELF. “For cuts of meat, the fattier cuts are often the ones that get juicy and tender.

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