Toss a bag of frozen imitation shrimp in the slow cooker with 4 simple items and you'll get a dish so ridiculously comforting, your husband will be asking for seconds!

When the day is busy and supper needs to take care of itself, a simple slow cooker recipe like this one feels like an old friend in the kitchen. Using frozen imitation shrimp keeps things affordable and easy to keep on hand, and with just a few pantry staples, it turns into a creamy, comforting dish that tastes like the kind of warm meal folks used to pass around at church suppers and family gatherings across the Midwest.

This imitation shrimp is especially good spooned over hot rice, buttered egg noodles, or fluffy mashed potatoes so every bit of the creamy sauce gets put to good use. A side of green beans, sweet corn, or a crisp little salad helps round things out, and if you have a slice of toasted French bread or a warm biscuit on the table, nobody will leave hungry.

5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Imitation Shrimp

Servings: 4

Creamy imitation shrimp served hot in a shallow bowl

Ingredients

1 bag (12 to 16 ounces) frozen imitation shrimp
1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, cubed
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning

Directions

1. Pour the frozen imitation shrimp into the slow cooker and spread it into an even layer across the bottom.

Frozen imitation shrimp spread in the slow cooker

2. Spoon the cream of mushroom soup over the shrimp, add the cubed cream cheese, pour in the chicken broth, and sprinkle the Old Bay seasoning over the top.

Soup, cream cheese, broth, and seasoning added to slow cooker

3. Cover and cook on low for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, stirring once or twice during cooking, until the cream cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth and hot.

Creamy imitation shrimp mixture stirred in the slow cooker

4. Give everything one final stir, then serve hot over rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes.

Final plated imitation shrimp with noodles

Variations & Tips

Add a vegetable: A handful of frozen peas or a cup of sliced mushrooms can go right into the slow cooker during the last hour if you'd like to stretch the meal a bit and add more color to the plate.

Make it a little richer: If your family likes an extra creamy sauce, stir in a splash of half-and-half at the very end. It softens the seasoning and gives the dish a supper-club sort of feel.

Watch the cooking time: Since imitation shrimp is already cooked, you're really just heating it through and melting the sauce together. Letting it go too long can make the texture a little too soft, so check it on the early side.

Change the base: This same mixture is mighty tasty over toast points, baked potatoes, or even spooned into puff pastry shells if you want to dress it up for company.