Get ready to discover your new favorite weeknight dinner. This Lemon Garlic Shrimp and Asparagus is a complete meal made on one sheet pan, delivering incredible flavor in under 30 minutes. It’s fast, it’s fresh, and the cleanup is an absolute breeze. Perfect for a quick family dinner or an elegant, last-minute meal for guests, this recipe combines tender shrimp and crisp-tender asparagus coated in a vibrant lemon garlic butter sauce. It’s a healthy, low-carb, and incredibly satisfying dish that proves simple ingredients can create extraordinary results.
We’re focusing on high-quality ingredients and a straightforward method that guarantees success every time. Forget juggling multiple pots and pans; this entire dish comes together on a single pan, making your time in the kitchen efficient and enjoyable. Let’s get cooking!
Why This Lemon Garlic Shrimp and Asparagus Recipe Works
You’ll fall in love with this recipe for its simplicity and elegance. The one-pan approach not only saves you from a sink full of dishes but also allows the flavors to meld together beautifully. The high heat of the oven roasts the asparagus to perfection while quickly cooking the shrimp, ensuring they remain juicy and tender. The lemon garlic butter sauce is the true star, blanketing every bite with its bright, savory, and rich flavor. It’s a restaurant-quality meal made effortlessly in your own kitchen.
The Perfect Ingredients for Success
The magic of this dish lies in its simplicity, which means the quality of your ingredients truly matters. Here’s what you’ll need and why:
Key Components
- Shrimp: One pound of large or jumbo shrimp is ideal. Opt for raw, peeled, and deveined shrimp to save on prep time. If using frozen, make sure they are fully thawed and patted dry before cooking.
- Asparagus: One bunch of fresh asparagus, with the tough, woody ends trimmed. Thicker spears are preferable as they will finish cooking at the same time as the shrimp.
- For the Sauce: Unsalted butter provides richness, while olive oil helps prevent the butter from browning too quickly. Freshly minced garlic and the juice and zest of a fresh lemon are non-negotiable for that signature bright, zesty flavor.
- Seasoning: Simple sea salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes for a gentle warmth are all you need. Freshly chopped parsley adds a touch of color and freshness at the end.
Using fresh ingredients, especially the lemon and garlic, will make a world of difference in the final taste of your Lemon Garlic Shrimp and Asparagus.
Step-by-Step Instructions: How to Make Lemon Garlic Shrimp and Asparagus
Follow these simple steps for a flawless one-pan meal.
- Preheat and Prep: Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). Trim the woody ends from the asparagus and pat your thawed shrimp completely dry with paper towels. This is a critical step to ensure the ingredients roast rather than steam.
- Arrange on Pan: Spread the trimmed asparagus in a single layer on a large, rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with a tablespoon of olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat.
- Roast the Asparagus: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and roast the asparagus for about 5-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the spears. You want them to be just starting to become tender.
- Make the Sauce: While the asparagus roasts, melt the butter in a small saucepan or a microwave-safe bowl. Stir in the minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes.
- Combine with Shrimp: In a medium bowl, pour the lemon garlic butter sauce over the dried shrimp and toss until every piece is well-coated.
- Add Shrimp to Pan: Carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven. Push the asparagus to one side and add the shrimp to the other side in a single, even layer.
- Finish Roasting: Return the pan to the oven and roast for another 6-8 minutes, or just until the shrimp are pink, firm, and cooked through. Be careful not to overcook them!
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and serve your delicious Lemon Garlic Shrimp and Asparagus immediately.
Pro Tips for the Best Shrimp and Asparagus
A few expert tips can elevate this simple dish from great to absolutely perfect.
- Don’t Crowd the Pan: Use a large enough baking sheet to ensure the shrimp and asparagus are in a single layer. This promotes even roasting and prevents steaming, giving you the best texture.
- Pat the Shrimp Dry: Moisture is the enemy of a good roast. Patting the shrimp dry ensures they cook up firm and delicious, not watery.
- Adjust Timing for Size: The cook time for shrimp can vary significantly based on their size. Keep a close eye on them; as soon as they turn pink and opaque, they’re done.
- Fresh is Best: While bottled lemon juice and pre-minced garlic work in a pinch, using fresh lemon and garlic will provide a much brighter, more robust flavor that makes the dish shine.
Delicious Variations and Substitutions
This recipe is a fantastic template. Feel free to customize it to your liking!
- Add More Veggies: Cherry tomatoes, sliced bell peppers, or zucchini can be roasted alongside the asparagus for more color and nutrients.
- Spice it Up: If you like more heat, increase the amount of red pepper flakes or add a dash of cayenne pepper to the sauce.
- Herb Variations: Try adding fresh dill, oregano, or thyme to the lemon garlic butter sauce for a different flavor profile.
- Make it Cheesy: Sprinkle a little grated Parmesan cheese over the dish during the last 2 minutes of cooking for a savory, cheesy crust.
What to Serve with Lemon Garlic Shrimp and Asparagus
While this dish is a fantastic standalone meal, it also pairs wonderfully with several sides. Serve it over a bed of fluffy quinoa, white rice, or orzo to soak up the delicious pan sauce. For a heartier meal, it’s excellent with angel hair pasta. It also works great with a simple side of crusty bread for dipping or alongside a light and refreshing salad. No matter how you serve it, this recipe is sure to impress.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To reheat, it’s best to warm it gently in a skillet over low heat or in the microwave in short 30-second intervals. This helps prevent the shrimp from becoming tough and rubbery. Avoid high heat, as it will overcook the delicate shrimp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this recipe adapts well to grilling. You can use a grill basket or skewers for the shrimp and place the asparagus directly on the grates. Cook over medium-high heat until the asparagus is tender and the shrimp are pink.
Absolutely! Just make sure the frozen shrimp are fully thawed before you begin. Most importantly, pat them completely dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, which ensures they roast perfectly instead of steaming.
Shrimp cook very quickly. You’ll know they’re done when they turn from translucent gray to opaque pink and curl into a ‘C’ shape. Overcooked shrimp will be tough and rubbery, so watch them closely.
The easiest way to trim asparagus is to take one stalk and bend it until it snaps naturally. The point where it breaks is where the tender part meets the tough, woody stem. You can then line up the rest of the bunch and cut them all to that same length.
This dish is very versatile. It’s great on its own for a low-carb meal, or you can serve it over rice, quinoa, or pasta. It also pairs wonderfully with crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
A relatively high temperature of 400°F (200°C) is ideal. This temperature is hot enough to roast the asparagus until it’s crisp-tender while also cooking the shrimp quickly so they don’t become tough.
More Delicious and Easy Dinner Recipes
If you loved this simple and flavorful meal, you’ll enjoy our other easy dinner ideas. For another fantastic surf-and-turf option, try our Steak and Shrimp Foil Packets. If you’re craving more shrimp, this Grilled Shrimp Bowl is a must-try. And for a simple, hearty weeknight meal, you can’t go wrong with our Crockpot Kielbasa and Green Beans.
The Best Lemon Garlic Shrimp and Asparagus
This Lemon Garlic Shrimp and Asparagus recipe is the ultimate solution for busy weeknights when you want something healthy, fast, and incredibly tasty. It’s a dish you’ll return to again and again for its simplicity and crowd-pleasing flavor. If you’ve tried this recipe, please leave a comment below and let us know how it turned out! We love hearing from you. For more visual inspiration and recipes, be sure to share this on Pinterest!
Lemon Garlic Shrimp and Asparagus Recipe
Lemon Garlic Shrimp and Asparagus (Easy One-Pan Recipe)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Pat the shrimp completely dry with paper towels.
- Place the trimmed asparagus on a large baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat. Arrange in a single layer.
- Roast the asparagus for 5-10 minutes, until just starting to get tender.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the melted butter, remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, minced garlic, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
- In a separate larger bowl, add the dried shrimp. Pour the lemon garlic butter sauce over the shrimp and toss to coat fully.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Add the shrimp in a single layer next to the asparagus.
- Return the pan to the oven and roast for an additional 6-8 minutes, or until the shrimp are pink, opaque, and cooked through.
- Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
Cooking time may vary based on the size of your shrimp and the thickness of your asparagus spears.
Serve immediately for the best texture.
