Nothing beats the cozy aroma of garlic and butter filling your kitchen, which is exactly what happens when you try this Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi with Asparagus Recipe. It’s a beautiful blend of tender shrimp, crisp asparagus, and juicy tomatoes that come together on one pan—making dinner both delicious and hassle-free.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Why They Work
- Make It Your Way
- Step-by-Step: How I Make Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi with Asparagus Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi with Asparagus Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi with Asparagus Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Honestly, this is one of those recipes I keep coming back to because it’s so darn simple yet feels special every single time. It’s perfect for a weeknight dinner or when you want to impress guests without sweating over the stove for hours.
- Simple Sheet Pan Cooking: Toss everything onto one pan and let the oven do the work—less mess, more flavor.
- Fresh & Flavorful: The mix of garlic, lemon, butter, and spices really elevates the natural sweetness of shrimp and asparagus.
- Quick & Easy: Ready in just about 15 minutes, it’s a lifesaver when time is tight but you want something tasty.
- Versatile: Swap in your favorite veggies or serve it over pasta, zoodles, or rice—you control the vibe.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The harmony of ingredients here makes the magic happen. The vibrant asparagus and sweet cherry tomatoes offer color and texture, while the shrimp basks in a lemony garlic butter bath that's both light and indulgent. Picking fresh produce and peeled shrimp helps keep things quick and tasty.
- Asparagus: Choose thin to medium spears for quick and even roasting; cutting into 1-inch pieces helps them cook perfectly alongside the shrimp.
- Cherry Tomatoes: These add sweetness and a juicy pop that balances the garlicky shrimp.
- Olive Oil: Your trusty base for roasting veggies—it enhances flavor and ensures things don’t stick.
- Garlic: Minced fresh garlic brings that classic scampi punch—don’t skip it!
- Salt & Pepper: Essential for seasoning, but start light—you can always add more at the end.
- Shrimp: Medium-sized, peeled, deveined shrimp with tails off keep things easy to eat and cook evenly.
- Lemon Juice: Adds brightness and lifts the rich butter sauce beautifully.
- Spices (Paprika, Onion Powder, Dried Basil, Red Pepper Flakes): These subtle touches layer in depth and a hint of warmth.
- Butter: Cubed butter melts into a luscious sauce—adjust the amount depending on whether you’re tossing it with pasta or enjoying it as-is.
- Fresh Parsley: A fresh, herby finish that keeps things vibrant and fresh on the palate.
- Optional Parmesan: Sprinkle if you want an extra touch of savory richness.
Make It Your Way
I love how this Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi with Asparagus Recipe invites you to make it yours. Whether you swap in chicken, toss with your favorite pasta, or double up on veggies, this recipe adapts beautifully to whatever you have on hand or your mood.
- Variation: One of my favorite twists is swapping shrimp for diced chicken, just roasting it a little longer—it’s just as flavorful and fills the plate nicely for family dinners.
- Spice level: Don’t be shy with the red pepper flakes if you like some heat; start with less and add more after tasting.
- Veggie swaps: I’ve swapped in zucchini or mushrooms before with great results—just keep an eye on roasting times.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi with Asparagus Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Veggies and Preheat the Oven
Start by chopping your asparagus into bite-sized pieces—about an inch long works perfectly for even cooking. Rinse and dry the cherry tomatoes, then preheat your oven to 400°F. Lining your sheet pan with foil and giving it a light spray of cooking spray makes cleanup a breeze, trust me.
Step 2: Roast the Tomatoes and Asparagus
Toss your asparagus and tomatoes with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until they’re nicely coated. Spread them out in a single layer on your pan—crowding them slows roasting and can lead to sogginess. Pop them in the oven for about 5 minutes to get them just starting to soften and roast.
Step 3: Season the Shrimp
While the veggies roast, stir together your shrimp with olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, paprika, onion powder, dried basil, red pepper flakes, and pepper in a medium bowl. This seasoning mix infuses the shrimp with so much flavor that it’s hard to resist sneaking a bite at this stage.
Step 4: Add Shrimp and Butter, Then Roast
Pull the pan from the oven and gently push the veggies to one side, still keeping them in a layer. Arrange your shrimp on the empty side in a single layer. Dot asparagus with about a tablespoon of cubed butter, and scatter 3 to 7 tablespoons of cubed butter evenly over the shrimp. Return the pan to the oven and roast for 6 minutes or until the shrimp turn opaque—be careful not to overcook, or they’ll get rubbery.
Step 5: Finish with Lemon, Seasoning & Parsley
Once out of the oven, drizzle an extra 1–2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice over everything. Taste and add more salt or pepper if needed. Lastly, sprinkle generously with fresh chopped parsley for that fresh, herby pop that brightens every bite.
Step 6: Toss with Pasta or Serve as Is
If you’re pairing this with linguine or your favorite pasta, add the entire pan contents to the pasta in a big bowl—don’t forget to reserve some pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed. Stir in a bit of olive oil or the reserved water to get your preferred sauce consistency, then sprinkle on Parmesan if you like that extra cheesy touch.
Top Tip
I’ve made this recipe dozens of times, and a few little tweaks totally changed the game for me. These tips will help you avoid the common pitfalls and get everything perfectly balanced on your first try.
- Butter Amount: If you’re serving with pasta, go for 4 to 8 tablespoons for a luscious sauce; use less if serving on its own to avoid too much richness.
- Shrimp Prep: Always use defrosted, raw shrimp for the best texture—cooked shrimp won’t absorb the seasoning properly.
- Single Layer Roasting: Keep everything in a single layer; crowding can lead to steaming instead of roasting, which dulls flavors.
- Don’t Overcook Shrimp: Shrimp cook rapidly—watch closely after adding them to the pan to keep them tender and juicy.
How to Serve Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi with Asparagus Recipe
Garnishes
I keep it simple here: fresh chopped parsley and an extra squeeze of lemon juice are my go-tos—they brighten and freshen each bite beautifully. Sometimes, I’ll add a light dusting of freshly grated Parmesan for a touch of savory richness. It’s those little extras that make dinner feel a bit more special.
Side Dishes
I often serve this over linguine or my favorite zoodles to keep things light. For heartier meals, simple garlic bread or a fluffy pile of steamed rice works great. A crisp green salad dressed with lemon vinaigrette also pairs nicely, adding freshness and crunch to the plate.
Creative Ways to Present
For special dinners, I’ve arranged the roasted veggies and shrimp over a bed of pasta in a shallow wide bowl and garnished with lemon slices and parsley sprigs—makes for such a stunning centerpiece. Also, serving it family-style on the sheet pan itself adds a fun, casual vibe for gatherings.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. The shrimp can get a bit firmer afterward, but reheating gently helps keep it tender.
Freezing
While I haven’t had much success freezing the fully cooked shrimp scampi (shrimp texture suffers), you can freeze the seasoned raw shrimp and veggies separately for up to a month and then roast fresh as needed—it’s handy for meal prep.
Reheating
The best way I’ve found to reheat is gently warming leftovers in a skillet over medium-low heat with a splash of water or olive oil to keep everything moist. Avoid the microwave if you can, since it tends to toughen the shrimp.
Frequently Asked Questions:
It’s best to use thawed, raw shrimp for this recipe. Frozen shrimp should be defrosted completely in the fridge or under cold running water before seasoning and cooking to ensure even cooking and prevent excess moisture from diluting the sauce.
You can substitute quick-cooking vegetables like zucchini, mushrooms, or bell peppers. Just chop them similarly and keep the cooking time the same. For longer cooking veggies, adjust roasting time accordingly.
Shrimp cook quickly and become rubbery if overdone. Keep a close eye while roasting and remove them as soon as they turn opaque and curl slightly—about 6 minutes at 400°F usually does the trick.
Absolutely! Skip the linguine or use gluten-free pasta or zucchini noodles for a naturally gluten-free meal without sacrificing any flavor.
Final Thoughts
This Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi with Asparagus Recipe holds a special place in my kitchen because it’s the perfect blend of ease, flavor, and fresh ingredients. I hope when you make it, you feel the same joy I do—like a cozy, delicious hug at the end of a busy day. Give it a try and make it your own; I promise it’ll become one of your favorites too.
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Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi with Asparagus Recipe
- Prep Time: 4 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Low Lactose
Description
This Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi recipe offers a deliciously simple and flavorful way to enjoy shrimp, asparagus, and cherry tomatoes roasted together with garlic, lemon, and butter. Perfectly paired with linguine, zoodles, rice, or bread, this easy one-pan meal is ready in just 15 minutes, making it an ideal choice for a quick weeknight dinner packed with vibrant flavors and minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Tomatoes and Asparagus
- 1 pound thin/medium asparagus chopped into 1” pieces
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 garlic clove minced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
Shrimp
- 1 pound medium uncooked shrimp, shelled, deveined tails off
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried basil
- ⅛-1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- 4-8 tablespoons butter cubed
Garnish
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice or more to taste
- Freshly grated Parmesan (optional)
Serve with
- 1 pound linguine (or other pasta)
- Zoodles
- Rice
- Bread
Instructions
- Cook linguine (optional): Cook linguine in salted water according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup water before draining. Drizzle drained pasta with olive oil and toss to combine.
- Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Prepare veggies: Line a Jelly Roll Pan (10×15) with foil and lightly spray with cooking spray. Add tomatoes, asparagus, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Toss until evenly coated and spread in a single layer.
- Roast veggies: Roast the vegetables in the oven for 5 minutes.
- Season shrimp: While veggies roast, combine shrimp, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, paprika, onion powder, dried basil, red pepper flakes, and pepper in a medium bowl. Stir to evenly combine, excluding butter.
- Add shrimp to pan: Remove pan from oven and push tomatoes and asparagus to one side, keeping them in a single layer. Add the shrimp to the empty side of the pan and spread in a single layer.
- Add butter: Top the asparagus with 1 tablespoon of cubed butter spaced evenly. Top shrimp with 3 to 7 tablespoons cubed butter evenly spaced.
- Roast shrimp and vegetables: Return pan to oven and roast for 6 minutes or until shrimp is opaque and cooked through.
- Finish dish: Remove the pan from the oven and drizzle with 1 to 2 additional tablespoons lemon juice to taste. Season with additional salt and pepper if desired and garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
- Serve: If using linguine, combine the pan contents including melted butter and juices with the pasta in a large bowl. Add olive oil or reserved pasta water as needed to reach desired sauce consistency. Add Parmesan, salt, pepper, and additional lemon juice to taste before serving.
Notes
- Measure shrimp with tails on to ensure accurate quantity.
- Use 3-4 tablespoons butter if not serving with pasta; use 4-8 tablespoons if adding to pasta for a richer sauce.
- You can substitute shrimp with chopped chicken, cooking chicken for about 15 minutes, adding it to the veggies after 10 minutes.
- Use defrosted shrimp rather than pre-cooked shrimp for best texture and flavor.
- Buying deveined, shelled shrimp makes preparation easier.
- You can mix shrimp and seasonings directly on the pan or in a separate bowl to reduce dishes; mixing in a bowl is safer to avoid contact with the hot pan.
- Swap out asparagus and tomatoes for quick-cooking veggies like mushrooms, zucchini, or bell peppers, adjusting cooking times accordingly for longer-cooking vegetables.
- Start with one tablespoon of lemon juice and add more to taste, especially if adding the shrimp to pasta.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 180 mg
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