Healthy Easy Lemon Garlic Shrimp (Print version)

Succulent shrimp and asparagus cooked in a bright lemon-garlic sauce for a quick nutritious meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Seafood

01 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 lb asparagus, ends trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces

→ Aromatics & Fresh

03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
05 - 1 lemon, zest and juice

→ Pantry

06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
07 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
09 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional

# Cooking Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss the shrimp and asparagus with olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes until evenly coated.
03 - Spread everything out in a single layer on the baking sheet.
04 - Roast in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the shrimp are pink and opaque and the asparagus is just tender.
05 - Remove from the oven and immediately drizzle with lemon juice.
06 - Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks on one sheet, which means you can actually enjoy dinner instead of washing dishes until bedtime.
  • It's ready in 22 minutes flat, perfect for nights when hunger strikes but ambition is low.
  • The shrimp stays tender and the asparagus gets just crispy enough at the edges, creating this perfect textural contrast that feels indulgent but isn't.
02 -
  • Shrimp overcooks in a heartbeat—that jump from perfectly tender to rubbery happens faster than you'd think, so keep an eye on it after the 8-minute mark and don't trust the timer alone.
  • If your asparagus pieces are wildly different sizes, the smaller ones will cook through while the bigger ones are still a bit firm; cutting them roughly the same length means everything finishes together.
03 -
  • Pat your shrimp dry with paper towels before tossing them on the sheet; any excess moisture will steam them instead of letting them develop a light golden exterior.
  • Don't walk away from the oven during cooking—those 8-10 minutes go by fast, and checking in at the 8-minute mark means the difference between perfectly cooked and one minute too long.
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