Nothing beats a dinner that feels fancy but practically makes itself—enter the Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi with Asparagus and Tomatoes Recipe. The way the garlic, lemon, and butter mingle with fresh shrimp and vibrant veggies roasting all at once? Absolutely magic and worth every minute in the kitchen.
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 and Tomatoes Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi with Asparagus and Tomatoes Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi with Asparagus and Tomatoes Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This recipe has quickly become one of my weeknight go-tos because it’s simple, flavorful, and gets dinner on the table fast without any stress. Plus, roasting shrimp alongside fresh asparagus and juicy tomatoes creates this incredible harmony of sweet, tangy, and buttery goodness.
- One-pan convenience: You only need one sheet pan, meaning less cleanup and more time to relax after dinner.
- Bright, fresh flavors: The combination of lemon juice, garlic, and fresh veggies brings natural brightness that makes you actually look forward to eating healthy.
- Customizable to your taste: You can swap veggies or add more spice without messing up the cooking time or overall flavor.
- Perfect for company or weeknights: It feels sophisticated but is ridiculously easy to pull off, impressing guests or satisfying busy family dinners.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient plays a crucial role here. Shrimp cooks quickly and absorbs flavor beautifully, while asparagus and tomatoes add texture, color, and a pop of freshness. Knowing how to pick and prep them really helps the whole dish come together seamlessly.
- Asparagus: Choose firm, bright green stalks and trim the woody ends; chopping into 1-inch pieces lets them cook evenly with the shrimp.
- Cherry tomatoes: Look for ripe, plump ones since they'll roast down to a sweet, saucy finish.
- Olive oil: This coats everything for roasting and adds richness—don’t skimp here.
- Garlic: Minced fresh garlic infuses the entire dish with that classic scampi aroma.
- Shrimp: Medium-sized, peeled, deveined, and tails off for easy eating; fresh or properly thawed frozen shrimp both work great.
- Butter: Cubed and added at the end for melting over everything, it creates that irresistibly silky scampi sauce.
- Lemon juice: Adds essential brightness that balances the richness of butter and shrimp.
- Seasonings: Salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, dried basil, and red pepper flakes provide complexity and a gentle kick.
- Fresh parsley: Used as a garnish, it brightens and freshens every bite.
Make It Your Way
The beauty of this Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi with Asparagus and Tomatoes Recipe is how forgiving it is. I love switching up the veggies depending on what’s in season or what’s in my fridge—you can easily tailor it to your preferences or dietary needs.
- Swap the shrimp for chicken: I tried this when hosting a friend who prefers poultry, just cooking the chicken a little longer (about 10 minutes before adding the veggies) to get it perfectly tender.
- Try different veggies: Zucchini, bell peppers, or mushrooms all roast beautifully alongside the shrimp, making this a versatile recipe all year round.
- Add heat: If you like spice, I often bump up the red pepper flakes or add a quick drizzle of sriracha after roasting.
- Butter amount: Adjust the butter cubes to your liking for a lighter or richer scampi sauce—either way, it’s delicious.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi with Asparagus and Tomatoes Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Veggies and Linguine (If Using)
First things first, chop your asparagus into 1-inch chunks and halve those cherry tomatoes if you want. I like to cook some linguine to go with this dish—just toss it in boiling salted water until al dente, then drain and drizzle with a touch of olive oil so it doesn’t stick. Don’t forget to save a bit of that pasta water; it’s magic for adjusting sauce consistency later.
Step 2: Roast the Tomatoes and Asparagus
Heat your oven to 400°F and line a jelly roll pan with foil, giving it a quick spray so nothing sticks. Toss your tomatoes and asparagus with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until everything is evenly coated. Spread it out in a single layer and roast for 5 minutes—this step kickstarts the veggies’ caramelization and softens them just right.
Step 3: Season and Add the Shrimp
While the veggies roast, mix your shrimp in a bowl with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, paprika, onion powder, dried basil, red pepper flakes, and pepper. Once the veggies have had their head start, carefully push them to one side of your pan. Lay the shrimp out in a single layer beside the veggies, then top the asparagus with a tablespoon of cubed butter and the shrimp with the remaining butter pieces evenly spaced.
Step 4: Roast Everything Until Perfect
Pop the pan back in the oven and roast for about 6 minutes just until the shrimp turn opaque and curl slightly—overcooking shrimp is a rookie mistake I always warn about because it gets rubbery fast. Keep an eye on them; you want tender, juicy bites every time!
Step 5: Finish With a Burst of Lemon and Fresh Herbs
Right out of the oven, drizzle 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice over everything and sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning with extra salt, pepper, or lemon juice if you like. This last step really brightens the whole dish and ties those flavors together perfectly.
Step 6: Serve It Your Way
If you cooked linguine, toss everything from the pan into a large bowl with the pasta, including all those buttery juices. Add a bit of reserved pasta water or olive oil to loosen and coat the noodles. For a finishing touch, sprinkle with grated Parmesan if you’re feeling indulgent—it’s my absolute favorite!
Top Tip
Having made this Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi with Asparagus and Tomatoes Recipe a dozen times, a few little tweaks really make a difference to ensure success…
- Don't overcook the shrimp: Shrimp cook very fast, so once they turn opaque and curl, they're done. Pull them out promptly to avoid rubbery bites.
- Separate roasting steps: Giving the veggies 5 minutes before adding shrimp helps the asparagus and tomatoes reach perfect tenderness without soggy shrimp.
- Butter distribution: Cubing and evenly spacing butter ensures it melts beautifully over both shrimp and veggies, creating the rich scampi sauce everyone loves.
- Reserve pasta water: If serving with pasta, keep some cooking water and add it as needed to adjust the sauce consistency—it's a total game-changer!
How to Serve Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi with Asparagus and Tomatoes Recipe
Garnishes
I always finish with a generous handful of fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice right before serving. Sometimes a little freshly grated Parmesan sneaks in, adding a subtle salty richness that pairs wonderfully with the buttery sauce. These simple touches make the dish feel restaurant-quality without extra effort.
Side Dishes
This dish works beautifully over pasta—linguine is my go-to—or if you want something lighter, spiralized zucchini noodles (zoodles) are fantastic. Plain steamed rice or crusty bread to soak up all those luscious juices are also top-notch sides to round out your meal.
Creative Ways to Present
For a special occasion, I like to serve this recipe family-style on a large platter, garnished with extra lemon slices and chopped parsley. It’s colorful and inviting, making everyone want to dig in. You could also plate it over bright saffron rice or nestled atop creamy polenta to impress guests with a little twist.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. The shrimp and veggies keep their flavor well, but I recommend reheating gently to avoid drying out the shrimp.
Freezing
I personally don’t freeze this dish because shrimp texture suffers after freezing and reheating, but you can freeze just the cooked veggies or the sauce components separately if you want to prep ahead.
Reheating
The best way I’ve found is to gently rewarm leftovers in a skillet over low heat with a splash of water or olive oil to keep things moist. Microwaving works in a pinch, but you might lose some of the buttery sauce’s silkiness.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Just make sure to thaw them thoroughly in the refrigerator or under cold running water before cooking to ensure even cooking and prevent excess moisture on the pan.
Yes! Serve this shrimp scampi over gluten-free pasta, spiralized veggies like zucchini noodles, or rice to keep it gluten-free without sacrificing any flavor or texture.
The key is to watch the shrimp carefully: they are done when they turn opaque and curl into a C shape. Remove immediately from heat to keep them tender and juicy.
You can prep the shrimp and veggies with seasonings in advance and store them separately in the fridge, but it’s best to roast the dish fresh for the best flavor and texture.
Final Thoughts
This Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi with Asparagus and Tomatoes Recipe is one of those dishes I turn to when I want dinner to feel special but not complicated. The layers of fresh garlic, tender shrimp, bright lemon, and colorful veggies roasting all together? It always delights everyone at my table. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I do—this one’s a keeper, and I’m excited for it to become part of your regular rotation too.
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Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi with Asparagus and Tomatoes Recipe
- Prep Time: 4 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Low Lactose
Description
This Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi recipe offers a quick and flavorful meal combining roasted asparagus, cherry tomatoes, and seasoned shrimp with a luscious garlic butter sauce. Perfectly roasted in the oven, this dish pairs beautifully with linguine, zoodles, rice, or crusty bread for a complete and satisfying dinner.
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
- ¼ 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 pasta water before draining. Drizzle drained pasta with olive oil and toss to combine.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
- Prepare Vegetables: Line a 10×15 Jelly Roll Pan with foil and lightly spray with cooking spray. Add asparagus, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Toss to evenly coat and spread in a single layer. Roast for 5 minutes.
- Season Shrimp: Meanwhile, combine shrimp, olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, paprika, onion powder, dried basil, red pepper flakes, and pepper in a medium bowl. Stir until evenly coated, but do not add butter yet.
- Add Shrimp to Pan: Remove the pan from the oven and push the vegetables to one side in a single layer. Add shrimp to the empty side in a single layer.
- Add Butter and Continue Roasting: Evenly space 1 tablespoon cubed butter over the asparagus and 3-7 tablespoons cubed butter over the shrimp. Roast for 6 minutes or until shrimp are opaque and cooked through.
- Finish and Garnish: Remove pan from oven, drizzle with 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice to taste, and season with additional salt and pepper if desired. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
- Serve: If serving with linguine, combine pan contents with the pasta in a large bowl including all melted butter and juices. Add olive oil or reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency as needed. Sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan, adjust salt, pepper, and lemon juice to taste.
Notes
- Measure shrimp with tails on for accuracy.
- Use 3-4 tablespoons butter if not adding shrimp scampi to pasta; use 4-8 tablespoons for a richer sauce when serving with pasta.
- You can substitute shrimp with chopped chicken, cooking chicken for about 15 minutes, starting 10 minutes before adding veggies.
- Use defrosted shrimp instead of cooked shrimp for best results.
- Buy deveined, shelled shrimp for convenience.
- Mix shrimp and seasonings in a bowl for even coating and ease of handling.
- Vegetables can be swapped with quick-cooking alternatives like mushrooms, zucchini, or bell peppers; adjust cooking time for heartier vegetables.
- Start with 1 tablespoon lemon juice then add more to taste for a balanced flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 225 mg
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