Okay, my friends, get ready to have your minds absolutely BLOWN. I am not even kidding. I am about to introduce you to your new favorite dinner, your go-to summer grilling superstar, and your easiest clean-up dream all rolled into one glorious, steamy, flavor-packed parcel. I’m talking about Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp Packets with Asparagus. If you love the classic combination of lemon, garlic, and butter, you absolutely must try my Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken next.
Come to Mama! This recipe is the one I make when I want a restaurant-quality meal with zero restaurant-level hassle. It’s healthy, it’s bursting with bright, zesty flavor, and it cooks in its own little foil hug. No pans to scrub! Just pure, unadulterated joy on a plate. Are you ready for this? Let’s go!
Recipe Overview
- Cuisine: American
- Category: Main Course
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 2-4
Do You Love This Recipe Too?
I am obsessed with this dish because it saved my sanity on a crazy weeknight. I had friends coming over, my kitchen was a mess, and I needed something impressive FAST.
I threw these packets together in minutes. When I opened them at the table, the steam and smell that came out got a standing ovation. It felt like a magic trick! Now, it’s my secret weapon for looking like a kitchen genius with minimal effort.
My Shopping List for This Recipe
This recipe is all about fresh, simple ingredients that do the heavy lifting. You don’t need a ton of stuff, just the good stuff! Here’s what I always grab.
Let’s Get Your Ingredients Ready
Gather everything up first. Trust me, it makes the assembly so fast and easy. You’ll be done before you know it!
- 1 ½ pounds large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails on or off, your choice!)
- 1 pound fresh asparagus, woody ends trimmed
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 4-5 large cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large lemon (you’ll need zest and juice)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (regular paprika works too!)
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to your heat love)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Heavy-duty aluminum foil or parchment paper
Bringing This Recipe to Life (Step-by-Step)
This is where the fun happens! Follow these steps and you cannot mess this up. I promise. It’s foolproof.
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (about 400°F) or your oven to 425°F. Get that heat ready to work!
- In a medium bowl, mix the melted butter, minced garlic, lemon zest, juice of half the lemon, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, and a big pinch of salt and pepper. This sauce is liquid gold. Give it a good whisk!
- Lay out four large sheets of heavy-duty foil (about 12×18 inches each). Divide the asparagus spears evenly among the centers of each foil piece.
- Pat your shrimp very dry with paper towels. This helps them get a nice sear, not steam in their own water. Toss the shrimp in that glorious butter sauce. For another lightning-fast seafood dinner, my Juicy Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi in 15 Mins is a must-try.
- Pile the saucy shrimp right on top of the asparagus in each packet. Drizzle any remaining sauce from the bowl over everything. Don’t waste a drop!
- Bring the long sides of the foil together and fold them down tightly in a series of folds. Then, roll up the ends to create a sealed packet. Make sure it’s snug but has a little room for steam to circulate inside.
- Place the packets on the hot grill or on a baking sheet in the oven. Cook for 12-15 minutes. The packets will puff up beautifully! The shrimp should be pink and opaque, and the asparagus tender-crisp.
- Carefully open one packet (watch the steam!). If it’s done, open them all, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and serve immediately with the remaining lemon half cut into wedges. Dig in right from the foil for the ultimate easy clean-up!
Fun Variations to Try Next Time
Got the basic version down? Amazing! Now let’s play. Here are a few of my favorite twists.
Spicy Cajun Twist: Swap the paprika and red pepper for 1 ½ tablespoons of your favorite Cajun seasoning. Add some sliced andouille sausage to the packet for a real party.
Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp Packets with Asparagus Recipe
Let’s Get Your Ingredients Ready
Bringing This Recipe to Life (Step-by-Step)
Notes
Enjoy your homemade Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp Packets with Asparagus Recipe!
Nutrition Information
Mediterranean Dream: Use olive oil instead of butter. Add halved cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion, and kalamata olives. Finish with a sprinkle of crumbled feta cheese after cooking.
Zoodle Power Bowl: For a super low-carb, keto-friendly version, swap the asparagus for a bed of spiralized zucchini noodles (zoodles). They cook perfectly in the steam and soak up all that amazing sauce.
How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
Got leftovers? (A rare event in my house!). Here’s how to handle them.
Let the cooked shrimp and asparagus cool completely. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
To reheat, I recommend gently warming them in a skillet over medium-low heat with a tiny splash of water or broth. You can microwave, but the shrimp can get rubbery fast.
I don’t recommend freezing the cooked packets, as the shrimp’s texture can suffer. But you can absolutely assemble the uncooked packets and freeze them! Just wrap them extra tight. Cook from frozen, adding 5-10 minutes to the cooking time.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
- Calories: ~320
- Fat: 20g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 3g
- Net Carbs: 5g (Perfect for keto!)
- Protein: 28g
*This is an estimate per serving for 4 servings. Values will vary based on exact ingredients used.
A Quick Q&A on This Recipe
Can I make these shrimp foil packets ahead of time?
You bet! This is my favorite prep trick. Assemble the packets completely up to 24 hours in advance. Just keep them sealed tight on a tray in the fridge. When you’re ready, cook them straight from the fridge. It’s the ultimate make-ahead dinner win.
What if I don’t have a grill?
No problem at all! The oven method works absolutely perfectly. I make them in the oven all the time, especially in the winter. You get the same juicy, steamed-to-perfection result. Just use that 425°F oven like I mentioned in the steps.
Is this really a good keto shrimp recipe?
Oh, it’s a FANTASTIC keto dinner! With just 5g of net carbs per generous serving, it fits beautifully into a low-carb lifestyle. All that healthy fat from the butter and the high-quality protein from the shrimp will keep you full and happy. It’s a total home run.
Seriously, what are you waiting for? This recipe is a total game-changer. It’s the kind of meal that makes you feel like you’re treating yourself, even though it’s so simple and good for you. For another fantastic bite-sized option, you’ll love these easy Garlic Butter Chicken Bites.
I live for the moment you cut open that foil and get that first whiff of lemon and garlic. It’s pure happiness. I am so excited for you to try it and make it your own. I can’t wait to hear how yours turns out! Please leave a comment and a rating below to let me know what you think!
