One Pan Dinner: Shrimp & Asparagus

Why does it always feel like when it's time to make dinner, everyone seems to need you! The baby wakes up from his nap just as you are getting started, the older kids are begging for afternoon snacks, your husband calls on his way home from work just to chat while he is sitting in traffic... I feel like dinner prep some days is the most chaotic and one of the hardest times of day, right up there with the witching hour of bed time. So in order to feel less crazy, but also not just throwing chicken nuggets into the microwave or pizza in the oven, I started coming up with "one pan dinners."

This shrimp and asparagus "one pan dinner" is one of my favorites and my kids love it too! In the Stressless Lifestyle, you cycle through your high fat and low fat days while also cycling your carbohydrate intake as well. This "one pan dinner" can fit on any of these days because its all lean protein and veggies. Depending on the day, you can either top it off at the end with some shredded parmesan cheese for a higher fat day, or add in a side of steamed rice for a higher carb day! Even better this recipe can be considered for anyone that is keto, paleo, gluten free, Whole 30 and/or dairy free!

Feel free to change up the spice, but being a Maryland native, Old Bay is my go to for anything seafood. If you have never tried it before, it is a little bit like a cajun seasoning. It is what us Marylanders season our famous steamed crabs and shrimp with. There is a little but of a spicy kick to it, but not too spicy that it scares away my kids (ages 6, 4, and 1). They still love adding the seasoning to various things and love when I add it to this dish with their "green sticks" aka asparagus.

Stressless Lifestyle One Pan Dinner:

Shrimp & Asparagus

Author: Britt from Stressless Lifestyle

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Dinner for 2

Ingredients

• 1-2 bunches of thin asparagus spears

• 1 lb of frozen cooked shrimp (I used size small b/c they were already peeled)

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• McCormick’s Old Bay Seasoning to taste

• Optional: Shredded parmesan cheese

• Optional: Side of steamed rice

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a pan with aluminum foil.

2. Clean asparagus and pat dry. Drizzle olive oil over them and lightly toss.  Line spears in smaller bunches around the outside perimeter of the pan.

3. Add shrimp to the center of the pan, spreading them out as much as possible while allowing some of the oil to get on them.

4. Sprinkle Old Bay seasoning over the entire pan to taste. 

5. Bake for 18-20 minutes depending on the size of the shrimp. Sprinkle lemon juice just before serving.

6. Optional: Sprinkle shredded parmesan cheese over top on a Stressless Lifestyle high fat, low carb day. Serve with a side of steamed rice for a higher carb day in the Stressless Lifestyle.

Notes

Adjust the amount of cook time depending on shrimp size and asparagus size.