Garlic Lemon Butter Shrimp & Broccoli Foil Packs

Garlic Lemon Butter Shrimp & Broccoli Foil Packs are an easy 25-minute seafood dinner made with large raw shrimp, broccoli, melted butter, garlic, lemon, and Italian seasoning. The ingredients are tossed together, sealed in four foil packets, and baked at 425°F (220°C) for 12–15 minutes, creating a quick, low-mess meal for four.

Every packet captures the rich aroma of garlic butter and the bright flavor of fresh lemon. The shrimp turn pink, opaque, and tender while the small broccoli florets become tender-crisp, making this recipe satisfying on its own or delicious with rice, crusty bread, or a simple green salad.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These foil packs bring together the best qualities of a weeknight dinner: fast preparation, minimal cleanup, and a bright, buttery flavor that makes simple ingredients taste special. The shrimp and broccoli cook together in their own savory steam, so the vegetables absorb the garlic, herbs, lemon, and butter as they soften.

Each packet is an individual portion, which makes serving easy. You can place the sealed packets on the table, open them carefully, and let everyone add parsley and lemon juice to taste.

The recipe also gives you a flexible dinner base. Serve the shrimp over cooked rice, spoon it onto quinoa, pair it with warm bread for dipping, or enjoy it as a lighter plate without an additional side. For another comforting seafood option, you can also try this garlic shrimp tortellini.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The ingredient list is short, but every item has a clear purpose. Large shrimp remain juicy when baked briefly, while broccoli florets provide color, texture, and a pleasant contrast to the tender seafood.

• Shrimp: Use 1 pound of large raw shrimp that have been peeled and deveined.
• Broccoli: Two medium heads, cut into small, evenly sized florets.
• Butter and garlic: One-quarter cup of melted unsalted butter and four minced garlic cloves form the rich base.
• Seasonings: Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt, and black pepper bring savory depth.
• Heat and brightness: Optional red pepper flakes add gentle heat, while juice from half a lemon keeps the butter sauce fresh.
• Garnishes: Chopped parsley and lemon wedges add color and a final burst of flavor.
• Foil: Heavy-duty aluminum foil is best for making sturdy packets that hold the juices.

If you prefer a more substantial foil dinner, take a look at our steak and potato foil pack for another packet-style meal.

How to Make It Step-by-Step

Step 1: Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C), giving it time to reach the correct temperature before the packets go in. Cut four heavy-duty foil sheets, each approximately 12 inches square, and set them on your work surface.

Step 2: Add the melted butter, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, onion powder, red pepper flakes if using, salt, black pepper, and lemon juice to a medium bowl. Stir well so the seasonings are distributed through the butter rather than sitting in separate pockets.

Step 3: Add the peeled and deveined shrimp and the small broccoli florets to the bowl. Toss gently until the shrimp and vegetables are coated on all sides, taking care not to crush the broccoli.

Step 4: Divide the mixture evenly among the four foil sheets, keeping the shrimp and broccoli in the center of each piece. Bring the foil edges together, fold them securely, and seal the sides while leaving a little room inside for steam.

Step 5: Arrange the sealed packets on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 12–15 minutes, checking near the end of the cooking range for shrimp that are pink, opaque, and curled and broccoli that is tender-crisp.

Step 6: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and open the packets carefully, directing the steam away from your face and hands. Finish each serving with fresh parsley and a lemon wedge, then serve while the butter sauce is warm.

Pro Tips for Tender Shrimp and Crisp Broccoli

The most important preparation detail is the size of the broccoli. Cut the florets relatively small and keep them close in size so they cook through during the short baking period without requiring the shrimp to stay in the oven too long.

Do not crowd the mixture into one large packet. Four individual packets spread the shrimp and broccoli into a more even layer, allowing the hot butter-steam mixture to circulate around the food.

• Use a rimmed baking sheet beneath the foil packets to catch any butter or lemon-butter juices that escape.
• Seal the packets firmly, but do not press them flat against the food; the small air space helps steam move through the packet.
• Begin checking at 12 minutes because shrimp cook quickly and can become rubbery when left in the oven too long.
• Season with the optional red pepper flakes if you enjoy a mild chili note, or leave them out for a gentler family-friendly flavor.
• Open one packet carefully to check the shrimp before deciding whether the remaining packets need the full 15 minutes.

For a different way to use garlic butter with a protein, our garlic butter steak bites offer a hearty alternative with bright lemon flavors.

Serving Ideas

These packets are flavorful enough to serve as a complete light dinner, but they also pair well with simple sides. Spoon the lemon-butter juices over rice or couscous so none of the sauce is wasted.

• Serve with steamed rice to absorb the garlic lemon butter.
• Add crusty bread for dipping into the warm juices.
• Pair with a simple cucumber salad or leafy green salad for a fresh contrast.
• Serve alongside roasted potatoes when you want a more filling meal.
• Finish with extra lemon wedges and parsley for a bright, fresh plate.

If you want an extra sauce for dipping or drizzling, our shrimp sauce is another useful seafood accompaniment. Keep the side dishes simple so the tender shrimp and seasoned broccoli remain the focus.

Storage, Reheating, and Make-Ahead Notes

For the best texture, serve the shrimp as soon as the packets are opened. If you have leftovers, transfer the shrimp and broccoli to a covered container and refrigerate them promptly.

Reheat gently until warmed through, watching closely so the shrimp do not cook for much longer than necessary. The broccoli may soften slightly after refrigeration, but the lemon-garlic butter will still provide plenty of flavor.

You can prepare the butter mixture and cut the broccoli ahead of time to shorten dinner prep. Keep the raw shrimp chilled until you are ready to toss, assemble, and bake the packets; assembling too far in advance can make the broccoli and shrimp release moisture before cooking.

For another vegetable-forward dinner with garlic and lemon notes, consider our garlic butter turkey meatballs with zucchini noodles.

Garlic Lemon Butter Shrimp & Broccoli Foil Packs

Large shrimp and broccoli are coated in lemon-garlic butter, sealed in foil, and baked until the shrimp are tender and the broccoli is tender-crisp. This simple seafood dinner makes four flavorful portions in about 25 minutes.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Main Ingredients

• 1 lb (450 g) Large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 medium heads Broccoli, cut into small florets

Lemon Garlic Butter

• 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) Unsalted butter, melted
• 4 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon Onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Crushed red pepper flakes, optional
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt, or to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
• 1/2 lemon Fresh lemon juice

For Serving

• 1 tablespoon Fresh parsley, chopped
• as needed Lemon wedges

Equipment

• 4 large sheets Heavy-duty aluminum foil

Method

 

Step-by-Step

1. Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Cut four large pieces of heavy-duty aluminum foil, approximately 12 inches square.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the melted butter, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, onion powder, optional red pepper flakes, salt, black pepper, and lemon juice.
3. Add the shrimp and broccoli to the bowl and toss until every piece is evenly coated with the lemon-garlic butter mixture.
4. Divide the shrimp and broccoli among the four foil sheets. Fold and tightly seal each packet, leaving some room inside for the steam to circulate.
5. Place the packets on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 12–15 minutes, until the shrimp are pink, opaque, and curled and the broccoli is tender-crisp.
6. Carefully open the packets because the escaping steam will be hot. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

Notes

Cut broccoli into small, evenly sized florets so it cooks during the short baking time. Seal packets tightly and place them on a rimmed baking sheet to catch leaks. Remove the packets as soon as the shrimp are opaque to help prevent a rubbery texture.

Final Thoughts

Garlic Lemon Butter Shrimp & Broccoli Foil Packs turn a handful of everyday ingredients into a fragrant, colorful seafood dinner with almost no cleanup. The 425°F oven, tightly sealed foil, and short 12–15 minute cook time help the shrimp stay tender while the broccoli reaches a pleasant tender-crisp texture.

Remember to cut the florets small, leave room for steam, and remove the packets as soon as the shrimp are opaque. Add parsley, squeeze over a lemon wedge, and serve the packets with rice or warm bread for an easy meal that feels wonderfully complete.