Upgrade your appetizer game with a bacon-wrapped shrimp recipe. The recipe is perfect for the air fryer or oven. You'll enjoy a delicious blend of sweet and savory flavors.
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Whether you're hosting a gathering or simply treating yourself, this recipe is a winner. Get ready for the perfect blend of flavors and textures that will leave everyone craving more. Plus, I'll share tips for both air fryer and oven methods, so you can whip up these delectable bacon-wrapped shrimp with ease.
If you like my bacon-wrapped salmon bites, you will love these crispy bacon wrapped shrimp. Both are perfect for dipping into your favorite sauce.
Reasons to Love
- Delicious flavor combination. The recipe combines the savory, smoky flavor of bacon with the tender, juicy taste of fresh shrimp. The crispy texture of the bacon perfectly complements the tender shrimp.
- Quick preparation. With minimal ingredients and a short cooking time, it's a quick dish perfect for busy weeknights or impromptu gatherings.
- Perfect for Any Occasion. Whether hosting a party or having a cozy night in, this finger food is a crowd-pleaser suitable for any occasion.
Ingredients
You'll need large shrimp, thinly sliced bacon, and seasonings. The large shrimp should be peeled and deveined for easy eating. Each slice of bacon must be thin to cook at the same rate as the shrimp.
Here's the full list of ingredients needed to make the recipe:
- large shrimp
- low-sodium bacon
- garlic powder
- light brown sugar (optional)
- salt and pepper, taste
- olive oil
Scroll down to the recipe card for quantities used.
Instructions
Before wrapping each piece of shrimp with a strip of bacon, ensure that both are dry to help achieve crispy results when cooked in an air fryer or oven. Patting them dry using paper towels will remove excess moisture from both ingredients. You'll also need to preheat oven or air fryer.
Season shrimp with salt, black pepper and garlic powder.
Tightly wrap a piece of bacon around the shrimp. Each tip of the shrimp should be showing. Secure with toothpicks.
Gently transfer bacon-wrapped shrimp onto the Air Fryer tray or a rack over sheet pan for oven. Allow some space for each shrimp. Do not overcrowd.
Lightly brush each end of shrimp with oil. Sprinkle each bacon-wrapped shrimp with light brown sugar, if using. Cook until bacon is crisp and golden, turning halfway through cook time.
Hint: Partially cook the bacon in the oven or on the stovetop until it's just starting to turn golden but is still pliable. This ensures that the bacon will be fully cooked and crispy when your shrimp is fully cooked.
Variations
You can easily change up this bacon and shrimp recipe depending on your own preferences. Here are a few ideas you can try:
- Bacon - Try different bacon flavors like maple or smoked hickory to add depth and complexity to your dish. Each type of bacon brings its own unique smoky sweetness, elevating the overall flavor profile
- Seasoning - Experiment with different seasoning blends. Use cajun spice for a bold and zesty kick or lemon pepper for a bright citrusy flavor.
- Parmesan - Sprinkle on grated Parmesan before cooking. This adds a delicious cheesy flavor.
- Grill - If you prefer to cook these outdoors, you can cook them on the grill, too.
You can also air fry shrimp with just seasonings. Check out my shrimp skewers recipe to see how I cook them in the air fryer.
Tips
Top tip: Always use large shrimp. The size allows the bacon to cook thoroughly without overcooking the shrimp. When you use larger shrimp, they remain plump and tender inside while the bacon becomes perfectly crispy on the outside.
- Brush the bacon wrapped shrimp with oil before cooking to add an extra layer of crispiness to the exterior. The oil helps the bacon become wonderfully crunchy while preventing it from drying during cooking. It also enhances browning, giving the outside a beautiful golden color.
- Avoid overcrowding when air frying. When food is too close together, hot air may not circulate properly around each. As a result, some pieces may end up undercooked while others become overly crispy or even burnt.
Serving suggestions
I like to serve the shrimp with a rich and creamy garlic aioli dipping sauce. But you can dip them in other sauces like a seasoned soy sauce, cocktail sauce, or salsa.
You can use them to add a crispy element to salads. Try serving them with a simple berry salad or chopped Greek salad.
Storage
To store bacon-wrapped shrimp, it's best to wrap them in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place them in an airtight container. They will stay fresh for up to 4 days.
If you want to freeze bacon-wrapped shrimp, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer until they are firm. Once firm, transfer the shrimp to a resealable plastic bag or airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw the shrimp in the refrigerator before reheating in the oven or air fryer.
FAQs
Can I use frozen shrimp for this recipe?
Yes, you can use frozen shrimp, but it's best to thaw them before wrapping with bacon. This ensures even cooking and better flavor infusion.
How do I prevent the bacon from getting too crispy or burnt in the air fryer?
To prevent overcooking the bacon, you can partially cook it in a microwave or skillet before wrapping the shrimp. This way, it will crisp up nicely without burning in the air fryer.
Related Recipes
If you love shrimp as much as I do, you need to check out some of my other small-batch recipes featuring this delicious seafood. Here are some of my favorites:
- Skillet shrimp scampi
- Panko fried shrimp
- Shrimp and corn bisque
- Garlic butter shrimp pasta
- Shrimp and broccoli is a super simple stir fry recipe.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to see more recipes.
Recipe
Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp (Air Fryer or Oven)
Ingredients
- 10 pieces large shrimp deveined and tails intact
- 5 pieces low-sodium bacon cut in half
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon light brown sugar optional
- kosher salt to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
- olive oil about 1 tablespoon for brushing
Instructions
- Pre-heat Air Fryer at 370°F (188°C) or oven to 400°F (204°C). Set at 12 minutes for air fryer or 15 minutes for oven.
- Pat dry shrimp with paper towel.
- Season shrimp with salt, black pepper and garlic powder.
- Place bacon at the center of the shrimp and tightly wrap. Each tip of shrimp should be showing. Secure with toothpicks.
- Gently transfer bacon-wrapped shrimp onto the Air Fryer tray or a rack over sheet pan for oven. Allow some space for each shrimp. Do not overcrowd.
- Lightly brush each end of shrimp with oil.
- Sprinkle each bacon-wrapped shrimp with light brown sugar, if using.
- Slowly insert Air Fryer tray into the middle cooking chamber, near the rotisserie catch or sheet pan in middle rack of oven.
- Turn food half-way through. No need to wait for the “turn food” reminder provided by the Air Fryer. See tips or notes when turning food.
- Wait for the timer to end before opening the oven door or once bacon-wrapped shrimp are fully cooked and golden in color, press “cancel” from the Air Fryer settings.
- Wait for 1 to 2 minutes for bacon to crisp up further then serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Jhai
These bacon-wrapped shrimp are so addictive! The combination of salty bacon and sweet shrimp is irresistible. I seasoned mine with a bit of cajun spice for some extra heat, and they turned out fantastic!
Catrione
The bacon gets so crispy in the air fryer and the shrimp was perfectly tender. And I love that I can customize them with different seasonings or dipping sauces. Such a great recipe!
Emmy
Oh wow, this is such an amazing appetizer idea! I love how the crispy bacon complements with the shrimp! I used sriracha mayo as the dip, kinda like a bang bang sauce haha. It was so delicious!
Ross
Beautiful recipe! The bacon added such a nice smoky flavor and the shrimp were perfectly cooked. I also added lemon pepper as suggested and it gave a lovely hint of citrus flavors. Will definitely experiment with different bacon flavors next time!
Yuri
I used cajun and lemon pepper for the seasoning, then grilled the shrimp and bacon. It had that nice smoky flavor and the bacon got perfectly crispy. Very delicious!
Pam
The bacon and shrimp came out so crispy and delicious! I sprinkled them with lemon pepper seasoning and made a tangy Cajun dipping sauce to go with them – it was the perfect pairing!
Maris
I used maple bacon and added a sprinkle of brown sugar for a hint of sweetness. It was really a fun combination with the shrimp!
Belle
I tried grilling the shrimp with lemon pepper seasoning and they turned out amazing! The citrusy flavor added a refreshing twist to the smoky bacon. I'm sharing this recipe to my mom!
Alice
I had fun making this dish. I experimented with a mix of Parmesan and cajun seasoning. It tasted so good and the cheesy crust took these bacon-wrapped shrimp to a whole new level. So yummy!
Camila
Absolutely delicious! Love that it's so fast and easy to make and it's just the perfect appetizer. I'll be sharing this for a family party next week! Thanks for the recipe!