Bacon-wrapped shrimp are a fun twist on a surf-and-turf concept. But unlike steak and lobster, this bacon-wrapped recipe is easy to make—and significantly more affordable! After a quick marinade, the shrimp develop a slightly sweet, perfectly spiced flavor. Paired with rich, savory bacon, you’ve got a no-big-deal appetizer that’s great for summer dinners on the patio, cocktail parties and everything in between.
Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp Ingredients
- Shrimp: Large, peeled and deveined shrimp are the easiest type of shrimp to wrap in bacon. Look for shrimp sized between 16 to 20 shrimp per pound. Frozen shrimp work just fine for this recipe. Just let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Learn how to clean shrimp if you need to peel the shrimp at home.
- Bacon: Thinly sliced bacon is the best bacon for bacon-wrapped recipes. It wraps easily around the tiny shrimp and cooks more quickly than thick-cut bacon.
- Shrimp marinade: We make a quick marinade with lemon juice, olive oil, sugar, salt, paprika, garlic powder and pepper. It’s the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, savory and smoky.
Directions
Step 1: Make the marinade
In a small bowl, stir together the sugar, lemon juice, oil, paprika, salt, garlic powder and pepper.
Step 2: Prepare the shrimp
Pour 1/4 cup marinade into a large shallow dish, and add the shrimp. Let stand for 15 minutes. Cover and refrigerate the remaining marinade for basting.
Step 3: Wrap the bacon around the shrimp
Preheat the broiler. Drain the shrimp, and discard the marinade. Wrap each shrimp with a piece of bacon, and secure with a toothpick.
Editor’s Tip: Soak the toothpicks in water for 30 minutes so they don’t catch on fire in the broiler.
Step 4: Broil the bacon-wrapped shrimp
Place the shrimp on a greased rack of a broiler pan. Broil 4 inches from the heat until the shrimp turn pink, three to four minutes on each side, basting frequently with the remaining marinade after turning.
If desired, serve the shrimp with ranch dip and lemon wedges.
Recipe Variations
- Adjust the flavor: If you like spicy shrimp, add a dash of cayenne pepper to the marinade. Or change the spice profile with spices like curry powder, ground cumin, coriander or even ranch dressing and dip mix. You can also infuse the shrimp with rich flavor by brushing them with barbecue sauce, garlic butter or a sweet-and-savory glaze, like the one used in brown sugar-glazed salmon.
- Wrap the shrimp with prosciutto: Instead of wrapping the shrimp with bacon, wrap them with prosciutto. If you end up with extras, here are some easy ways to use prosciutto.
- Make bacon-wrapped shrimp on the grill: You can grill the shrimp over medium heat as we do for shrimp kabobs. Grill the shrimp until the bacon is crisp and the shrimp are cooked through, three to four minutes per side.
- Bake oven-wrapped shrimp: Bake the shrimp in a 375°F oven for 14 to 16 minutes or until the bacon is crisp.
How to Store Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp
This shrimp is so delicious, we doubt you’ll end up with leftovers. But, if you do, store the shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat the shrimp in a skillet or the oven until warmed through.
Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp Tips
What do you serve with bacon-wrapped shrimp?
Serve these shrimp as appetizers with a dipping sauce like homemade ranch dressing, remoulade sauce or aioli. Shrimp also pair well with surf-and-turf dishes, so don’t be afraid to make bacon-wrapped shrimp a part of a fancy date-night dinner! Try pairing them with a cast-iron steak and upscale side dishes like Tuscan-style asparagus, au gratin potatoes and your favorite cocktail.
How do you make crispy bacon-wrapped shrimp?
You can make crispy bacon-wrapped shrimp by pre-cooking the bacon in the oven or air fryer. It also helps to start with thinly sliced bacon and cook the shrimp on a rack to promote airflow. If all else fails, cook the shrimp in a hot skillet to crisp up the bacon. Just be mindful to avoid overcooking the shrimp so they stay juicy.
Do you need to precook bacon for bacon-wrapped shrimp?
You don’t have to precook bacon for bacon-wrapped shrimp. Thinly sliced bacon will cook through in the same amount of time it takes to cook the shrimp. If you buy thick-cut bacon (or another type of bacon) and worry it will cook slower than the shrimp, you can precook it in a skillet or oven. You can even make air-fryer bacon. Just be sure to cook the bacon until it’s partially cooked but not crisp. Otherwise, it won’t wrap around the shrimp.
