Whether you’re looking for a tasty appetizer or a satisfying main dish, our bacon wrapped shrimp recipe is a must-try.
The well-seasoned shrimp are wrapped in bacon and baked until golden-brown and bursting with flavor. The bacon is baked to crispy perfection, while the shrimp stay succulent and juicy.
These delectable bites are super simple to prepare ahead of time and ideal for serving as an appetizer at parties or any special occasion.
You can also check out our Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Recipe for another version of this recipe that carries a similar smoky and savory goodness, but with the signature taste of chicken instead of shrimp.
Is Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Healthy?
The short answer is yes, our bacon wrapped shrimp recipe is healthy.
Right off the bat, with shrimp as the main ingredient, our bacon wrapped shrimp is high in DHA, EPA, and other healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Each serving provides around 41.6 g of protein, which accounts for up to 80% of the USDA's daily recommended requirement.
Second, due to the extra veggies in the recipe, the dish is also high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. All of these nutrients are necessary for maintaining physical and mental wellness.
Finally, we try to make this version even healthier by using just the right amount of bacon and olive oil without added salt. This contributes to the low saturated fat and salt content of 9 g and 576 mg, respectively. These are within the USDA's Dietary Guidelines' recommended healthy limits.
Main Ingredients
When we serve seafood such as shrimp or fish, we love to prepare them simply, using only ingredients that enhance their original flavors.
1. Shrimp
We recommend using large shrimp (16-20 per pound) for this recipe. Jumbo shrimp are succulent and meaty, ensuring that the shrimp are thick enough to allow the bacon to crisp up and that the shrimp are not overcooked.
Additionally, the shrimp give a lovely, light contrast to the bacon's richness while still tasting luscious and juicy when bit into.
2. Bacon
You can get bacon in a range of flavors, from hickory-smoked to maple. Bacon offers a crispy texture and a smokey flavor that balances out the shrimp's sweetness.
The best size is regular cut; thick-cut bacon does not have enough time to crisp up in this recipe. If using thick-cut bacon, precook it part way before wrapping the shrimp.
3. Seasoning
Numerous recipes instruct you to season the shrimp strongly with spices or sauces, but in this recipe, simplicity is best. Shrimp wrapped in bacon needs only easy-to-buy condiments such as olive oil, paprika, lemon juice, pepper, oregano, and Cajun seasoning to be incredibly scrumptious.
Lemon juice is our secret weapon in the marinade as it degrades fibers tenderizing whatever is marinating. The process should only last a few minutes, which is just enough for the flavors to penetrate but not too long for the shrimp to begin breaking down or cooking.
Can I Use Frozen Shrimp in This Recipe?
Yes, you can. A foil-lined baking dish should be ready before you add the frozen shrimp. Then, put the dish under the broiler for about two minutes on each side.
Cooking Tips
Place the bacon wrapped shrimp in a single layer in the oven. This allows enough space for the bite-sized shrimp to crisp up and turn brown beautifully.
This recipe can be done in the oven, but shrimp all wrapped up in a slice of bacon are also delicious grilled, and besides that - it's perfect for the air fryer.
Storage and Reheating
Once prepared, it’s best to store the bacon wrapped shrimp in a sealed container and place them in the refrigerator for 2 - 3 days. To maximize the shelf life of the dish, you can freeze the shrimp in Ziploc bags and defrost them as needed.
To reheat, wrap the shrimp with aluminum foil or bake them in a covered pan at 300℉ for a few minutes until heated through. You may stir halfway through if desired.
What to Serve With
Bacon-wrapped shrimp are prepared by wrapping plump marinated shrimp in smoky, salty bacon and baking until lusciously juicy on the inside and wonderfully crisp on the outside. We serve the dish as part of a main dish with mashed potatoes and vegetables.
To perfectly balance out the palate, we suggest having the shrimp with a Greek salad and a simple orange juice. These dishes can be made for any type of occasion, and they're full of vibrant and fresh ingredients that are sure to impress even the pickiest eaters.
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Recipe
Our bacon wrapped shrimp recipe is one of the quickest and most delicious ways to create a restaurant-quality dish at home.
- cook TIME 20 mins
- prep TIME 20 mins
- total TIME 40 mins
- COURSE Main Course
- CUISINE American
- SERVINGS servings
- CALORIES 506 kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 11 oz peeled and deveined shrimp (equal to 22 oz raw shrimp)
- 6 oz raw cured bacon
- 12 oz asparagus
- 22 oz potatoes (cubed)
- 1 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp black pepper (divided)
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 2 tbsp parsley (minced)
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 450 ℉.
Season 11 oz shrimp with 1 tsp paprika, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp oregano, and 1 tsp Cajun seasoning. Set aside.
Wrap each shrimp with a piece of bacon (6 oz bacon in total) and secure with a toothpick. Repeat with the remaining shrimp. Place the wrapped shrimp on a large baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.
Bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes.
Meanwhile, place the 22 oz potatoes in the bowl and microwave for 8 minutes. Add 1 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter, 2 tbsp parsley, minced, and 1/4 tsp black pepper and use a large fork to mash the potatoes to your preferred consistency.
Microwave 12 oz asparagus in a bowl for 4 minutes. Discard the juice in the bowl.
Remove the shrimp from the oven. Serve the bacon wrapped shrimp with mashed potatoes and asparagus.
NUTRITION
Tuyet Pham
Head Chef, Culinary Consultant
Luna Regina
Writer, Author
Natalie Butler, RD, LD
Nutrition Reviewer
- AngleBacon adds a nice smoky flavor to the shrimp that would be sure to wow any dinner guests.