When done right, Bacon Wrapped Shrimp are one of the easiest, most delicious appetizers you can make. There are a couple of secrets to making them perfectly succulent.
First, it’s important to partially cook the bacon before wrapping around the shrimp. Second, take it easy on the seasoning. I’ll explain.
It takes 8-10 minutes to make juicy, flavorful shrimp in the oven. Bacon takes 15 to 20 minutes! So starting with raw bacon when making bacon wrapped shrimp means overcooked shrimp or worse, undercooked bacon. You just need to give the bacon a head start. It’s worth the effort as it adds very little time or complexity.
When I’m serving seafoods like shrimp, crab and scallops, I like to prepare them as simply as possible, adding only ingredients that accentuate their already delicious flavors. (As in these recipes: Crab Cakes, Crab Salad, Bacon Wrapped Scallops and Salt and Pepper Shrimp).
Bacon wrapped shrimp are the same. Many recipes call for heavily seasoning them with spices or sauces, but I disagree. Shrimp wrapped in bacon needs just olive oil, salt and pepper to be utterly delectable! And if you want to serve them with a sauce for dipping this remoulade sauce is perfect.
How to Make Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
- Partially cook bacon.
Bake 1/2 strips of bacon on an oven safe rack set in a baking sheet at 425˚F for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on bacon thickness.
- Season shrimp.
Toss tail-on, peeled and deveined shrimp in olive oil, salt and pepper.
- Wrap shrimp in partially cooked bacon.
Wrap each shrimp in bacon, securing with a toothpick and return to oven safe rack.
- Bake bacon wrapped shrimp.
Bake 10 minutes until shrimp and bacon are juicy and cooked through. Serve.
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Recipe Video
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
Ingredients
- 8 slices bacon halved crosswise (see recipe note)
- 16 large shrimp peeled except for the tail and deveined
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt or 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425˚F.
- Arrange bacon slices, leaving space around each, on oven safe rack placed inside a baking sheet. Bake 5 to 10 minutes depending on the thickness of your bacon. It should still be pliable when you remove it from the oven.
- Meanwhile, place shrimp in a medium bowl. Add olive oil, salt and pepper; toss to coat.
- When partially cooked bacon slices are cool enough to handle (about 5 minutes after you remove from oven), wrap each strip around one shrimp, securing with a toothpick; return to oven safe rack. Repeat with remaining shrimp.
- Bake 10 minutes more until shrimp are pink and bacon is cooked through. Serve.
Restaurants in Baguio by Mae says
April 15, 2019 at 8:22 pmThis dish is wonderful. Two of my favorites combined together. Love the idea wrapping the shrimps with bacon. Thank you for this recipe and also for the tips in seasoning the shrimps.
Marissa says
April 17, 2019 at 8:30 amThanks so much, Mae!
Mimi says
March 28, 2019 at 1:17 pmThese are fabulous! It certainly makes sense to slightly cook the bacon first. I’ve made bacon-wrapped scallops and used some paprika creme inside (not my recipe) which were fabulous, but I also like the idea of dipping the bacon-wrapped shrimp in a sauce/dip.
Marissa says
March 29, 2019 at 12:01 pmPaprika creme sounds delicious! Thanks so much, Mimi!
Ben|Havocinthekitchen says
March 21, 2019 at 4:51 pmI do love shrimp, and I normally go easy too. Just some oil/butter, garlic, salt, and maybe fresh herbs are enough for a delicious meal. But you cannot spoil shrimp with some bacon, and this recipe looks and sounds super delicious!
Marissa says
March 25, 2019 at 9:24 amThanks so much, Ben!
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking says
March 19, 2019 at 5:42 amWhile I’ve had bacon wrapped scallops many times, I’ve never had bacon wrapped shrimp. And I love shrimp. I really need to try this the next time we have dinner guests. This would be a crowd pleasing appetizer for sure!
Marissa says
March 20, 2019 at 3:41 pmThanks, Leanne! I hope you give these a try! 🙂
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
March 18, 2019 at 7:43 pmOne of my favourite appetizers when we go out. That and bacon wrapped scallops, which I presume would follow the same tip of cooking the bacon a bit first. I think that’s a great tip! I also love the idea of “less is more”. These look terrific!
Marissa says
March 20, 2019 at 3:41 pmThanks so much, Katherine! Those are two of our favorites too!
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
March 18, 2019 at 2:23 pmEveryone loves shrimp…then you go and wrap them in bacon. Who could possibly resist.
Marissa says
March 18, 2019 at 2:34 pmWell said, Karen. Thank you! 🙂
Kevin says
March 18, 2019 at 1:30 pmAnything wrapped in bacon is calling my name…these will be gone in no time!
Marissa says
March 18, 2019 at 2:15 pmhaha…man after my own heart, Kevin!
annie@ciaochowbambina says
March 18, 2019 at 10:18 amMy family will go crazy for these! Believe it or not, I’m already dreaming about backyard soirees for the warmer months and I’m collecting ideas for fun nosh – this will definitely be on that list!! Pinned!
Marissa says
March 18, 2019 at 2:16 pmThat’s just what I’m dreaming about these days too, Annie!! Hope you love them!
David @ Spiced says
March 18, 2019 at 3:38 amGreat tip on the bacon here, Marissa! I haven’t made bacon-wrapped shrimp in a long time, and I think I need to get on that. It’s a delicious combo for sure! And it’s a great recipe for entertaining with friends!
Marissa says
March 18, 2019 at 2:17 pmThanks, David! Yes, perfect for entertaining!
Valentina says
March 17, 2019 at 6:14 pmMarissa, I absolutely adore bacon and shrimp together. I’ve used the bacon similarly, but have never partially cooked it first. That’s such a great tip, and I’m excited to try it. Wishing I had this platter in front of me in real life! Yum!
Marissa says
March 18, 2019 at 2:18 pmhaha…wish I could share, Valentina!! Thank you.
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says
March 17, 2019 at 1:06 pmWhat a yummy appetizer! (Or dinner if you’re me!) And you always have the best tips–I never would’ve thought to partially cook the bacon first but it totally makes sense!
Marissa says
March 18, 2019 at 2:19 pmThanks, Kelsie! Truth: Keith and I ate ALL of these for lunch the day that I did the video and photos. They definitely can make a meal on their own. 🙂
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
March 15, 2019 at 2:26 pmThis is going to become at staple at the beach for us this summer Marissa! I am so excited! I’m always looking for easy, tasty recipes to WOW my guests and this is surely to be one of them! Thanks so much for sharing! And for making be look like the hostess with the mostess!
Marissa says
March 18, 2019 at 2:19 pmWoohoo!! I love to hear that, Mary Ann!!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
March 15, 2019 at 9:18 amLove the suggestion of partially cooking the bacon beforehand! What a brilliant idea…ain’t nobody got time for floppy bacon, am I right 😉 ?? This would be perfect for easy entertaining. I’m sure they’d disappear in a flash. Pinned! Happy Friday to ya!
Marissa says
March 18, 2019 at 2:20 pmYou always make me smile, Dawn! And, truly, no one wants floppy bacon… 😉
Dorothy Dunton says
March 15, 2019 at 8:46 amHi Marissa! I agree about keeping things simple, quite often people think more is better and that’s just not true. I made bacon wrapped shrimp and bacon wrapped pineapple for an appetizer party this past December and in no time flat they were gone! I also like to make bacon wapped dates stuffed with Gorgonzola cheese. Now I want to have a party! 🙂
Marissa says
March 18, 2019 at 2:21 pmI bet you throw an amazing party, Dorothy! Bacon wrapped pineapple sounds AMAZING!
Kelly | Foodtasia says
March 15, 2019 at 5:31 amMarissa, these look delicious! Your tips and techniques are so helpful. Great idea to cook the bacon a bit first. And you’re so spot on about the seasoning!
Marissa says
March 18, 2019 at 2:21 pmThanks so much, Kelly!
angiesrecipes says
March 15, 2019 at 12:12 amBacon and shrimp!! You have just combined two of my favourites in one! What a treat!
Marissa says
March 18, 2019 at 2:21 pmSo good, right!? Thank you!