Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
If you’re looking for an appetizer that disappears fast, these bacon-wrapped shrimp are it! Juicy shrimp get wrapped in bacon, brushed with a buttery, lemony marinade, and baked with brown sugar until sweet, savory, and perfectly crispy. They’re easy enough to make without stress and just fancy enough to feel special. Which is exactly what you want for parties, game days, or any gathering where the snacks matter!
For more appetizer inspiration, take a look at my bacon wrapped smokies, pizza pinwheels, pizza dip, bacon cheeseburger sliders, Italian sub sliders, and buffalo chicken sliders!
Ingredients
Looking for the recipe card? You’ll find the printable version at the bottom of this post, including ingredients, measurements, and instructions!
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Jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined — Larger shrimp are easier to wrap and stay juicy while the bacon crisps. Make sure they’re fully thawed before marinating.
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Sliced bacon, cut into thirds — Cutting the strips keeps the bacon from overpowering the shrimp and helps everything cook evenly.
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Butter, melted — Adds richness and helps carry all the seasoning onto the shrimp.
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Lemon juice — Brightens up the richness of the butter and bacon.
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Salt — Enhances both the shrimp and the bacon without making things overly salty.
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Black pepper — Adds a little warmth and balance to the sweet brown sugar.
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Cayenne pepper — Brings a subtle kick that cuts through the sweetness.
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Garlic powder — Gives you garlicky flavor without burning in the oven.
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Brown sugar — Melts into the bacon as it bakes, creating that irresistible sweet-and-savory glaze.
How To Make Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a large rimmed baking tray with foil and lightly grease it with cooking spray.
- In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder. Pour the marinade over the shrimp and let them marinate for 15 minutes while the oven preheats.
- Wrap a piece of bacon around one marinated shrimp, then secure it with a toothpick and place it on the prepared baking tray. Repeat with the remaining shrimp and bacon.
- Sprinkle half of the brown sugar evenly over the bacon-wrapped shrimp.
- Bake for 7–8 minutes, then flip each shrimp over and sprinkle the remaining brown sugar on top.
- Return to the oven and bake for another 7–8 minutes, or until the shrimp are pink and the bacon is crisp.
Recipe Notes
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I used regular thin-sliced bacon for this recipe. If you’re using thick-cut bacon, you may need to adjust the cooking time, and it may not get quite as crispy. For best results, lightly pre-cook thick-cut bacon just until pliable before wrapping it around the shrimp.
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This recipe was tested with jumbo shrimp. If you’re using large shrimp instead, plan to adjust the cook time and bake for about 5–6 minutes per side, flipping halfway through.
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I don’t recommend using smaller shrimp, as they tend to overcook before the bacon has a chance to crisp.
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Cold bacon is much easier to work with, so keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to wrap.
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For extra flavor, brush the shrimp with your favorite sauce (BBQ works great) or serve a dipping sauce on the side.
Serving Ideas
These bacon-wrapped shrimp are perfect for parties and game days, especially when served warm straight from the oven!
Arrange them on a platter with toothpicks and a couple of dipping sauces like BBQ sauce, honey mustard, or a spicy mayo.
Add them to a larger appetizer spread alongside sliders, dips, or wings for easy entertaining.
They also work well as a fun surf-and-turf–style appetizer before a main meal when you want something a little extra.
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 lb jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined (thawed)
- 1 lb sliced bacon cut into thirds
- 4 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a large rimmed baking tray with foil and lightly grease it with cooking spray.
- In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder. Pour the marinade over the shrimp and let them marinate for 15 minutes while the oven preheats.
- Wrap a piece of bacon around one marinated shrimp, then secure it with a toothpick and place it on the prepared baking tray. Repeat with the remaining shrimp and bacon.
- Sprinkle half of the brown sugar evenly over the bacon-wrapped shrimp.
- Bake for 7–8 minutes, then flip each shrimp over and sprinkle the remaining brown sugar on top.
- Return to the oven and bake for another 7–8 minutes, or until the shrimp are pink and the bacon is crisp.
When you need an appetizer that’s easy to put together and always steals the show, these are always going to be a hit! Serve them up for your next game day or gathering, and let me know what you think. You can leave a comment below, and make sure you tag me in your pics on Instagram @slimmingviolet. It makes my day to see your creations!
