• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Kelly Neil logo

  • Father’s Day Breakfast
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Portfolio
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Father’s Day Breakfast
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Portfolio
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Father’s Day Breakfast
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Portfolio
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Kelly Neil » Recipes » Appetizer

    Bacon Wrapped Shrimp

    Published: May 26, 2014 · Modified: Feb 23, 2023 by Kelly Neil · 2 Comments

    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Email
    • Print
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    These bacon wrapped shrimp are low in effort and high in flavor! With only three ingredients, they're a perfect little appetizer or snack to serve with cold drinks on the deck.
    Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 10 minutes mins
    Total Time: 20 minutes mins
    A plate of cooked bacon wrapped shrimp with a small dish of bang bang sauce on the plate.

    These bacon wrapped shrimp are a foolproof summer finger food—everyone who tries them loves them! And the best part? The recipe only requires three ingredients—shrimp, bacon, and fresh sage leaves.

    I usually grill these shrimp on the BBQ, but you can also cook them in the oven or air fryer. Just make sure the bacon is fully cooked before serving. And don’t worry, the fat in the bacon protects the shrimp so there’s no worry of the shrimp drying out!

    For a delicious dipping sauce, I highly recommend this homemade bang bang sauce recipe or this spicy garlic aioli recipe. Both are pretty easy to make and also have a touch of heat which really completes the sweet-salty-herb flavor of the shrimp!

    Jump to:
    • 💞 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
    • 📋 Ingredients
    • 👩‍🍳 How To Make Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
    • 🗣 Expert Tips
    • 📝Recipe Notes
    • 🙋‍♀️Recipe FAQ
    • 🖨 Recipe

    💞 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

    ✔️ You only need three ingredients.
    ✔️ It can be made ahead of time.
    ✔️ It’s a ridiculously simple, but impressive appetizer!

    📋 Ingredients

    Ingredients to make bacon wrapped shrimp.

    Ingredient Notes

    • Shrimp—You can use fresh or thawed frozen raw shrimp. I generally use 13-15 or 16-20 shrimp. The number, usually found on the bag or signage at the seafood counter, indicates approximately how many shrimp per pound.
    • Bacon—Don’t use thick-cut bacon for this recipe as it is much harder to wrap around the shrimp.
    • Fresh Sage—Sage leaves hold up well to the heat of cooking. I generally tear larger leaves in half depending on the size of the shrimp.

    It’s important to note that when making substitutions in recipes, the texture and flavor may be slightly different. However, these substitutes are the best options if you are looking to change the original recipe.

    Ingredient Substitutions

    • Bacon—Prosciutto or thinly sliced pancetta can be substituted for the bacon.

    Use the JUMP TO RECIPE button at the top of this post, or scroll to the bottom of the post, to see the PRINTABLE recipe card with ingredient measurements and complete instructions.

    👩‍🍳 How To Make Bacon Wrapped Shrimp

    STEP 1—Cut the strips of bacon into thirds or halves. How you cut the strips will depend on the length of the bacon and the size of the shrimp.

    Bacon strips cut into thirds on a marble cutting board with a pair of kitchen shears nearby.

    STEP 2—Remove the stems from the sage leaves. Tear larger leaves in half if you want.

    Hands tearing a large sage leaf in half with more fresh sage on the marble cutting board below.

    STEP 3—If removing the tails from the shrimp, do so now, then take each shrimp and gently bend it along the back to straighten it out. For most, you will feel some give as you do this. This is normal.

    Hands holding a raw shrimp and bending the shrimp's back to straighten it out.

    STEP 4—When all of the shrimp have been straightened, take one piece of bacon and gently stretch it.

    Hands stretching a short strip of bacon.

    STEP 5—Lay the stretched bacon on a work surface. Place a sage leaf on top of the bacon near one end then set a shrimp on top of the leaf. Wrap the shrimp snugly in the bacon. Repeat until all of the shrimp are wrapped.

    Hands about to roll a shrimp topped with a piece of fresh sage inside a small strip of bacon.

    STEP 6—Cook the shrimp right away on a hot grill, in the oven, or in an air fryer until the bacon is crispy on both sides. You can also store them inside a tightly sealed container in the fridge to cook later. Serve hot or cool with your favorite dipping sauce.

    A pan of uncooked bacon wrapped shrimp.

    🗣 Expert Tips

    1. Thread 5 or 6 bacon wrapped shrimp onto a skewer (per person) before cooking to serve as a meal.
    2. If not serving with a dip, sprinkle the wrapped shrimp with a bit of seasoning before cooking (I like Old Bay).
    3. Worried about the bacon unwrapping? Secure each shrimp with a toothpick.

    📝Recipe Notes

    • Thick-cut bacon is not great for this recipe. It doesn’t stay wrapped securely and takes much longer to cook than shrimp.
    • Removing the shrimp tails is optional.
    • Serve bacon wrapped shrimp hot or cooled to room temperature.
    A plate of bacon wrapped shrimp on a plate with a small bowl of bang bang sauce.

    🙋‍♀️Recipe FAQ

    How do you quick thaw frozen shrimp?

    The best way to thaw frozen shrimp is to place them in a large bowl of cool water, then turn the cold water tap on low to circulate the water. After about 20 minutes, drain the shrimp, and pat them dry with paper towel before cooking.

    What is the best bacon for wrapping?

    Thin sliced bacon works best for wrapping shrimp. Don’t use bacon cut so thin that it tears, but don’t use thick sliced bacon either. Prosciutto or thin sliced pancetta are great wrapping substitutes for bacon.

    What can you serve with grilled bacon wrapped shrimp?

    Try brushing grilled shrimp with a simple maple glaze or honey, serving them with a dip like buffalo or ranch, or tossing them in a simple cooked sauce of reduced 35% whipping cream, butter, and chopped garlic.

    💃 Serve Bacon Wrapped Shrimp With These Recipes

    • Overhead close up of mango pico de gallo.
      Mango Pico De Gallo
    • A bowl of charred corn couscous salad with feta and basil.
      Couscous Salad With Charred Corn
    • Grilled veggie skewers on a metal tray alongside a small bowl of vegan BBQ sauce.
      Fresh Plum BBQ Sauce
    • A plate of orzo pesto salad on a plate with a yellow-handled fork.
      Orzo Pesto Salad

    Did you make these bacon wrapped shrimp? Please rate the recipe and tell me how it went in the comments below. Also, stay in touch with me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to see more delicious food and recipes!

    🖨 Recipe

    A plate of cooked bacon wrapped shrimp with a small dish of bang bang sauce on the plate.

    Bacon Wrapped Shrimp

    Author: Kelly Neil
    These bacon wrapped shrimp are low in effort and high in flavor! With only three ingredients, they're a perfect little appetizer or snack to serve with cold drinks on the deck.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American / Canadian
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 189 kcal

    Equipment

    • Paper towel
    • Grill or BBQ
    • Tongs

    Ingredients
     

    • 8 strips bacon
    • 24 medium sage leaves, or 12 large
    • 24 large shrimp, 31/35, fresh or frozen thawed

    Instructions
     

    • Cut the strips of bacon into thirds.
    • Remove the stems from the sage leaves. Tear larger leaves in half if you want.
    • If removing the tails from the shrimp, do so now, then take each shrimp and gently bend it along the back to straighten it out. For most, you will feel some give as you do this. This is normal.
    • When all of the shrimp have been straightened, take one of the pieces of bacon and gently stretch it. Lay the stretched bacon on a work surface. Place a sage leaf on top of the bacon near one end then set a shrimp on top of the leaf. Wrap the shrimp snugly in the bacon.
    • Store the shrimp in the fridge in a tightly sealed container for later, or cook them right away on a hot grill, in the oven, or in an air fryer until the bacon is crispy on both sides. Serve hot or cooled with your favorite dipping sauce.

    Notes

    • Thick cut bacon is not great with this recipe. It doesn’t stay wrapped securely and takes much longer to cook than the shrimp.
    • Removing the shrimp tails is optional.
    • Serve bacon wrapped shrimp hot or cooled to room temperature.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 75gCalories: 189kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 7gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 298mgPotassium: 104mgFiber: 0.02gVitamin A: 16IUCalcium: 8mgIron: 0.2mg
    Did you make this recipe?Let me know on Instagram @kellyneildotcom or tag #kellyneil!

    More Appetizer Recipes

    • Shrimp nachos with jalapeños already baked with melted cheese.
      Shrimp Nachos
    • Close up of a small chicken bacon sandwich.
      Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders
    • Sriracha deviled eggs topped with spring micro greens.
      Sriracha Deviled Eggs
    • Donair meatball Panzanella salad.
      Donair Meatball Panzanella Salad
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Email
    • Print

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi there! 👋🏻 I'm Kelly, the food photographer and voice behind kellyneil.com. This is where you'll find my favorite Nova Scotia food and easy seasonal recipes.
    More about me →

    Father's Day Breakfast

    • Nut free granola with dried cranberries and dried apricots.
      Nut-Free Granola With Honey
    • A small glass jar of raspberry rhubarb jam on a stone surface next to a white windowsill.
      Raspberry Rhubarb Jam (small-batch)
    • A spoonful of spinach pesto laying on a stone surface.
      Spinach Pesto With Arugula
    • Overhead close up of a lobster quiche with cream cheese and asparagus in a rectangular metal tart tin on a stone surface.
      Lobster Quiche
    • A hand about to place the lid on a jar of microwave lemon curd.
      Microwave Lemon Curd
    • A wire cooling rack topped with glazed raspberry scones and a small pink bowl of lemon glaze.
      Raspberry Scones

    Featured In


    Popular Recipes

    • A serving of Nova Scotia blueberry grunt topped with whipped cream in a white speckled bowl on a stone surface.
      Nova Scotia Blueberry Grunt
    • A bowl of Nova Scotia seafood chowder topped with a pan seared scallop.
      Nova Scotia Seafood Chowder
    • Close up overhead imahe of whipped cream cheese frosting.
      Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
    • Bowls of homemade molasses baked beans and plates of cheese tea biscuits on the side.
      Homemade Baked Beans With Molasses
    • A whole sliced buttermilk quiche with two slices removed.
      Buttermilk Quiche
    • A jar of rhubarb curd with a wooden spoon inside.
      Rhubarb Curd
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Footer

    ↑ back to top
    About Me
    Contact
    Accessibility Statement
    Privacy Policy
    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
    Copyright © 2023
    Kelly Neil