Bacon Wrapped Shrimp In The Air Fryer is an easy app to make and perfect for bacon lovers. This recipe uses a simple sweet and spicy glaze for the bacon, and using the air fryer ensures your shrimp and bacon bites are perfectly crispy and delicious every time.
Nothing says "delicious appetizer" quite like the savory combination of shrimp and bacon. This recipe for Bacon Wrapped Shrimp made in the air fryer is easy to make, tastes delicious, and is a great appetizer or side dish for any occasion. It's perfect for game day, a fancy soiree, or an outdoor barbecue. (Serve these alongside some bacon jalapeno deviled eggs and my homemade pimento cheese spread for the ultimate throwback appetizer spread!) I even love it as a main dish, served with a salad and some crusty bread!
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Why This Recipe Works
There are lots of reasons to love this recipe. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Easy. Using your air fryer for this delicious shrimp appetizer makes it super easy. I especially love that there's no big mess to clean up afterward - just wash your air fryer basket, and you're done. (You can also make this on the grill, similar to these grilled bacon-wrapped scallops!)
- Delicious. I used a subtle "Millionaire's Bacon" glaze for the bacon, which adds a sweet and spicy zing to the bacon slices. But you could also change this up by doing a garlic-parsley butter marinade for the shrimp, or even just making these plain and adding a dipping sauce (BBQ sauce goes great with these).
- Perfectly crisp. Making this easy bacon app in the air fryer creates a perfect texture every time. The high heat and circulating air produce tender, juicy shrimp wrapped in crispy, delicious bacon strips that taste amazing.
- Healthy(er). Ok, bacon may not be the healthiest food in the world (it's a "sometimes treat" as we like to say at our house). But using your air fryer basket helps the bacon-wrapped shrimp to cook evenly without needing any extra oil, making this a healthier option without sacrificing any flavor.
- Fast. These babies cook in just minutes, making them an easy recipe for when you're short on time.
Key Ingredients
Just a handful of ingredients are needed to make this easy air fryer bacon-wrapped shrimp.
- Large shrimp. Choosing large shrimp not only provides a more satisfying bite but also makes it easier to wrap them in the bacon strips.
- Bacon strips. Opting for center-cut bacon is ideal as it usually contains less fat but maintains the perfect level of smokiness and texture.
- Millionaires bacon sauce mix. A combination of brown sugar, soy sauce, maple syrup, black pepper, and cayenne pepper add a delicious sweet and spicy flavor to the savory bacon.
How To Make BBQ Bacon Wrapped Shrimp In The Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.
- Mix your seasonings. In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, maple syrup, soy sauce, black pepper, and cayenne pepper into a sauce.
- Dip & Wrap. Cut the bacon slices into halves. Dredge each half piece of bacon in the sauce, then wrap it around a shrimp piece and place them seam down onto a large cutting board. Placing the pieces seam down will help to prevent them from unwrapping during the cooking process.
- Transfer. Once all the shrimp has been wrapped, transfer them to the preheated air fryer. Be sure to add them in one single layer in the basket of the air fryer, and don't crowd the basket, to ensure even cooking and crispy bacon/shrimp pieces.
- Cook. Cook for 10 minutes, then flip each piece and continue cooking for another 5-8 minutes until the bacon is crispy and the shrimp are cooked through. Be sure to check on the shrimp about 5 minutes after flipping them to ensure that they aren't burning - smaller shrimp pieces will cook faster.
- Cool and serve. Once cooked, remove the bacon-wrapped shrimp from the air fryer and transfer to a serving plate. Allow to cool slightly before serving.
Variations And Substitutions
- Try a different spice blend. Feel free to substitute the Millionaires bacon seasoning with BBQ, cajun, Old Bay seasoning, chili powder, or a dash of cayenne pepper for a different kick.
- Omit the spice. Bacon-wrapped shrimp are delicious even without the spice. Feel free to omit it all together, or add a different flavor, like a buttery garlic sauce, to the shrimp before wrapping the bacon around each piece.
- Bacon Alternatives: For a lighter version, you might consider using thin-cut bacon or turkey bacon. These alternatives provide a healthier option while still delivering great taste. Just watch your cooking times as these varieties may cook a bit faster than thick-cut bacon.
- Dips! Lots of dips go great with air fryer bacon-wrapped shrimp. Try a BBQ sauce, a garlic aioli, sriracha mayo, ranch dip, or any other favorite dip with these flavorful shrimp and bacon apps.
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, frozen shrimp can be used for this recipe. Just ensure they are completely thawed and patted dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture before seasoning and wrapping with bacon.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat in the air fryer to maintain the crispiness of the bacon.
Yes, you can prepare the bacon-wrapped shrimp and store them in the refrigerator up to a day in advance. Air fry them just before serving to ensure the best texture and flavor.
Yes! If you don't have an air fryer, an oven will work just as well. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and cook the bacon-wrapped shrimp on a baking sheet for about 10 minutes.
Expert Tips
- Perfecting crispy bacon. If you find your bacon isn't getting as crispy as you'd like, consider using thinner-cut bacon or extending the cooking time slightly. Keep an eye on them to ensure they don't overcook.
- Ensure even cooking. Avoid overlapping the shrimp in the air fryer basket. A single layer will ensure that the heat circulates evenly around each bacon-wrapped shrimp.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve these delicious shrimp appetizers with your favorite dipping sauce, such as barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, creamy sriracha, or a simple squeeze of lemon juice. I also love serving them as a light main course alongside a big Caesar salad and some crusty bread.
If you try these easy Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp, let me know what you think in the comments below. And, don't forget to tag me @frontrangefed on Instagram with a pic so I can see your masterpiece!
More Easy Appetizers
- Goat Cheese Crostinis
- English Tea Sandwiches
- Creamy Jalapeno Cord Dip With Cream Cheese (No-Bake)
- Crispy Tempura Shrimp
- 2-Ingredient Cottage Cheese Ranch Dip
- Fancy Frozen French Fries In The Air Fryer
- Easy Firecracker Meatballs
- Crispy, Cheesy Fried Mashed Potato Balls Recipe
Recipe
Quick And Easy Bacon Wrapped Shrimp In The Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 16 large shrimp peeled (tails removed if desired)
- 8 slices bacon halved
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Add the brown sugar, maple syrup, soy sauce, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to a small bowl and mix well.
- Dredge each half slice of bacon in the sugar/spice mixture.
- Carefully wrap half a piece of the spiced bacon around each piece of shrimp and place them seam down inside the air fryer basket.
- Air fry the bacon-wrapped shrimp for 10 minutes, flip, then continue air frying for 5 minutes more.
- Carefully remove the shrimp from the air fryer with tongs and serve on a platter.
Notes
- The sugar-spice mixture lends a sweet and spicy, 'millionaires bacon' feel to these bacon-wrapped shrimp, but it's completely optional. If you'd prefer to cook these without the spice mixture, simply wrap the shrimp with the bacon pieces, then air fry as directed.
- Depending on the size of the shrimp, and the thickness of your bacon, cooking times may vary slightly. If using smaller shrimp, or a thinner cut of bacon, check them a couple of times during the cooking process to ensure they don't burn.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer for about 5 minutes at 380 (watch them closely to ensure they don't burn when reheating.)
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Farrah says
The shrimp were juicy and the bacon was perfectly crisp just the way I wanted. I dipped them in ranch dressing and it was so delicious. Definitely adding this to my favorites!
Sarah Jenkins says
Thanks Farrah!