Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp is so easy to make and perfect for a weeknight dinner. Pair it with sides of brown rice and steamed broccoli for a complete and delicious meal.
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This bacon-wrapped shrimp recipe is definitely one to save and make over and over again. It’s hard to believe how good shrimp wrapped in bacon and glazed with butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup taste together! You can eat them as an appetizer or for dinner with a few simple side dishes. Everyone in the family will love this dish!.
On game day, you can also make candy-coated crispy bacon wrapped around shrimp and cooked in an air fryer. Its easy and theres barely any mess to clean up. Thats definitely a keeper! Cooking appetizers doesnt need to be difficult or take up the whole day. You dont want to be stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is enjoying the party. You should make these shrimp bites that you can pop for the next Thanksgiving, Kwanza, or New Year’s Eve party.
Bacon wrapped shrimp is a crowd-pleasing appetizer or main dish that combines the sweetness of shrimp with the savory and smoky flavors of bacon. But what are the best side dishes and drinks to serve with these tasty morsels? We’ll give you over 30 delicious ideas to complete your bacon wrapped shrimp meal.
Appetizers and Small Plates
Bacon wrapped shrimp makes a great party food or appetizer Pair it with any of these snacks for a starter course that will wow your guests
Jalapeño Poppers
The spicy cream cheese filling and crunchy exterior of jalapeño poppers pairs wonderfully with the salty bacon wrapped shrimp. The flavors complement each other perfectly. Make a batch of poppers along with the shrimp and your appetizer spread will be ready to go.
Deviled Eggs
Creamy, tangy deviled eggs are easy to make ahead of time and store in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. They’re a classic accompaniment to appetizers, adding a cooling element that balances the shrimp’s richness.
Bruschetta
Crispy toasted bread topped with a fresh tomato-basil mixture, bruschetta is an ideal starter before your main course of bacon wrapped shrimp The acidity of the tomatoes cuts through the shrimp’s fattiness
Quesadillas
Bacon makes almost everything better, so why not add it to quesadillas? Make bacon quesadillas with bacon, cheddar, and green onions for an easy hot appetizer. The smoky bacon flavors pair perfectly with the bacon on the shrimp.
Salads and Slaws
A fresh, crunchy salad balances the richness of bacon wrapped shrimp. These are some of our favorite salad recipes to serve alongside.
Caesar Salad
A classic Caesar salad with crisp romaine lettuce, shaved Parmesan, croutons, and creamy dressing is a no-brainer pairing. The salad cuts through the shrimp’s fattiness while the bacon in the dressing mirrors the wrap.
Wedge Salad
For a fun twist, turn your salad into wedge salads. Simply top lettuce wedges with blue cheese dressing, tomatoes, bacon, and blue cheese crumbles. The bacon flavors marry beautifully.
Coleslaw
Cool, crunchy coleslaw doused in a tangy dressing provides the perfect contrast to hot, rich bacon wrapped shrimp. We especially love pairing shrimp with a vinegar-based slaw.
Watermelon Feta Salad
For a lighter salad option, try this watermelon feta salad. The sweet juicy watermelon, briny feta, and fresh mint balance the shrimp’s smoky saltiness.
Pasta and Grain Dishes
Carbs are a great vehicle for soaking up any delicious bacon drippings and glazes from your shrimp. Here are our top pasta and grain recommendations:
Lemon Orzo
Buttery lemon orzo brightened with fresh lemon and herbs makes a simple yet delicious base for bacon wrapped shrimp. The lemon cuts through the shrimp’s richness.
Cheesy Grits
You can’t go wrong pairing shrimp with creamy, cheesy grits. The grits soak up the shrimp’s juices and glaze to become downright decadent.
Mac and Cheese
Everybody loves mac and cheese, especially when topped with crispy bacon wrapped shrimp! The cheese sauce takes the shrimp to new levels of richness.
Quinoa Pilaf
For a healthier option, make a quinoa pilaf with veggies. The nutty quinoa soaks up the shrimp’s flavors and gives you a protein boost.
Veggie Sides
Balance out the richness of bacon wrapped shrimp with fresh veggie sides. Here are some of our favorites:
Sauteed Green Beans
Buttery sauteed green beans seasoned with garlic, salt, and pepper make an easy veggie pairing. The crisp-tender beans add color to the plate.
Creamed Spinach
Everyone loves good creamed spinach, especially alongside seafood. The creamy spinach cuts through the shrimp’s fattiness.
Roasted Broccoli
For a hands-off option, simply toss broccoli florets with oil, garlic, and seasoning and roast until caramelized. The charred edges pair nicely with the shrimp.
Coleslaw
Don’t forget this tasty cabbage slaw! A tangy vinegar dressing provides a bright, cooling contrast to hot shrimp.
What to Drink with Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
Cool, refreshing beverages help balance the richness of bacon wrapped shrimp. Here are our top drink pairings:
Lemonade
Tart, sweet lemonade is a classic pairing with seafood. The acidity cuts through the shrimp’s fattiness. Strawberry lemonade also pairs wonderfully.
Iced Tea
A cold glass of iced tea – sweet, unsweetened, or flavored – is perfect for washing down bacon wrapped shrimp. The tannins in tea cut through fatty flavors.
Lime Margarita
A margarita with fresh lime juice complements the shrimp’s flavors beautifully, cutting through the saltiness. For an extra shrimp-friendly twist, rim your glass with a seasoned salt blend.
White Wine
Chilled white wines like Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay all pair nicely with shrimp thanks to their bright acidity. Avoid oaky wines, which can overpower the shrimp.
Beer
Opt for light, crisp beers to wash down bacon wrapped shrimp. Some great choices are lagers, pilsners, blonde ales, and Mexican lagers like Corona. Avoid heavy, bitter IPAs.
We hope these recipes have inspired you to create the perfect meal around your bacon wrapped shrimp! Let us know if you have any other tasty pairing suggestions.
What is bacon-wrapped shrimp?
This is an easy-to-make dish that can be baked, fried, or sauteed. In this case, the air fryer cooks shrimp that are wrapped in bacon and held together with toothpicks. After theyre cooked, the shrimp are covered with a butter and sugar glaze and sprinkled with chopped parsley. They are best eaten hot!.
How to make bacon-wrapped shrimp:
These little two-bite appetizers are easy to make. Here are the steps youll need.
Brush the glaze on the shrimp before and after they cook. To do this, start by making the glaze.
Take a third of a piece of bacon and wrap it around one piece of shrimp. Use a toothpick to hold it in place. Brush all the shrimp with the glaze.
Get the air fryer hot. Once you’re done brushing the shrimp with the glaze, the shrimp will be ready to go in the air fryer.
Cook the shrimp: Place the shrimp in the air fryer and cook. Halfway through, turn the shrimp over.
Serve: Take the shrimp out of the air fryer, brush them with the rest of the glaze, and top them with chopped parsley.
** This recipe is great as an appetizer or for a main dish. We know youll love it!
- ▢ 3 Tablespoons butter
- ▢ 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- ▢ 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
- ▢ 16 raw shrimp, 25/30 size
- ▢ 6 bacon slices, sliced into thirds
- ▢ parsley, for serving
- On a stove, brown the butter. Then, add the light brown sugar.
- Prep the shrimp. Cut the bacon into thirds, and then wrap one third of it around a shrimp piece.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees.
- Mix the maple syrup into the brown butter mixture. Split into two bowls. Brush the glaze on both sides of the shrimp wrapped in bacon from one bowl.
- If you want to cook the shrimp for 8 to 10 minutes, flip them over halfway through and add more glaze from the second bowl.
- Sprinkle chopped parsley on top and enjoy!