For bacon-wrapped shrimp, marinated, juicy shrimp are wrapped in smoky, salty bacon and then baked until the outside is crispy and the inside is juicy. You can eat it as a starter with a toothpick or as a main dish with mashed potatoes and vegetables.
We all know that bacon (and cheese, but that’s a different story!) makes everything better! These little treats are a great appetizer for holiday and game day parties, but they’re also great for dinner during the week!
If you want to serve a lot of people quickly and easily without having to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, these are the perfect thing for you. They’re ready in less than 30 minutes. As far as easy bacon wrapped shrimp appetizer recipes go, this one is by far my favorite. Probably because they’re so darn crave-able and addicting!.
There are jumbo shrimp and a simple marinade you will need for this recipe. The shrimp are the star of the show. This bite is already very tasty, but the salty, crispy bacon that wraps around it makes it even better.
Just make sure you have some shrimp and bacon on hand, because you can change the ingredients in the marinade to suit your tastes.
Bacon wrapped shrimp is one of the ultimate appetizers. The combination of succulent shrimp, savory bacon, and a quick bake in the oven is simply irresistible. However, I’ve struggled in the past to determine the right oven temperature to use for baking bacon wrapped shrimp. Too low and the bacon doesn’t get crisp. Too high and the shrimp overcooks.
After testing out a range of different baking temperatures, I’ve dialed in the ideal oven temperature that results in perfectly cooked bacon wrapped shrimp every time. Read on to learn the secrets of how high (or low) you should set your oven when making these tasty morsels. I’ll also share timing, extras tips, and my favorite bake bacon wrapped shrimp recipe
Benefits of Baking vs Frying
Before we get oven settings, first let’s quickly cover why baking bacon wrapped shrimp is superior to frying them. Baking gives you
- Less added fat and calories from not frying
- Even cooking for shrimp and bacon
- Ability to cook large batches easily
- No messy frying splatters
The oven allows the shrimp to gently cook through without overdoing it while the bacon gets evenly crispy all around. Frying can lead to greasy, uneven results.
How High Should the Oven Temperature Be?
When researching recipes for oven baked bacon wrapped shrimp, you’ll find recommended temperatures ranging from 350°F to 500°F. But through trial and error, I’ve determined the ideal temp is:
450°F
This strikes the perfect balance between crisp bacon and tender shrimp Here’s what happens at other temps
- 350°F – Takes too long to crisp the bacon which can overcook the shrimp
- 400°F – Bacon may still be a bit limp and pale
- 500°F+ – Risks overcooking the shrimp before the bacon crisps
So 450°F is the goldilocks temperature for achieving perfect bake bacon wrapped shrimp, though anywhere from 425°F to 475°F can work.
Preheat your oven for at least 10-15 minutes at 450°F before baking to make sure it’s fully up to temperature. The initial blast of heat helps crisp the bacon.
Baking Time for Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
At 450°F, the ideal baking time for bacon wrapped shrimp is:
10 – 15 minutes
This gives medium shrimp sufficient time to cook through without becoming rubbery. Large shrimp may need a minute or two longer.
Smaller shrimp run the risk of overcooking, so start checking them at 8 minutes if using extra small shrimp.
You want the shrimp opaque and firm with the bacon fully crisp on all sides. An instant read thermometer inserted into the shrimp should read 145°F.
Step by Step Baking Directions
Follow these simple step-by-step instructions for perfectly baked bacon wrapped shrimp:
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Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top.
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Wrap raw jumbo shrimp with 1⁄2 slice bacon and secure with toothpick. Make sure bacon fully wraps the shrimp.
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Arrange shrimp on wire rack without overcrowding.
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Bake 10-15 minutes until bacon is browned and crispy.
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Remove from oven and let cool 2 minutes before serving. Be careful of hot bacon grease!
And that’s all it takes for irresistible oven baked bacon wrapped shrimp!
Cooking Tips for Crispy Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
Here are some top cooking tips I’ve picked up for getting the best bake bacon wrapped shrimp:
- Pat shrimp dry before wrapping to help bacon adhere
- Chill assembled shrimp in fridge for 20-30 mins before baking to help bacon set
- Use thin sliced bacon for even cooking and wrapping
- Rotate baking sheet halfway through for even browning
- Brush assembled shrimp with maple syrup or brown sugar for caramelized bacon
- Add sliced jalapeños inside the bacon wrap for spicy shrimp
- Serve with dipping sauces like teriyaki, guacamole, or ranch
Experiment with different additions and flavors, but use my recommended 450°F oven temperature and baking times for crispy, mouthwatering bacon wrapped shrimp every time. Enjoy!
Frequency of Entities:
bacon wrapped shrimp – 18
shrimp – 22
oven – 10
bake – 8
bacon – 12
temperature – 5
450°F – 5
10-15 minutes – 3
crisp – 3
How to Cook Bacon Wrapped Shrimp in the Oven
This recipe doesnt require a long marinating time, in fact, just 20 minutes will do. Itll allow it time to permeate the flavors into the shrimp which is delicious!.
Step 1: Place all of the ingredients for the marinade into a Ziploc bag. Do not include the bacon. Toss in the shrimp, making sure all pieces are submerged into the juices. Allow the shrimp to marinate for 20 minutes.
Step 2: While the shrimp is marinating cook the bacon. Place strips on a foil-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes. The bacon should be cooked, but still pliable to be able to wrap without breaking.
Step 3: Remove the bacon from the oven, and turn the temperature down to 400 degrees. Slice each piece of bacon in half and wrap individual marinated shrimp in a half piece of bacon. Secure with a toothpick. Repeat for all remaining shrimp.
Step 4: Put all of the shrimp wrapped in bacon on a clean baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the shrimp are fully cooked.
Make a Shrimp Shaped Christmas Tree for the Holidays!
For a fun holiday presentation, arrange these cute appetizers in the shape of a Christmas tree, like I did with my Christmas tree cheese platter.
Grab an oval or rectangular-shaped platter and start at the top place down one shrimp. Underneath, place two more side by side. Underneath that, place a row of three, and so on until you’ve got a triangular-shaped arrangement. Cut out a star with your favorite hard cheese and place it at the very top.
As a starter, they’re great on their own or with your favorite creamy dipping sauce. For an extra kick, add lemon wedges. You can serve with or without toothpicks, especially if the tails are still there for easy lifting.
When you sit down to eat, don’t forget to have grilled broccoli, Instant Pot mashed potatoes (which are so easy), and a homemade Caesar salad. So good!.
There is no right or wrong way to serve these babies. You’ll be lucky if you manage to not eat them all straight out of the oven!.
I Can’t Get Enough Of This Appetizer Recipe | Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
How long do you cook bacon wrapped shrimp?
Place the bacon-wrapped shrimp on a baking sheet, leaving a little space between them. Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven and let the shrimp cook for approximately 12-15 minutes or until the bacon turns crispy and the shrimp turns pink. Once cooked, remove the shrimp from the oven and allow them to cool slightly.
What temperature do you cook bacon wrapped shrimp?
And if you like the bacon wrapped situation, try taking it to the next level with our Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast. The first thing you want to do for this Bacon Wrapped Shrimp recipe is to get your oven preheating to 450°F.
Do you need to cook bacon before wrapping shrimp?
No, you do not need to pre-cook the bacon before wrapping the shrimp. The bacon will cook and crisp up nicely in the oven along with the shrimp. How long should I cook bacon-wrapped shrimp in the oven? The cooking time will depend on the size of the shrimp and the temperature of your oven.
How do you cook shrimp with bacon?
Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Pour any excess grease off the baking sheet, then line it with a sheet of parchment paper. Turn the oven to broil.. Wrap each shrimp with a strip of bacon, overlapping a little, starting at the thick end and going toward the tail. Secure the end of the bacon with a toothpick.