Amazing bacon wrapped shrimp: 210 calories

When you’re hosting, whether it’s a huge holiday gathering or just a few friends over for the game, you need an appetizer that feels special without stealing your entire evening. I get it! Life is busy—that’s the whole reason Misty Plate exists. We focus on those meals that connect us without demanding five hours of prep time. That’s why I’m obsessed with this bacon wrapped shrimp recipe. We’re talking crispy bacon hugging the juiciest shrimp you’ve ever had, all swimming in a quick brown sugar glaze. This Easy Oven-Baked bacon wrapped shrimp with Brown Sugar Glaze is honestly magic. It’s a total crowd-pleaser, and trust me, Ava Sinclair tests her recipes to make sure they are genuinely simple and reliable for your home kitchen. You’ll never buy frozen ones again! If you’re looking for more easy ideas just like this one, check out my thoughts on simple appetizers and snacks.

Why This Easy bacon wrapped shrimp Recipe Works Every Time

When a recipe is destined to be a winner, it’s usually because the technique is solid, not complicated. This recipe rises above the rest, which is why it ends up being one of my favorite weeknight dinner ideas that instantly becomes Crowd Pleasing Appetizers.

• The Dryness Test: We pat the shrimp bone dry first. Seriously, this one small step is the secret weapon for achieving that perfect **crispy bacon** crust instead of soggy bacon.
• The Glaze Timing: We apply the glaze in two rounds. This lets the bacon crisp up on the first pass before we add the sugar, which can burn easily if applied too early.
• Built-in Juiciness: Because the shrimp cooks so fast inside that bacon blanket, you are guaranteed Juicy Shrimp Appetizers every single time. They just melt in your mouth!

Gathering Ingredients for Perfect bacon wrapped shrimp

Okay, Ava here, and when I say simple, I truly mean it. You don’t need fancy gourmet items for spectacular bacon wrapped shrimp. We’re keeping the ingredient list short and sweet so you can get these wrapped and into the oven ASAP. You’ll need a full pound of large shrimp, which must be peeled and deveined—no exceptions there!

The real key, the one thing I always tell everyone when they ask how to get that perfect snap, is to use thin-cut bacon. If you use thick-cut, the shrimp will be overcooked by the time the bacon renders properly. We’re halving that thin bacon crosswise to get the perfect wrap length. Then, we mix up that simple, savory-sweet glaze!

• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 pound thin-cut bacon, halved crosswise
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• Toothpicks, soaked in water

Step-by-Step Instructions for Baked bacon wrapped shrimp

Alright, let’s get this party started! Remember, every good show needs clear staging, and that starts with getting our oven ready. We aren’t just throwing this on a pan; we need air circulation for true crispiness! If you’ve got 15 minutes, you have time for these incredible shrimp appetizers. These instructions are designed to give you restaurant-quality results without the restaurant fuss. If you’ve mastered my crispy baked chicken wings, you basically know the secret to perfect bacon rendering already!

Preparing the Shrimp and Glaze Mixture

First things first, preheat your oven way up high to 400°F (200°C). Next, line a baking sheet—this is important for easy cleanup—and then place a wire rack directly on top of that foil. That rack is what lets the heat circulate and cook the underside of the bacon. While that’s heating, make sure you pat your shrimp completely dry with paper towels; that dryness is non-negotiable for crispiness!

Grab a little bowl and mix up your glaze components: brown sugar, garlic, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Don’t forget to put those toothpicks you’ll need to secure the bacon into a glass of water while you work so they don’t catch fire in the heat!

Wrapping and Initial Bake of bacon wrapped shrimp

Time to wrap! Take one piece of shrimp and wrap that halved strip of thin bacon around it tightly. I use one toothpick inserted firmly through the shrimp and bacon to keep it secure—it’s easy once you get the hang of it. Line them up snugly on that wire rack.

Now, take half of your amazing brown sugar glaze mixture and brush it generously over the tops of the wrapped shrimp. Pop the whole sheet into the preheated 400°F oven. We bake them for about 12 minutes during this first round.

Finishing the Glazed Shrimp and Achieving Crispy Bacon Recipes Results

After 12 minutes, pull the tray out. Give everything one last beautiful brush with the remaining glaze. Get it on there! Then, back into the oven they go for just 5 to 8 more minutes. You’re looking for the bacon to look really crisp, and for the shrimp to just turn opaque. Please watch them closely in these last few minutes because that sugar glaze loves to burn if you look away for a second!

Once they look absolutely perfect—golden brown and crispy—pull them out immediately. Let them cool just long enough to carefully pull those soaked toothpicks out before serving as the best of all Crispy Bacon Recipes.

Tips for Success with Your bacon wrapped shrimp

Honestly, I wouldn’t share this bacon wrapped shrimp recipe if it needed a dozen secret tricks, but a few little things make the difference between good and unforgettable! My biggest thing—and this comes straight from my kitchen testing—is the pat-down. You have to pat the shrimp completely, totally dry before you wrap it. If there’s any moisture left on that shrimp, you’re guaranteeing chewy bacon instead of one of the best Crispy Bacon Recipes you’ll ever make. It’s just science!

If you’re in a hurry and looking for super-speedy Game Day Snacks, the air fryer is your best friend for these. Trust me, I’ve tested this a ton for Misty Plate! Set your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) and cook them for about 8 to 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through. They get ridiculously crispy and you skip the oven clean-up. For even more easy ideas perfect for busy evenings, take a look at my easy chicken and green beans skillet recipe.

Variations on the Classic bacon wrapped shrimp

While I absolutely adore this simple brown sugar glaze—it hits that perfect sweet spot without being overwhelming—I know some of you folks like to really crank up the flavor dial! That’s exactly what Ava Sinclair loves about home cooking; you have total control. After all, if you can master the basic technique for great bacon wrapped shrimp, you can throw almost anything at it and it’ll shine.

Since we’re already using a touch of savory smoke from the paprika in the main recipe, making it even more complex is super easy. For a savory kick that’s great for a heartier appetizer, try adding just a teaspoon of high-quality hot sauce right into that glaze mixture before you brush it on. It cuts through the sweetness of the brown sugar beautifully, making that bacon flavor really pop! If you’re looking for sauce ideas to serve on the side, I have a killer recipe for a best homemade BBQ sauce recipe that works great for dipping, too.

Now, let’s talk about stuffing. This is where things get really fun and really decadent. If you want to turn these from a simple bite into a showstopper, you have to try stuffing them! The most popular version I see out there, and it’s popular for a reason, involves stuffing the shrimp before you wrap it. Grab some softened cream cheese—I like to mix in a little finely diced jalapeño for heat and a tiny pinch of garlic powder—and carefully stuff a small amount into the curve of the shrimp before you wrap it in the bacon.

When you bake the stuffed shrimp, you might need to add an extra minute or two to the cooking time, just to ensure that cream cheese melts perfectly and the bacon renders around the filling. Just be sure to watch that glaze, because the extra fat from the cheese can sometimes make the bacon brown faster! It’s an impressive upgrade, turning a standard appetizer into something truly memorable.

Serving Suggestions for these Shrimp Appetizers

These gorgeous bacon wrapped shrimp are definitely the star wherever you put them, but every star needs a great supporting cast! Because they offer that fantastic sweet, salty, and smoky flavor profile, they pair wonderfully with anything zesty or fresh. I always serve them simply with a small bowl of fresh lemon wedges on the side; a little squeeze right before you grab one brightens up the sugar glaze so nicely.

If you’re planning a bigger spread of Shrimp Appetizers for a Party Food Idea, I love balancing the richness of the bacon with something light, like a big bowl of my winter fruit salad. Alternatively, if you want a dipping sauce, a simple dollop of sour cream mixed with a little bit of finely chopped chives works wonders. They are truly the best kind of Quick Bites because they don’t require anything fancy to make them shine!

Storing and Reheating bacon wrapped shrimp

We all know the dilemma: sometimes the best part of making amazing bacon wrapped shrimp is having leftovers the next day! Since these are such quick bites, they rarely last past the party, but if you are lucky enough to have some glorious, glazed morsels left, proper storage is crucial to keep that bacon from turning soft.

First, you absolutely must let them cool completely before trying to store them. If you put warm food into an airtight container, you generate steam, and steam equals sogginess. Not what we want!

Once fully cool, place them in a shallow, airtight container. You can layer them with a paper towel between batches if you’re stacking them, but honestly, the less piling up, the better for keeping that bacon texture intact. These will be good in the fridge for about two to three days max.

Now, about reheating—this is where we protect that crispiness we worked so hard for. Please, for the love of all things crispy, skip the microwave! Zapping them in there makes the bacon rubbery and steams the shrimp until it’s tough. Trust me, I’ve learned that lesson the hard way.

Instead, you have two fantastic options that really bring back that fresh-off-the-oven texture. If you just have a few, the air fryer is fantastic. Pop them in at about 350°F (175°C) for just 3 to 4 minutes. They heat right through, and that little blast of hot air crisps the bacon right back up!

If you have a bigger batch, the regular oven works wonders too. Spread them out on a foil-lined baking sheet (no rack needed this time unless you really want to risk it!) and bake them at 350°F (175°C) for about 8 to 10 minutes. That gentle heat warms the shrimp through nicely while coaxing the bacon back to life. Enjoy those leftovers—they are such a great, quick bite!

Frequently Asked Questions about bacon wrapped shrimp

I always get a ton of questions when I post this recipe because everyone wants that perfect blend of juicy shrimp and shatteringly crisp bacon! It’s simple, but the timing matters, so let’s tackle the things I hear most often. If you’re planning ahead, you’ll want to know how far in advance to tackle the prep work, and how to handle the bacon quality.

Can I prepare the bacon wrapped shrimp ahead of time?

Yes, absolutely! Wrapping them ahead of time is a fantastic way to save stress when friends are coming over. I suggest wrapping the shrimp tightly with the bacon and securing them with the toothpicks, but don’t apply any glaze yet. Keep the wrapped shrimp in a single layer on a plate covered tightly with plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 12 hours. When you’re ready to cook, just bring them out, brush with the glaze, and follow the baking instructions. This helps keep them among the best Appetizer Recipe options for busy nights.

What is the best way to ensure the bacon gets crispy?

This is the most asked question, and it always comes down to two things from my testing! First, you must pat your shrimp completely dry before wrapping. Seriously, you blot away that moisture so the bacon can sear and crisp up instead of steaming. Second, you need that elevation! Make sure you are using a wire rack over your baking sheet. That rack lets hot air hit the entire surface, which is the secret weapon for all Crispy Bacon Recipes. If you need an alternative to baking, the air fryer does an incredible job of crisping them up fast!

If you are curious about stuffed versions, I saw a fantastic recipe for a cheesy version over at That’s Deelicious if you want to try something extra decadent!

For great make-ahead snacks that don’t require any oven time, check out my guide on easy protein balls!

Nutritional Estimate for Glazed Shrimp

I always like to give a little peek at what’s inside these delicious bites, even though, let’s be real, when you’re making bacon wrapped shrimp for a party, no one is grabbing a calculator! But, for those of us who are tracking things, here is a general estimate based on the ingredients we used in this brown sugar glazed version.

Remember, these numbers are made for four servings, meaning it’s about four pieces of shrimp per person based on the yield. Use this as a guide, not gospel, especially since the size of your shrimp or how much bacon renders out can change things a bit!

Nutrient	Amount (Per 4 Shrimp Serving)
Calories	210
Protein	16g
Fat	12g
Carbohydrates	9g
Sugar	8g
Sodium	350mg

A quick note from Ava here—because I want to be totally upfront with you, my friend: these values are just an estimate based on my standard pantry ingredients. If you use thick-cut bacon instead of thin-cut, or if you switch out the brown sugar for maple syrup, things will shift! These figures are a snapshot of the recipe as written here. It’s always best to plug in your exact brand measurements if you need highly accurate numbers for dietary tracking.

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