Welcome to a culinary journey where convenience meets gourmet! This incredibly easy recipe for Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp transforms simple ingredients into an elegant appetizer or a satisfying main course in mere minutes. Imagine succulent jumbo shrimp, perfectly seasoned and wrapped in crispy bacon, all kissed with a hint of tangy barbecue flavor. This dish isn’t just delicious; it’s a testament to how the air fryer can elevate your home cooking, making fancy seem effortless.
Elevate Your Menu: A Delicious Appetizer or Dinner Option
Are you constantly on the lookout for innovative air fryer recipes or new ways to enjoy shrimp? You’re in luck! This recipe brilliantly combines the best of both worlds. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party and need a show-stopping appetizer, or simply craving a quick yet impressive weeknight meal, these bacon-wrapped shrimp fit the bill perfectly. They’re wonderfully versatile – serve them as a standalone starter, pair them with a fresh salad, or even alongside a hearty dish like our One Pan Shrimp and Broccoli Rice. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the perfect texture achieved in the air fryer: every bite offers a delightful crispness that will leave you wanting more.
Expert Tips for Perfectly Cooked Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
Achieving culinary perfection with your air fryer is easier than you think. Here are some indispensable tips to ensure your bacon-wrapped shrimp turn out flawlessly every time:
- Choosing Your BBQ Sauce: For an irresistible touch of sweetness that complements the savory bacon and shrimp, consider using a honey BBQ sauce like Sweet Baby Ray’s. The balance of sweet and smoky notes truly enhances the overall flavor profile. However, feel free to experiment with your favorite BBQ sauce to customize the taste to your preference.
- Shrimp Size Matters: While jumbo shrimp offer a more substantial bite, this recipe is incredibly adaptable. If you opt for medium-sized shrimp, simply adjust your bacon preparation. Instead of cutting bacon slices in half, cut them into thirds to ensure the bacon-to-shrimp ratio remains ideal and prevents excess bacon from becoming undercooked.
- Spice It Up (or Down!): The original recipe calls for chili powder, which provides a subtle warmth. If you prefer a milder flavor, feel free to omit the chili powder entirely. For those who crave an extra kick, a dash of cayenne pepper can transform this dish. Start with just 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper – it’s potent, and you can always add more next time if you desire greater heat. A little goes a long way!
- Crispness Control: We found that 8 minutes at the recommended temperature yields perfectly crisp bacon and tender shrimp. However, air fryers can vary, and personal preference for crispiness differs. If you like your bacon extra crispy, add an additional 1 to 2 minutes to the cooking time. Keep a close eye on them to prevent overcooking the shrimp, which can lead to a rubbery texture.
- Serving Suggestions: These bacon-wrapped delights are incredibly versatile. Serve them as an elegant appetizer at your next gathering, a delightful side dish to complement a larger meal, or even as the star of your dinner plate. They pair beautifully with light salads, rice dishes, or even a simple squeeze of fresh lemon.
- Explore More Air Fryer Delights: If you’re a fan of quick and easy air fryer meals, you’ll love expanding your repertoire. Be sure to check out our recipe for Air Fryer Chicken Breasts for another simple yet satisfying meal idea.
Essential Ingredients for Your Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
Gathering your ingredients is the first step to creating this delectable dish. Here’s what you’ll need to prepare these flavorful bacon-wrapped shrimp:
- Garlic Salt: For a foundational layer of savory garlic flavor.
- Chili Powder: To introduce a mild, earthy warmth.
- Soy Sauce: Adds umami depth and a salty kick, balancing the sweet BBQ.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Contributes a unique savory, tangy, and slightly sweet complexity.
- BBQ Sauce: The star of the glaze, providing sweetness and tang.
- Cooked Jumbo Shrimp: Ensures quick cooking and perfectly tender results.
- Bacon: The irresistible crispy wrapper that makes this dish so special.
Step-by-Step: Crafting Your Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
Get ready to impress with minimal effort! Follow these straightforward steps to create your own batch of irresistible air fryer bacon-wrapped shrimp:
Step 1: Prepare the Flavorful Marinade
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the garlic salt, chili powder, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and your chosen barbecue sauce. Whisk all the ingredients together thoroughly until they are well combined and form a smooth, uniform sauce. This will be the delicious coating for your shrimp.
Step 2: Coat the Shrimp
Add the jumbo shrimp to the bowl with the prepared sauce. Using a spoon or your hands, gently toss the shrimp, ensuring each piece is fully coated with the flavorful marinade. Allow the shrimp to sit in the sauce for a few moments while you prepare the bacon, letting those flavors meld.
Step 3: Wrap and Skewer
Take each shrimp and carefully wrap it with half a slice of bacon. The bacon should snugly embrace the shrimp. Once wrapped, secure the bacon and shrimp together by threading them onto a toothpick or a metal skewer. This keeps everything intact during the air frying process. After all shrimp are wrapped and skewered, give them one final pour of any remaining sauce in the bowl, ensuring maximum flavor saturation.
Step 4: Preheat Your Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 370°F (188°C) for 4 minutes. Proper preheating is crucial for achieving that desired crispy texture and even cooking, as it allows the air fryer to reach its optimal cooking temperature before the food goes in.
Step 5: Air Fry to Perfection
Carefully arrange the bacon-wrapped shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Avoid overcrowding, as this can lead to uneven cooking and less crisp results. If you have a larger batch, cook in multiple rounds. Optionally, you can pour any remaining marinade over the shrimp in the basket for an extra boost of flavor. Many air fryers have a “shrimp” preset – if yours does, you can select it. Otherwise, set the temperature to 360°F (182°C) and cook for 8 minutes. The bacon should be golden and crisp, and the shrimp cooked through and opaque. Serve immediately with some delightful homemade hush puppies or your favorite accompaniment.
These Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp are more than just a dish; they’re an experience. The juicy shrimp, the savory, crispy bacon, and the sweet and tangy barbecue glaze create a symphony of flavors that is both comforting and exciting. This recipe truly showcases the magic of air frying, delivering restaurant-quality results in your own kitchen.
Craving More Easy Air Fryer & Shrimp Recipes?
If you loved these Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp, you’re in for a treat! Our collection of recipes is full of simple, delicious ideas to make your cooking journey even more enjoyable. Explore these fantastic options:
- Air Fryer Garlic Butter Shrimp: Another quick and flavorful shrimp recipe perfect for your air fryer.
- Air Fryer Meatloaf: A comforting classic made effortlessly in your air fryer.
- Air Fryer Acorn Squash: A healthy and delicious side dish for any meal.
- The Best Shrimp Dip: A crowd-pleasing appetizer that’s always a hit.
- Shrimp Tacos: Fresh and vibrant, perfect for a lively dinner.
- Fried Panko Shrimp: For those who love a perfectly crispy bite.
- Southern Fried Shrimp: A classic with a flavorful twist.
- One Pan Shrimp and Broccoli: An easy weeknight meal that minimizes cleanup.
- Buttery Creole Shrimp: A rich and spicy dish for flavor adventurers.
- Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Chicken: Another delightful bacon-wrapped creation.
- Bacon Wrapped Beer Brats: For a hearty and savory treat.
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
This easy recipe for Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp tastes so fancy but whips up in minutes! Delicious flavors with a touch of barbecue.
Recipe Details
- Prep Time: 12 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 24 minutes
- Servings: 6
- Author: Brandie Skibinski
Ingredients
- 1 pound Jumbo size cooked shrimp
- 10 slices bacon (cut in half)
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine garlic salt, chili powder, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and bbq sauce. Stir well to combine.
- Add shrimp and using a spoon, stir sauce around shrimp, until it has fully coated shrimp.
- Wrap each shrimp with 1/2 slice of bacon and then skewer with a toothpick or metal skewer.
- Once each piece of shrimp is skewered, pour sauce over then one last time to ensure all pieces are covered with sauce.
- Preheat air fryer to 370F degrees for 4 minutes.
- Add wrapped shrimp to the air fryer basket. Optional: pour the remaining sauce over the shrimp.
- Select shrimp on air fryer (if you have that option.) Adjust temperature to 360f degrees and cook for 8 minutes.
Course & Cuisine
- Course: Appetizer, Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
Calories: 257kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 16g | Sodium: 1557mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
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