Grilled Bacon Wrapped Shrimp

🍤 Ingredients

I mean, bacon and shrimp is in the name, but it does take a few other ingredients.

• white sugar
• salt
• Shrimp
• Bacon
• Honey
• Lime juice
• Ground cayenne pepper
• Smoked paprika 

See the recipe card for quantities.

Choosing Shrimp For This Recipe

For this recipe, I am using raw large shrimp that have been deveined and still have the tail on. Specifically, I am using the Kirkland Signature frozen shrimp, so if you are a Costco shopper, you should be able to find the exact shrimp I used.

You might be in a place where you can find great quality seafood and if you are, I would suggest going there. While the grill and bacon may make this recipe a little forgiving on what shrimp you use, the ingredients can impact final flavor.  No matter where you get your shrimp, make sure to appropriately clean them.

I am also a firm believer in using what you have… so if you have some shrimp in your freezer you need to use, use that! There is one exception. This recipe will not work great for precooked shrimp. This does require a bit of time on the grill to ensure that the bacon is cooked and pre-cooked shrimp is precooked. So, you are likely to end up with overdone shrimp if you fully cook the bacon, which you always want to do.

Choosing Bacon For This Recipe

I use Hormel Original Black Label bacon for this recipe. Any good quality, regular-cut bacon should work for our recipe. A few notes if you choose other cuts of bacon.

Thick Cut Bacon

I did not test this recipe with thick cut bacon. I think there is some great potential for this, however, I would have a little concern about the bacon being done. If you use thick cut bacon, make sure it is cooked to safe temperatures.

Cheap Bacon

We did have some cheaper bacon around the house that used to experiment with this recipe. It did not work so well. Because of these lesser quality bacon slices, there just wasn’t that much to skewer through. 

When I use a good quality slice of bacon, it wraps the bacon well and then also makes it easier to use the skewers.

🍲 Instructions

Start by mixing sugar and salt in a container with 4 cups of cool water, then add the shrimp to this brine for 30 minutes. While the shrimp are brining, soak your wooden skewers in water if you’re using them. This will prevent them from burning on the grill.

Next, prepare the marinade by combining honey, lime juice, cayenne pepper, and smoked paprika in a container. Once the shrimp have finished brining, remove them from the water and coat them thoroughly in the honey-lime mixture.

Use ½ of a slice of bacon for each shrimp. It is best you lay the bacon down and place the shrimp with the head side just above one end. The goal is to cradle the shrimp in the bacon so that each end of the bacon strip just overlaps itself at the head.

Then, we can skewer both ends of the bacon, the head, and then through the tail. This provides a secure skewer for cooking and almost all of the bacon will hit the direct heat of the grill.

Preheat your well-oiled grill to 400°F. Place the shrimp on the grill and cook each side for about 4 minutes. Remove the shrimp from the grill once they’re perfectly cooked, and enjoy your delicious Grilled Bacon Wrapped Shrimp!

🤷 Substitutions and variations

For a twist, try using maple syrup instead of honey for a richer sweetness. If you prefer a milder heat, substitute the cayenne pepper with a pinch of black pepper or skip it altogether.

Vegetarian? Swap shrimp with large mushrooms or zucchini slices, wrapping them in bacon or a vegetarian alternative. For a tropical flair, add a slice of pineapple with the shrimp before wrapping in bacon. Mix and match to suit your taste and dietary needs!

📦 Storage

Store any leftover Grilled Bacon Wrapped Shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for up to 3 days. For longer storage, you can freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet before transferring them to a freezer-safe bag. They will keep well for up to 2 months. To reheat, simply warm them in the oven at 350°F until heated through.

🎓 History tidbit

Bacon-wrapped shrimp is a classic appetizer with roots in American cuisine, often enjoyed at barbecues and gatherings. The concept of wrapping foods in bacon dates back to ancient Rome, where meats were wrapped in fat for added flavor and moisture. In modern times, this method became popular in the U.S., especially in Southern cooking, known for its rich and flavorful dishes.

❓ FAQ

🛠 Products used in this recipe

• Genesis Weber
• Meat Thermometer
• Wood Skewers
• Grilling tongs and spatula

😋 Did you make this recipe?

That is awesome, and thank you so much for giving this Grilled Bacon Wrapped Shrimp recipe a try. If you could leave a rating in the comment area below, it would be greatly appreciated. This lets me know how I am doing and also helps others decide if they want to make this recipe. Most of all, thanks for visiting Ramshackle Pantry.