If you ask me, bacon-wrapped shrimp is a hard dish to beat. Shrimp wrapped in bacon makes a delicious protein-packed side, snack, or surprisingly filling mini-meal and it’s an excellent keto appetizer to bring along to a gathering. Even the carbivores will love it, pinky promise! Today, I’m sharing my delicious herb-stuffed shrimp wrapped in bacon recipe! You’re welcome, world. ?
How to Cook Shrimp Wrapped in Bacon
Not only is shrimp wrapped in bacon super duper tasty, but it’s also easy to make too! Simply clean the shrimp, wrap it in bacon, and pop them those babies in the oven. Voila!
The toughest part of the dish is getting the shrimp wrapped in bacon to cook evenly. You certainly don’t want to wind up with overcooked shrimp and raw bacon. Been there. Done that! Luckily, I’ve learned from my mistakes and have a few tricks up my sleeve to prevent this from happening:
- Select thin strips of bacon instead of thicker cuts
- Cut bacon into thin, lengthwise strips for wrapping instead of bulky pieces
- Partially cook thick cuts of bacon before wrapping if needed
- Par-cooked bacon is required for a crispy bacon texture if preferred
Because I stuff the shrimp with a fresh herb mixture before wrapping, I do butterfly the shrimp as I clean them. Stuffing the shrimp is entirely optional, but it’s SO worth the extra effort! Garlic, basil, turmeric, and sea salt are my go-to for a pesto-like stuffing. However, the options are limitless--cream cheese, mascarpone, chopped nuts, salsas, and pastes are all great candidates! The filling goes right in the butterfly cut of the shrimp, then bacon twists tightly around it all to close it together.
Bake the shrimp wrapped in bacon at 400 degrees Fahrenheit on a baking sheet lined with foil, on a baking rack, or a silicone baking mat. The shrimp and bacon will be adequately cooked within approximately 12 to 15 minutes at this temperature. Keep an eye on the bacon-wrapped shrimp to check for doneness--the shrimp will become opaque, and the bacon will be fully cooked.
Keto Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
If you’ve been browsing keto recipes for any length of time, you may be pleasantly surprised to find a plethora of bacon-themed dishes popping up! But you also might be wondering if the bacon-diet combo really does go hand in hand.
Low in carbs with a delicious balance of fat, protein, and salt, bacon holds a special place in the hearts of many keto dieters. In 100 grams of bacon, carbs are negligible (0.35g), fat clocks in at 37.13g, and protein is 13.66g. It also contains approximately 751mg of sodium, which is excellent for those experiencing electrolyte imbalance--aka keto flu.
If your macronutrient targets and body composition goals allow it, bacon can certainly fit into your diet! Shrimp is also low in the carb department, making shrimp wrapped in bacon perfectly compatible with a ketogenic diet. One serving of this recipe (~6 bacon-wrapped shrimp), contains approximately 200 calories, 12.1g fat, 19.7g protein, and only 2g net carbs! Diet-friendly, indeed!
How Do You Store Shrimp Wrapped in Bacon?
The keto bacon wrapped shrimp will need to be stored in the fridge until ready to serve. If stored correctly in air-tight containers--zipper-locked bag, lidded Tupperware, etc.--the meal should be good for up to 2-3 days. Great news if you have leftovers or decide to make the appetizer ahead for a gathering.
If you are transporting the shrimp wrapped in bacon to a get-together, you’ll want to keep the food in a lidded Tupperware dish or on a serving platter covered with plastic cling-wrap. Once you arrive, pop the dish back in the fridge. Unfortunately, the shrimp doesn’t fare well for long periods at room temperature, try not to keep the appetizer out at room temp for over 3 hours.
Tools to Make Keto Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
Paring knife: a good paring knife is a cook’s best friend when deveining shrimp. It’s best to buy shrimp that has yet to be deveined when butterflying shrimp. This is the one I have… and LOVE!
Silicone baking mat: skip the foil, oils, and non-stick spray with an easy to clean silicone mat. The mat protects your baking sheets from discoloration and scuffs as well!
Mortar and pestle: this old school tool is a great way to make pastes and sauces by hand. It’s fantastic for making the stuffing for your bacon wrapped shrimp, and when you’re done you can whip up a mean homemade guacamole!
Wire baking rack: for the crispy bacon lovers! A wire rack elevates the shrimp wrapped in bacon, getting the food out of the grease and allowing the bacon to crisp on all sides. It’s also an ideal tool for those trying to keep the recipe on the leaner side!
More Keto Appetizer Recipes:
Trying to figure out what to serve with bacon wrapped shrimp? If you’re on the hunt for keto appetizers or sides to bring to a gathering, check out some of our other keto recipes!
Ingredients
- 1 lb shrimp large, butterflied, shell removed (1 pound = ~24 large shrimp)
- 2 Tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- 1 Tbsp garlic minced
- ¼ cup basil fresh
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp turmeric
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- 6 strips bacon thinly cut, or prosciutto
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil for easy clean up.
- Place shrimp, olive oil, and garlic in a resealable bag and marinate for 5 minutes while preparing remaining ingredients.
- Using a mortar and pestle or small food processor, combine basil, smoked paprika, turmeric, and sea salt until well blended.
- Remove shrimp from bag and divide basil paste between each shrimp, stuffing the mixture in the butterfly cut in the back of the shrimp. Fold shrimp back together.
- Using a sharp knife, cut the bacon strips lengthwise. Cut each thin, lengthwise strip in half.
- Carefully wrap the stuffed shrimp in the bacon strips. Place on a sheet pan and bake for 15 minutes, or until shrimp is opaque and bacon crisp.
Notes
Nutrition
Hi, I'm Tasha–nutritionist, recipe developer, and multi-published cookbook author.
I have to say I wasn't sure about this recipe but to be honest it's delicious ! I think I will definitely do it every week 😀 Thanks for the recipe.
You’re welcome! Glad the recipe was a hit!
We love bacon wrapped everything in this house! Will have to try this
Wrapping things in bacon seems to make everything better! 🙂
Made this for a get together and was it ever a hit! No one had any idea it was Keto but they went faster than the jalapeno poppers (which normally disappear first). Definitely a keeper recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Audri! I'm so glad everyone enjoyed the recipe! They disappeared quickly the last time we made them too. My niece kept sneaking bites when no one was looking. Happy to know it was a crowd pleaser for you too!