Crispy Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp Recipe

Made with just three ingredients and ready in under 15 minutes, this air fryer bacon-wrapped shrimp is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser—perfect as a party appetizer or snack.

“…this hotel always serves bacon-wrapped shrimp. That’s my number-one favorite food wrapped around my number-three favorite food.”

-Ron Swanson, Parks and Recreation

Bacon-wrapped shrimp is one of those simple combos that always delights. The salty, smoky bacon and sweet, tender shrimp are a match made in heaven, and the air fryer makes the dish fast, easy, and reliably crisp.

Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp

The air fryer gives bacon-wrapped shrimp a great balance of crisp bacon and juicy shrimp without needing a lot of time or supervision. Use a basket-style or tray-style air fryer and adjust quantities to fit your appliance. If your model has multi-level racks, you can cook more at once as long as air can circulate around each piece.

Kitchen tools and equipment

Basic tools you’ll need:

• Cutting board and sharp knife – for slicing bacon and prepping shrimp. Use a board dedicated to raw meat if possible to avoid cross-contamination.
• Mixing bowl – for tossing the shrimp with seasoning.
• Air fryer – basket or tray style both work. You may need to cook in batches depending on size.
• Foil or parchment paper – to rest wrapped shrimp while you finish assembling the batch.

3-ingredient recipe

• Thinly sliced bacon – thin bacon clings and crisps better than thick-cut for wrapping shrimp.
• Shrimp – large shrimp work best. Use thawed frozen cooked shrimp or thawed raw shrimp; add 1–2 minutes to cooking time for raw.
• Seasoning salt – Johnny’s Seasoning Salt is used here, but Old Bay or your preferred seafood seasoning also works.

Optional: a non-aerosol avocado or coconut oil spray to lightly coat the fryer basket or rack so shrimp don’t stick.

How to make bacon-wrapped shrimp in the air fryer

1. Ensure shrimp is fully thawed, peeled, and patted dry. Tails can be left on for presentation.

2. Toss shrimp with your seasoning of choice until evenly coated.

3. Cut bacon slices in half crosswise. Wrap one half around the meaty part of each shrimp, overlapping slightly so it stays secure. Place wrapped shrimp on foil or parchment while you finish the rest.

4. Lightly spray the air fryer basket or rack with a non-aerosol oil spray. Arrange shrimp in a single layer without overcrowding; work in batches if needed.

5. Air fry at 390°F (200°C) for 4 minutes. Open the fryer, flip each shrimp, and continue cooking 5–6 more minutes until bacon is crisp and shrimp are pink and cooked through. If using raw thawed shrimp, add 1–2 minutes to ensure doneness.

6. Serve immediately for best texture.

Recipe FAQs

What to serve with air fryer bacon-wrapped shrimp

Popular dipping options:

• Soy sauce or soy-based dipping sauce
• Mustard (Dijon or honey mustard)
• Sweet chili sauce
• Cocktail sauce

For a party platter, pair with other easy apps like crab rangoon, bacon-wrapped dates, coconut shrimp, soft pretzel bites, or a simple fruit salad.

Best wine pairings for bacon-wrapped shrimp

Shrimp typically pairs with white wine. Because bacon adds a smoky, savory element, choose a medium- to full-bodied white such as an oaked Chardonnay or Viognier to complement both the seafood and the bacon.

More seafood recipes

Try other air fryer shrimp options like bang bang shrimp or coconut shrimp, or explore recipes such as grilled bacon-wrapped scallops, pan-seared salmon with basil pesto, grilled shrimp pineapple skewers, seafood jambalaya, or low country boil foil packets.