Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp

Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp are the best 15 minute snack or appetizer for parties, game day, or the holidays. Sweet, juicy shrimp wrapped in crispy, salty bacon can never go wrong!

Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp

Plump, buttered shrimp and crispy, savory bacon – two of our favorite flavors wrapped into one grabbable, snackable dish! These two star players are so flavorful we can keep it simple with our other ingredients, and making the bacon wrapped shrimp in the air fryer makes the whole process a breeze.

If you can wrap it in bacon, we probably love it. Get a taste of our bacon wrapped chicken tenders and cheddar cheese and bacon wrapped jalapenos too! Or if you’re just here for the shrimp, then check out our sweet and spicy bang bang shrimp recipe. 

Why you will love this recipe

• It’s a classic! Everyone will be happy to see a plate of these on the table. 
• Thanks to the air fryer, there’s very little clean up involved. 
• This recipe translates to delicious bacon-wrapped vegetables of all kinds!
• It’s always seasonal – you can find these ingredients any time of the year!

How to Make Perfect Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp

Prepare the garlic butter: Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl and stir in the minced garlic, parsley, and salt.

Wrap the shrimp: Slice the bacon in half and wrap around each of the shrimps, securing it in place by inserting a toothpick where the bacon ends overlap. 

Preheat the fryer: Preheat the fryer to 350F. 

Note: If using foil or parchment paper, do not lay it in the basket while preheating – it’ll be blown loose and could potentially be a fire hazard.

Season: Brush the prepared garlic butter on the shrimps and place just ½ of the batch in the preheated fryer. 

Fry: Cook each batch for 6 minutes, cooking them for another two minutes if necessary or for crispier texture.

Pro Tips for Making Bacon Wrapped Shrimp in the Air Fryer

Try other seasonings. Old Bay, chili powder, paprika, and even a slathering of BBQ sauce – however you like to eat shrimp, you can modify your air fryer bacon wrapped shrimp to fit your tastes. 

Serve with a variety of sauces. Our top sauces for air fryer bacon wrapped shrimp are tartar sauce, ranch dressing, cilantro mayonnaise, and cocktail sauce. 

Try this recipe with vegetables! Asparagus, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and squash crisp up deliciously, taste great with garlic butter, and taste even better wrapped in bacon. 

Key Ingredients and Substitutions for Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp

Shrimp: Get large, meaty ones! It’s easiest to secure bacon to substantial shrimp. Go for large or jumbo sized, or get prawns – they’re very similar, but larger and sweeter. And you can use frozen ones, too! Just make sure they’ve been shelled and deveined and allow for a little more time in the fryer. 

Bacon: We seem to have the best luck with 4 oz slices that are thin cut – thick slices unwrap themselves as they cook. We haven’t tried this bacon wrapped shrimp air fryer recipe with alternatives like turkey bacon or a meat substitute. They tend not to crisp up the same way. However, feel free to try it! 

Frequently asked Questions about How to Cook Shrimp in an Air Fryer

Can you put raw bacon in an air fryer?

Yes! In fact, that’s what this bacon wrapped shrimp air fryer recipe calls for. It’s much easier to mold uncooked slices around shrimp than the pre-cooked microwavable kind.

What is the best way to reheat bacon wrapped shrimp in the air fryer?

It’s just as easy as cooking them to begin with – and even faster! Preheat the air fryer to the same temperature and cook for just 2 minutes until warm. You can also reheat any leftovers in the microwave for 30 seconds or so.

Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer? 

You can, yes. But it does sort of limit the air fryer from circulating the air the way that it’s supposed to, so the bacon won’t get as crispy as it would if there was no aluminum foil lining the basket. 

For a workaround, line a portion of the bottom of the basket with foil so that air can still make its way up and around the food.