Description
This easy bacon-wrapped shrimp appetizer combines succulent shrimp wrapped in crispy bacon, glazed with a sweet and smoky chipotle brown sugar butter sauce. It’s a perfect crowd-pleaser for parties or casual gatherings, offering a delightful mix of smoky, spicy, and sweet flavors that cook quickly in the oven.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Bacon
- 1 lb shrimp (about 20 cleaned, peeled, and deveined)
- 7 thick pieces of bacon (cut into thirds)
Glaze
- 4 tablespoons salted butter (melted)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon chipotle powder (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the Oven and Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil to catch any drips and preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it reaches the right temperature for baking the shrimp and bacon.
- Wrap the Shrimp with Bacon: Take each peeled and deveined shrimp and wrap it tightly with one-third of a slice of thick bacon. Secure each wrapped shrimp with a toothpick to hold the bacon in place during cooking. Arrange the wrapped shrimp evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
- Make the Glaze: In a small bowl, combine the melted salted butter, brown sugar, and chipotle powder. Stir well until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is smooth, creating a sweet and smoky glaze.
- Brush the Shrimp: Using a brush, generously coat each bacon-wrapped shrimp with about two-thirds of the butter mixture, making sure to cover all sides for maximum flavor. Reserve the remaining glaze for later.
- Bake the Shrimp: Place the shrimp in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, allowing the bacon to render its fat and start to crisp up while the shrimp cook through.
- Switch to Broil: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and change the oven setting to broil. Stir the reserved butter mixture to recombine any separated ingredients.
- Final Glaze and Broil: Brush the shrimp with the remaining glaze mixture once more, then place the baking sheet under the broiler for 1-2 minutes. Watch carefully and broil until the glaze bubbles and the bacon reaches a crispy and caramelized finish.
- Serve and Enjoy: Carefully remove the toothpicks before serving (optional), arrange the shrimp on a platter, and enjoy this delicious, smoky, sweet, and spicy appetizer fresh and warm.
Notes
- Use thick-cut bacon for a better balance of bacon to shrimp ratio and crispiness.
- Adjust chipotle powder to your preferred spice level or substitute with smoked paprika for a milder version.
- Ensure shrimp are fully thawed and patted dry to help the bacon stick better and cook evenly.
- To speed up cooking, you can precook the bacon slightly before wrapping the shrimp; however, wrapping raw bacon as in this recipe gives better flavor and texture.
- Serve with toothpicks for easy handling at parties.
