Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp Skewers

Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp Skewers

There’s something undeniably mouthwatering about the savory combo of smoky bacon and tender shrimp. When brushed with a spicy apricot barbecue sauce and grilled to perfection, this duo becomes irresistible. But as simple as it sounds, the method matters. The key to perfectly grilled bacon-wrapped shrimp is to partially cook the bacon first—this renders the fat and ensures a crisp finish without overcooking the shrimp. Then, using a two-zone grill setup with indirect heat helps cook everything evenly while avoiding flare-ups. With this technique, you’ll get beautifully charred, juicy shrimp wrapped in crispy, flavorful bacon—every single time.

32 bacon wrapped shrimp (6 servings)
12 bamboo skewers
2 (12-ounce) packages Natural Grocers® Brand Hickory-Smoked Uncured Bacon
1 pound frozen organic shrimp, peeled and deveined with tail-on, thawed (41-50 pieces)
For the Spicy Apricot BBQ Sauce
1⁄4 cup Natural Grocers Brand Organic Apricot Preserves
1 cup barbeque sauce (any brand)
1-2 tablespoons hot sauce (any brand), or to taste
  1. Place the bamboo skewers in a large bowl or deep dish and cover with water. Let soak for 20-30 minutes before using them.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Cover a full baking sheet (18 x 26-inches) or two half baking sheets (13 x 18-inches) with parchment paper. Lay the bacon strips side-by-side on the parchment paper and bake to render the fat, until partially cooked (bacon should be opaque in color and pink along the edges), approximately 15 minutes. Once partially cooked, remove from the oven, lift the slices with tongs or a fork allowing the fat to drain off. Stack the slices on a cutting board and cut the bacon in half.
  3. While the bacon is in the oven, add the BBQ sauce ingredients to a small saucepan over low heat. Whisk to combine and warm through. Remove from the heat once warmed.
  4. After the bacon has been in the oven for approximately 12-15 minutes, preheat your grill for two-zone indirect cooking at medium-high temperature (around 400-450° F).
  5. Add the thawed shrimp to a strainer to drain any juices. Using your hands, straighten the shrimp as much as you can and wrap each piece tightly in a slice of bacon and slide it on the skewer, securing the bacon around the shrimp using the skewer (make sure the bacon is held tightly in place). Slide approximately four bacon-wrapped shrimp on each skewer, leaving a little space between each to allow for even cooking. Add all bacon-wrapped shrimp to the skewers and set aside until ready to grill. When you run out of bacon slices, either slide the remaining shrimp on the remaining skewers or refrigerate the remaining shrimp for another use.
  6. When the grill is hot, place the bacon-wrapped shrimp skewers on the direct heat area of the grill, close the lid and cook for 3-4 minutes per side. If you have flare ups, move the skewers to indirect heat. When you flip the shrimp the second time (after 8 minutes of cooking), move to indirect heat and carefully baste with the sauce. Add the shrimp-only skewers and cook all skewers on the grill with the lid closed for 4 minutes (adjust temperature if needed and keep a close eye on it). Turn all skewers again, baste all skewers, and cook for a final 2-4 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and brown and the shrimp pink. Note: Because grills vary, you may need to move your skewers around to ensure even cooking. Pull skewers off the grill when they look done. Serve immediately with additional sauce or hot sauce if desired.

recipe divided into 6 servings (includes shrimp only skewers too). Note: macronutrients may vary depending on the type of barbeque sauce used.

CaloriesCarbsProteinFatFiber
304 kcal30 g25 g9 g0 g

Recommended Beverage: Non-Alcoholic Beer

Recommended Style: Golden

Recommended Brand: Athletic Upside Dawn