Drunken Keto Bacon Wrapped Shrimp with Guacamole
Juicy shrimp, crispy bacon, creamy avocado…are you hungry yet? What if we add in a bit of spice, a squeeze of fresh lime juice, and a zip of tequila? These keto bacon wrapped shrimp are marinated, wrapped in bacon, and served up with spiked guacamole and an easy cream sauce. It makes for a great keto appetizer or party dish that will be a hit with non-keto guests as well. Alternatively, help yourself to an extra portion and enjoy them as a main dish.
Either way, bigger is definitely better for keto bacon wrapped shrimp. If your shrimp are too small, they will be overcooked before the bacon is done. Keep in mind that shrimp shrink when cooked, too. Extra jumbo or colossal shrimp look better on the plate and are easier to eat. They are also better at soaking up the delicious flavors of the tequila lime marinade! Soak the shrimp for 20 minutes at a minimum, which will give you enough time to prep the guac and sauce. If you have the time though, marinating for an hour or more will kick the flavor up even more.
Another key step to ensuring these keto bacon wrapped shrimp are perfectly cooked is parcooking the bacon. A quick trip in the microwave, air fryer, or oven will render some of the fat. This helps ensure that the bacon crisps before the shrimp is overcooked. Wrap the marinated shrimp with the prepped bacon, and then cook in the air fryer or oven for perfect results. My oven-style air fryer is great for this, but you can get the same results with a wire rack and foil-lined baking sheet.
Finally, the spiked guacamole is key to making these keto bacon wrapped shrimp shine. Take the basic guacamole ingredients of avocado and lime juice, then add some spice and a splash of tequila for the perfect pairing. Sautéing diced onion with butter and garlic instead of adding it in raw adds tons of depth and flavor. For a bit of extra richness, make an easy cream sauce with the remaining marinade at the end. It only takes a minute or two, and is definitely worth the effort.
Looking for more keto recipes with bacon? You might also like:
- Keto Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer Keto Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
- Keto Garlic Parmesan Shrimp and Bacon
- Spiced Keto Pumpkin Soup with Bacon
Keto Drunken Bacon Wrapped Shrimp w/ Guacamole
Equipment
- Cutting board
Ingredients
- 16 jumbo or larger shrimp tail-on, peeled and deveined
- 8 slices bacon
Keto Drunken Shrimp Marinade
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tbsp tequila
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp fresh cilantro chopped
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Keto Spiked Guacamole
- 2 large avocados ripe
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp tequila
- 1/2 tsp EACH: salt, ground cumin, paprika
- 1/4 tsp EACH: cayenne pepper, black pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro chopped
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp red onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1.5 oz tomato diced
Cream Sauce (optional)
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
Instructions
- If using oven/broiler: Line a baking sheet with foil, and top with a wire rack.
Marinade the Shrimp
- Whisk together all marinade ingredients (olive oil, lime juice, tequila, garlic, cilantro, and spices).
- Toss shrimp with marinade to coat. Allow to marinate for at least 20 minutes while you prep the rest of the dish.
Prep the Spiked Guacamole
- Melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and saute until softened, 1-2 minutes. Add garlic and cook for an addition 30-45 seconds, or until fragrant. Remove from heat.
- In a bowl or other dish, mash avocados with lime juice, tequila, spices, and cilantro. Fold in the tomato and sautéed onion/garlic. Set aside.
Prep the Bacon + Wrap Shrimp
- Cut bacon slices in halve crosswise, to make 16 half-length pieces.
- To make sure the bacon gets fully crispy, I recommend partially precooking it in one of the following ways:
- Microwave: Line a large, microwave safe plate with paper towels. Arrange bacon on the lined plate and microwave for 1.5-2 minutes
- Air Fryer: Air fry bacon at 400F for 3-4 minutes.
- Oven: Arrange bacon on prepared baking sheet with wire rack and bake in a preheated 400F oven for 5-7 minutes.
- Whichever method you use, you're mainly looking to render some of the fat. The bacon pieces might shrink slightly, but should still be pliable.
- Once bacon is cool enough to handle, wrap each shrimp with a piece of bacon. Brush wrapped shrimp with marinade.
Air Fryer Method
- Arrange shrimp in air fryer, and cook at 400F for 5-6 minutes.
- Flip shrimp and brush again with marinade. Reserve remaining marinade for the sauce.
- Air fry for an additional 5-7 minutes or until bacon is crisp and shrimp are translucent and cooked through.
Broiler Method
- Arrange shrimp on prepared baking sheet with wire rack. Place pan on top rack and broil for 5-6 minutes.
- Flip shrimp and brush again with marinade. Reserve remaining marinade for the sauce.
- Broil for an additional 5-6 minutes or until bacon is crisp and shrimp are cooked through.
Cream Sauce
- Using the same pan you cooked the onion in, melt butter over medium heat. Add remaining marinade (about 2-3 tablespoons) to the pan, and cook for about 1 minute or until slightly reduced.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in cream, and simmer until slightly thickened.
Serve and Enjoy
- Add guacamole to a serving platter, or divide between individual dishes. Top with bacon wrapped shrimp, and drizzle with cream sauce. Serve immediately.
Notes
- When it comes to these bacon wrapped shrimp, bigger is generally better! I use colossal shrimp (13-15 per pound) when I can find them, and wouldn't recommend using anything smaller than jumbo (16-20 per pound).
- If you don't want to leave the boiler on for too long, you can bake these keto bacon wrapped shrimp in a preheated 400F oven (flipping and brushing with marinade halfway through) and then finish with a shorter 2-3 minutes under the broiler.
- Want to skip the booze? Simply replace the tequila in the drunken shrimp marinade with additional lime juice, and leave it out of the guacamole.
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