Bacon Pineapple Shrimp Appetizer

4 / 5 ( 1 Review )
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A Delicious Appetizer

The holiday season is the perfect time to impress your guests or bring a crowd-pleasing dish to your next gathering. This sweet and tangy bacon-wrapped pineapple shrimp appetizer is a total showstopper!

Not only will it have everyone raving about the incredible flavor, but you’ll also be getting requests for the recipe—no one will believe the delicious combination of these flavors! The best part? It’s quick and simple to prepare, with these tasty bites ready to serve in under 30 minutes.

Looking for more crowd-friendly options? Be sure to check out my video packed with festive appetizers and game-day snacks!

Ingredients and Supplies to Make Bacon Pineapple Shrimp Appetizer

Ingredients

  • Fresh pineapple
  • Jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • Bacon slices
  • BBQ sauce

Recipe ingredient alternatives and variations

Not everyone loves BBQ sauce, so if you need to you can omit the BBQ sauce. However, I will say it does add great flavor to this dish as well as helps the juice into the dish to prevent the appetizer from drying out. 

If you would prefer, you can also try using another type of sauce with this shrimp appetizer. You could give these a try:

  • Sweet chili
  • Sweet and sour 
  • Polynesian sauce
  • Teriyaki sauce

Supplies

Will the toothpicks burn in the air fryer?

While you should not have an issue with the toothpicks burning in the air fryer (I never have!), you can always be on the safe side and soak the toothpicks in a little bit of water ahead of time and you will be more than in the clear!

How to Make Bacon Pineapple Shrimp Appetizer in the Air Fryer

Step 1: Prepare the Shrimp

You can buy the shrimp deveined fresh or frozen, or you can devein it yourself. Just make sure you know what your shrimp is before you start cooking. 

To devein the shrimp, use a small sharp knife or shrimp deveiner to make a shallow cut along the back of each shrimp, exposing the dark vein. Gently lift the vein out with the tip of the knife and discard it. Be sure to also peel the shrimp if they aren’t already, removing the shell but leaving the tail intact if you’d like a more elegant presentation.

If you have never deveined shrimp before and would like more guidance, the Food Network has a great step-by-step tutorial on how to devein shrimp

Step 2: Chop the Pineapple and Bacon

Next, chop the pineapple into chunks. Peel away the tough outer skin using a sharp knife, then core the pineapple. Once the pineapple is prepped, chop it into bite-sized chunks about ½-inch thick—perfect for pairing with the shrimp.

Remove the bacon from the package, keeping it together in a chunk. Cut through the center of the bacon.

Step 3: Assemble with Toothpicks

Once everything has been cut, place a pineapple chunk on top of a piece of shrimp and wrap half-slices of bacon around the shrimp pineapple combination. 

Pierce a toothpick through the center of the bacon, pineapple, and shrimp to hold everything together.

Repeat this until you have enough of what you want or until you have used all the pieces. 

Step 4: Finish with Sauce

The final step before cooking is to coat the shrimp, pineapple, and bacon in BBQ sauce. Use a basting brush or a spoon to evenly spread the sauce over each piece, ensuring everything is well-coated for maximum flavor. Make sure to cover both sides, so the sweet and tangy BBQ goodness enhances every bite!

Step 5: Air Fry

Place all the pieces in your air fryer basket. Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 10 minutes or until the internal temperature of the shrimp reads 120°F (49°C) and the bacon and pineapple are roasted and cooked to your liking. 

Also, be sure to flip the bacon bundles halfway through the cooking process to make sure it all gets evenly cooked. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my shrimp tough?

Tough shrimp means it is overcooked. If you want to achieve crispy bacon and tender shrimp, partially cook the bacon before wrapping it around the shrimp. Cook the bacon just until it starts to render fat but is still pliable—about halfway done.

This way, the bacon crisps up quickly during the final cooking, while the shrimp cook just enough to stay juicy and tender. Adjust your cooking time accordingly to avoid overcooking!

Do I need to soak the shrimp before cooking?

No, it is not necessary in this recipe. Soaking the shrimp can thaw it if it’s frozen or neutralize the odor if you don’t like the strong seafood smell.

Always avoid over-soaking, as this can alter the texture of the shrimp.

Final Thoughts

This bacon-wrapped pineapple shrimp appetizer is sure to become a go-to favorite for holiday gatherings, game day, or any occasion where you want to wow your guests. With its irresistible combination of smoky, sweet, and tangy flavors, it’s guaranteed to be the star of the table.

Plus, it’s so quick and easy to make, you’ll be savoring compliments instead of stressing in the kitchen. Don’t forget to bookmark this recipe and share it with friends who are bound to ask for it. Enjoy every delicious bite!

More of my Favorite Air Fryer Appetizers:

The air fryer is great for making appetizers, and in less time than it would take you to make them in the oven. So, be sure to give these recipes a try!   

Easy Air Fryer Recipes

 

Air fryer tips and tricks

Bacon Pineapple Shrimp Appetizer

A crowd pleaser and extremely delisicous recipe that everyone asks for, bacon pineapple shrim appetizers. They will be gone before you know it.
4 / 5 ( 1 Review )
Print Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 4
Adjust Servings: 4

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 4 cups Fresh pineapple Half a fresh pineapple
  • 16 pieces Jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined
  • 8 slices Bacon cut in half, crosswise
  • ½ cup Barbecue sauce

Instructions

  • Peel, core, and cut the pineapple into 1/2-inch-thick chunks.
  • Place a chunk of pineapple on top of a shrimp, then wrap the whole thing in a 1/2 slice of bacon.  Secure the pineapple, shrimp and bacon with a toothpick.
  • Repeat with the remaining shrimp.
  • Place the wrapped shrimp in the air fryer basket. Brush generously with barbecue sauce on both sides.
  • Air fry at 400 °F for 10 minutes, flipping at the halfway point, or until the shrimp registers at 120 °F with an instant read thermometer and the bacon and pineapple are cooked to your liking.

Nutrition

Calories: 330kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 18g | Sodium: 684mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 28g
Ingredients: Bacon, BBQ Sauce, Pineapple, Shrimp
Meal Type: Appetizers and Snacks, Christmas, Super Bowl Party
Categories: Finger Food and Dips, Seafood, Air Fryer
4 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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