Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno and Cheese-Stuffed Shrimp Recipe

Updated August 30, 2018

Growing up in suburbia, I have a lingering nostalgia for chain restaurants. Unfortunately those memories rarely seem to hold up when I revisit them as an adult, but there's one chain that I still look forward to anytime I'm in Houston with the in-laws. Pappasito's.

We've been ordering their large fajita platter for over 11 years, which never seems to disappoint. Among the ubiquitous steak and chicken, they also throw in bacon-wrapped, jalapeno and cheese stuffed shrimp that are just the icing on the cake.

On paper they seem to represent the excess of eye-catching ingredients chains like to stuff into each dish, but this one actually delivers a combination of flavors I can stand behind, so much that I happily recreated them at home.

Slicing, stuffing, and wrapping the shrimp can be a little time consuming, but the effort is well rewarded as these grill up delicious. They have a nice crisp, salty bacon coating that holds a heat from a jalapeno that's put into check by some creamy Monterey Jack, all delivered in one might tasty crustacean.

Recipe Details

Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno and Cheese-Stuffed Shrimp Recipe

Active 60 mins

Total 45 mins

Serves 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

2 pounds large shrimp, peeled, deveined, and rinsed
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, cut into thin strips
3 jalapenos, halved, seeded, and cut into thin slices
1 pound bacon strips, halved
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 lime, quartered

Directions

In a small bowl mix together garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Place shrimp in a large bowl and season with 3/4 of the spice mixture, tossing to evenly coat.
Working with one shrimp at a time, make a slit about 3/4-inch long as base of shrimp. Place one jalapeno slice and one cheese slice in cut slit, then wrap base of shrimp all the way around with half a slice of bacon. Repeat with rest of shrimp.
Thread shrimp onto skewers and season lightly with remaining spice mixture. Brush shrimps lightly with melted butter.
Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread the coals evenly over entire surface of coal grate. Alternatively, set all the burners of a gas grill to high heat. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate. Grill shrimp over high heat until bacon crisps and shrimp just cook through, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove to a platter and serve with lime wedges.

Special Equipment

grill

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
413	Calories
26g	Fat
6g	Carbs
37g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories	413
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 26g	34%
Saturated Fat 12g	60%
Cholesterol 259mg	86%
Sodium 1653mg	72%
Total Carbohydrate 6g	2%
Dietary Fiber 1g	3%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 37g
Vitamin C 6mg	30%
Calcium 171mg	13%
Iron 1mg	7%
Potassium 457mg	10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.