One of my favorite appetizers is bacon wrapped water chestnuts. There is something about bacon and the crunchiness of water chestnuts – that when they come together is like a “party in your mouth”. Some may call this popular appetizer “trashy”, but who cares? It may not be the most gourmet appetizer on the table but I can guarantee you it will be one of the first appetizers to disappear. Trashy – Smashy – It’s all good.
This recipe would be great for New Year’s Eve or for Superbowl Sunday. Believe me, bring this to your next potluck and everyone will love you for it (including your gluten-free friends). Enjoy!
{Appetizer} Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
Author: Savory Sweet Life / Alice Currah
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: Serves 8-12
A fun bacon appetizer everyone loves.
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon
- 2 (8 ounce) cans water chestnuts
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- ¾ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Optional: To give this an added kick, add 2 teaspoons Sriracha or chili/hot sauce
Instructions
- Soak the 35 wooden toothpicks in a shallow glass of cold water and preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Cut the package of bacon in half. Wrap one half strip of bacon around each water chestnut, finishing it off by securing it with a toothpick. Bake wrapped water chestnuts in a a shallow dish or baking sheet for 20 minutes.
- While the water chestnuts are baking, in a small bowl mix the brown sugar, ketchup, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce.
- When the wrapped water chestnuts are done baking, remove them from the oven but do not turn off the heat.
- Transfer the water chestnuts to a paper towel covered plate to soak up bacon grease. Carefully clean up baking dish by wiping down with paper towels.
- Place the water chestnuts back on the baking sheet and pour sauce all over them. Bake for an additional 30-40 minutes or until bacon is crispy. Transfer to serving plate and serve hot with toothpicks intact. Enjoy!
Ditto, here, and them I have made them – with Heinz chili sauce in place of the ketchup – for many parties. Always the first thing on the table to go.
It’s true these disappear every time! Bring the recipe because will want it for sure. Really not important if people think they’re trashy. Snobs..what do they know ?
Once cooked can they be kept outside the fridge overnight?
crazy delicious incredible
A wonderful appetizer. I love bacon and chestnuts. And the sauce is perfect for it.
Absolutely incredible. Love the bit of heat from the hot sauce. Wonderful. Wonderful.
Hi Pheobe – Thanks for the great tip about the toothpick! Happy New Year!
We’ve been making bacon wrapped chestnuts in our family for over 40 years. My Dad found the original recipe in a Joyce Chen cookbook and it has become a New Year’s Eve tradition. Great appetizer. Different sauce, but oh so tasty! A time saving tip…. You don’t need to bother with the toothpicks. Just make sure the “seam” side is facing down, and they’ll stay together. Make a double batch, cause these disappear quickly!!!
Hi Donna,
Yes, you can make them in advance!
Can the bacon wrapped water chestnuts be made a day ahead and then heated??
The sauce is KEY! Fantastic recipe!
Alice, I’m hooked! Thanks babe!
Ifeel it great.
I am sure they want some peice and different from the normal . It sounds like a really nice spot , somewhere i would like to go there is nothing
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These are fantastic, after reading all the other recipes for bacon wrapped water chestnuts , i decided this sauce would be the best. and it was. Everyone loved it.