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!
This is really good information. You have done an excellent job of research and writing.
my mother used to make these although she used Chilli sauce instead of ketchup. Very good
This sounds like an awesome recipe, sharing on FB!
I actually think the sauce would be good on chicken as well, may try that out!
Thanks for sharing!
Bernice
http://livingthebalancedlife.com/2010/six-steps-to-a-saner-christmas-part-2/
These were so yummy! I made a big batch over the past weekend for a Labor Day bbq and they went so quickly.
I have to admit, water chestnuts can get quite slippery when handling raw bacon and trying to stab with a toothpick – but the payoff was well worth it.
Hey Alice,
This is Sun’s younger sister…Allison. I made this recipe for my girlfriends at the swap party and it was a hit! I used the sauce recipe for chicken wings and my husband really liked it. Great website!
Allison
Yummy! It seems so delicious. Looks like a perfect recipe which will we definitely like. Thanks for sharing such tasty recipe here.
I ‘googled’ bacon-wrapped water chestnuts and found your site. They were amazing and your site is beautiful! I can’t wait to find more recipes..thank you!
Yum! These sound wonderful. Everything’s better with bacon, right?
I have never tried the combo chestnut and bacon. It looks delicious! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Oh yes, this is one of those retro appetizers that cooks must pass forward from generation to generation. It is so good! Your sauce adds an entirely new dimension that I can’t wait to try. Pictures are divine as well. Happy New Year! …Susan
OMG Alice! I just bopped over here from P-Dub’s site and found what I’m making for snacking on New Year’s Eve…your water chestnuts wrapped with bacon. YUM! And cooler yet, we’re kind of neighbors…I live near Enumclaw! Visit my place at:
http://www.wheremyheartlives.com
I’m so glad that PW shared your link on her site! These bacon wrapped water chestnuts look delish! BACON …. love it. 🙂
I think ‘trashy-smashy’ is my new favorite compliment!! These look amazing – I can’t wait to try them on my in laws Thursday night.
My mom makes these for football parties and Christmas… they’re gone in literally minutes. They are SO. GOOD. Thanks for posting!
I make almost the same recipe 🙂 Yum!
Yum those look like killer appetizers like you could eat one after the other. Fabulousy delish!
that sauce! oh goodness I am trying that sauce.
Where I grew up in Wisconsin, this is traditionally called Rumaki. Always a staple at every family function. Yum!
My mom used to make something similar to this when I was growing up and it was ALWAYS a hit! It has bacon, so what’s not to love? The sauce sounds lovely! A nice change from the ordinary!
One word: bookmarked!!
This is a fantastic idea for appetizers. I feel like throwing a party now just to make these.
Spectacular! Bacon makes everything awesome, doesn’t it?
Ooo! Those look very lovely =D. Great flavours and a wonderful simplicity to them!
Oooh. Sounds and looks delicious! I love the reference of a “party in your mouth.” LOL
What a great combo!! I LOVE water chesnuts!
And bacon makes everything better… right? 🙂
I’ve had these before but never with the sauce. I love that idea. My mom also used to make bacon wrapped green olives. Those are my hubby’s favorite!