Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts

5 from 2 votes

Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts

These Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts come together in just 1 hour and feature crisp bacon, tender water chestnuts, and a flavorful sauce — all wrapped up for a perfect bite every time. This recipe is a great choice for holiday parties, family gatherings, and game-day events.

Prep Time20

Cook Time40

Total Time1

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: bacon wrapped chestnuts, bacon-wrapped water chestnuts, recipe for bacon wrapped water chestnuts

Servings: servings

Calories: 72kcal

Author: Sara Nelson

Ingredients

16 ounces bacon cut in half
2 8-ounce cans (16 ounces total) whole water chestnuts drained
6 Tablespoons ketchup
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Materials Needed:

Baking sheet
Aluminum foil or parchment paper
Wire baking rack
Toothpicks
Pastry brush

Instructions

Preheat Oven and Prep Baking Sheet: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F and position the oven rack middle rack. Line rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper, then place a wire rack on top.
Initial Bake: Arrange bacon slices atop wire rack. If you have more bacon slices that you cannot fit on that baking sheet, line another baking sheet with foil or parchment paper with a wire rack on top and arrange remaining bacon there. Transfer baking sheet(s) to oven, and bake for 12-20 minutes (the timing will depend on the bacon thickness, and if you used 2 baking sheets; you want the bacon to start to cook through, but still be pliable).
Wrap Chestnuts in Bacon: Remove bacon from oven to allow it to cool slightly. Don’t turn oven off. Once cooled off enough, wrap each water chestnut in a strip of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Set each back atop wire rack (you should be able to fit everything on 1 baking sheet now).
Second Bake: Transfer baking sheet back to oven and bake until bacon is mostly crisped up, about 5-8 minutes.
Prepare Sauce: While chestnuts are baking, stir together ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl. Optionally, you can heat this mixture in a saucepan on the stovetop for a few minutes to meld flavors together.
Brush on Sauce: Remove baking sheet from oven. Then, using a pastry brush, generously brush sauce over each bacon-wrapped water chestnut. Don’t discard extra sauce.
Final Bake with One Rotation and Sauce Application: Return baking sheet to oven and continue baking for 5 minutes before flipping each water chestnut over, brushing any remaining sauce on other side, and cooking for 5 more minutes. Watch carefully towards the end to ensure the bacon doesn’t burn.
Cool and Serve: Remove from oven and allow a few minutes for cooling before serving.

Video

Notes

Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in aluminum foil in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. When reheating, use an oven or toaster oven to help maintain their crispiness.

Reheating Instructions: Reheat on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 10-15 minutes, or until they are warmed through and the bacon becomes crispy again.

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