These Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts are going to become your favorite appetizer!
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My daughter called me a few days ago (she lives 1500 miles away) and said she was telling her roommate about the bacon-wrapped water chestnuts that I make. Her roommate had never had them and thought they sounded interesting to try, and she wanted the recipe. I thought the timing was funny because I was planning on adding the recipe to the blog this week.
She is a big fan of these bacon wrapped water chestnuts. I think they remind her of home and family time, as I always made them as part of my appetizer spread on Christmas Eve for our big family holiday party. They are the perfect crowd-pleasing finger food appetizer.
Looking for another great appetizer? Check out these easy stuffed mushrooms, they are so good!
Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts
You’ll want to make sure to use whole water chestnuts and cut them in half. You could buy the thin-sliced water chestnuts, but then I would suggest doubling them, maybe even tripling them.
Line the baking sheet with foil or use a baking sheet pan with a rack (this is the one I use). Bacon is messy and this will help with the cleanup.
Your bacon needs to be cut in thirds. Be sure to cut it through the width and NOT lengthwise. Thick sliced center cut bacon works the best.
Don’t use colored toothpicks! I made that mistake once and it wasn’t pretty. Actually, it was a little pretty, but I ended up with rainbow-colored bacon-wrapped water chestnuts, unintentionally.
I have found the easiest way to get the sauce on the chestnuts is to use a brush. I like this one.
I know you’ll love these Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts as much as I do! They will be a crowd-pleasing appetizer for any gathering.
Want another super easy and yummy bacon-wrapped appetizer recipe? Check out my cheesy jalapeno peppers!
When you make this bacon-wrapped water chestnut recipe, leave me a comment below and let me know how they turned out!
Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs center cut bacon
- 2 8 oz cans whole water chestnuts cut in half
- 1½ cups packed brown sugar
- ¾ cup ketchup
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400°. Spray large baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Combine brown sugar, ketchup and mayonnaise in small bowl and mix well. Set aside.
- Cut bacon strips into 3 equals sections (not lengthwise). Wrap each water chestnut with a piece of bacon, then repeat with a second strip of bacon on the opposite side. Secure both pieces of bacon with a toothpick and place onto baking sheet.
- Place in oven and bake for 30 - 35 minutes, or until bacon is crisp; turning once.
- Remove bacon-wrapped chestnuts from oven and carefully brush sauce mixture over them. Return to oven for 6 - 8 minutes until hot and bubbly.