Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts

Name: Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 8 - 10 serving(s)
Ingredients: 1 lb. bacon (not thick cut); 2 (8-ounce) cans whole water chestnuts, drained and patted dry; 3/4 c. chili sauce; 1/3 c. packed light brown sugar; 3 tbsp. soy sauce; 4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce; 1/2 tsp. ground ginger; 1/2 tsp. garlic powder

They're a vintage appetizer that'll be adored by people of all ages!

By Leah PerezPublished: Dec 11, 2024

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the pioneer woman's bacon wrapped water chestnuts

Antonis Achilleos

Yields:

8 - 10 serving(s)

Prep Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 10 mins

What’s the easiest way to make any food better? Wrap it in bacon! Bacon-wrapped water chestnuts are a super easy vintage snack that are popular year after year because they're so darn tasty. Even after a long stint in the zesty sauce in the oven, the water chestnuts maintain a satisfying crunch and the bacon comes out crispy in some places and chewy-caramelized in others—they're the perfect holiday appetizer!

Can bacon-wrapped water chestnuts be reheated?

Yes! You can reheat leftover bacon-wrapped water chestnuts. Simply place the chestnuts along with the sauce in a baking dish and bake them at 375°F for 10 to 15 minutes, or until warmed through.

Can bacon-wrapped water chestnuts be made in advance?

Absolutely! To make this appetizer hassle-free, prep them up to two days ahead. Wrap the water chestnuts in the bacon and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. After baking, drain the fat and let them cool completely before covering the dish with foil or plastic wrap. The sauce can also be prepared in advance and stored in an airtight container. When it's time to party, just pour the sauce over the chestnuts and bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the bacon is crisp and the sauce is caramelized.

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Ingredients

Directions

1. Step 1Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Step 2Cut the bacon strips in half crosswise. Wrap a piece of bacon around each water chestnut and secure with a toothpick. Place the water chestnuts in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
3. Step 3Bake until lightly golden and starting to crisp, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the baking dish from the oven and drain off the grease by tilting the dish and spooning it out or dabbing the grease with a paper towel.
4. Step 4Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the chili sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, ground ginger, and garlic powder.
5. Step 5Pour the chili sauce mixture over the water chestnuts, spooning the sauce over any bare spots to make sure each is fully covered . Return the baking dish to the oven and continue to bake until the bacon is crispy and the sauce is deeply caramelized, 25 to 30 minutes more. Use a spoon to scoop out any pools of rendered bacon fat from the surface of the sauce.
6. Step 6Transfer the water chestnuts to a serving platter and serve any remaining sauce in a small bowl for dipping.