Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (2024)

4.44 from 118 votes

ByStacie VaughanOn Updated

23 Comments

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I guarantee you if you make these Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts, they will not last long. I almost ate this entire batch myself. It’s the type of recipe where you cannot just have one. I eat one and I’m in for it. I have to eat them ALL!

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (1)

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

My mom calls this recipe, Rumaki, but I simply refer to it as Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts. Either name works. She used to make this recipe anytime she was hosting a party at our house. I used to bug her to make them “just because” and sometimes she would.

I’m not even a fan of water chestnuts. I dislike them in stir-fries. In bacon, though? Pure magic. I will eat just about anything if its wrapped in bacon.

Ingredients

  • Bacon
  • Water chestnuts
  • Brown sugar
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Soy sauce
  • Ketchup
  • Garlic powder
Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (2)

How to Make Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

  • Step One: Preheat oven to 375F. Cut bacon in half. Wrap each slice of bacon around water chestnut and secure with a toothpick. Place in a 9×13 inch baking pan.
Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (3)
  • Step Two: Bake for 10 minutes. Drain grease from pan.
Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (4)
  • Step Three: While bacon is baking, stir together brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, ketchup and garlic powder.
  • Step Four: Pour sauce over partially cooked bacon. Put back in the oven and bake for an additional 30 minutes. Serve hot.
Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (5)

My cousin, Allison, remembers this delicious appetizer, too. I called her over and told her I was making a few batches. She drove straight over and took a plate home. I don’t think she shared with her husband and two boys. I don’t blame her!

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (6)

I remember making this recipe before and I only needed one package of bacon. They made the bacon packages so much smaller now so it takes about two packages to make this recipe. I wish they would stop shrinking all the packages, but that is a whole other blog post.

I also used two 227g cans of whole water chestnuts to make this recipe. I found water chestnuts with the soy sauce in the grocery store.

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (7)

The first thing you need to do is cut the bacon strips in half so it’s two shorter pieces. Wrap each bacon slice around one water chestnut and secure with a toothpick. I recommend using plain wooden toothpicks versus the coloured variety. The coloured toothpicks may leave stains from the dye.

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (8)

Bake the bacon wraps in the oven for 10 minutes in a 9×13 pan. While the bacon is baking, stir together the sauce. It’s made with brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, ketchup and garlic powder. Sweet and savoury!

After the bacon has baked for 10 minutes, drain off the grease that has accumulated in the pan. I poured the grease into an empty water chestnuts can and let it harden before I threw it out.

Pour the sauce over top of the bacon and put back in the oven for another 30 minutes.

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (9)

My cousin asked if my oven started to smoke when I made this recipe. It didn’t, but maybe that is because I poured off the grease? I think had I left it, the wraps would be swimming in greasy sauce.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

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Make this recipe for your next party and impress everyone! They are a classic appetizer that is easy to make and well-loved.

Try these Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites.

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (10)

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (11)

Rate this Recipe

4.44 from 118 votes

Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts

Created by Stacie Vaughan

Servings 8

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Everyone goes NUTS over this easy appetizer. Whole water chestnuts are wrapped in bacon and marinated in a sweet/savory sauce.

Rate this Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 packages bacon 16oz/375g packages
  • 2 cans whole water chestnuts 8oz/227g cans, drained
  • 1 cup brown sugar dark or light
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup soy sauce
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • ½ tsp garlic powder

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.

  • Cut bacon in half. Wrap each slice of bacon around water chestnut and secure with a toothpick. Place in a 9×13 inch baking pan.

  • Bake for 10 minutes. Drain grease from pan.

  • While bacon is baking, stir together brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, ketchup and garlic powder.

  • Pour sauce over partially cooked bacon. Put back in the oven and bake for an additional 30 minutes. Serve hot.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 5g | Calories: 628kcal | Carbohydrates: 41.3g | Protein: 16.9g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 14.7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 26.5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 72.9mg | Sodium: 1941mg | Fiber: 1.5g | Sugar: 30.1g

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Course Appetizers

Cuisine American

Keyword bacon wrapped water chestnuts

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Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you rinse canned water chestnuts? ›

Canned water chestnuts should be rinsed under cool, running water. To remove the "tinny" taste, soak the rinsed water chestnuts in fresh water with 1 teaspoon of baking soda for 10 minutes before slicing or chopping for various recipes.

What is the best way to cook water chestnuts? ›

Bake for 15-20 minutes until they turn golden brown and crispy. Grilling: If you're firing up the grill, toss the water chestnuts in a bit of oil and place them in a grilling basket. Grill over medium heat for approximately 10 minutes, flipping them once halfway through cooking.

Can bacon wrapped water chestnuts be frozen? ›

Bacon-wrapped water chestnuts are freezer-friendly. Bake them to completion, let them cool to room temperature, then freeze them on a baking sheet until solid. Transfer the frozen bites to an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to three months.

Do you drain water chestnuts before cooking? ›

Rinse and drain canned water chestnuts before slicing and cooking. To store: Fresh water chestnuts will keep, unpeeled in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Opened canned water chestnuts should be stored in water and used within 3-4 days.

Why are water chestnuts so expensive? ›

Water chestnuts must be hand-harvested and processed; therefore, they are somewhat expensive. However, since a little goes a long way, water chestnuts are not too dear to be used often.

How to season canned water chestnuts? ›

Cover water chestnuts with aminos and balsamic vinegar. Let soak for 10-15 minutes. If not fully submerged, you can add more aminos or just stir every few minutes.

What is the biggest problem with water chestnuts? ›

Additionally, water chestnuts can reduce native bay grasses from areas in which dense beds grow, create breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and provide poor habitat for native fish and birds.

Why are water chestnuts so good? ›

Water chestnuts are aquatic vegetables that are nutritious and delicious. They are a great source of antioxidants and other compounds that may help prevent diseases linked with age, such as heart disease and cancer. Water chestnuts are also highly versatile and can be added to a variety of dishes.

What kills water chestnuts? ›

Water chestnut is an aquatic weed known for creating large mats that can overtake a pond. Applications of Glyphosate 5.4 Aquatic Herbicide has proven to work best against Water Chestnut and will kill growths quickly.

How many whole water chestnuts in an 8 oz can? ›

You'll begin with a can of whole water chestnuts, each can has 16 water chestnuts.

What is another name for a water chestnut? ›

Other names for this plant include:

Common names: bull nut, European water chestnut, water nut. Scientific names: T. natans var.

Can you eat water chestnuts raw? ›

You can eat water chestnuts raw, boiled, grilled, pickled, or from a can. The corms are unique because they remain crisp even after being cooked or canned, due to their ferulic acid content. Water chestnuts are popular in Chinese cooking.

Do water chestnuts have nutritional value? ›

Half a cup of sliced water chestnuts contains about 50 calories. Although the caloric content is low, water chestnuts are highly nutritious and contain fiber, proteins, copper, potassium, manganese, riboflavin, and vitamin B6. They contain about 74 percent of water and 9 grams of carbohydrates.

Can dogs eat water chestnuts? ›

Unlike some plants that contain saponins or other harmful compounds, water chestnuts are safe for canine consumption in moderation. The key is to ensure they are fresh and free from the high sodium content that canned versions may contain.

How do you clean water chestnuts? ›

To remove the soft outer shell/skin of the water chestnut start by cutting off the top and bottom with a sharp knife. Then cut around the sides until all the skin is removed. You can then leave it whole, slice it, or chop it depending on what your recipe calls for.

How do you eat vacuum packed chestnuts? ›

Cooked and peeled whole chestnuts and chestnut pieces are available vacuum packed - they can be used in recipes or simply eaten hot or cold as they are.

What do canned water chestnuts taste like? ›

Cooked water chestnuts have notes of nutty flavor, which may not be distinguishable when cooked with other ingredients. Basically, raw is sweeter than cooked or canned water chestnuts. The taste of fresh water chestnut can also be described as a combination of apple and coconut.

How do you clean and store chestnuts? ›

Storing chestnuts in the freezer

Before freezing the chestnuts, make sure you remove the rotten ones. If you eventually plan to roast them, remove their skin. Clean them well and transfer them to freezer bags and freeze them at -4°F (-20°C). Frozen like this, chestnuts can last for up to 12 months.

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