Marry This Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts recipe is a crispy and savory appetizer, which is made with crunchy water chestnuts and a sweet and tangy chili sauce glaze. It’s the perfect party food, a classic, foolproof recipe that’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, ready in about an hour.
Jump to RecipeBacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts Ingredients
A classic combination for the ultimate sweet, savory, and salty appetizer.
- 1 lb. bacon (not thick cut)
- 2 (8-ounce) cans whole water chestnuts, drained and patted dry
- 3/4 cup chili sauce (like Heinz)
- 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
- 3 Tbsp. soy sauce
- 4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
How To Make Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts
A step-by-step guide to this incredibly easy and addictive appetizer.
- Prep Oven and Wrap: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Cut the bacon strips in half crosswise. Wrap one half-piece of bacon around each water chestnut and secure it with a toothpick. Arrange the wrapped water chestnuts in a single layer in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- First Bake to Render Fat: Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the bacon is lightly golden and has started to crisp.
- Drain Grease and Make Sauce: Carefully remove the baking dish from the oven and drain off all the rendered bacon grease. While the bacon is in its first bake, whisk together the chili sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, ground ginger, and garlic powder in a medium bowl.
- Glaze and Final Bake: Pour the prepared sauce over the partially cooked bacon-wrapped water chestnuts, making sure each one is coated. Return the dish to the oven and continue to bake for another 25 to 30 minutes, until the bacon is very crispy and the sauce is thick and deeply caramelized.
- Serve: Let them cool for a few minutes, as the caramelized sauce will be very hot. Transfer to a serving platter and serve warm.
Recipe Tips
For the best, most perfectly crispy bacon-wrapped water chestnuts.
- How do I get the bacon extra crispy? There are two secrets. First, use regular-cut bacon, not thick-cut, as it will render and crisp up more effectively in the given time. Second, the initial 20-minute bake before adding the sauce is crucial for rendering out the fat and allowing the bacon to get a head start on crisping.
- Can I make these ahead of time? Yes! This is a perfect make-ahead party appetizer. You can complete the wrapping and the first bake up to a day in advance. Drain the grease, let them cool, and store them covered in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to serve, just pour the sauce over and do the final 25-30 minute bake.
- Can I make these in an air fryer? Absolutely. An air fryer is fantastic for this. Assemble the wrapped water chestnuts and cook them at 375°F for about 10 minutes until the bacon is partially cooked. Drain any grease, toss them in the sauce, and return them to the air fryer for another 8-10 minutes, until the bacon is crispy and the sauce is caramelized.
- Why do I have to drain the grease? This is a very important step! Draining the rendered fat before you add the sauce prevents the final dish from being overly greasy and allows the sauce to properly glaze the bacon rather than just floating on top of the fat.
What To Serve With Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts
These are the ultimate standalone party appetizer.
These sweet, salty, and savory bites are a staple at any holiday party, tailgate, or family gathering. They are perfect served on their own, fresh and warm from the oven, with plenty of napkins!
How To Store Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts
Keeping your delicious appetizers fresh.
- Refrigerate: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheat: For the best results and to re-crisp the bacon, reheat them on a baking sheet in a 375°F oven for about 5-10 minutes until warmed through.
Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts Nutrition Facts
An estimated guide per serving.
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Fat: 16 g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
For this recipe, “chili sauce” refers to the classic American condiment, like the kind made by Heinz. It’s a sweet and tangy tomato-based sauce, similar to a spicier ketchup. It is not the same as an Asian chili-garlic sauce or Sriracha.
You can, but the results will vary. Turkey bacon can be used, but it won’t render as much fat and may not get as crispy.
If you want to keep the sweet and savory theme but don’t have water chestnuts, you could try wrapping chunks of pineapple, dates, or even large shrimp with the bacon and using the same sauce.
Try More Recipes:
- Salted Caramel Bundt Cake Recipe
- Salted Caramel Pretzel Blondies Recipe
- Doughnuts with Salted Caramel Sauce Recipe
Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe
Course: AppetizersCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy10
servings15
minutes55
minutes280
kcalThe ultimate easy and addictive party appetizer, these Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts are crispy, savory, and coated in a sweet and tangy chili sauce glaze.
Ingredients
1 lb. regular-cut bacon
2 (8-oz) cans whole water chestnuts, drained and dried
Sauce: 3/4 cup chili sauce, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 3 Tbsp. soy sauce, 4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 tsp each ground ginger & garlic powder.
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Cut the bacon strips in half. Wrap a piece of bacon around each water chestnut and secure with a toothpick.
- Arrange in a single layer in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the bacon is partially cooked and has rendered its fat.
- Carefully drain all the grease from the baking dish.
- While the bacon bakes, whisk together all the sauce ingredients.
- Pour the prepared sauce over the partially cooked bacon-wrapped water chestnuts.
- Return to the oven and bake for another 25-30 minutes, until the bacon is crispy and the sauce is thick and caramelized. Let cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Using regular-cut bacon is the key to getting it perfectly crispy.
- The two-stage baking process, where you drain the grease before adding the sauce, is crucial for a non-greasy, perfectly glazed result.
- These are a perfect make-ahead appetizer; just complete the first bake and refrigerate, then add the sauce and do the final bake just before your party.
- Be careful when draining the hot grease from the baking dish.
