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
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
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.
- Step Two: Bake for 10 minutes. Drain grease from pan.
- 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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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
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.
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Nutrition
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.
Coreen Asselman says
What are your directions for reheating? I need to make these ahead of time.
Thanks!
Michael says
Does it really take a cup of soy sauce or is that a misprint? Never made these before but that seems like a lot.
Laura S says
I’m making them right now. 2-2-20
Taking to super bowl party.
Gonna love them. Had a long time ago. Delicious!
A crowd pleaser for sure.
Rachelle says
You THREW AWAY the bacon fat? Sacrilege! LOL
Judy snead says
I made 600 for my daughter’s wedding. They freeze well then thaw and finish, all eaten at reception
Ann Whitman says
I’m making these for Thanksgiving appetizers! I use a broiler pan so the grease runs off and I bake them for about 30 minutes till their done, very little fatty pieces on the bacon. Than I place the bacon wrapped water chestnuts into a crock pot and pour the sauce over it. Put crock pot on low or serve setting.
Theresa C. says
Does anyone know where I might find round water chestnuts like these? Used to seeing the ones in cans being sliced into thin discs, but not whole like this. Does walmart or some place carry them in this form too?
Stacie Vaughan says
I find in the Asian section of the grocery store near the soy sauce. If you can’t find whole water chestnuts, use the slices. I would stack a few slices together and then wrap the bacon tightly around it.
Dee says
I have found whole water chestnuts in the can at our local Winn Dixie.