Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (2025)

Home Recipes Appetizers Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts with Sweet Dipping Sauce Recipe

4.60 from 22 votes

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By: Julie Evink14 Comments

Posted: 12/09/15

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Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe served with a Sweet Dipping Sauce. This appetizer is sweet, salty, out of control delicious and so easy to make! Perfect for the holidays!

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Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (1)

We are going to end the year with a bang … a bang of bacon in fact! TheseBacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts with Sweet Dipping Sauce Recipe are the perfect small bit appetizer for all of your parties!

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (2)
This recipe is very near and dear to my heart. It was THE appetizer my mom use to make for all family functions, and believe me, these babies were gone in minutes. We quickly learned that if you wanted one you’d have to be “that person,” you know the one that hovers over the appetizer table waiting for the next dish to be placed and then you snatch!

My brother use to leave the table with at least 10 of these on his plate. No shame. Didn’t even care if my sweet little cousin didn’t get any. He wanted them, he needed them, and nothing was going to stop him.

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (3)
Not only are freakin’ tasty, but they are super easy to make, using only 4 ingredients.

And let’s be honest, anything that is covered in Bacon is going to rock your socks off. Am I right?

The bacon gets nice and crispy on the outside while the water chestnuts softens up in the oven. When you top it with the sweet dipping sauce these babies are like bacon candy that melts in your mouth.

It’s ridic!

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (4)

If you are in need of an appetizer this holiday season that’s light on your pocket, easy to make, and down right tasty then these Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts are your jam!

They have been tried, tested, and devoured in my family for over 60 years, so you know they’re good!

Bon Appetite!

And don’t be a stranger, be sure to stop in to say hi to me over at my blog Joyful Healthy Eats! Hugs to you sweet friends! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (5)

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (6)

4.60 from 22 votes

Bacon Wrapped Waterchestnuts with Sweet Dipping Sauce

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe served with a Sweet Dipping Sauce. This appetizer is sweet, salty, out of control delicious and so easy to make! Perfect for the holidays!

Prep:10 minutes mins

Cook:30 minutes mins

Total:40 minutes mins

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40

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. apple wood smoked bacon strips cut in half
  • 2 8 oz cans whole waterchestnuts drained
  • toothpicks
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400.

  • Wrap each waterchestnut with one strip of bacon (remember that you need to slice each strip in half). Secure the waterchestnut in place using a toothpick, going through the bacon, waterchestnut, and bacon again.

  • Place on a parchment lined baking sheet.

  • Bake for 15 minutes, flip all bacon wrapped waterchestnuts to brown on the other side. Bake an additional 15 minutes. Remove from oven.

  • In a small bowl, mix ketchup and brown sugar until brown sugar is dissolved.

  • Serve bacon wrapped waterchestnuts with sweet dipping sauce.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 56kcal (3%), Carbohydrates: 2g (1%), Protein: 1g (2%), Fat: 4g (6%), Saturated Fat: 1g (6%), Cholesterol: 7mg (2%), Sodium: 103mg (4%), Potassium: 33mg (1%), Sugar: 1g (1%), Vitamin A: 20IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 2mg, Iron: 0.1mg (1%)

© Julie's Eats & Treats ®

We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.

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More Holiday Appetizer by Joyful Healthy Eats:

Balsamic Italian Sausage Crostini with Whipped Goat Cheese

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (7)

Assorted Holiday Goat Cheese Balls

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (8)
Bacon Wrapped Tenderloin Bites with Creamy Horseradish Sauce

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (9)

Meet Julie Evink

I'm here to help you win in the kitchen again! Life is Busy, Life is Crazy, but that doesn't mean you can't make your family dinner! Julie's goal is to provide you with easy, family, friendly recipes that use pantry staples. Dinnertime will be stress free again!

Read more...

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (10)

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Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment

  1. Shannon Warthan says

    Can you make these ahead of time. can you serve them cold

    Reply

  2. KATHY -- MISSISSIPPI says

    Our version of rumaki sauce is a jar of wild plum jelly mixed with a lot of Coleman’s Hot Mustard powder

    Reply

    • Julie says

      Sounds delicious!

      Reply

  3. Chaka says

    What happened to the duck liver from the original recipe?

    Reply

    • Julie Evink says

      I’m not sure what you are referring to as I never posted a recipe with duck liver?

      Reply

  4. Rachel says

    Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (15)
    Ive been making these for my family parties for years. Yes you have to hover. They are the first thing to go every time. I marinate the water chestnuts in a mix of soy sauce and brown sugar. I serve mint with a mix of 1/2 honey 1/2 mustard but I like the chili sauce idea mentioned above.

    Reply

    • Julie Evink says

      That sounds like a great option too!

      Reply

  5. Shelli Cater says

    Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (16)
    These were amazing!! Everyone loved them!

    Reply

    • Julie Evink says

      So glad they were a hit Shelli!

      Reply

  6. Becky Berna says

    Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (17)
    Made the water chestnuts, not sure why it says it will serve 40! I got 24 pieces following the recipe?

    Reply

  7. MARIAN YAROS says

    For the bacon-wrapped water chestnut recipe you should soak the water chestnuts in soy sauce first and the dipping sauce should be made with chili sauce instead of just plain ketchup.

    Reply

    • Julie Evink says

      Great alterations if you prefer it that way!

      Reply

  8. Laverne says

    Your font is so small I need a magnifying glass. I’ve tried enlarging it, but won’t work.

    Reply

    • Julie Evink says

      I’m sorry Laverne but it’s a standard size for a website. I haven’t had anyone else complain 🙁

      Reply

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe (2025)

FAQs

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe? ›

Prepping 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.

How to prepare water chestnuts from the can? ›

Prepping 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.

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

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

Do you have to cook water chestnuts before you eat them? ›

How to Prepare Water Chestnuts. 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.

What are the ingredients in water chestnuts? ›

Water chestnuts are very nutritious and contain high amounts of fiber, potassium, manganese, copper, vitamin B6 and riboflavin. Most of their calories come from carbs.

Do water chestnuts in a can go bad? ›

Yes, the quality may have decreased but water chestnuts with a date of 11/15 are almost definitely still perfectly good. (Various tests have shown that canned food decades, or even a century, old are still perfectly edible.) If it's gone bad, it will smell bad when you open it.

What is the biggest problem with water chestnuts? ›

Human Impacts
  • Property values along shorelines of infested waters may decrease.
  • Dense mats of water chestnuts can be difficult to get through in a boat, kayak, canoe, or when swimming.
  • Water chestnut's sharp fruits can cause painful wounds when stepped on.

How healthy are water chestnuts? ›

Water chestnuts are rich in antioxidants, especially ferulic acid, gallocatechin gallate, epicatechin gallate, and catechin gallate that protect the body against harmful free radicals. Although most of the antioxidants are present in the peel, the flesh contains a good number of antioxidants.

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.

Can diabetic patients eat water chestnuts? ›

Water Chestnut Is Good For Diabetes

Water chestnuts are the most healthy food item that you can add to your diabetes reversal diet plan. The low glycemic index of water chestnut and high fiber content can help you manage diabetes. They do not produce sudden rises in blood sugar levels.

How long to boil water chestnuts? ›

In a large pot add enough water to cover the chestnuts and bring to a boil. Add the chestnuts and cook for approximately 45 minutes. Drain the chestnuts and peel off the outer shells.

Do water chestnuts soften when cooked? ›

Unlike other vegetables that soften as you cook them, water chestnuts maintain their crisp texture. They give any dish a pop of juicy, fresh flavor! They pair exceptionally well with soy sauce, ginger and garlic, making them perfect for Asian-style dishes like our Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken.

Are water chestnuts a fruit or vegetable? ›

Water chestnuts are an aquatic tuber vegetable. They grow in parts of Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and many Pacific islands. A water chestnut resembles an actual chestnut in both color and shape, but it is not a nut. Water chestnuts are popular in many cuisines and have a variety of potential health benefits.

Can dogs have water chestnuts? ›

The nutrients found in water chestnuts do not contain any known toxins that would be harmful to dogs. Unlike some plants that contain saponins or other harmful compounds, water chestnuts are safe for canine consumption in moderation.

Are water chestnuts bad for cholesterol? ›

Water Chestnut has enough amount of K, which helps to counter the effect of sodium and good for lowering blood pressure as well as for your heart. Juice is good for jaundice. It helps to lower down the level of cholesterol and discourages the absorption of carbohydrate. 100 grams of it contains 2 g of fiber.

Do you need to peel water chestnuts? ›

They can be easily peeled with a paring knife or a vegetable peeler. Unless they are being used immediately, the water chestnuts do not need to be peeled right away. If water chestnuts are fresh and unpeeled, they can last from 7 to 10 days in an enclosed paper bag in the refrigerator.

Why do I add the water chestnuts to the dish? ›

Water chestnuts are a popular addition to vegetable stir fry recipes. Unlike other vegetables that soften as you cook them, water chestnuts maintain their crisp texture. They give any dish a pop of juicy, fresh flavor!

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.

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