Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts are salty, sweet, and insanely addictive. Top with 2-ingredient barbecue sauce and broil to perfection in minutes!
I have these Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts every year on Christmas Day, and it’s my favorite snack on the table. My sister points out every Christmas that some people just don’t like water chestnuts, so I make bacon wrapped little smokies for her. Bacon wrapped shrimp are great for the seafood lovers.
Cut a package of bacon into thirds and then wrap each whole water chestnut in bacon. Then, brush (or dunk) each morsel in a vat of ketchup + brown sugar. Easiest barbecue sauce ever!
To broil, set a rack over a rimmed baking sheet (lined with foil for easy cleanup) so the bacon fat can drip away. If you don’t have this setup, it’s completely fine to set the bites in a broiler-safe baking dish and cook them that way.
It’s handy if you can transfer these to a warmed slow cooker or electric frying pan to keep them warm for serving. However, they are also delicious at room temperature!
Salty, sweet, sticky, chewy, crunchy… everything. I can’t wait for Christmas!
Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 (8 ounce) can whole water chestnuts drained, cut into 24 pieces if necessary
- 8 slices bacon cut into thirds (24 pieces)
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and set an oven rack on top. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar and ketchup. Set aside
- Wrap each whole water chestnut in a piece of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Dredge each in sauce mixture (or brush sauce on with a pastry brush).
- Arrange in a single layer on rack set over baking sheet. Broil on HIGH 4 to 6 inches from broiler for 5 to 7 minutes per side (flipping halfway), about 10 to 15 minutes total. Remove from oven and serve warm.
Can’t really beat bacon-wrapped anything! Was also a great way to introduce chestnuts to the family!