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Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts with Sweet and Salty Sauce

This appetizer features bacon-wrapped crisp water chestnuts dipped in a sweet and savory sauce, then baked to caramelized perfection. It's sure to be a hit at any party!
Servings 39 chestnuts

Ingredients

Chestnuts:

  • 2 cans whole water chestnuts 227 ml or 7.6-8 oz per can
  • 1 package bacon*
  • 39 toothpicks

Sauce:

  • 3/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/2 cup original BBQ sauce
  • 1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/8 tsp salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 F with rack in the center. Line a 17"x 12" bun pan with parchment paper.
  • Use 1/3 to 1/2 slice of bacon to roll each chestnut up tightly. Place on baking sheet and tightly secure bacon to the chestnut with a toothpick. If the slice of bacon is too wide, fold it in half, then roll.
  • Bake chestnuts in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Then, pour off any fat that rendered while baking.
  • Preheat oven to 425 F. Whisk together all ingredients for the sauce. Dip each chestnut generously into the sauce, tapping off the excess.
  • Bake in 425 F oven for 28 min, or until sauce is sizzling and looks nicely caramelized.
  • To finish, broil the chestnuts for 2 minutes until further caramelized and slightly charred. Transfer to your serving platter and enjoy!

Notes

*If wrapping each chestnut in half a strip of bacon, you'll need another package. If you wrap each chestnut in 1/3 of a slice of bacon, you probably won't need the whole package. I wrapped most of the chestnuts with half a slice of bacon, and the others with a third of a slice. (I really couldn't tell the difference between them) If you have a chestnut left over, just use some bacon from some of the wrapped chestnuts where you used half a slice of bacon. 
There will be sauce left. Either open another can of chestnuts and dip more, or you can use it as a sauce for wings (another awesome appetizer) So good!