I'm always looking for new ideas for easy appetizers to take to holiday get-togethers, or any party, so if you need more ideas too, this recipe for Bacon Water Chestnut Roll-Ups is a favorite and they always go fast! (Here’s a list of more appetizer ideas to look through too.)
You know I always have to add my ingredient notes…
Using the unrefined sugar I list below is a little better option vs. refined sugar, and buying pastured bacon (instead of grocery store bacon from factory farms) is much better, so you know it's meat that is actually good for you… bonus! (Have you seen this one? Does Grocery Store Meat Make You Fat? And how to SAVE on healthy meat)
Bacon Water Chestnut Roll-Ups
Yield 1 9x13 pan
Ingredients
- 1 can of whole water chestnuts, cut in half — I found these water chestnuts with only two ingredients: water chestnuts and water, no preservatives. I wasn’t sure what water chestnuts were, so I looked it up — they're a vegetable. 🙂
- 1 package of bacon, cut in half – preferably from a farmer you trust who raises animals out on pasture. (Find healthy meat here if you don't have a good local option.)
- 1 1/4 cup organic ketchup (or try this homemade ketchup)
- 1/2 cup palm sugar
- 2 1/2 Tablespoons fermented soy sauce/Tamari
Instructions
Wrap a half piece of bacon around water chestnut halves and put a toothpick through it. Place in an ungreased 9×13 baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes at 375*. Meanwhile, stir the last three ingredients together to make a homemade barbecue sauce. Remove roll-ups from the pan and drain the grease out. Dip the roll-ups in sauce and place them back into the pan. Bake another 30 minutes.
NOTE: These are easy to make ahead! You can do everything but the last 30 minutes of baking, and then keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to eat. Just take them wherever you’re going and bake that last 30 minutes so they’re fresh from the oven.
We love these!
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There's more you can do with bacon as an appetizer besides making the bacon water chestnut roll-ups:
- Here's another post for bacon-wrapped shrimp and bacon-wrapped hotdogs, Mmmmmm…
- Or these Bacon Pineapple Rollups
More you might like:
Jan O'Brien Schaefer says
I used to make these years ago. We ate them without the BBQ sauce. Delicious.
Jill says
We made these last year for our Superbowl party and they were a big hit. Even to those who didn’t really care if their food was nutrient-dense or “healthy.” You can control the sugar somewhat by using less BBQ sauce.
I had to look this recipe up again as we plan to make them for this Sunday.
Thanks for the great resource Kelly!
Sue Chen says
Bacon wrapped dates. No extra sugar required. Very yummy. Found the recipe in the San Diego Union-Tribune last Christmas. The recipe called for stuffing the dates with chorizo, but the hole was so small I opted for just the bacon.
The Diaper Diaries says
Yummo!! I love me some bacon.
Julie @ Cultures for Health says
I agree with Elizabeth–you can’t go wrong with bacon! This is a great idea–I think I’ll be making this for Christmas Eve.
Mandy says
My mom would make these on New Year’s Eve every year when I was growing up – they were SOOOO good. I had forgotten about them until I saw this post – thanks, Kelly! Can’t wait to revisit the deliciousness! 🙂
Living A Whole Life says
Sounds yummy and I do need a new appetizer idea for Christmas! Thanks!
Karla
KitchenKop says
Hmmm, good question. They don’t really have much flavor, they just give it a nice crunch to go along with the yummy bacon & barbecue sauce flavors. You’ll love them!
Elizabeth from The Nourished Life says
Well, my theory is you can’t go wrong if there’s bacon involved. 🙂
That’s a delicious-looking recipe. I’ve never tried water chesnuts. What’s the flavor like?