Personally, I find chestnuts a real pain to cook and peel so I like to buy them ready to eat. Trader Joe’s sells some that are steamed, peeled, and vacuum-packed and other places carry them in jars. While I was catching up on my beauty sleep, Fitbomb got it into his head that he wanted to roast some up the old-fashioned way.
Time to make Roasted Chestnuts (From Your Toaster Oven)!
Makes 2 cups
Ingredients:
- 2 cups chestnuts
- ¼ cup of water
Equipment:
- All of my recommended kitchen tools are listed here.
He took 2 cups of chestnuts, scored the flat side of each with an X,
and placed them in a tightly sealed foil pack with ¼ cup of water.
He then placed the packet into our toaster oven which had been preheated to 375 F. The chestnuts took a good 45 minutes to get tender.
I asked Fitbomb how long it took to peel the chestnuts and he responded, “FOREVER!” They look really nice, though, don’t they? It’s a good thing my spouse has a mild, as-yet-undiagnosed case of OCD. My “peeled” chestnuts are completely covered with tough fiber-y bits. His roasted (and clean) chestnuts were definitely tastier than the store-bought pre-cooked ones but I just don’t have the patience to prepare them. It’s nice to have an anal hubby who will do it for me!
Looking for more recipe ideas? Head on over to my Recipe Index. You’ll also find exclusive recipes on my iPhone and iPad app, and in my cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2013), Ready or Not! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017), and Nom Nom Paleo: Let’s Go! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2021).
PRINTER-FRIENDLY RECIPE CARD
Roasted Chestnuts (From Your Toaster Oven!)

Ingredients
- 2 cups chestnuts scored on the flat side of each with an x
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Preheat your toaster oven to 375°F.
- Score each chestnut on the flat side with an X and place them in a tightly sealed foil pack with ¼ cup of water. Place the packet in the toaster oven for 45 minutes.
- Once cooled, peel the chestnuts. For best texture and flavor, make sure you take off the tough fiber-y bits!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.