Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes | Servings: 16 dates
These Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese are the ultimate crowd-pleasing appetizer. Sweet Medjool dates stuffed with tangy goat cheese and wrapped in crispy bacon. Just 3 ingredients and 30 minutes to make the most addictive sweet-salty appetizer ever. Perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any party.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Only 3 ingredients. Dates, goat cheese, and bacon. That’s it. Simple ingredients, incredible flavor.
Sweet, salty, and tangy perfection. The combination of sweet dates, salty bacon, and tangy goat cheese is absolutely mind-blowing.
They disappear fast. These are dangerously addictive. Make a double batch because they’ll be gone in seconds.
Easy but impressive. They look fancy and elegant but take just 10 minutes to prep.
Perfect for any occasion. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, game day, or just because. These work for everything.
Tips for Success
Use thin-cut bacon. Thin bacon crisps up better and faster than thick-cut. It wraps around the dates more easily too.
Use Medjool dates. They’re larger, softer, and sweeter than other varieties. Perfect for stuffing.
Soften the goat cheese. Let it sit at room temperature for easier stuffing.
Don’t overstuff. About 1 teaspoon of goat cheese per date is perfect. Too much will ooze out.
Use the toothpick trick. Turning the dates with toothpicks ensures even browning on all sides.
Watch closely at the end. Bacon can go from perfect to burnt quickly. Check frequently in the last few minutes.
Let them rest. They’re molten hot when they first come out. Let them cool for 5 minutes.
Make ahead. Assemble the dates up to 24 hours ahead, refrigerate, and bake when ready to serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use thick-cut bacon? Thin-cut bacon works best because it crisps up faster and wraps more easily. Thick-cut can work but may need longer cooking time.
What if my bacon didn’t cook through? Make sure the bacon only wraps around 1.5 times. If it’s too thick, it won’t cook properly. Trim the bacon slices shorter if needed.
Can I make these in the air fryer? Yes! Preheat air fryer to 390°F. Cook for 8 minutes, shake the basket (or turn with toothpicks), then cook another 3-5 minutes until crispy.
Can I use a different cheese? Absolutely! Blue cheese, feta, cream cheese, or even manchego all work great.
How do I make them extra crispy? Increase oven temperature to 375°F and bake a few minutes longer, watching closely.
Can I make these ahead? Yes! Assemble up to 24 hours ahead, cover, and refrigerate. Bake when ready to serve.
Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese (3-Ingredient Appetizer!)
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.
- Prep the dates. Slice each date lengthwise on one side to create an opening. Remove the pit if not already pitted.
- Stuff with goat cheese. Using a small spoon, stuff about 1 teaspoon of goat cheese into the cavity of each date. Press the sides together gently to close around the cheese.
- Wrap with bacon. Cut each bacon slice in half crosswise. Wrap each stuffed date with a half slice of bacon, wrapping around about 1.5 times. The bacon should cover most of the date. Secure with a toothpick through the center.
- Arrange on baking sheet. Place the bacon-wrapped dates on the prepared baking sheet, seam side down, spacing them evenly.
- Bake the first side. Bake for 10 minutes.
- Turn and continue baking. Remove from the oven and use the toothpicks to turn each date onto its side. Bake for another 5-8 minutes until the bacon is browned.
- Turn again. Turn the dates to the other side and bake for another 5-8 minutes until the bacon is crispy and browned all around.
- Drain and rest. Remove from the oven and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving (they’ll be very hot!).
- Serve. Arrange on a platter and serve warm. Watch them disappear!
Nutrition Information (Per Serving)
Calories: 80 Protein: 3g Carbohydrates: 8g Fat: 4g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 7g
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