Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese (Easy 3-Ingredient Appetizer)
If you need an appetizer that’s easy to make and gone in minutes, start here. You only need three ingredients and one sheet pan, and about 15 minutes of hands-on time. Then the oven does the rest.
Bacon wrapped dates with goat cheese cover every flavor at once: sweet from the dates, salty and crisp from the bacon, and tangy and creamy from the goat cheese. A little honey on top ties it all together. They’re great for holidays, game day, a cheese board, or any night you want something a little special.
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Why You’ll Love Them
- Three real ingredients. Everything else is optional garnish.
- Make-ahead friendly. Assemble the day before, bake when guests arrive.
- Sweet and salty without being fussy. The dates caramelize, the bacon crisps, the goat cheese goes soft and tangy.
- Crowd-proof. Gluten-free, and easy to scale from 8 to 80.
Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese (Easy 3-Ingredient Appetizer)
Bacon wrapped dates with goat cheese are an easy 3-ingredient appetizer with sweet dates, crispy bacon, and creamy cheese. Perfect for holidays and parties.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Set a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet (line the pan with foil for easy cleanup). No rack? Parchment works, you just won’t get quite as crisp on the bottom.
- Slice each date lengthwise down one side, just enough to open it like a little book. Pull out the pit. Check for pits even if the package says pitted, because one can sneak through.
- Press about 1 teaspoon of goat cheese into each date. Close it back up as best you can. It doesn’t need to be tidy.
- Wrap a half-slice of bacon around each date, seam side down, and secure with a toothpick.
- Arrange on the rack and bake 20 to 25 minutes, flipping once halfway through, until the bacon is browned and crisp.
- Let them cool for 3 minutes (the filling is very hot), then drizzle with honey, crack some pepper over the top, and sprinkle with thyme.
Notes
- Dates: Medjool dates work best. They’re large, soft, and caramel-y, so they’re easy to stuff. Deglet Noor dates are smaller and drier, which makes them harder to fill.
- Bacon: Regular or thin-cut bacon is the way to go. Thick-cut doesn’t fully render in the time it takes the dates to cook, so it can turn out chewy instead of crisp.
- Goat cheese: A plain log is easiest to work with. Crumbles are drier and harder to press into the dates.
Tips for Perfect Bacon Wrapped Dates
- Dates: Medjool dates work best. They’re large, soft, and caramel-y, so they’re easy to stuff. Deglet Noor dates are smaller and drier, which makes them harder to fill.
- Bacon: Regular or thin-cut bacon is the way to go. Thick-cut doesn’t fully render in the time it takes the dates to cook, so it can turn out chewy instead of crisp.
- Goat cheese: A plain log is easiest to work with. Crumbles are drier and harder to press into the dates.
- Use a baking rack if you can. Air circulating under the bacon is what gets it crisp all the way around.
- Stretch the bacon slightly as you wrap so it’s snug and doesn’t unravel.
- Don’t overfill. Too much cheese melts out and scorches on the pan. A teaspoon is plenty.
- Cool briefly before serving. The sugar in the dates gets extremely hot, so give them a few minutes before serving.
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- Sheet Pan – A sturdy rimmed sheet pan gives the bacon plenty of room to crisp without dripping all over the oven. Don’t forget a silicone baking mat for easy cleanup.Â
- Wire Baking Rack – Lifts the dates above the rendered bacon fat so they cook more evenly and get crisp on all sides.
- Hot Honey – A little drizzle over the finished dates adds sweet heat and is ridiculously good with tangy goat cheese.
- Cheese Knife or Small Spreader – Makes stuffing soft goat cheese into the dates much easier and far less messy.
- Appetizer Platter – Because these deserve better than being served straight off the sheet pan. A pretty platter makes them instantly party-ready.
- Cocktail Napkins – One of those little details that makes appetizers and drinks feel like an occasion, even if it’s just friends standing around the kitchen island.
Variations
- Almond-stuffed: Tuck a whole Marcona or smoked almond in with the cheese for crunch.
- Blue cheese: Swap in gorgonzola or Roquefort for a sharper bite.
- Hot honey: A drizzle of hot honey adds a little heat to go with the sweetness.
- Herby: Mix a pinch of chopped rosemary or thyme into the goat cheese before stuffing.
- Maple glaze: Brush the bacon with maple syrup for the last 5 minutes of baking.
Make Ahead, Storage, and Reheating
- Make ahead: Assemble through step 4, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Add 2 to 3 minutes to the bake time if going straight from the fridge.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days.
- Reheating: 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes. The microwave makes the bacon soft, so use the oven.
- Freezing: Freeze assembled, unbaked dates on a tray, then bag them. Bake from frozen at 400°F, adding 8 to 10 minutes.
How to Serve Bacon Wrapped Dates
Put them on a cheese board with crackers and grapes, or pair with a crisp white wine or something sparkling. They also sit nicely next to a simple arugula salad if you want a little green to balance the richness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use an air fryer? Yes. 375°F for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway, in a single layer.
Do I have to use goat cheese? Not at all. Cream cheese, blue cheese, or mascarpone all work well. Goat cheese has a tang that balances the sweetness nicely.
How many does one person eat? Plan on 3 to 4 per person for an appetizer, and a few more if they’re the star of the party.
Why isn’t my bacon crispy? Thick-cut bacon is the most common reason. Try regular-cut bacon and cook it on a wire rack.
Complete the Appetizer Spread
- Prosciutto-Wrapped Baked Brie with Cranberries – Warm, melty brie wrapped in crisp prosciutto with tart cranberries for another sweet-and-savory party bite.
- Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers – Smoky bacon, creamy filling, and a little heat make these another guaranteed disappearing appetizer.
- Whipped Feta Dip with Black Olives and Cherry Tomatoes (pictured) – Creamy, salty, and easy to set out with crackers or toasted bread for a simple grazing spread.
- Htipiti (Spicy Roasted Red Pepper Feta Dip) – A punchier feta dip with roasted peppers and just enough heat to balance richer appetizers.
- Caramelized Onion Dip – Rich, creamy, and packed with deeply browned onions, it’s an easy make-ahead dip that fits right into a holiday or game-day appetizer spread.
