These sweet & spicy bacon wrapped dates with goat cheese will really knock your guests' socks off! Stuffed dates with bacon sound fancy, look fancy, even taste fancy, but they're seriously super simple to make...
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Easy 4-Ingredient Party Appetizer
If you make just one new recipe this holiday reason, make it these sweet and spicy bacon wrapped dates with goat cheese!
The thing about these bacon wrapped stuffed dates is they sound fancy, they look fancy, and they even taste fancy -- but they're seriously EASY to make. Guests will *think* you put a ton of thought into preparing them, but they really take almost no time at all.
At their most basic, you take a soft and sweet pitted date, wrap it in a piece of salty bacon, and bake. But we're going to kick it up a notch (that's my inner Emeril coming through) by stuffing the dates with a little creamy, tangy goat cheese and finishing them off with a red pepper jelly glaze.
Four simple ingredients = BIG flavor... Bam!!!
Best Thick Cut Bacon For This Recipe
I've said it before, I'll say it again -- when it comes to super simple recipes like these bacon wrapped goat cheese dates, good quality ingredients matter!
I'm especially picky about my bacon... I like a good thick cut, hardwood smoked, uncured bacon, and Hatfield has one of the best! In addition to meeting all of my criteria, their new uncured extra thick cut bacon is also hormone-free, minimally processed, and contains no nitrites and nitrates and no preservatives.
As they say, "The best bacon doesn't need anything extra," and I couldn't agree more. This is a bacon I'd totally go out of my way for! But thankfully I don't have to, because they carry it at my local grocery store...
How To Make Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates
First off, there's just no clean and neat way to accomplish making these yummy bacon wrapped goat cheese dates. Your hands are going to get messy, and frequent hand washing will be necessary -- but the results are SO worth it.
Start by slicing the dates down one side. If you accidentally bought dates with pits, remove and discard them. Use your fingers to liberally stuff each one with goat cheese, then wrap each tightly in in a piece of bacon. Arrange them on a baking sheet, and bake until the bacon is crisp.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven, and brush each bacon wrapped date generously with warmed hot pepper jelly. Pop the tray back in the oven for about three more minutes, then remove and cool before serving.
FOR REAL! You will be tempted to sample one immediately, but these babies will burn your mouth off right out of the oven.
Tips For Making Bacon Wrapped Dates
As simple as making these bacon wrapped dates with goat cheese is, I do have some tried and true tips for getting the best results. And of course, I'm going to share them!
- Through trial and error, I discovered that the easiest way to slice the dates is to hold them vertically, sticking your paring knife down in, and then pull it down one side. If your knife sticks and you need a little more leverage, you can just hold it horizontally with the date still on it, and cut through it on your cutting board.
- Different thicknesses of bacon will yield different results. Thinner bacon will cook more quickly than thick-cut bacon, so keep that in mind and adjust your cooking time accordingly.
- Place the dates wrapped in bacon seam side down on a wire cooling rack set over a rimmed baking sheet. The wire cooling rack will allow for heat circulation making for crispy bacon on all sides, and the rimmed baking sheet will catch any grease drippings.
- Warming the red pepper jelly makes it easier to spread it on the bacon wrapped dates. Instead of breaking out a saucepan for the stovetop, I just scoop it into a ramekin, and pop it into the oven to warm through when the dates have about 10 minutes remaining to bake. Smart, huh?
- Toothpicks aren't necessary to hold everything together while baking, but they do make it easier for guests to eat when serving. Place a little container nearby or stick one in each date while plating.
- These bacon wrapped dates with goat cheese can be assembled a day or two ahead of time and put into the oven right before guests arrive. If you're taking them to a gathering, you can bake them before you leave and cover them with foil to keep them warm. Or you can always serve them cold... Trust me, they're just as delicious cold. I've been eating the leftovers like they're going out of style!
Add these four ingredient to your shopping list right now, and you'll be all set for those last-minute holiday shindigs:
- 🥓 Bacon
- 🧀 Goat cheese
- 🫙 Dates
- 🌶️ Red pepper jelly
Seriously, they're puurrrffffect for all occasions, no matter how upscale or low-key. Holiday parties? Check. Tailgating? Check. Just because they sound amazing? Check.
Of course, if you just want to make them for no special reason at all, I promise I won't tell! Even if you eat the last three on the plate when no one is looking. Not that I've ever done that or anything...
Sweet & Spicy Bacon Wrapped Dates With Goat Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon, cut into thirds
- 1 8-oz. package pitted dates
- 1 4-oz. package goat cheese
- ¼ cup red pepper jelly, warmed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Set a wire cooling rack over a rimmed baking sheet.
- Slice each date horizontally on one side. Use your fingers to stuff each date liberally with goat cheese. Wrap tightly with one piece of bacon. Set the bacon wrapped dates seam side down on the wire cooling rack.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes until the bacon is crisp. Remove the baking sheet from the oven, and brush each bacon wrapped date generously with the red pepper jelly. Place the baking sheet back in the oven for 3 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Store leftovers in the fridge.
Notes
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
More Easy Bacon Wrapped Recipes To Try
If you like this bacon wrapped dates recipe, you might also enjoy these other delicious "bacon wrapped" recipes:
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- Bacon Wrapped Grilled Corn On The Cob
- Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
- Keto Fried Pickles Wrapped In Bacon
You might also be interested in checking out how to cook bacon in the oven. Oven baked bacon is HANDS DOWN the easiest way to get perfectly crispy and delicious bacon with the least amount of mess!
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @unsophisticook on Instagram and hashtag it #unsophisticook.
Tabathia B says
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/947586544545738753
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Tabathia B says
I like bacon wrapped asparagus
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Sarah L says
https://twitter.com/slehan/status/947585380424941568
Sarah L says
I like to top my deviled eggs with bacon.
Thanks for the contest.
Jerry Marquardt says
I publicly Tweeted this giveaway: https://twitter.com/versatileer/status/947562039622422529
Jerry Marquardt says
My favorite Bacon recipe to make for the holidays is Curled Bacon and Cheese Dropettes.
Kathryn C says
my #SweepstakesEntry tweet:
https://twitter.com/thrincor/status/947521359378137090
Kathryn C
kacor7@hotmail.com
Kathryn C says
#SweepstakesEntry- comment
I haven’t tried to make yet but I had these at a holiday dinner: bacon wrapped shrimp, delicious! I will have to make these
Kathryn C
kacor7@hotmail.com
Jerry Marquardt says
My favorite Bacon recipe to make for the holidays is Curled Bacon and Cheese Dropettes.
hannah says
my favorite holiday bacon recipe is actually bacon wrapped dates! Haha. I think your update on them looks fabulous though!
Cheryl B says
Tweeted https://mobile.twitter.com/arress83/status/947305221016997888
Cheryl B says
We love a bacon wrapped shrimps and steak kabobs.
Latanya says
https://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/947275369794633730
Latanya says
BLT sliders
Erica Best says
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/947233586859606021
Erica Best says
I love green bean and potatoes with bacon
Susan Christy says
Pig Candy is a requirement on my Christmas Eve Snack table and everyone's favorite.
Barbara Montag says
Tweeted https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/946939144458199040
Barbara Montag says
This is going to sound different.
On Christmas eve we grill brats wrapped in bacon.
We have been doing this for a couple of years.
thank you
Thomas Murphy says
tweeted
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/946929603586732033
Thomas Murphy says
I like making bacon wrapped scallops
Barbara Montag says
This is going to sound different.
On Christmas eve we grill brats wrapped in bacon.
We have been doing this for a couple of years.
thank you
Elizabeth pergande says
https://twitter.com/eliza_elliott/status/946838787736424448
Elizabeth pergande says
I like to cook with bacon, it is easy to prepare and is always a big hit.
Stephanie Phelps says
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/my4boysand1/status/946461443876098048