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4-Ingredient Sweet & Spicy Bacon Wrapped Dates With Goat Cheese

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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...

hand holding a bamboo toothpick with a stuffed date

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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!!!

bacon for goat cheese stuffed dates

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...

Bacon Wrapped Dates With Goat Cheese

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.

dates wrapped in bacon with goat cheese on a wire cooling rack

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!

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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?
  5. 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.
  6. 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!
bacon wrapped dates with goat cheese on a white ceramic plate with bamboo toothpicks

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...

bacon wrapped dates with goat cheese and red pepper jelly glaze on a bamboo toothpick

Sweet & Spicy Bacon Wrapped Dates With Goat Cheese

Yield: 30 bacon wrapped dates
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

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...

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

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Set a wire cooling rack over a rimmed baking sheet.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Store leftovers in the fridge.

Notes

Baking time will vary based on the thickness of your bacon. Thinner bacon will take less time to bake, and thicker bacon will take longer to bake.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 15 Serving Size: 2 stuffed dates
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 161Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 519mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 0gSugar: 3gProtein: 11g

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

Have you tried this recipe?

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© Tara Kuczykowski
Cuisine: American / Category: Appetizer

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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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.

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Comments

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  1. Erica Best says

    I love green bean and potatoes with bacon

    Reply

  2. Susan Christy says

    Pig Candy is a requirement on my Christmas Eve Snack table and everyone's favorite.

    Reply

  4. 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

    Reply

  6. Thomas Murphy says

    I like making bacon wrapped scallops

    Reply

  8. Elizabeth pergande says

    I like to cook with bacon, it is easy to prepare and is always a big hit.

    Reply

  10. Stephanie Phelps says

    I love to make my Christmas Breakfast Bacon Casserole recipe.

    Reply

  12. Ellie Wright says

    I like to make bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers. I also use bacon in a big pot of black eyed peas for New Years.

    Reply

  14. Linda C says

    Bacon wrapped asparagus.

    Reply

  16. Vincent says

    I made bacon wrapped dates last year and they were delicious! I'd also love to try using some of their ham in some mini quiches.

    Reply

  17. Elle says

    I love bacon wrapped stuffed peppers.

    Reply

  19. Geoff T says

    I like bacon-wrapped scallops!

    Reply

  21. Tamra H says

    We always have BLTs on Christmas morning, they're our family's favorite!

    Reply

  23. LAMusing says

    I love bacon wrapped shrimp!

    Reply

  25. Kat says

    My favorite thing to make for the holidays is a big pot of spaghetti and meatballs for Christmas Eve. It's a family tradition that everyone looks forward to.

    Reply

  26. healthy dinner deas says

    Thanks so much for recipe, pinned.

    Reply

  27. Valerie L says

    bacon wrapped pork loin

    Reply

  29. Melissa R says

    I like making cheese-stuffed, bacon-wrapped jalapeños!

    Reply

  30. Caitlyn D says

    I'm going to be making these plus bacon & crescent roll wrapped asparagus this week. Yum.

    Reply

  32. Sandra U. says

    My kids love bacon wrapped asparagus baked in the oven. YUMMY!!!

    Reply

  33. Maureen Clipperton says

    We like bacon cupcakes.

    Reply

  34. Rebecca D says

    We like a breakfast casserole with bacon.

    Reply

  36. Wendy Pesce says

    I once had bacon wrapped water chestnuts, with a bbq sauce. they were so good!

    Reply

  38. Renee Rousseau says

    My favorite bacon recipe to make for the holidays is bacon wrapped scallop hors-d'oeuvres.

    Reply

  39. Noel says

    love pigs in a blanket

    Reply

  41. Jeffrey says

    I love dates and usually have them before a long run. I stuff them with a bit of almond butter, they're a great energy source.
    Bacon is just another form of candy in my eyes, it makes everything better! I like adding bacon to my homemade macaroni & cheese!

    Reply

  43. Rebecca W says

    I like to bake homemade cinnamon rolls for my family at Christmas time, and a few strips of bacon along with a hot cup of coffee are the perfect accompaniment! Everyone loves bacon!

    Reply

  45. Cynthia C says

    I like to make Grilled Bacon Jalapeno Wraps appetizers for the holidays.

    Reply

  47. Margaret Smith says

    My favorite is Bacon wrapped shrimp and bacon wrapped scallops.
    Thanks so much.

    Reply

  49. Rachel says

    My favorite holiday bacon recipe is bacon wrapped watercress nuts.

    Reply
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