Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese

Goat cheese stuffed Medjool dates, wrapped in bacon and drizzled with honey. Sweet, salty & creamy all in one delicious little appetizer!

These Bacon Wrapped Dates disappear FAST! I made a pan of these when some friends recently stopped by and by the time we all sat down, the plate was empty! My friends couldn’t even believe this recipe only has 4 ingredients!

Sweet, savory, tangy and a little bit salty…these little guys are SO good! They take about 15 minutes to prepare and another 15 minutes to cook in the oven. I love to serve these at holiday parties, on game day or any occasion that calls for an easy (but oh so delicious) appetizer!

Why These Work So Well

It’s all about balance. The Medjool dates provide sweetness and a sticky caramel-like texture. The bacon adds salt and crunch. The goat cheese adds a creaminess and tanginess to cut the sweetness. And they’re pretty to look at when plated: the bacon crisps up, and the glaze makes the dates look glossy. It sounds complicated, but you’re just stuffing and wrapping them and then baking them.

What You’ll Need

You only need a handful of things, so it is worth picking good ones.

Medjool dates are the best choice here. These are larger, softer, and sweeter than most dates. This leaves room for cheese! If possible, buy them pitted already. It’s a huge time-saver.

Goat cheese should be softened before you start. Let it sit on the counter for about 15 minutes so it is easy to spoon into the dates.

Thin cut bacon is important. It’s just that thick cut bacon takes too long to get crisp, and by the time it is done, the dates can begin to burn. Thin bacon wraps easily around the dates and crisps up just in time.

Honey goes on at the very end for a sweet, glossy finish. You will also need toothpicks to hold everything together.

How to Make Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese

Preheat oven to 375F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Bacon has a tendency to render quite a bit of fat, and the foil helps make cleanup easier.

Next, make a lengthwise slit down the side of each date. Don’t cut all the way through, you just want to open it up like a little pocket. (Most pitted dates will already have a slit in them.)

Spoon about 1 teaspoon of goat cheese into each date. Then pinch the date closed around the cheese so it stays inside while it bakes.

Tuck a half slice of bacon around each stuffed date, wrapping it tight. Use a toothpick to pin the bacon to the date, and place it on the baking sheet.

Bake for 15-20 minutes, turning them over once after about 10 minutes so that each side becomes equally crunchy. When they are browned, remove from oven, drizzle with honey and serve immediately while still warm.

Tips for Crispy Bacon Every Time

Place the dates seam side down on the pan. That keeps the bacon from unrolling before it has a chance to set.

Give them a little space on the sheet pan. If they are crowded together, the bacon steams instead of crisping.

Don’t skip the flip halfway through. The bottoms sit in the bacon fat and brown fast, so turning them helps both sides cook evenly. Flipping them allows both sides to cook at the same rate.

After 20 minutes, if the bacon still appears slightly uncooked, add 2-3 more minutes and watch carefully.

Easy Swaps and Variations

Don’t love goat cheese? Use blue cheese for a stronger flavor, or go with cream cheese for a milder taste that kids seem to prefer.

You could even stuff the date with a whole almond for a bit of crunch.

Want a little kick? Add a pinch of crushed red pepper to the goat cheese before closing the date.

Swap out the honey for hot honey, or add a balsamic glaze at the end.

Make Ahead and Storage

Dates can be stuffed and wrapped up to 1 day ahead of time and a prepared (but unbaked) pan can be kept, covered in the fridge. Bake right before your guests arrive (adding a minute or two to bake time).

To store leftovers, transfer any leftover Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates to an airtight container in the fridge and store for up to 3 days. When ready to enjoy leftovers again, pop them in an air fryer or oven and re-heat for about 5 minutes at 350°F until warmed and bacon is crispy again. You CAN pop them in the microwave if in a pinch but bacon will not be crispy.

What to Serve Them With

These are great for a holiday appetizer table alongside some cheese, shrimp cocktail, or stuffed mushrooms. Or you could just enjoy them while sipping a glass of wine or cocktail before dinner.

One of my guests is gluten free and these were perfect for her as well. The dates, goat cheese, bacon, and honey are all naturally gluten free. Make sure to read the label on your bacon to make sure that any added flavorings don’t contain gluten (a few brands do).

Make a double batch if you can. These are always the first thing gone.