Crispy Beef Bacon Wrapped Dates (Printer-friendly)
Savory beef bacon wraps around creamy goat cheese stuffed dates for a crispy appetizer.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Dates & Filling
01 - 16 large Medjool dates, pitted
02 - 2 oz goat cheese or cream cheese, softened
→ Bacon
03 - 8 strips beef bacon, cut in half crosswise
→ Optional Garnish
04 - 1 tablespoon honey
05 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
# How to Make It:
01 - Slice each date lengthwise to create a pocket and remove the pit if necessary.
02 - Fill each date with approximately 1 teaspoon of softened goat cheese.
03 - Wrap each stuffed date with half a strip of beef bacon and secure with a toothpick if needed.
04 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes.
05 - Place the wrapped dates in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not touch.
06 - Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until bacon is crispy and browned.
07 - Remove from the air fryer, allow to cool slightly, then drizzle with honey and sprinkle parsley if desired.
08 - Serve the bacon-wrapped dates warm as an appetizer.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Takes 25 minutes total but tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen.
- Sweet, savory, and crispy all at once—the flavor contrast is genuinely addictive.
- Naturally gluten-free and impressive enough for entertaining without being fussy.
- The air fryer does the work; you just shake the basket once and walk away.
02 -
- Don't skip the halfway shake—bacon that sits in one spot cooks unevenly and ends up chewy on one side and burnt on the other.
- If your goat cheese is cold, it won't meld into the date pocket, so those five minutes of softening time at room temperature make the difference between elegant and messy.
- Once assembled, these can be refrigerated for up to a day before cooking, which is genuinely helpful when entertaining.
03 -
- If bacon keeps slipping off, lightly pat the dates dry before wrapping—moisture is the enemy of a tight wrap.
- Don't crowd the air fryer basket; even one date touching another will steam on that side instead of crisping, and you'll taste the difference.
- Beef bacon is worth seeking out for this recipe, but if you can only find pork bacon, use it—just be prepared for it to shrink more, so you may need to wrap some dates twice.