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These super easy Bacon Wrapped Dates are made from just 2 ingredients and will be the star of any dinner party. Sweet & salty and just the right size, there's just never enough of them!
I'm not sure when I had my first bacon-wrapped date, but I know it was a long time ago. Mallorca -07, perhaps? Or even earlier? Who knows!
By now they're such an ingrained part of my repertoire that when shopping for any dinner party these ingredients just end up in my bag without me even thinking. It's so easy, you know?
Everyone loves them, and they're perfect to snack on while the main dinner's getting ready.
Why you will love this recipe
- It's so, so easy - you won't believe it
- It's so quick - just a few minutes of prep and 15-20 minutes in the oven
- Salty & sweet is a winning combination
- Everyone loves them - yes, they will be the first thing to finish
What you need to make them
Ingredient notes
- Fresh dates - I prefer Medjool dates with the pit intact
- Bacon - you can do one strip or half a strip of bacon per date, I usually do half. If you use a whole strip, they will need at least 20 minutes in the oven.
How to make them
- Remove the pit from the dates
- Wrap each date in a half or whole streak of bacon
- Place them on a lined oven tray seam-side down - this way they will stay wrapped up while they cook
- Cook in the middle of the oven at 440°F (225°C) for 15-20 minutes, turning once halfway. When done, there will be a lot of fat on the parchment paper that's run off the bacon - that's normal.
Tips & tricks
- Prep ahead by placing uncooked bacon wrapped dates in the fridge for up to 24 hours, and then cooking in a preheated oven for 20 minutes
- Make them all the way ahead of time and just heat up in the oven or microwave just before serving - they will still taste amazing!
- Load the dates with cheese for an extra treat - blue cheese, goat cheese and Feta cheese are great options
- Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days
- Heat leftovers in the oven or microwave
- For vegetarians, make these Feta Stuffed Dates instead
Recipe FAQ
You can use a pairing knife and cut lengthwise down each date, and then gently pull the date open and pick out the pit.
However, I prefer to just use my fingers - I break apart the date with my thumbs and then just pick out the pit. Since we're wrapping the dates in bacon anyway, it really doesn't matter if the dates look all that pretty!
Yes, they are amazing to reheat. Just heat them for a minute in the microwave or for 5 minutes in an oven preheated to 300°F (150°C).
Healthy always depends on who you ask. But this one is actually not as unhealthy at it might seem - it's made from just "real food" ingredients, dates contain a lot of healthy fiber and you're only using half a slice of bacon to wrap each of them.
Possible variations
There are so many ways you can vary this recipe - here are some of my favorites:
- Skip the bacon and just fill the dates with cheese - I love Feta Stuffed Dates but you can also use a blue cheese like gorgonzola or roquefort, or a goat cheese like chèvre
- Fill the dates with cheese and then wrap them in bacon - for an extra indulgent treat
- Swap the pit for a nut (for example an almond or a pecan) and then wrap the dates in bacon
- Brush them with honey or maple syrup for an extra sweet touch
More snackable appetizers
Love snackable appetizers, like these bacon wrapped dates? Or looking to create a whole tapas spread? Then check out these recipes:
- Air Frye Pizza Rolls
- Fried Feta Cheese
- Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
- Air Fryr Spring Rolls
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings
- Ezme - Spicy Turkish Salsa [Vegan & Gluten free]
- Air Fryer Potato Wedges
- Hummus [Vegan & Gluten free]
- Salmon Pâté with Hot Smoked Salmon
Did you love this recipe? Rate it 5 stars!
...and let me know what you loved about it in the comments.
Bacon Wrapped Dates
Print RateIngredients
- 12 Medjool dates*
- 6 strips bacon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 440°F (225°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Pit the dates and slice the bacon in half across
- Wrap each date in half a slice of bacon. Place them on the baking sheet seam-side down.
- Cook in the middle of the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the bacon is cooked and a bit crispy. Turn once halfway. Serve immediately!
Equipment needed for this recipe
Video
Notes
Tips & tricks
- Prep ahead by placing uncooked bacon wrapped dates in the fridge for up to 24 hours, and then cooking in a preheated oven for 20 minutes
- Make them all the way ahead of time and just heat up in the oven or microwave just before serving - they will still taste amazing!
- Load the dates with cheese for an extra treat - blue cheese, goat cheese and Feta cheese are great options
- Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days
- Heat leftovers in the oven or microwave
- For vegetarians, make these Feta Stuffed Dates instead
- Want more bacon? Wrap a whole slice of bacon around each date, instead of a half. They will then need at least 20 minutes in the oven.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.
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