A photo of 3-ingredient bacon wrapped dates with goat cheese with toothpicks inserted in the center on a platter.

Bacon wrapped dates with goat cheese are one of those appetizers that disappear the second you put them out. Sweet dates, creamy tangy goat cheese, and crispy bacon – it’s the perfect combination. These always get devoured at parties, and people are always surprised when I tell them they’re only 3 ingredients.

These have been a family favorite for years, and I’ve had this recipe on my blog since 2011. They’re my go-to for pretty much every gathering. Easy to make ahead, naturally gluten-free, and everyone loves them. Even people who say they don’t like dates end up going back for seconds.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

Only 3 ingredients. Dates, goat cheese, and bacon. That’s it. You don’t need fancy ingredients or a long shopping list.
Make ahead friendly. You can assemble these up to a day in advance and keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. Perfect for busy party prep.
Naturally gluten-free. No substitutions needed. These are safe for anyone with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities.

Searching for more gluten-free appetizer recipes ? Here are some of my favorites: Cranberry Goat Cheese Log / Cream Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers / Gluten-Free Bruschetta with Mozzarella

Ingredients

Close-up of bacon wrapped dates with goat cheese and toothpicks on a serving platter showing crispy bacon.

TIP

Regular-cut bacon is your best friend for this recipe. Thick-cut bacon looks impressive, but it takes so much longer to crisp up that your dates can get overcooked and dry by the time the bacon is done. Save the thick-cut for breakfast and stick with regular for these.

Ingredient Notes

Medjool dates – You want big, juicy medjool dates for this recipe. They’re much larger and meatier than deglet noor dates, which are too small and dry. Look for dates that are soft and plump, not hard and dried out. You’ll need to remove the pits by slicing the date lengthwise and pulling out the pit while keeping the bottom of the date intact. If you can’t find dates, dried figs work as a substitute.
Goat cheese – Use fresh goat cheese (chevre) that’s soft and spreadable, not aged goat cheese. It should come in a log and be easy to work with at room temperature. If you leave it out for about 30 minutes before stuffing, it’s much easier to handle. Plain goat cheese works best, but herb-flavored goat cheese is also delicious if you want extra flavor.
Bacon – Regular-cut bacon works better than thick-cut for this recipe. Thick-cut bacon takes longer to cook and can leave the dates overcooked by the time the bacon gets crispy. Any brand works, but make sure it’s gluten-free if you’re serving someone with celiac disease (most bacon is naturally gluten-free, but some brands add gluten-containing flavorings).

For the ingredient list with measurements, full instructions, printable recipe, and additional notes, please scroll down to the recipe card.

Recipe FAQs

Do I need to use toothpicks?

Toothpicks aren’t required, but they help keep the bacon from unwrapping during baking and they make the dates easier to serve at parties. If you don’t have toothpicks, just place the bacon seam side down on the baking sheet.

Can I make these dairy-free?

Yes. Skip the goat cheese and stuff the dates with an almond, almond butter, or cashew cheese instead. Or just leave them plain with no filling.

How do I know when the bacon is done?

The bacon should be golden brown and crispy, not soft or chewy. If parts of the bacon are still pale after the full baking time, add another 3-5 minutes.

Overhead view of bacon wrapped dates on a white plate with goat cheese filling visible.

Expert Tips

Let the goat cheese come to room temperature before stuffing. It’s much easier to work with when it’s soft.
Don’t overstuff the dates. About a teaspoon of goat cheese per date is plenty. Too much and it will ooze out during baking.
Use a wire rack on your baking sheet for extra crispy bacon. The bacon fat can drip away instead of pooling around the dates. Just make sure to place a foil-lined sheet underneath to catch the drippings.

Storage instructions

Make ahead: Assemble the bacon wrapped dates up to 24 hours in advance. Keep them covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake. They may need an extra 2-3 minutes in the oven if baking straight from the fridge.

Refrigerator: Store leftover baked dates in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for about 5-7 minutes until warmed through and the bacon crisps back up.

Freezer: You can freeze assembled (unbaked) dates for up to 1 month. Freeze them on a baking sheet first, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake from frozen, adding about 5 extra minutes to the cooking time.

A photo of a hand holding a bacon wrapped date over a platter of goat cheese stuffed dates.

Variations

Blue Cheese Stuffed Dates: Swap the goat cheese for crumbled blue cheese for a stronger, more pungent flavor. Blue cheese and bacon is a classic combination.

Almond Stuffed Dates: Skip the cheese and stuff each date with a whole roasted almond instead. This makes them dairy-free and adds a nice crunch.

Balsamic Glazed Dates: Drizzle the finished dates with balsamic glaze right before serving. The tanginess complements the sweet dates perfectly.

Spicy Bacon Wrapped Dates: Add a small pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the goat cheese before stuffing. Or use pepper bacon for a spicy kick.

Cream Cheese Stuffed Dates: Use regular cream cheese instead of goat cheese for a milder flavor that’s more kid-friendly.