• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Flavour and Savour
  • About Me
  • Use of Recipes and Images
  • Appetizers
  • Baking
  • Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
  • Gluten-Free Desserts
  • Main Dishes
  • Healthy Salad Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About Me
  • Use of Recipes and Images
  • Appetizers
  • Baking
  • Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
  • Gluten-Free Desserts
  • Main Dishes
  • Healthy Salad Recipes
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Air Fryer Recipes » Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Dates

    Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Dates

    Published: Oct 1, 2021 · Modified: Oct 22, 2021 by Elaine · This post may contain Amazon affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This blog generates income via ads · 15 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Image and text overlay Bacon-Wrapped Dates
    Pinterest Pin for Bacon Wrapped Dates in an air fryer
    Image and text for Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Dates
    Image and text overlay Bacon-Wrapped Dates

    Sweet dates, smoky bacon, and creamy cheese, all in one tasty bite! These Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Dates make a delicious finger food appetizer. Cooked quickly and evenly in an air fryer, this recipe needs only three ingredients. Make ahead and freeze for a tapas night at home!

    Close up view of stuffed dates wrapped in bacon

    Not simply Bacon-Wrapped Dates, these are Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Dates! A favourite 3-ingredient finger food, now baked to crispy, squishy perfection in your air fryer.

    You'll know my love for these two-bite appetizers if you've read my recipe for How to Make Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Dates in the oven.

    Naturally sweet, soft dates, creamy cheese, smoky bacon, all in one neat and tidy package, ready to pop in your mouth! And now with an air fryer, you can avoid turning on the oven, and clean-up will be minimal. If you're looking for a make-ahead bacon appetizer that everyone loves, this is it!

    A square plate of bacon wrapped dates with two glasses of wine

    🛒 Ingredients

    Ready to make a quick batch? You only need three ingredients.

    Medjool dates: these are large, soft and squishy dates, perfect for wrapping in bacon. Smaller baking dates will not work with this recipe. Medjool dates are not dried fruit. They're actually fresh. They're harvested from the date palm and packaged right away with no processing required. Read more about their health benefits in this article, Everything You Need to Know about Medjool Dates.

    goat cheese: or other soft cheese, like blue cheese or cream cheese. These are also delicious with Manchego cheese, or sharp cheddar.

    bacon slices

    🔪 Instructions

    These bacon-wrapped stuffed dates make a quick and easy appetizer or snack, especially when cooked in an air fryer. Here's a quick overview of what you'll do. You'll find complete directions in the recipe card below.

    1. Begin by removing the pit from each date. Use a sharp paring knife to cut a little slit lengthwise on one side of the date. The pit will come out easily.
    2. Fill the cavity with a small amount (about a teaspoon) of goat cheese, or cheese of your choice.
    3. Once you've stuffed the opening, gently pinch the date closed to keep the cheese in before wrapping with bacon.
    4. Cut bacon slices in half widthwise. Place the filled date on one end of the slice, roll, and secure with a toothpick.
    5. Air fry at 360°F. for 12 minutes, checking partway through. Air frying cooking times are always a basic guideline. It's a good idea to test recipes first in your own air fryer and adjust the time as needed.
    • raw Medjool dates in a plastic container
      1. Choose plump Medjool dates.
    • filling dates with goat cheese
      2. Remove pit and fill cavity with cheese.
    • wrapping stuffed dates with bacon
      3. Wrap stuffed dates with a half slice of bacon.
    • raw bacon-wrapped stuffed dates in a Ninja air fryer
      4. Air fry at 360°F. for 12 minutes.

    👍🏼 Helpful Tips

    • The easiest way to stuff dates is to fill a piping bag with goat cheese and use a frosting tip to pipe it into the cavity. An even easier way is to buy the goat cheese in a tube, snip off one of the corners, and squeeze it into the date.
    • Don't overfill. If you're using blue cheese or cream cheese, just use a small spoon. For Manchego, simply cut a small slice. Use about 1 teaspoon of cheese per date, depending on their size. Don't overfill, or the cheese will melt and leak out while the dates are baking.
    • Thinly sliced bacon works best, as it cooks faster. You'll only need half a slice for each date.
    • Overlap the bacon. Wrap each date so that there is just a small amount of overlap and secure it with a toothpick. To prevent the bacon from coming off the date, make sure to insert the toothpick in the meaty part of the bacon and not the fat. If the bacon slice has too much of an overlap, part of it will not cook evenly.

    🔁 Possible Variations

    Change the type of cheese you use. Instead of goat cheese, try blue cheese, cream cheese, or another strong-flavoured cheese like sharp cheddar.

    Or you could keep these authentically Spanish and serve them as tapas filled with Manchego cheese.

    You may want to fill some of the dates with one type of cheese, and some with another, remembering that not everyone loves blue cheese!

    Close up overhead view of bacon wrapped dates

    A make-ahead bacon appetizer

    Can you make these ahead of time? Yes! Fill the dates with cheese, wrap in bacon, secure with a toothpick, then freeze on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer the dates wrapped in bacon to a freezer storage bag and freeze for up to a month.

    Let thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then follow the air frying instructions in the recipe card.

    🍽 Serving Suggestions

    Add these to a grazing board or an antipasto platter. Make these bacon-wrapped stuffed dates just one of the items for a meal made entirely of finger foods.

    You might also like these Air Fryer Prawn and Chorizo Skewers or Air Fryer Shishito Peppers with Lemon Aioli.

    Don't forget to make a big pitcher of Cranberry Apple Cider Sangria to go with these!

    Check my Appetizer Category for more ideas or use any of the recipes below. Enjoy these dates with bacon!

    🗒 More finger food recipes

    • Mini Cheese Balls on a Stick
    • Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates with Walnuts and Mint
    • 5 Tips for Making Crostini Appetizers
    • 20 Easy Finger Food Appetizers
    • Garlic Lovers' Blue Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

    Equipment

    This is the air fryer I use. I like it because it's not too big to store in my kitchen, it works well, and it's incredibly easy to clean. (affiliate link)

    🗒 More appetizers and finger food recipes

    • Close up view of a wedge of tortilla española on a plate with a fork.
      Tortilla Española - Traditional Spanish Tortilla Tapas
    • Greek tzatziki sauce in a bowl with fresh vegetables and naan bead.
      How to Make Authentic Greek Tzatziki Sauce
    • A board with fresh raw vegetables and a bowl of dill dip.
      Greek Yogurt Dill Dip Without Mayo: Fresh and Creamy
    • A collage of images for crispy air fryer chicken wings.
      6 Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings

    📖 Recipe

    Close up view of stuffed dates wrapped in bacon

    Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Dates

    Sweet dates, smoky bacon and creamy cheese, all in one tasty bite! These Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Dates make a delicious finger food appetizer.
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: North American, Spanish
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes
    Total Time: 27 minutes
    Servings: 12 dates
    Calories: 84kcal
    Author: Elaine
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    Air Fryer
    toothpicks

    Ingredients

    • 12 large Medjool dates
    • 12 teaspoon soft goat cheese or blue cheese, about ¼ cup
    • 6 strips bacon, hormone free, nitrate-free sliced crosswise (not thick-cut bacon)
    • 12 sturdy toothpicks

    Instructions

    • With a small sharp knife, make a lengthwise slit in one side of each date and remove the pit.
    • Stuff about 1 teaspoon of cheese into the cavity.
    • Cut bacon slices in half, widthwise, to make 12 pieces.
    • Lay the filled date on one end of a half slice of bacon. Roll up and secure with a toothpick.
    • Preheat the air fryer to 390°F. for 3 minutes. Place the wrapped dates in the air fryer basket so they are not touching each other. Set the timer for 8 minutes. When time is up, open the air fryer drawer and either give the basket a good shake or use tongs to flip the dates over. Continue cooking for 3 - 5 minutes, or until bacon is crisp.
    • Drain on paper towel. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.
    • Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container.

    Notes

    1. The easiest way to stuff dates is to fill a piping bag with goat cheese and use a frosting tip to pipe it into the cavity. An even easier way is to buy the goat cheese in a tube, snip off one of the corners, and squeeze it into the date.
    2. If you're using blue cheese or cream cheese, just use a small spoon. For Manchego, simply cut a small slice. Use about 1 teaspoon of cheese per date, depending on their size. Don't overfill, or the cheese will melt and leak out while the dates are baking.
    3. Thinly sliced bacon works best, as it cooks faster. You'll only need half a slice for each date.
    4. Wrap each date so that there is just a small amount of overlap and secure it with a toothpick. To prevent the bacon from coming off the date, make sure to insert the toothpick in the meaty part of the bacon and not the fat. If the bacon slice has too much of an overlap, part of it will not cook evenly.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 84kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 19mg | Potassium: 167mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 87IU | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @enessman or tag #flavourandsavour!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Fiona

      December 09, 2021 at 12:05 pm

      5 stars
      Zero leftovers here! These were snapped up. So good. Will be making these on repeat.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        December 09, 2021 at 12:18 pm

        Hi Fiona,
        Thanks for letting me know, and thanks for the 5 star rating!

        Reply
    2. Lara

      October 25, 2021 at 11:58 am

      5 stars
      Amazing. That's all I have to say. These got snapped up! Will definitely be making them again.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        October 25, 2021 at 12:04 pm

        Lol. Happy to hear that! Thanks for taking the time to comment!

        Reply
    3. Alie C

      October 04, 2021 at 9:56 am

      5 stars
      Great recipe and so easy to make. I didn’t use a toothpick and it still kept together!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        October 04, 2021 at 1:04 pm

        I'm happy to hear that, Alie! Glad you liked these, and thanks for the 5 stars!

        Reply
    4. Darielle

      July 22, 2021 at 2:32 pm

      5 stars
      A great recipe! Made these for a pool party on the weekend. Love my air fryer!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        July 22, 2021 at 4:02 pm

        Happy to hear that you liked these!

        Reply
    5. Erik J.

      February 13, 2021 at 8:33 pm

      5 stars
      I have a Ninja air fryer and five minutes total cooking time was just right as they run high. Other than than that a fine and easy recipe. As far as leftovers go, what left leftovers?

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        February 13, 2021 at 9:01 pm

        Yes, I find my Ninja cooks many foods faster than some other recipes recommend. Thanks for commenting and thanks for the 5 stars! We never have any leftovers either!

        Reply
    6. Marnie

      January 19, 2021 at 12:27 pm

      5 stars
      These are incredibly good! I'm going to make them for hockey-watching nights!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        January 19, 2021 at 12:39 pm

        Great to have hockey nights back! Enjoy.

        Reply
    7. Elizabeth

      November 24, 2020 at 5:38 am

      5 stars
      Delicious!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        November 24, 2020 at 10:19 am

        Thanks, Elizabeth! We love these, too!

        Reply
    8. Elise

      November 12, 2020 at 3:29 pm

      5 stars
      I use your recipe for bacon-wrapped dates cooked in the oven often, so I know I'm going to love these ones, now that I have an air fryer!

      Reply

    Leave a comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Find the perfect recipe

    Elaine from Flavour and Savour

    Welcome! I'm Elaine

    Gluten-free Made Easy!

    I create delicious gluten-free recipes that everyone can make. I’m here to show you that gluten-free eating doesn’t have to be complicated! I’ll help you make healthy meals that you’ll want to share with family and friends. About Me!

    Popular Posts

    • Two mugs of affogato coffee.
      How to Make an Affogato Coffee Dessert
    • A slice of one-bowl flourless lemon almond cake topped with strawberries and a mint leaf.
      One-Bowl Flourless Lemon Almond Cake
    • two flutes of rhubarb prosecco cocktail
      Rhubarb Bellini Prosecco Cocktail
    • a bowl of roasted rainbow carrots
      Roasted Carrots with Honey-Mustard Glaze

    Spring Favourites

    • Image with text for gluten-free desserts for Easter and Spring.
      Gluten-Free Desserts for Easter and Spring
    • Cherry Crisp with ice cream
      Cherry Crisp with Frozen Cherries
    • pouring honey-lime vinaigrette on kiwi cuc
      Kiwi Cucumber Salad with Walnuts and Fresh Mint
    • strawberry spinach salad with strawberry vinaigrette
      Strawberry Spinach Salad with Strawberry Dressing
    Brands that feature Flavour and Savour.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    About Me

    Privacy Policy

    Accessibility Statement

    Newsletter

    SIGN UP HERE

    for weekly recipes and tips!

    Contact

    Contact me

    Use of Recipes and Images

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Copyright © 2015 - 2023