Make tailgating better with a batch of Bacon-Wrapped Dates with chorizo! They’re an easy appetizer you can make for a crowd on game day or any holiday gathering.
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Bacon-Wrapped Dates Recipe
Football season! It’s here, finally. I’ve been waiting all summer. A couple of weeks ago I got to watch the first game of the year with friends and family at a dear fellow fan’s house. It was awesome to finally watch football again!
Oh, and the food. Football fans sure know how to eat, whether it’s appetizers or pulled pork bowls. One of my favorites are bacon-wrapped dates.
Also called devils-on-horseback, bacon-wrapped dates are slightly spicy and meaty treats — the perfect sweet-and-savory appetizer. They’re often served at Christmastime, too.
(The name devils-on-horseback is a variation on angels-on-horseback, which are bacon-wrapped oysters!)
Why you’ll love this recipe
Anything bacon-wrapped is always wonderful. (Hello, bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin and bacon-wrapped cheese smokies by West Via Midwest.) These dates are no different. Here’s why you’ll love them:
- Sweet, salty and a little spicy, this is a meaty appetizer that’s sure to please any palate.
- Serve them to a crowd of hungry tailgaters or at a holiday party. They’re delicious all year long.
- They are easily transported, so you can make them ahead of time and bring to an event.
I’m not sure what I love more: the spicy meaty center or the sweet date it’s enrobed in. Or perhaps it’s the crispy bacon on the outside…
Or maybe it’s the fact that you can just pop one of these in your mouth for a burst of all these flavors and textures. (What the heck — go for two.) They’re the perfect finger food.
Ingredients
You only need three ingredients for this easy appetizer recipe.
- chorizo sausage: Chorizo is a little spicy, so if that’s not your thing, you can substitute Italian sausage or even breakfast sausage.
- medjool dates: You can find these at most grocery stores. Make sure to get pitted ones, or use a cherry pitter to get the pit out yourself. You can also use prunes instead.
- thinly-sliced bacon: Thicker bacon will take longer to cook and may result in a crispier appetizer, so thinner bacon works much better.
If you like, you can also stuff them with cheese. Goat cheese, feta cheese and blue cheese are all good choices because they aren’t as melty as other cheeses.
What to stuff inside bacon-wrapped dates
Here are a few ideas for what to add inside your bacon-wrapped dates.
- sausage
- chorizo
- goat cheese
- feta cheese
- blue cheese
- manchego cheese
- cream cheese
- toasted almonds
How to make bacon-wrapped dates
Making these bacon-wrapped dates with sausage is so easy!
First, preheat your oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
Next, remove chorizo (or another type of ground sausage) from the casing. Cook it in a medium skillet over medium heat, stirring often and breaking up any big chunks into smaller ones. Cook for 5-6 minutes until the chorizo is bubbling and completely separated. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and let cool for 10 minutes.
While the chorizo cools, pit the dates if they are not already pitted. (Here’s a tutorial about how to pit dates.)
Once the chorizo is cool to the touch, stuff the dates with chunks of chorizo. Cut bacon strips in half. Wrap each date in half a strip of bacon and secure it with a toothpick. Place them on a foil-lined baking sheet.
Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, turning the dates halfway through to cook the bacon evenly. Serve warm or at room temperature.
FAQ
Also called devils-on-horseback, bacon-wrapped dates can be stuffed with a number of fillings, including sausage, chorizo, goat cheese, blue cheese or toasted almonds.
Absolutely. They can be made a day or two in advance of serving them. Store them in an airtight, food-safe container in the fridge.
Yes! You can make them ahead of time. Place them, baked and cooled, on a clean baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour. Then place in a freezer-safe container and store for up to 1 month.
More tailgating recipes
Here are some wonderful recipes you can share with friends at a tailgate or on game day! Don’t sleep on these game day cocktails, either.
Appetizers
- Popcorn Shrimp
- Pizza Popcorn
- Beer Cheese Dip
- Buffalo Cauliflower + Blue Cheese Dressing
- Baked Brie Crescent Bites
- Chicken Swiss Dip
- Corn Dip
- Jalapeño Ranch Dip
- Pepperoni Bread
- Potato Chip Nachos
Meals
- Apple Cider Pulled Pork Tacos
- Roasted Veggie Fajitas
- Slow Cooker Apple Cider Chicken Sliders
- Pepperoni Bread
Desserts
Drinks
Chorizo Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates
These easy Chorizo Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates are an easy appetizer for tailgates or parties!
Ingredients
- 1 pound chorizo sausage
- 40 medjool dates, pitted
- 2 pounds thinly sliced bacon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
- Remove chorizo from casing. In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook chorizo, stirring often and breaking the chorizo into chunks. Cook 5-6 minutes, until the chorizo is bubbling and completely separated. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and let cool for 10 minutes.
- Once chorizo is cool to the touch, stuff the dates with chunks of chorizo. Cut bacon strips in half. Wrap each date in half a strip of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Place on foil-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, turning the dates halfway through to cook the bacon evenly. Serve warm or at room temperature.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 40 Serving Size: 1 dateAmount Per Serving: Calories: 224Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 522mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 2gSugar: 16gProtein: 11g
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