Name: Bacon Wrapped Dates on the Big Green Egg
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 100 min
Ingredients: 6 slices smoked bacon (quartered into 4 strips); 24 Medjool dates; 3 oz goat cheese; 1 jalapeno; 4 oz Chorizo Sausage; Dizzy Dust BBQ Rub; Honey

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These Bacon Wrapped Dates on the Big Green Egg combine sweet dates, smoky bacon, and creamy goat cheese into the perfect appetizer.

I originally created this recipe for an EGGFest at Brownsboro Hardware in Louisville, Kentucky. It quickly became one of the most popular dishes of the day. The combination of sweet, savory, smoky, and creamy flavors makes these bite-sized appetizers hard to resist.

Cooking them on the Big Green Egg adds a subtle wood-fired flavor that takes them to another level. The bacon becomes perfectly cooked while the dates soften and caramelize. Every bite delivers an incredible balance of flavor and texture.

Whether you’re hosting a party, watching the game, or looking for an easy appetizer, this recipe always impresses. Fire up your Big Green Egg and let’s make some bacon wrapped dates.

Step 1: Gathering the Ingredients
Step 2: Preparing the Protein and Wrappers
Step 3: Mixing the Savory Filling
Step 4: Preparing the Date Pockets
Step 5: Stuffing and Wrapping the Bites
Step 6: Seasoning with Dizzy Dust
Step 7: The Indirect Smoke on the Big Green Egg
Step 8: The Pull and the Honey Drizzle
Bacon Wrapped Dates on the Big Green Egg Recipe

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Step 1: Gathering the Ingredients

One of the best things about this recipe is its simplicity. A handful of ingredients come together to create an appetizer packed with flavor and texture.

You’ll need bacon, jalapeños, Medjool dates, goat cheese, chorizo sausage, and Dizzy Pig Dizzy Dust. Each ingredient plays an important role in the final dish. The dates provide natural sweetness, while the chorizo and jalapeños add savory heat. Goat cheese brings a creamy texture that balances every bite.

Dizzy Dust ties everything together with a blend of spices that complements the bacon and wood-fired flavor. Once your ingredients are prepped, it’s time to start assembling these crowd-pleasing appetizers.

Step 2: Preparing the Protein and Wrappers

Proper prep helps these appetizers cook evenly and hold together on the grill. A little extra effort at the beginning pays off later.

Start by cutting the bacon slices in half. Then cut each piece lengthwise to create thinner strips. This allows the bacon to wrap easily around the dates and cook more evenly.

Next, cook the chorizo in a skillet until browned and crumbly. Remove it from the heat and allow it to cool completely. This step is important because hot sausage can melt the goat cheese. Once cooled, you’re ready to start assembling the filling.

Step 3: Mixing the Savory Filling

In a mixing bowl, combine the goat cheese, cooked chorizo, diced jalapeño, and Dizzy Pig Dizzy Dust. Stir until the ingredients are evenly incorporated.

The goat cheese creates a creamy base for the filling. The chorizo adds savory flavor, while the jalapeño provides a touch of heat. Mixing everything together ensures every stuffed date delivers the perfect balance of sweet, smoky, creamy, and spicy flavors.

In a small bowl, combine the cooled chorizo, goat cheese, diced jalapeño, and Dizzy Pig Dizzy Dust. Mix until the filling is smooth and evenly combined.

The goat cheese adds a creamy texture and tangy flavor. The chorizo brings savory richness, while the jalapeño adds a subtle kick. Together, they create the perfect filling for the sweet Medjool dates.

Once mixed, you’re ready to start stuffing the dates.

Step 4: Preparing the Date Pockets

Using a small knife, slice each Medjool date lengthwise and remove the pit. Be careful not to cut all the way through the date.

The goal is to create a pocket for the filling while keeping the date intact. This makes the dates easier to stuff and helps keep the filling in place.

Once all the dates have been pitted, you’re ready to add the chorizo and goat cheese mixture.

Step 5: Stuffing and Wrapping the Bites

Fill each date with a small amount of the chorizo and goat cheese mixture. Use just enough filling so the date can still close around it. Next, wrap each stuffed date with a strip of bacon. Wrap the bacon snugly so it stays in place during the cook.

As the bacon cooks, it will tighten around the date and filling. The result is a perfectly balanced bite with sweet, savory, smoky, and creamy flavors.

Step 6: Seasoning with Dizzy Dust

Once the dates are wrapped, season the bacon with Dizzy Pig Dizzy Dust. Apply a light coating on all sides.

The seasoning adds another layer of flavor to the finished appetizer. As the bacon cooks, the spices combine with the rendered fat to create a delicious savory crust.

Once seasoned, the bacon wrapped dates are ready for the Big Green Egg.

Step 7: The Indirect Smoke on the Big Green Egg

Mastering the low and slow approach is the final secret to achieving perfectly rendered bacon without overcooking the delicate fruit. By utilizing an indirect heat setup, you create a gentle roasting environment that allows the smoke to penetrate the bacon deeply. This process provides a consistent temperature that melts the goat cheese into the chorizo while the bacon reaches a signature wood-fired crunch.

Set up your Big Green Egg for indirect cooking by inserting the ConvEGGtor and stabilizing the temperature at 250°F. Add a few wood chunks to the charcoal for extra flavor. Fruit woods like apple or cherry work especially well with this recipe. Wait until the smoke turns thin and light blue before adding the dates to the grill. This helps ensure a clean smoke flavor.

Place the bacon wrapped dates on the cooking grate and cook for about 90 minutes. The exact time will vary depending on the thickness of the bacon. Cook until the bacon is dark, caramelized, and fully rendered. At that point, the dates are ready to serve.

Bacon Wrapped Dates on the Big Green Egg

Step 8: The Pull and the Honey Drizzle

Completing the cook with a final touch of sweetness is the hallmark of a truly balanced appetizer. By removing the dates at the moment the bacon reaches its peak crispness, you ensure the interior remains creamy and the fruit stays succulent. This process provides a professional finish that highlights the contrast between the salty, smoky pork and the floral notes of the honey.

Pull the Bacon Wrapped Dates aka Buddha Bites from the Big Green Egg once the bacon is mahogany in color and perfectly rendered. While the bites are still warm from the grill, drizzle them lightly with high-quality honey to add a glossy sheen and a fresh layer of sweetness. Because the honey reacts with the warm bacon and the Dizzy Dust seasoning, it creates a sticky, savory glaze that ties all the components together. Once you have finished the drizzle, serve these appetizers immediately to your guests and enjoy the perfect harmony of wood-fired flavors.

Final Serving Suggestions

These Buddha Bites are more than just a snack; they are a concentrated explosion of flavor that defines the outdoor cooking experience. By pairing them with the right beverage and presentation, you create a memorable start to any meal or event.

Resting Period: Allow the bites to sit for roughly five minutes so the internal temperature of the goat cheese stabilizes, making them easier to handle.
The Beverage Match: Serve these with an ice-cold IPA to let the citrusy hops provide a crisp counterpoint to the rich, smoky bacon and sweet dates.
Modern Presentation: Arrange the dates on a slate platter or a rustic wooden board to highlight the beautiful caramelization of the honey and bacon.

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