Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Dates

Air fryer bacon wrapped dates are the perfect combination of sweet and smoky. The dates are stuffed with cooked chorizo then wrapped with bacon and cooked in the air fryer. It's a delicious appetizer that can be eaten as is or paired with a variety of sauces!

These air fryer bacon wrapped dates are such a delicious appetizer to make in the air fryer. The dates get a little caramelized in the air fryer, giving a natural sweetness to the dish that almost makes it feel like a dessert.

The dates pair so wonderfully with the smoky chorizo and the saltiness of the bacon. Pair with a sauce like a roasted red pepper sauce or a cilantro cream sauce to expand on the flavors even more!

Ingredients

• Dates
• Bacon (center cut, not thick cut)
• Ground chorizo

Where can you find dates?

Dates can be found at most grocery stores including Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and Costco. I typically buy the kind that already have the pits removed. If your dates have pits, just slice and remove the pit before stuffing with the chorizo.

What is chorizo (and what type to use)?

Chorizo is a pork sausage that is heavily seasoned. You can find chorizo both in ground form and in a sausage-like link that is sliced thinly.

For this recipe, we use ground chorizo.

Customizations and serving suggestions

Not a fan of chorizo? Or can't find it? You can stuff the dates with goat cheese or blue cheese instead.

While the dates give that sweet flavor to the dish, if you would prefer a savory version, you can swap out the dates with jalapenos sliced in half.

For a bit of brightness, you can squeeze a little lemon or lime juice over the top and also top with some fresh herbs.

The dish can be served as is, with a dipping sauce, or on top of a sauce like a roasted red pepper sauce.

Recipe tips

• Try not to slice the dates all the way through, as you want them to hold together after stuffing.
• Stuff the dates as full of chorizo as you can before wrapping in bacon!
• The toothpick will help to hold the dates together while cooking in the air fryer.
• You may have chorizo leftover after stuffing the dates. Save it and use with scrambled eggs the next day!

How to make bacon wrapped dates in the air fryer

First, cook your chorizo in a skillet until browned and cooked through, stirring as needed.

Skip this step if you decide to stuff your dates with blue cheese or goat cheese instead!

Next, slice each date partway in half (removing the pit if needed). Do not slice all the way through the date. Stuff the date with the cooked chorizo.

Slice each piece of bacon in half, then wrap each half slice around one of the dates and stick with a toothpick to keep the bacon wrapped and attached to the date.

Place in a single layer in air fryer basket and cook at 390 degrees F for 6 minutes, then flip and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes until bacon is done to your preference.

Enjoy!

This recipe was inspired by The Defined Dish

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