Hatch Chile Bacon Bites – Sweet, Spicy Bacon-Wrapped Dates
If you’re looking for a party appetizer that’s a little different from the usual finger foods, these Hatch Chile Bacon Bites are sure to impress. Made with sweet dates, roasted Hatch green chiles, creamy cheese filling, and crispy applewood-smoked bacon, these bite-sized appetizers deliver a delicious combination of sweet, smoky, spicy, and savory flavors.
What makes this recipe especially interesting is the unexpected addition of dates. Instead of stuffing whole peppers, each pitted date half is filled with a mixture of cream cheese, chopped Hatch chiles, and ground cumin. The natural sweetness of the dates balances the earthy flavor of the roasted green chiles and the saltiness of the bacon.
Hatch chiles are grown in New Mexico’s Hatch Valley and are known for their distinctive flavor. Depending on the variety, they can range from mild to quite spicy. Roasting brings out their natural sweetness and adds a subtle smoky quality that works beautifully in this appetizer.
Each filled date is wrapped with a strip of roasted Hatch chile, followed by a piece of applewood-smoked bacon. The bites are arranged seam-side down on a foil-lined baking sheet and baked at 425°F until the bacon becomes browned and crispy.
For easy preparation, a rimmed baking sheet is useful for keeping the appetizers contained while catching the bacon drippings as they cook.
This recipe makes approximately 24 bite-sized appetizers, making it a convenient choice for game day, holiday gatherings, potlucks, and casual entertaining. Because the filling and wrapping steps are simple, you can also prepare the components ahead of time and assemble the bites when you’re ready to bake.
If fresh Hatch chiles aren’t available, Anaheim peppers make a reasonable substitute, although their flavor and heat level may differ.
Serve these Hatch Chile Bacon Bites warm, when the cream cheese filling is soft and the bacon is crisp. They’re a flavorful alternative to traditional bacon-wrapped appetizers and a delicious way to celebrate Hatch chile season.
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Hatch Chile Bacon Bites
- Total Time: :40
- Yield: 24
Ingredients
- 12 Dates, sliced in half and pitted
- 7 Hatch Chiles, roasted, seeded and cut into ½” strips, totaling 24 strips (6-7 chiles)
- 8 slices Applewood Smoked Bacon, cut into 24 pieces
- 1/4 cup Cream Cheese
- 1/4 cup Hatch Chiles, chopped
- 1 tsp Ground Cumin
Instructions
- Mix cream cheese, chopped hatch chiles, and cumin together, set aside. Slice dates in half, remove the pit. Spoon a small amount of chile cream cheese onto dates.
- Wrap a hatch chile strip around the filled date, now wrap a bacon slice around this.
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Place on a foil-lined cookie sheet seam side down. Bake at 425° F for 15-20 minutes. Until bacon is brown and crispy. Bacon thickness affects cooking time, and check the bites toward the end of baking to avoid burning the exposed dates. The bacon should be cooked through and crisp before serving.
- Prep Time: :20
- Cook Time: :20
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking