This Smoked Goat Cheese, Bacon, and Dates Dip is outrageously good. It combines creamy goat cheese, crispy bacon, and caramelized dates to create a show-stopping dip for your next get together.
What I love about this dip is how smoky, gooey, and easy to make it is. Just mix together a handful of ingredients, toss it on your smoker, and enjoy one of the best smoker appetizers you'll ever have.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE
- Goat Cheese — I used a garlic & herbs flavored goat cheese, but you can use regular goat cheese as well.
- Cream Cheese — The cream cheese gives the dip a rich and smooth texture.
- Mayonnaise — A little mayo keeps the dip ultra-creamy so it doesn't get too thick.
- Honey — I'm adding just a little honey to enhance the sweetness of the dates.
- Bacon — I used hickory, thick-cut bacon. It adds a nice, smoky, crispy bite to the dip.
- Dates — I used whole, pitted Medjool dates that I chopped up into bite-sized pieces.
- Brown Sugar & Maple Syrup — I'm going to caramelize the dates with a little brown sugar and maple syrup to add some ridiculous flavor.
- BBQ Rub — To add a little seasoning to the whole dip.
HOW TO MAKE SMOKED GOAT CHEESE, BACON, AND DATES DIP
@grillfrenzy Goat cheese, bacon, and date dip on the @Traeger Grills #grilling #bbq #appetizers #dips #traegergrills ♬ original sound - Mike Futia
1. Cook the Bacon
Cook the bacon in a skillet until it's nice and crispy. Chop it up into bite-sized pieces, and set aside. Leave 1-2 teaspoons of bacon grease in the pan to cook the dates in.
2. Caramelize the Dates
Add the chopped dates to the skillet with the brown sugar and drizzle of maple syrup. Cook the dates for 2-3 minutes, until they're nice and soft and caramelized. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
3. Make the Creamy Base
In a medium bowl, combine the goat cheese, softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, honey, and BBQ rub until it's smooth and creamy.
4. Assemble & Smoke
Add the cheese mixture, cooked bacon, and caramelized dates to a small cast iron pan or aluminum pan. Mix until everything is smooth and well-combined. Smoke at 250F for about 30 minutes, until the dip is warmed through.
5. Serve & Enjoy
Remove the dip from the smoker and let it cool for about 5 minutes. Serve warm with crusty bread or crackers for dipping and enjoy.
OTHER DIP RECIPES
Check out some of our other smoked dip recipes: Roasted Garlic Smoked Cheesy Dip, Smoked Jalapeno Popper Dip, Smoked Caramelized Onion & Bacon Dip, Smoked Chicken Bacon Ranch Dip, Smoked Steak Queso and Smoked Beer Cheese Dip.
PRO TIPS FOR MAKING THIS RECIPE
- Make It Ahead. You can prep the cheese mixture and toppings in advance. Just assemble it in the skillet when you’re ready to smoke.
- Cheese Swap. If you’re not a fan of goat cheese, you can double up on the cream cheese or use a blend of cream cheese and sharp cheddar for a different flavor profile.
- Dipping Options. Besides bread and crackers, serve this with sliced veggies or even tortilla chips for a fun twist.
Smoked Goat Cheese, Bacon, and Dates Dip
Ingredients
- 6 oz goat cheese softened
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tbsp honey
- 6 strips bacon cooked crispy and chopped
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp BBQ rub
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a skillet until crispy. Remove, chop into bite-sized pieces, and set aside. Leave 1-2 teaspoons of bacon grease in the skillet for the next step.
- Add the chopped dates, brown sugar, and a drizzle of maple syrup to the skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the dates are soft and caramelized. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine goat cheese, cream cheese, mayonnaise, honey, and BBQ rub. Mix until smooth and creamy.
- Spread the creamy cheese mixture in a 10-inch cast iron skillet. Top with the chopped bacon and caramelized dates, ensuring even distribution.
- Place the skillet in the smoker at 250°F. Smoke for 30 minutes, or until the dip is warm and bubbly.
- Remove the skillet from the smoker and let it cool for 5 minutes. Serve warm with crusty bread or crackers.
Notes
- Make It Ahead. You can prep the cheese mixture and toppings in advance. Just assemble it in the skillet when you’re ready to smoke.
- Cheese Swap. If you’re not a fan of goat cheese, you can double up on the cream cheese or use a blend of cream cheese and sharp cheddar for a different flavor profile.
- Dipping Options. Besides bread and crackers, serve this with sliced veggies or even tortilla chips for a fun twist.
