Game Day Snacks: 3 Easy Ways to Serve Dates

Game day food has its own rhythm. Someone puts out a platter, people grab a bite as they pass through the kitchen, and everyone comes back for a little more between plays.

Dates fit right into that kind of spread. Medjools are soft enough to stuff, sweet enough to pair with something salty, and easy to serve without much fuss. Here are three ways to put them out for the game.

1. Bacon-Wrapped Medjool Dates

Pit the dates and wrap each one with half a slice of bacon. Bake at 400°F for about 20–25 minutes, turning halfway through, until the bacon is crisp.

Set them out while they’re warm. The salty bacon and soft Medjool center make these the ones people tend to reach for first.

2. Jalapeño Cream Cheese Stuffed Dates

Fill pitted Medjools with cream cheese and a thin slice of jalapeño. There’s no oven involved, so these are easy to make while everything else is coming together. A little heat, a little sweetness, and just enough cream cheese to balance both.

3. A Sweet-and-Salty Game Day Board

Put Medjool or Halawi dates on a board with sharp cheddar, salted nuts, pretzels, and crackers. It’s the easiest option of the three, and it gives everyone something to come back to throughout the game.

The warm bacon-wrapped dates may go first, but a board left on the table has a way of keeping people nearby. If you already keep dates around, game day is one more occasion where they come in handy.