A template tag that returns meta data of category link, name and date of post (in chosen format) using output buffering. It would need to be echoed.

 
function metadata_posted_on( $args = array() ) {  
   
     // Set up category stuff.  
     $category = get_the_category();  
     $category_name = '';  
     $category_link = '';  
   
     // Setup defaults.  
     $defaults = array(  
         'link'          => get_the_permalink(),  
         'date'          => get_the_date( 'F j, Y' ),  
         'category'      => $category_name,  
         'category_link' => $category_link,  
     );  
   
     // If there is an array of categories.  
     if ( is_array( $category ) ) {  
         $category_name = $category[0]->name;  
         $category_link = get_category_link( $category[0]->cat_ID );  
     }  
   
     // Parse args.  
     $args = wp_parse_args( $args, $defaults );  
   
     ob_start();  
     ?>  
   
     <p class="posted-on"><time class="entry-date"><?php echo esc_attr( $args['date'] ); ?></time></p>  
         <p class="meta-content">  
             <span class="category"><span class="posted-emphasis"><?php esc_html_e( 'in ', 'textdomain' ); ?></span><a class="category-link" href="<?php echo esc_url( $category_link ); ?>"><?php echo esc_html( $category_name ); ?></a></span>  
         </p>  
   
     <?php  
     return ob_get_clean();  
 }