Baked Goat Cheese Recipe (2024)

Jump straight to the recipe here (but you'll miss a lot of good info)!

This easy Baked Goat Cheese recipe uses just three ingredients and takes just minutes to throw together. Serve on top of crostini, garlic bread or as a goat cheese dip!

There’s an appetizer at Mon Ami Gabi that must be ordered every time I walk through their front door.

Along with Mussels Marinière and Wild Escargots de Bourgogne is the Baked Goat Cheese Dip – all three are top choices and have been enjoyed over many a happy hour. But the Baked Goat Cheese tends to be the one that ends up on our table whether anyone is hungry or not – no one can resist it.

Baked Goat Cheese Recipe (1)

The buttery, garlicky baguette used to scoop up the soft goat cheese and silky tomato sauce makes an irresistible combination. Add a glass of white wine and I may never leave.

So I decided to create my own easy recipe for baked goat cheese at home. It’s slightly different in that I chose to use a chunky marinara and some crunchy crostini in place of the garlic bread but oh! is it good. Soft, smooth, warm goat cheese and bubbling marinara – all in under 30 minutes (25 of which is baking time!) – makes for a mouthwatering appetizer that’s perfect for almost any gathering.

Baked Goat Cheese Ingredients

  • Goat Cheese: Also known as Chèvre in French, use any brand of goat cheese you prefer. I prefer fresh chèvre in log form.
  • Marinara Sauce: Marinara is a traditional Italian tomato sauce often made with tomatoes, onions, olive oil, garlic, basil and other herbs.
  • Basil: A little green to garnish that also adds a sweet, peppery flavor with hints of mint.
  • Salt: Any coarse salt such as kosher or sea salt will work.

(Scroll down to the bottom for the printable recipe card with detailed recipe instructions.)

How to Make Baked Goat Cheese

With just three ingredients this easy appetizer (or dip) comes together in just 5 minutes, plus bake time.

  1. Press the goat cheese to fit the shape of your dish with spacing around the edge.
  2. Gently spoon the marinara around the border and sprinkle salt.
  3. Bake until the goat cheese is warm and soft and the marinara is hot and bubbling.

How to Serve Hot Goat Cheese

  • Chevre-and-bread: Spread over baguette slices or crostini.
  • Goat Cheese Dip: Serve as a dip with raw veggies (celery, carrots, bell pepper, endive leaves etc.), crusty bread, crackers, bagel chips, pita chips and much more.
  • Stuffed garlic bread: This stuffed garlic bread recipe is perfect with the baked goat cheese and highly recommended.
  • Use it with this stuffed zucchini recipe.

Goat Cheese Tips & Variations

  • I like to spoon the marinara just on the outside for a prettier presentation but you could cover the goat cheese completely if you prefer. It will bake up bubbly and delicious no matter how you prepare it!
  • It’s best to let your goat cheese soften a bit before spreading in your dish. You can skip it if you’re in a rush but goat cheese is much more spreadable when soft.
  • Make it spicy with jalapeno, red pepper flakes or mix the marinara with Calabrian chili paste.
  • Add bacon, olives or cherry tomatoes to the marinara sauce.
  • Make it creamier and substitute the marinara sauce for vodka sauce.
  • Add a dollop of basil pesto on top
  • I use plain goat cheese but feel free to experiment with flavored goat cheese varieties.
  • Serve in a slow cooker or Crock Pot to keep warm, if you prefer.

Make Ahead

This dish can be prepared and baked right before serving, simply mix everything together, cover and store in the refrigerator up to a day ahead. When ready, bake and serve!

Baked Goat Cheese Recipe (2)

Baked Goat Cheese

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Just 3 ingredients to a bubbling hot, cheesy Baked Goat Cheese appetizer! This stuffed garlic bread recipe is perfect with it.

Ingredients

  • 1 8 oz log goat cheese (softened)
  • 1 small box or jar marinara sauce (about 2 cups)
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil (cut into ribbons)
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt

Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 375F.
    2. In a small baking dish, press the goat cheese to fit the shape of your dish, leaving a 1-inch border around edge. Gently spoon the marinara around the border, taking care to cover the edge of goat cheese but not the middle (see photo). Sprinkle with the salt.
    3. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the goat cheese is warm and soft and the marinara is hot and bubbling.
    4. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the basil. Serve immediately with crostini or garlic bread for dipping.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 167Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 537mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 11g

This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix.

  • Author
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Kristy Bernardo

Kristy Bernardo is the recipe creator behind The Wicked Noodle. She's a five-time cookbook author, has taught cooking classes to both kids and adults, and has been creating recipes for nationwide brands since 2009. She learned most of her cooking skills from her mom and grandmother, then honed those skills at boot camp at the Culinary Institute of America.

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Baked Goat Cheese Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is it OK to heat goat cheese? ›

All you need to recreate it is a nice thick slice off a goat cheese log and a hot nonstick pan. Sear on one side for 2-3 minutes or until a golden-brown crust forms on the bottom, then carefully transfer with a spatula to the salad of your choice. Another excellent application of warm goat cheese is the burger.

Can you melt goat cheese? ›

Pour 1 cup milk into the saucepan while stirring; add goat cheese and stir to melt.

How do you make goat cheese taste better? ›

Herb: Add salt to taste and mix in fresh herbs like tarragon, dill, basil, or parsley. Dry herbs also work great. Spices like chile flakes, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, or any other seasoned salt also make for great flavors.

Is goat cheese healthier than cow cheese? ›

Nutritional value: Goat cheese contains essential nutrients such as vitamins A, B and D, and minerals such as calcium and phosphorus. Compared to regular cheese, goat cheese typically has fewer calories and fats. This makes goat cheese a healthier option for those watching their calorie intake.

Does goat cheese melt like mozzarella? ›

Old, grate-ables like Parmigiano aren't flexible enough to melt. Tangy freshies like feta and goat cheese soften, but won't get gooey.

What pairs well with goat cheese? ›

Almonds, basil, cayenne pepper, chervil, chives, hazelnut, macadamia nuts, paprika, parsley, pine nuts, pistachio, sage, tarragon, walnuts. Bacon, beef, bulgur, chicken, duck, egg, freekeh, ham, honey, lamb, maple syrup, orzo, prosciutto, quinoa, salami, truffle, turkey, veal, wild rice.

What is the best way to eat goat cheese? ›

With fruit

Try it with roasted fruits like figs, cherries, apricots, or peaches. It also goes really well with apples and honey. You can pair them in a tart, as a simple snack, or in a sandwich.

Should you peel goats cheese? ›

These blue surface moulds on the rind of a goats' cheese are perfectly safe to eat, and some presence on the rind adds flavour. However people are not always used to seeing them, and can find them a bit scary! To help control what grows on the rind, cheesemakers often add yeasts and moulds to their cheeses.

Why is goat cheese so pungent? ›

This tangy, barnyard flavor comes from the fatty acid composition of goat's milk. For you true science lovers out there, here's a more detailed breakdown! A few of these fatty acids include 4-ethyl octanoic acid, 4-methyl octanoic acid, caproic acid, and caprylic acid.

Why is my goat cheese rubbery? ›

Rubbery cheese can happen when an excess amount of rennet is used, too much rennet equals a rubber ball, too little, soup!

Can you freeze goat cheese? ›

You might be shocked to find out that soft cheese such as Brie, Camembert, and goat's cheese can also be frozen for up to six months. So the next time you have a hankering for some baked gnocchi and goat's cheese, you know where to look – in your freezer.

Why is goat cheese more expensive? ›

All of this points to the fact that there is less goat milk available in the US from which to make cheese, and high demand for it, leading to a higher price on the shelf.

Is goat cheese anti-inflammatory? ›

Many of the microorganisms present in goat milk cheese, yoghurt and other byproducts are beneficial to human health. In addition to their anti-inflammatory action, they promote positive effects on intestinal functions.

Is it okay to microwave goat cheese? ›

Place goat cheese on microwavable dish and pour jam on top. Heat in microwave for 35-45 seconds. Remove from microwave and serve warm with crackers, graham crackers or bread and enjoy!

Can you eat cooked goat cheese? ›

Hard cheeses and non-surface-ripened pasteurized cheeses are typically safe, but you should avoid soft cheeses made from unpasteurized goat's milk. As thorough cooking kills harmful bacteria, goat cheese in sauces and tarts or on pizza is likely safe.

Can you reheat cooked goat cheese? ›

Store leftover fried goat cheese slices in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Reheat in a skillet or air fryer, for best results. Ways to serve fried goat cheese: My favorite way is to serve fried goat cheese in salads.

Is it OK to heat goats milk? ›

On the other hand, heating of milk >72°C induces denaturation and aggregation of whey proteins and casein micelles [6]. Goat milk has very small casein micelles and fat globules than bovine milk [7]. Therefore, high thermal treatments may directly affect the keeping quality of goat milk than cow's milk.

References

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