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
  • Recent Posts

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.

Latest posts by Kristy Bernardo (see all)

  • How To Make Brownies From Scratch - February 23, 2024
  • Grilled Mahi Mahi With Salsa Verde - February 22, 2024
  • One-Pan Pasta - February 19, 2024
Baked Goat Cheese Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make goat cheese taste better? ›

Adding Flavors

You can mix herbs, fruit, jam, nuts, seeds, or even balsamic vinegar right into the goat cheese. To get a swirly ribbon of honey, jam, or balsamic, put a layer of cheese down, then drizzle your preferred sauce on top, then another layer of cheese to fully cover the sauce.

Is goat cheese good for your stomach? ›

Goat cheese is full of beneficial probiotics, a healthy kind of bacteria. Probiotics colonize the intestines and compete with any unhealthy bacteria or pathogens that they find there. This can improve the effectiveness of your immune system and reduce your vulnerability to illness.

What temperature should goat cheese be served? ›

Always serve goat cheese at room temperature. Bring it out of the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving, if possible. Remember, goat cheese is great at almost any time of day and goes well in so many recipes, making the simplest foods spectacular.

What happens when you heat goat cheese? ›

Goat cheese and ricotta are fresh cheeses, basically just whey, which are full of moisture. The moisture keeps them from melting. The just run when heated.

What compliments goat cheese? ›

Prosciutto is a great savory compliment to a fresh goat cheese. Strawberries, Sugar Snap Peas and Asparagus. I personally love goat cheese and strawberries, makes such a nice contract with the sweetness vs acidity of the cheese.

What makes a good goat cheese? ›

Good fresh goat cheese is a special and important thing. It should be moist and creamy, without a hint of graininess. Its flavor should be clean and fresh, mouthwateringly tangy but not astringent, lemony but also milky and balanced. An unaged cheese has nowhere to hide its faults.

What are the disadvantages of goat cheese? ›

Saturated fat content: Despite being lower in fat than some other cheeses, goat cheese does contain saturated fats. Diets high in saturated fats have been linked to increased levels of cholesterol, potentially impacting heart health. Moderation is key to enjoying the benefits without the drawbacks.

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.

Can I eat goat cheese that was left out overnight? ›

Therefore we say that typically, you can leave cheese out of the fridge for anything between four and eight hours for it still be safe to eat and look its appetising best.

Is it OK to leave goat cheese out overnight? ›

For the best taste and quality, cheese should not be left out for longer than two hours at room temperature.

How long does goat cheese last in fridge? ›

Storing cheese for up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator

By adopting good wrapping and storage habits, your cheese could last for 2 to 3 weeks, and it will be more hygienic and taste better.

Why does goat cheese not melt? ›

Goat cheese is another contender that won't melt the same way as other cheeses on this list. Made using acid rather than rennet, goat cheeses tend to become grainy and hold its shape when melted.

Is ricotta a goat cheese? ›

Ricotta can technically be made from the milk of cows, sheep, goats, or water buffalo, but the ricotta that we consume most frequently—the stuff you can buy at almost every grocery store—is made from the milk of a cow. But historically, that cows milk was used for something else before it was used to make ricotta.

How do you mellow out goat cheese? ›

I would say aromatic herbs such as thyme, rosemary, laurel leaves and spices such as curry, ginger and ground white or black pepper should give goat cheese a refreshing twist and mellow its gamey flavor.

How do you make store bought goat milk taste better? ›

Since caproic acid strengthens the goaty flavor of milk as it ages, freshly chilled milk is best for drinking or making dairy products. Chill immediately after filtering; the longer milk is kept warm, the faster lactic acid and bacteria will affect the flavor.

How do you make goat meat less gamey? ›

The distinct game flavor of either birds or animals will be milder after soaking the meat overnight in the refrigerator in either a salt or vinegar solution. 2. Vinegar solution - 1 cup per quart of cold water. Use enough solution to cover the game completely.

How do you mask the taste of goat milk? ›

They wanted to know if I had done something to it because it tasted goaty (even though it was straight cow's milk). Another method is to mix a bit of vanilla flavor and a little sugar—just enough to change the taste to something a little more familiar. After a while, gradually reduce the sugar and vanilla.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Annamae Dooley

Last Updated:

Views: 5940

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (45 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Annamae Dooley

Birthday: 2001-07-26

Address: 9687 Tambra Meadow, Bradleyhaven, TN 53219

Phone: +9316045904039

Job: Future Coordinator

Hobby: Archery, Couponing, Poi, Kite flying, Knitting, Rappelling, Baseball

Introduction: My name is Annamae Dooley, I am a witty, quaint, lovely, clever, rich, sparkling, powerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.