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.

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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 baked goat cheese healthy? ›

Rich in Nutrients

Goat cheese is a nutritional powerhouse, packed with essential nutrients. It boasts an impressive array of vitamins and minerals, including calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A and vitamin B12.

What makes goat cheese taste better? ›

Freshness is important — the older goat milk is when it's processed, the goatier the cheese will taste — and so is keeping male and female goats separate, explains Nessler: During breeding season, the males produce strong-smelling hormones that can make the females' milk and the cheese produced from it taste goaty, too ...

What is the trick to crumbling goat cheese? ›

Get Crumbly With It

Remove a cold Woolwich Dairy Original Soft Fresh Goat Cheese log from its packaging. It's important to work with cold cheese, so it's firmer and easier to crumble. Crumble your goat cheese by either cutting it with a knife or using your hands to create pillows of soft and creamy goat cheese.

Is goat cheese healthier than regular 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.

Is it OK to eat goat cheese everyday? ›

Goat cheese can be high in fat, though not as high as cheeses made from cow's milk. Nevertheless, you should still consume it in moderation to avoid weight gain.

Is goat cheese as inflammatory as cow cheese? ›

Cow milk has two types of casein (A1 and A2). A2 is regarded as easier to digest. Goat milk has just one type of casein, A2, making it easier for digestion as some consumers claim. Further, the capric acid of goat cheese adds anti-inflammatory properties to goat cheese not found in cow cheese.

How to tell when goat cheese is bad? ›

First, check for any mold. While certain types of mold are used in the creation of some cheeses, any orange, yellow, red or green fuzz is a sure sign of spoilage. Secondly, if the cheese gives off a sour, rotten, or unusually strong smell, it's probably time to toss it.

How do you keep goat cheese creamy? ›

The key to a soft and spreadable goat cheese is simply mixing it with a spoonful or two of milk or cream.

What is the unhealthiest cheese? ›

The 10 Unhealthiest Cheeses You Can Buy
  • American cheese. It's heavily processed, full of preservatives, and loaded with salt. ...
  • Mascarpone. A soft, spreadable cheese that's used in a lot of desserts. ...
  • Double Gloucester. ...
  • Brunost. ...
  • Any cheese that comes in a can or jar. ...
  • Brie. ...
  • Stilton. ...
  • Pre-grated parmesan cheese.
May 16, 2024

What's healthier, feta or goat cheese? ›

Goat cheese is milder in flavor than feta, but also tends to be lower in calories as well as fat.” Depending on how it's processed, goat cheese can also pack probiotics, which are microorganisms that can aid digestion.

How to eat goat cheese as healthy? ›

Goat cheese adds a tangy, creamy flavor to any dish and it pairs well with vegetables and grains. You can use it to stuff proteins, as a spread for toast and or add it to a salad. Recipes like Apple-Cranberry Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese and Roasted Root Vegetables with Goat Cheese Polenta are flavorful and savory.

Is goat cheese good heated? ›

My Favorite Uses: Salads: Just like fresh goat cheese, semi-aged goat cheese works well—cut and/or "crumbled"—in salads. This variety is also my number-one choice when the cheese is going to be warmed, as in Salade au Chèvre Chaud—the classic warmed goat cheese salad.

Does goat cheese melt well in the oven? ›

Does goat cheese melt in the oven? When baked in the oven, goat cheese gets warm and soft, but doesn't melt into a puddle like cheddar or mozzarella would. Refrigerating the breadcrumb coated rounds before baking ensures that the crust will have time to crisp and turn golden without overcooking the goat cheese.

How much goat cheese is too much to eat? ›

How much goat cheese should you eat in a day? Usually, about one ounce daily is a good measure. It could give you all its nutritional benefits without piling up calories or fat in your diet.

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