Baked Goat Cheese

Warm goat cheese under a blistered, golden crust is the appetizer that disappears first at every party, usually before the host sits down. This one is goat cheese pressed into a shallow dish, dusted with Italian seasoning and kosher salt, and run under the broiler until the top browns and the center turns soft enough to scoop. Three ingredients and a broiler give you something that tastes like a restaurant starter for a fraction of the cost. Assemble this baked goat cheese recipe hours in advance, then broil it just as guests arrive.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Baked goat cheese is about as simple as a warm appetizer gets. A log of fresh goat cheese is spread into a shallow dish, seasoned with dried Italian herbs and kosher salt, and broiled until the surface browns in patches. It goes to the table in the same dish it cooked in, with sliced French bread alongside for scooping.

The appeal is the contrast. The broiler gives you a toasted, slightly crisp top while the cheese underneath goes soft and spreadable, so every scoop picks up both textures. Goat cheese is tangy enough on its own that it needs very little help, which is why three ingredients is genuinely all this takes.

Baked Goat Cheese Starter ingredients

You only require three ingredients – no long shopping list!

• Goat cheese – The base of the dish. Fresh, soft goat cheese holds together under the broiler and brings the tang that carries the whole appetizer.
• Italian seasoning – A dried blend of oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary that toasts under the broiler instead of burning.
• Kosher salt – Seasons cheese that comes only lightly salted from the log and makes the herbs taste fuller.
• Sliced French bread – The serving vehicle. Sturdy enough to scoop warm cheese without folding.

Ingredient Notes

• Kosher salt is worth using over table salt here. The larger flakes distribute more evenly across the surface and are harder to overdo.
• Buy plain fresh goat cheese in a log, not the crumbled kind. Crumbles are drier and often coated with anti-caking starch, so they refuse to spread into an even layer.
• Chèvre labeled “fresh” or “soft-ripened” works. Aged goat cheese is firm and salty and will not soften the same way.
• If your Italian seasoning has been in the cabinet for over a year, replace it. Dried herbs lose their volatile oils, and this recipe leans on them entirely for flavor.

How to Make Baked Goat Cheese

This baked goat cheese appetizer couldn’t be easier to make:

1. Place the softened goat cheese in a small baking dish, small au gratin dish, or ramekin. 

2. Combine Italian seasoning with salt in a small bowl.
3. Sprinkle the mixture over the goat cheese.

4. Broil until golden brown.
5. Serve with bread slices.

Tips for making baked goat cheese dip

• Use the same dish that you baked the cheese in for serving. Once the cheese is heated, it’s too soft to easily transfer to a different serving dish.
• Serve the cheese either warm or at room temperature.

Variations to try

This recipe calls for Italian seasoning, but you can switch it up with different herbs and flavorings. For instance:

• Herb and garlic: Swap the Italian seasoning for dried rosemary, oregano, and granulated garlic in equal parts.
• Chili oil: Drizzle olive oil over the cheese before broiling and scatter red pepper flakes across the top.
• Marinara baked goat cheese: Spoon marinara or tomato sauce over the cheese and bake at 375°F for 15 minutes instead of broiling. The sauce protects the cheese, so this version wants oven heat rather than a broiler.
• Caramelized onion: Spread caramelized onions over the cheese before the seasoning goes on.
• Mediterranean: Scatter chopped kalamata olives and halved cherry tomatoes over the top before broiling.
• Jalapeño: Lay thin jalapeño slices across the surface for heat that softens as it cooks.
• Bacon: Crumble crisp bacon over the top after broiling, not before, so it stays crunchy.

How to Serve Baked Goat Cheese

This creamy, delicious baked goat cheese dip is perfect for a party or as a starter for a special occasion dinner.

• Serve with crusty French bread, baguette slices, garlic bread, or crunchy crostini.
• Place baked goat cheese in the center of a crudité platter for a low-carb, gluten-free appetizer. Surround it with raw carrots, celery, cauliflower, tomatoes, olives, etc.
• Add some to lightly dressed mixed greens to elevate a ho-hum salad into something much more mouthwatering.

What to Serve With Baked Goat Cheese

You can add baked goat cheese to your main meal as an easy topping for baked chicken, smoked steak, or roasted veggies.

Pair your baked goat cheese with a nice glass of wine such as Sauvignon Blanc if you like white wine or Cabernet Franc if you prefer red. If you are into wine pairings, learn more about wines that go well with goat cheese.

How to Store Leftover Baked Goat Cheese

Refrigerator Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The browned top softens overnight and the texture turns denser and more crumbly as it chills, so reheated leftovers spread rather than scoop.

Reheating Method: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes until warmed through, or microwave in 20-second bursts, stirring between each. If it seems dry, stir in a small drizzle of olive oil to bring back the creamy texture.

Freezer Storage: Freezes well for up to 3 months. Wrap the dish tightly in plastic wrap and then foil, and reheat from frozen at 350°F for about 10 minutes. Unbaked seasoned goat cheese freezes just as well, so you can assemble a dish specifically to keep on hand.

Favorite Cheesy Appetizers

• Beer Cheese Dip
• Chili Cheese Dip
• Cream Cheese Wontons
• Fried Mozzarella
• Jalapeno Popper Recipe
• Lasagna Dip
• Rotel Cheese Dip
• Smoked Cream Cheese
• Taco Dip Recipe
• White Queso Dip

Popular Italian Appetizers

• Homemade Pizza Rolls
• Italian Rice Balls
• Pizza Monkey Bread

Check out more of my easy appetizer recipes and the best Italian recipes on CopyKat!