Baked Goat Cheese

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.

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!

Continue to Content

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.

Print

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: 4 Serving 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)

• Smoked Cream Cheese - May 14, 2024
• Caprese Bites Appetizer Recipe - March 10, 2024
• Bruschetta Caprese Recipe - March 6, 2024