A couple of years ago, I posted these amazing Garlic Herb Chicken Wings inspired by a trip to Florida and a quaint little wood-fired restaurant, Joe Mama’s in Port St. Joe. If you make it that way, do visit Joe Mama’s. We loved everything we tried. I especially loved their goat cheese appetizer, and it inspired this recipe for Herby Baked Goat Cheese.
Herby Baked Goat Cheese
I’ve had the craziest few weeks; I’ve been moving – a total of three moves (and multiple storage units) in one month. I won’t bore you with details, but with the holidays fast approaching, I pulled this gem out of my drafts and knew it would be a great time to share it!
About Herby Baked Goat Cheese:
You don’t have to be moving to want to find a perfect appetizer during the busy Holiday season! Herby Baked Goat Cheese is a quick ten-minute mix-up made with just a handful of ingredients, and can be mixed up ahead and popped in the oven to be baked off at a moment’s notice.
What comes out of that oven is fragrant and irresistibly spreadable. The tangy goat cheese is mellowed with a touch of cream cheese, while the herbs and spices perfectly complement. There’s garlic and a whisper of cayenne, but the heavy lifters are the chives and parsley; they give a bright, fresh contrast to all the rich creaminess.
I love that this Herby Baked Goat Cheese plays off as just a little bit rustic with a slight air of sophistication. It’s gonna be right at home no matter the occasion, whether it’s a girl’s night, a casual get-together, a family dinner, or a cocktail party. You may just find yourself making this simple little appetizer over and over.
Herby Baked Goat Cheese
Making Herby Baked Goat Cheese:
I mentioned quick and easy, right? Soften the cream cheese at room temperature for about an hour, or unwrap and microwave it for a minute. (Sometimes I use the defrost setting for gentle heat.) The goat cheese will be soft enough to mix right from the fridge; don’t sweat the amount if your package isn’t the perfect size.
Then it’s just a matter of mixing the ingredients in. I like to use a hand mixer first to blend the cream and goat cheeses along with the garlic and cayenne, then mix in the herbs by hand.
If you don’t have fresh herbs, sub in dried, but use about a quarter of the amount.
This recipe is super versatile. Play around with it by using different proportions of the cheeses, or add more or less herbs, or sub in different herbs. Just taste as you go along, and it’s hard to go wrong.
Make Ahead:
- To prepare ahead, simply mix and place in a baking dish, and refrigerate for up to three days. If time allows, bring it out of the fridge a bit before popping in the oven, and allow for an extra few minutes when baking, if needed.
- Note: if using a cast-iron dish like mine, do not refrigerate with the cheese mixture in it; instead, refrigerate the cheese mixture in a container, then add it to the dish before baking. The tangy goat cheese can corrode the finish.
Herby Baked Goat Cheese
Serve With:
Crackers or grissini (the hard Italian breadsticks), fresh breadsticks, or crostini are all fabulous choices.
If you wish to add fruit, apple or pear slices will go well; just squeeze a little lemon juice over the sliced fruit so it doesn’t brown.
Leftover Herby Baked Goat Cheese:
Store in the refrigerator, tightly covered, for three to five days.
- Serve as is, cold or reheat, lightly covered, in the microwave.
- Do not freeze; the texture upon thawing, will be strange.
Other Appetizers You Might Like:
A few of my favorite appetizers featuring goat cheese:
- Marinated Goat Cheese – super easy to pull together, marinated goat cheese is a fun spread or a great addition to a mezze platter.
- Mini Peppers Stuffed with Goat Cheese – slightly roasted, but still crispy mini peppers stuffed and drizzled make a great change up to the old standards.
- Rustic Tomato Galette – tomatoes and red onions caramelize as they toast in the oven, but it’s the goat cheese that takes this easy app over the top.
easy rustic tomato caramelized onion galette
Saving Money on Groceries:
What you pay for groceries depends on not just WHERE you shop, but WHEN. Be strategic and stock up at rock-bottom prices.
- The best sales are before holidays; check out Win at the Grocers. Think beyond the occasion & use the opportunity to stock up at a low for the coming weeks to months.
- If available, take advantage of discount stores like Aldi or Lidl. The pricing at Buyer’s clubs is not always the lowest, but can trump in quality. Be selective when shopping there.
The best way to save money on this or any recipe is to have a well-stocked pantry, fridge, and freezer full of sale-priced items.
Cream Cheese:
- Will be on sale before almost every holiday, especially the big “baking” holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The discount stores, Aldi & Lidl, as well as buyer’s clubs, have great pricing and Holiday sales, too.
- Check dollar stores around Christmas; in the past few years, I’ve picked up packages for a dollar (as of 2024).
- Know your pricing: the regular price, sale price, and great sale price. Don’t be afraid to stock up at rock bottom. Cream cheese keeps for weeks after the “best by” date. It can be frozen, but once thawed, it is best used in recipes.
- Neuchâtel is often less expensive than full-fat. Some brands rely on”gums” for thickening, which can affect no-bake items that need to set up w/o heat.
Goat Cheese:
- Both Aldi and Lidl have a decent price on goat cheese, but check your buyers’ club, especially during the holiday season.
- If neither the discount grocery nor the buyers’ clubs are an option, watch the sales on “near deli” cheese. If your store has hangtags (coupons), pick them up and hang on to them until a great sale happens.
- Once opened, use goat soft cheese promptly, but know that unopened goat cheese has a long shelf life in the fridge, much longer than dated.
I’m thinking “holidays” since it’s mid-November right now, but this recipe for Herby Baked Goat Cheese is going to be great whenever you serve it, any time of the year. Until next time!
Mollie
Herby Baked Goat Cheese
Herby Baked Goat Cheese
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 to 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 5 to 6 ounces goat cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- a good pinch of cayenne
- a pinch of white pepper (optional)
- 1/4 cup loosely packed parsley
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped chives
- salt to taste (start with 1/2 teaspoon)
Instructions
Blend the goat cheese and cream cheese together, using a hand mixer if available. Add the garlic powder and cayenne, along with white pepper if using, and mix. Add the parsley and chives and mix in by hand. Taste and adjust any seasonings or ingredients, and add salt to taste.
Bake, uncovered, in a small casserole until hot and bubbly, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve warm.
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