These Crispy Goat Cheese Bites are the perfect easy appetizer for your holiday party! Made in less than 15 minutes with rich and tangy goat cheese, there's a light sweetness that comes with the hot honey, and a citrus & herb punch from lemon and thyme.
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Turn your appetizer game up with this Crispy Goat Cheese Bites recipe. They're the perfect party appetizer—not only are they simple to make but they're the perfect addition to any occasion, be it the bustling holiday season or a casual summer gathering.
Quick, easy, and with a golden crust of breadcrumbs that have been cooked to crispy perfection, these cheesy bites are irresistible.
Try them in portions of 4 balls as a starter with a small and simple salad on the side for a dinner party, or on a sharing appetizer table with dips, jams, and other appetizers for your New Year's Eve celebration!
Some of my other favorite sharing appetizers are Classic Shrimp Cocktail, Smoked Salmon Dip, Sausage Balls with Bisquick, Baked Brie in Puff Pastry, Homemade Mozzarella Sticks, and basically anything from my list of Easy Party Appetizers for a Crowd!
Why We Love This Recipe
- It's easy to make small batches of these bites if you just want a few, or you can easily make them in bulk!
- With only 6 simple ingredients, this easy recipe is perfect for last-minute party planning.
- They're super quick to make, and ready in just 15 minutes, giving you more time to relax, cook other appetizers, or enjoy your guests!
What You'll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Butter - Butter helps toast the breadcrumbs. Olive oil would also work if that’s what you have on hand.
- Breadcrumbs - Plain breadcrumbs are best for this recipe, although you could use the Italian seasoned breadcrumbs if you like. If you want a bit of extra crunch, you can use half regular breadcrumbs and half panko breadcrumbs, but don’t simply use only panko breadcrumbs, as they are more coarse and won't cover the goat cheese as evenly.
- Salt - Use Kosher Salt to season the goat cheese bites, enhancing the flavors so they taste delicious!
- Goat's Cheese - I’m using plain Chevre (goat's cheese) for these bites. You could always pick honey or herb-flavored goat cheese if you prefer.
- Honey - Hot honey adds a bit of spice and delicious sweetness to the goat cheese.
- Thyme - Thyme adds a fresh herbaceous flavor to the goat cheese. Make sure to use fresh thyme, not dried!
- Lemon Zest - Fresh lemon zest is best for adding a bit of acidity, brightening up the flavor of these creamy goat cheese bites.
How to Make This Recipe
- Make cheese mixture. In a medium bowl, stir together the goat cheese, hot honey, thyme, and lemon zest.
- Make cheese balls. Scoop out ½ tablespoon-sized portions and roll them into smooth balls. Place the balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Make a breadcrumb mixture and coat balls in it. In a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the breadcrumbs and ½ teaspoon salt. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring often, until the breadcrumbs are golden brown and toasted. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the breadcrumbs to cool completely. If the breadcrumbs are even slightly warm, they will melt the soft goat cheese, so make sure they cool completely! Then, roll the balls in the toasted breadcrumbs until fully coated, and place them on your serving dish.
- Garnish and serve. Garnish with additional fresh thyme leaves or a drizzle of hot honey, if desired. Enjoy.
Recipe FAQ's
You can easily make your goat cheese bites gluten-free by using gluten-free breadcrumbs.
Goat Cheese Bites can be stored in a single layer in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Be careful not to leave them out at room temperature for too long, as the goat cheese can spoil.
Make these Goat Cheese Bites ahead of time and freeze them for up to 1 month. To do this, flash-freeze them on a baking sheet in the freezer until solid, then transfer them to a freezer bag or container. Thaw them in the refrigerator before serving!
Tips for Success
- Goat cheese is easier to handle if it’s cold, but not straight from the fridge. Let it sit at room temperature for 5–10 minutes (or while you toast the breadcrumbs) before mixing or rolling. If the goat cheese is getting too soft as you're working with it, pop it back in the refrigerator to chill for a bit before continuing.
- Be patient with yourself as you're learning to the goat cheese into balls. It will get easier the more you make!
How Do I Serve Honey Goat Cheese Bites?
Offer a variety of dipping sauces to complement the flavor profile of the goat cheese.
A drizzle of honey, my Homemade Aioli, or a spicy mango sauce will enhance the bites and offer guests the chance to customize their flavor experience.
Try these little balls of cheesy goodness with my Bacon Jam, Peach Jam, or Cranberry Sauce on the side to add even more flavor!
They're also great served with some other appetizers on a Charcuterie Board.
Substitutions and Variations
- Try swapping the hot honey for truffle honey or adding ½ teaspoon truffle oil for truffle goat cheese bites. You can even use regular sweet honey or other flavors of honey for a different flavor. Agave nectar or maple syrup are good vegan alternatives, but their consistency is slightly different, and the result may vary.
- You can make these cheese bites into these herby goat cheese bites by adding another ½ teaspoon minced parsley and 1 tablespoon julienned basil. You could even try adding some garlic powder to the mix for even more flavor.
- Give them a delicious fruity flavor by adding 2 tablespoons of jam or preserves—fig, blueberry, and apricot are all delicious!
- Make a goat cheese log instead of small balls by making a log shape with the goat cheese and coating it in the same way. Be careful not to make the log of goat cheese too big, or it will lose its structure and be difficult to serve.
- Add some finely crushed nuts to the breadcrumb mixture for an added nutty flavor. Pecans or walnuts would work well.
More Delicious Appetizer Recipes
- Smoked Pork Belly Burnt Ends
- Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
- The BEST Bruschetta Recipe
- Bacon Wrapped Scallops
- Grape Jelly Meatballs
- St. Louis Toasted Ravioli
- Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Did you make this recipe?
Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
Crispy Goat Cheese Bites
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons salted butter
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- 16 ounces plain goat cheese
- 2 Tablespoons hot honey (or regular honey)
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, minced
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon zest
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, stir together the goat cheese, hot honey, thyme, and lemon zest.
- Scoop out ½ tablespoon-sized portions and roll them into smooth balls. Place the balls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- In a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the breadcrumbs and ½ teaspoon salt.
- Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring often, until the breadcrumbs are golden brown and toasted. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the breadcrumbs to cool completely. If the breadcrumbs are even slightly warm, they will melt the soft goat cheese, so make sure they cool completely!
- Then, roll the balls in the toasted breadcrumbs until fully coated, and place them on your serving dish.
- Garnish with additional fresh thyme leaves or a drizzle of hot honey, if desired. Enjoy.
Notes
- Yield: Makes about 32 goat cheese bites. I'd say one serving is about 4 goat cheese bites, but this may be less if you have other appetizers on the table too.
Storage
- Store: Goat Cheese Bites can be stored in a single layer in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Be careful to not leave them out at room temperature for too long, as the goat cheese can spoil.
- Freeze: Make these Goat Cheese Bites ahead of time and freeze them for up to 1 month. To do this, flash freeze them on a baking sheet in the freezer until solid, then transfer them to a freezer bag or container. Thaw them in the refrigerator before serving!
