Description
This Baked Goat Cheese Dip is a creamy, savory appetizer featuring a blend of goat cheese, mozzarella, asiago, and cream cheese baked in a flavorful marinara sauce. Topped with fresh cherry tomatoes and a drizzle of olive oil, it’s perfect for serving warm with crusty bread, crostini, or fresh veggies. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s an ideal party dish for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Mixture
- 8 Oz Plain Goat Cheese
- 1/4 Cup Mozzarella Cheese (Shredded)
- 1/4 Cup Asiago Cheese (Shredded)
- 4 Oz Cream Cheese
Marinara Sauce Mixture
- 12 Oz Marinara Sauce
- 1/4 Tsp Sea Salt
- 1/2 Tsp Ground Black Pepper
- 2 Cloves Garlic (Minced)
- 1 Tsp Balsamic Vinegar
Toppings & Garnishes
- 1 Cup Cherry Tomatoes
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
- Fresh Basil (Optional for Topping)
- Crushed Red Pepper (Optional for Topping)
For Serving
- Crostini
- Fresh Crusty Bread
- Carrot Sticks
- Raw Broccoli
- Celery Sticks
- Pretzel Rods
Instructions
- Prepare the Baking Dish and Oven: Lightly spray a 1 1/2 quart baking dish with cooking spray and preheat your oven to 375 degrees F to ensure it’s ready for baking the dip.
- Mix the Cheeses: In a large bowl, combine the goat cheese, mozzarella, asiago, and cream cheese. Stir thoroughly with a spoon or blend with a hand mixer until smooth and well combined. Set this cheese blend aside.
- Prepare the Tomatoes: Halve the cherry tomatoes and remove any stems. Set these aside for topping the dip later.
- Make the Marinara Sauce Mixture: In a small bowl, combine the marinara sauce, sea salt, minced garlic, ground black pepper, and balsamic vinegar. Stir well to integrate all the flavors.
- Assemble the Dip: Pour the marinara sauce mixture into the prepared baking dish, concentrating more sauce around the edges. Scoop the cheese mixture into the center of the dish on top of the sauce, leaving about a 1-inch border of sauce visible around the edges. Spread the cheese mixture evenly with a fork or spoon.
- Add Toppings: Arrange the halved cherry tomatoes over the cheese layer and drizzle with olive oil. Optionally sprinkle fresh basil and crushed red pepper for extra flavor and color.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is slightly golden and set.
- Serve Warm: Remove from oven and serve immediately with toasted bread, crostini, or your choice of dippers such as carrot sticks, raw broccoli, celery, or pretzel rods. Enjoy this creamy and flavorful appetizer warm.
Notes
- This quick and easy Baked Goat Cheese Dip recipe is ready in only 30 minutes, making it an excellent choice for last-minute parties or casual gatherings.
- You can use a hand mixer or spoon to blend the cheeses, but avoid using a blender as it may alter the texture excessively.
- Substitute fresh basil and crushed red pepper to customize the spice and herb profile according to your taste.
- Serve with a variety of dippers like crusty bread and fresh vegetables to suit different preferences.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 218 kcal
- Sugar: 4.7 g
- Sodium: 487 mg
- Fat: 16.6 g
- Saturated Fat: 9.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6.6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7.8 g
- Fiber: 1.4 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg
