Delicious Crispy Fried Goat Cheese Balls served with an easy homemade Hot Honey!
Tangy goat cheese balls are coated in seasoned panko breadcrumbs and then, fried until golden brown. Serve this easy appetizer with my homemade 3-minute Hot Honey Sauce for the ultimate pairing! The combination of creamy goat cheese with sweet and spicy honey is an absolute match made in heaven.
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Why You Will Love These Fried Goat Cheese Balls
- Easy recipe to make. You only need 8 ingredients to make this appetizer and most are probably already in your pantry!
- Textural delight. The crunchy panko crust with the warm and creamy center makes for the perfect bite!
- Perfect for parties. These scrumptious cheese balls are always a crowd pleaser. Great thing is, you can easily double this recipe for larger gatherings. It's also perfect for the holidays.
- Can be made months ahead. See notes in the "storage section" below.
- Can be deep fried, baked or cooked in an airfryer. Please see my cooking notes below.
Ingredient Notes
Here are some notes about all the ingredients used in this Fried Goat Cheese Balls Recipe. Quantities and full instructions are in the recipe card below!
- Goat Cheese - I'm using plain goat cheese, but you can use herbed goat cheese.
- All-Purpose Flour - You can use nearly any flour, but we're keeping it simple with AP flour.
- Panko Breadcrumbs - These are Japanese breadcrumbs that are readily available at most markets. I usually get it at Trader Joe's.
- Spices - We are seasoning the panko with dried thyme, garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper.
- Egg + Water - We're just adding a bit of water to thin out the egg.
*See recipe card for quantities.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Here are step-by-step photos and instructions on how to make these Crispy Goat Cheese Balls! Please find detailed instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.
Tip! Before you start, place the goat cheese in the freezer for at least 25 minutes. It will make it easier to cut and shape, as goat cheese can be crumbly and messy.
Step 1. Prep the Goat Cheese - With a sharp knife, cut the log into 8 equal pieces.
Step 2. Then cut each disc in half. You should end up with a total of 16 pieces.
Step 3. Roll each piece into a smooth ball with the palms of your hands. Place on a small baking sheet or large plate lined with parchment paper.
Step 4. Prep a Coating Station - In 3 separate shallow bowls, add flour into one bowl, beat an egg with 1 tablespoon of water in a 2nd bowl and combine panko and spices in the 3rd bowl.
Step 5. Coat the Goat Cheese Balls - Dredge cheese balls in flour, dusting off any excess flour.
Step 6. Then, submerge in egg wash, making sure to let the excess drip off.
Step 7. Lastly, coat in seasoned panko, making sure to cover all sides.
Step 8. Place back on the baking tray and freeze for at least 30 minutes.
Double Coating - If you would like a thicker coating, double the amount of flour, panko, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper and egg. Coat goat cheese balls in flour, then egg wash, then panko and back into flour, egg wash and finish with panko. For reference, in the photo above, the goat cheese balls in the top 2 rows are double coated and the bottom 2 rows were coated once.
Step 9. Fry and Finish - Over medium heat, fill a small pot with 1 inch of frying oil and bring the temperature to about 360ºF (182ºC). Fry in small batches for 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown.
Step 10. With a spider or slotted spoon, scoop the cheese balls out and place them onto a wire rack lined with a paper towel. As soon as they come out of the oil, top with a bit of flaky sea salt. Serve warm with hot honey and enjoy!!
How To Cook In The Oven or Airfryer
Please note that baking or air frying the goat cheese balls will yield more of a light golden brown crust. It won't be as golden brown, as if they were deep fried.
Oven - Arrange goat cheese balls 1 inch apart in a single layer, on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Then, generously spray the goat cheese balls with cooking spray and bake in a preheated oven at 450ºF for 7 to 9 minutes or until lightly browned.
Airfryer - Place cheese balls in a single layer in the airfryer basket and generously spray with cooking oil spray. Air fry at 375º for 7 to 10 minutes or until the crust becomes lightly browned. Every airfryer is different so keep an eye on them.
Substitutions
- For the Panko - If you're unable to find panko bread crumbs, you can substitute for regular breadcrumbs. You can even use finely crushed crackers.
- For the Goat Cheese - If you are not a fan of goat cheese, you can try fresh mozzarella cheese balls, cream cheese from the block or a brie cheese wheel (cut into small cubes). Just remember to freeze until firm before frying your cheese balls.
- For the Spices - You can omit some or all of the spices if you don't have it in your pantry.
- For the Spicy Honey - You can use any flavor. Plain, truffle honey, spicy sage honey or vanilla honey!
- For the Frying Oil - You can use avocado oil, vegetable oil, canola oil, grapeseed oil or peanut oil.
Variations
- Try it with Herbed Goat Cheese - If you use herbed goat cheese, you don't have to season the bread crumbs.
- Make it Nutty - You can add some ground pistachios or pecans to the breadcrumb mixture.
- Add Bacon - Mix the goat cheese with crumbled bacon then scoop into balls.
- Make it Gluten-Free - In place of all-purpose flour, you can use cornstarch, arrowroot or tapioca starch. For the panko, you can use gluten-free panko breadcrumbs, GF crackers or almond flour. I tested a version with almond flour and although the coating wasn't very crispy, it was still really delicious!
- Make it Low Carb - You can skip the all purpose flour and just coat them in egg wash and then dredge in almond flour. I haven't tested this recipe with these other options, but you could also use coconut flour, pecan flour or Lupin Flour. I would suggest doing a double coating if it's too thin.
Helpful Equipment
- Cooking Thermometer - Although it's not needed, a thermometer will help you gauge the oil's temperature.
Storage
Leftovers
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days. Reheat in the toaster oven or regular oven.
- Freezer: Store in a freezer bag for up 2 months.
Unfried Coated Goat Cheese Balls
- Refrigerator: You can assemble up to 3 days ahead, and then cook when needed.
- Freezer: Store in freezer-tight bags for up to 2 months. Fry directly from frozen. You'll just need to cook them for an extra minute or so.
Helpful Tips
Freeze before shaping. Working with fresh goat cheese can get a bit messy. You can pop the log(s) into the freezer for 25 minutes. This will make it easier to cut and shape into balls.
Freeze before frying. This is a crucial step and should not be skipped. The cheese will melt as soon as it hits the hot oil if cooked right away. 30 minutes will do the trick!
Shape and bread the goat cheese balls ahead. You can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. If frying from frozen, you'll need to cook them for an extra minute or so.
Use panko breadcrumbs. I find that panko breadcrumbs yields a crispier texture. You can find them at most grocery stores, such as Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Ralphs, Kroger, Target, Amazon and so many more.
Fry in small batches. Fry 4 to 5 balls at a time because they cook so quickly. This will prevent them from overbrowning.
Keep an eye on the oil. Don't let the oil get too hot as it can brown the cheese balls too quickly. I always recommend using a digital thermometer.
Don't skip hot honey. These cheese balls are excellent on it's own, but the hot honey takes it to the next level! It's also amazing with regular honey.
FAQ
Enjoy it on it's own as an appetizer, with honey, hot sauce, marinara sauce, in salads or tomato soup!
Yes! Chèvre is the French word for, goat.
Bake in a preheated oven at 375ºF for 5 to 7 minutes.
Yes, you can! Keep in mind that they won't be as evenly browned. Pour 2 to 3 tablespoon of cooking oil to a small pan and heat over a medium flame. Once hot, fry cheese balls in batches, on all sides until golden brown.
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📖 Recipe
Fried Goat Cheese Balls
- Total Time: 1 hour 16 minutes
- Yield: 16 Cheese Balls
Description
Delicious Crispy Fried Goat Cheese Balls served with an easy homemade 3-minute Hot Honey!
Ingredients
- 8 Ounces Goat Cheese Log
- ¼ Cup All-Purpose Flour
- ¾ Cup Panko Breadcrumbs
- ¾ Teaspoon Dried Thyme or 2 Teaspoon Fresh Thyme
- ¼ Teaspoon Garlic Powder & Onion Powder
- ⅛ Teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 Large Egg + 1 Tablespoon Water
- Flaky Sea Salt
- Frying Oil like Avocado Oil, Canola Oil or Vegetable Oil
- Half a Batch Hot Honey
Instructions
- Before you start, freeze the goat cheese log or logs for at least 25 minutes. This will make it easier to cut and shape.
- In the meantime, Prep the Coating Station - In 3 separate shallow bowls, add flour into one bowl, whisk an egg with 1 tablespoon of water in a 2nd bowl and combine panko, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper in the 3rd bowl. Set aside until needed.
- Prep the Goat Cheese - With a sharp knife, cut the log into 8 equal pieces. Then, cut each disc in half. You should end up with 16 equal pieces.
- Next, roll each piece of cheese in between the palms of your hands until a smooth ball forms. Place onto a parchment paper-lined baking tray. If at anytime the cheese gets too soft, you can always pop it into the freezer to firm up.
- Coat the Goat Cheese Balls - Dredge cheese balls in flour, dusting off any excess. Then, submerge in the egg wash, making sure to let the excess drip off. Lastly, coat in seasoned panko making sure to cover all sides. See note below regarding double coating.
- Place back onto the baking tray and freeze for at least 30 minutes.
- Fry and Finish - Fill a small pot with 1 inch of frying oil and over medium heat, bring the temperature to about 360ºF (182ºC). Fry 4 to 5 pieces at a time for 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown. With a spider or slotted spoon, scoop the cheese balls out and place them onto a wire rack lined with paper towels. As soon as they come out of the oil, top with a bit of flaky sea salt. Serve with hot honey and enjoy!!
Notes
Double Coating - If you would like a thicker coating, double the amount of all-purpose flour, panko, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper and the egg. Coat goat cheese balls in flour, then egg wash, then panko, back into flour, egg wash and finish with panko.
Oven - To bake in the oven, arrange goat cheese balls in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Then, generously spray the goat cheese balls with cooking spray and bake in a preheated oven at 450ºF for 7 to 9 minutes or until lightly browned.
Airfryer - Place cheese balls in a single layer in an airfryer basket and generously spray with cooking oil spray. Air fry at 375º for 7 to 10 minutes or until the crust becomes lightly browned.
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Freezing Time: 55 Minutes
- Cook Time: 6 Minutes
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