Description

This Baked Goat Cheese Dip is a delicious and easy-to-make appetizer perfect for any gathering. Creamy goat cheese combined with mozzarella, asiago, and cream cheese is baked in a tangy marinara sauce with garlic and herbs. Topped with fresh cherry tomatoes and olive oil, it’s served warm with crusty bread or fresh vegetable dippers for a crowd-pleasing starter.

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

Sauce and Toppings

12 Oz Marinara Sauce
1/4 Tsp Sea Salt
1/2 Tsp Ground Black Pepper
2 Cloves Garlic (Minced)
1 Tsp Balsamic Vinegar
1 Cup Cherry Tomatoes
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
To Taste Fresh Basil (Optional for Topping)
To Taste Crushed Red Pepper (Optional for Topping)

Dippers

Crostini
Fresh Crusty Bread
Carrot Sticks
Raw Broccoli
Celery Sticks
Pretzel Rods

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Instructions

Prepare Baking Dish and Oven: Spray a 1 1/2 quart baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking the dip.
Mix the Cheeses: In a large bowl, combine goat cheese, shredded mozzarella, asiago, and cream cheese. Stir with a spoon or blend with a hand mixer until smooth and well combined. Set this cheese mixture aside.
Prepare Tomatoes: Halve the cherry tomatoes and remove any stems. Set aside for topping later.
Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, mix marinara sauce with sea salt, minced garlic, black pepper, and balsamic vinegar until evenly combined. Pour this sauce into the prepared baking dish, spreading it mostly around the edges.
Assemble the Dip: Scoop the cheese mixture into the center of the baking dish on top of the marinara sauce, leaving about 1 inch of sauce visible around the edges. Spread the cheese into an even layer with a fork or spoon.
Add Tomato Topping: Arrange the halved cherry tomatoes evenly over the cheese layer. Drizzle the olive oil on top for added flavor and moisture.
Bake the Dip: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is lightly golden on top.
Serve Warm: Remove from oven and serve the dip warm with toasted crostini, fresh crusty bread, or your choice of vegetable sticks and pretzel rods. Optional garnishes of fresh basil and crushed red pepper can be sprinkled over before serving to enhance flavor.

Notes

This quick and easy Baked Goat Cheese Dip is ready in about 30 minutes, making it perfect for last-minute entertaining or casual get-togethers.
Use fresh cherry tomatoes for the best flavor and texture; remove stems for a cleaner presentation.
Feel free to customize dippers based on your preference—vegetables, pretzels, or toasted bread all work wonderfully.
A hand mixer can help achieve a smoother cheese blend, but a sturdy spoon works fine as well.
Optional toppings like fresh basil and crushed red pepper add a nice fresh and spicy kick.

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: 6.5 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 7.8 g
Fiber: 1.4 g
Protein: 4 g
Cholesterol: 31 mg