This baked Goat Cheese Dip recipe is perfect for parties. It has bold and balanced flavors that are sure to feed a crowd. I like to make this for Super Bowl parties or as an appetizer during Thanksgiving or Christmas. It's hand down my favorite goat cheese appetizer.
From the rich and tangy goat cheese to the salty bacon and sweet honey, this dip recipe hits all the notes on the palate. It's so incredibly balanced and delicious that it's almost addictive! It's one of my favorite simple recipes with goat cheese.
If you like bacon dip recipes, you will love my slow roasted onion bacon dip and this bacon spinach artichoke dip. My cream cheese salsa dip is really good too.
Why You'll Love This Goat Cheese Dip Recipe
- Delicious warm or cold: This is meant to be a goat cheese and hot bacon dip but it even tastes good at room temperature or cold.
- Customizable recipe: So many ingredients and flavors pair beautifully with goat cheese so feel free to make this your own.
- Crowd favorite: This appetizer dip is a hit with everyone! You have to share it!
Ingredients
All ingredients for this warm dip recipe are easily found at any grocery store. You can even double it and make a larger amount depending on your serving plans.
- Goat cheese: I love the fresh and tangy flavor of goat cheese. It's very creamy and spreadable. Blending it in the food processor makes it so smooth, too. Perfect for dipping! Goat cheese usually comes in an 8 or 10 oz package. This recipe works well with EITHER quantity.
- Cream cheese: I use a combo of goat cheese and cream cheese to make this dip recipe extra rich and creamy.
- Milk: I add just a little bit of milk to thin out the dip slightly. It becomes so much easier to dip.
- Seasonings: I simply add salt and pepper to the cheese mixture to bring out the wonderful flavor of the goat cheese. The red pepper flakes are added to the bacon and pecan topping for a touch of heat.
- Bacon: I like frying up bacon and chopping it myself. The texture is much more pleasing than store-bought bacon bits.
- Dates: The chewy texture of the dates is a great contrast to the creaminess of the dip and the crunchy pecans.
- Roasted pecans: I love the flavor of roasted pecans. For some bold flavor and texture try Spicy Candied Pecans.
- Honey: The sweet and sticky honey compliments the flavors of the bacon and goat cheese amazingly.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Hot honey: Instead of regular honey, use hot honey in this recipe for extra spice.
- Mediterranean style: Add diced tomatoes and olives on top of the baked goat cheese and drizzle it with good-quality olive oil.
- Sundried tomato and herb: Chopped sundried tomatoes and fresh basil pair so well with the warm goat cheese.
- Spicy: Add a bit of chili pepper flakes or jalapeno powder to the bacon topping for a bit of heat.
- Nut-Free: Leave out the pecans or swap them for pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.
How to Make Goat Cheese Dip
To set yourself up for success, preheat your oven to 400° F and spray the baking dish with a light coating of non-stick spray. While the oven is getting ready, you can prepare the goat cheese mixture! It's very easy to make this goat cheese recipe.
Step 1: Blend the goat cheese and cream cheese. Add the goat cheese, cream cheese, milk, salt, and pepper to a food processor or blender. Pulse the mixture until it's smooth and creamy.
Step 2: Transfer and bake. Pour the mixture into the greased baking dish and spread it evenly. Bake it for about 20 minutes or until the edges start to brown. You will notice the middle of the mixture will also be slightly raised.
Step 3: Cook the bacon. While the goat cheese is baking, heat a skillet over medium-high heat and cook the bacon until crispy. Drain any excess fat out of the pan and chop the bacon slices.
Step 4: Make the topping. Add the chopped bacon back to the pan along with the dates, pecans, honey, and red pepper flakes. Stir the mixture until it's well combined.
Step 5: Add topping. Top the warm goat cheese with the bacon pecan topping.
Step 6: Garnish and serve. Add chopped parsley as a fresh garnish and enjoy it with your favorite dippers.
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy my copycat Neiman Marcus million dollar dip or this hot corn dip!
Storage Directions
- Refrigeration: Store in an airtight container or cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Cover it with foil and warm it in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes.
- Make Ahead of Time: Blend the goat cheese and cream cheese mixture and store it tightly wrapped in the refrigerator in the baking dish. Make the bacon topping and store it in an airtight container. When ready to serve, bake the cheese according to the recipe instructions and gently reheat the topping over low heat in a small skillet.
Serving Suggestions
- Homemade, crunchy dippers compliment this baked cheese dip so well. I love making Air Fryer Pita Chips and Air Fryer Bagel Chips. Some other great serving options are pretzels, crackers, potato chips, or tortilla chips.
- Easy Spicy Pickles, cucumbers, and carrot sticks are also great dippers.
- Use it as a goat cheese spread on a sandwich like these Fried Pork Chop Sandwiches.
Check out my sausage Queso if recipes like this appeal to you.
Recipe Tips
- Let the dip rest after baking: Allow the cheese dip to rest for a few minutes before serving. This will let it set so it's easier to dip.
- Keep a close eye while it bakes: Ovens can vary so make sure that the goat cheese is getting too browned as it bakes.
- Don't warm it ahead of time: If you don't plan to eat this dip right away, don't bake it until you're ready for the best texture.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Grease the pot and add the blended cheese mixture. Cover and cook on high for 1-2 hours or until hot.
If you can't don't like goat cheese or have an allergy, try this recipe with ricotta, cottage cheese, or even feta as substitutes.
More Delicious Dips
Do you like making dips for parties? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Bacon Goat Cheese Dip
Equipment
- Baking dish
- skillet
Ingredients
- 10 ounce plain goat cheese
- 8 ounce softened cream cheese
- 3 tablespoon milk
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 6 slices slices of bacon chopped
- 8 dates chopped
- ¼ cup roasted pecans chopped
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and prepare a 20 ounce baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a food processor, combine the goat cheese, cream cheese, milk, salt and pepper and pulse in two second intervals until smooth and creamy.
- Transfer to a prepared baking dish and bake in the preheated oven, uncovered for 20 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the mixture appears slightly raised.
- While the goat cheese is baking, prepare the topping by cooking the bacon in a large skillet until crispy.
- Drain off the fat and return the bacon to the skillet with the dates, pecans, honey and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
- Transfer the honey glazed bacon, dates and pecans to the top of the baked goat cheese.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with sliced crusty bread, crackers, or other favorite dippers.
Notes
- Let the dip rest after baking: Allow the cheese dip to rest for a few minutes before serving. This will let it set so it's easier to dip.
- Keep a close eye while it bakes: Ovens can vary so make sure that the goat cheese is getting too browned as it bakes.
- Don't warm it ahead of time: If you don't plan to eat this dip right away, don't bake it until you're ready for the best texture.
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