Baked Herb Goat Cheese with Marinara Sauce

How does a 4 ingredient appetizer sound that you can make in just minutes? Sound pretty good, right? If yes, then you you have arrived! This Baked Herb Goat Cheese with Marinara Sauce just might become your favorite quick entertaining appetizer. It’s perfect for the non- cook, all you have to do is put everything is a dish and bake it! Easy peasy!

Trust me when I tell you this simple baked goat cheese recipe is one of those dishes that you can keep all the ingredients on hand for when you have those friends or family members (like your mooching brother) who give you little or no notice and, unexpectedly, drop by. Now you have something simple but delicious to throw together to feed the the hungry masses!

Warm goat cheese, right out of the oven, is topped with fresh herbs and takes a warm bath in a quality marinara sauce and is served with crusty bread for the ever so important mopping (are you drooling yet?). It’s just 4 ingredients for an appetizer that takes very little time but rewards with big results.

Not a fan of fresh herbs? Top with basil pesto. Pesto is so tasty with goat cheese.

Not a fan of goat cheese? Use Boursin soft creamy cheeses in flavors like basil and chives or garlic and herbs. You really can’t make a bad decision here.

I’m a huge fan of goat cheese. I’ve mixed it with ricotta and topped with braised cherry tomatoes for an easy dip. I’ve even baked it into a Pear and Goat Cheese Quiche (my favorite for brunch).

The perfect dish for serving baked goat cheese

You can serve in any oven-proof dish of your choosing. I used my 8 X 6-inch  (20 x 15 cm) oval cast iron bowl.

The beauty of this appetizer is that you can customize it any way you so choose. If you can’t find a pre-made round of goat cheese, you can mold and shape whatever goat cheese you like into a round as best you can.

You can also use whatever fresh herbs you like and the same goes with the sauce. I used tomato basil this time, but a spicy arrabbiata would be so good too, if you want a bit of heat to spice things up.

What is the best sauce to serve with goat cheese?

Marinara, tomato basil, arrabbiata, pretty much any tomato-based sauce. If you want to gild the lily, just add some pesto.

Any of your favorite store bought sauce is fine, but if you want to make your own, here’s my Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce.

What is the best bread for dipping?

I love ciabbata. You can toast it in the oven or leave as is, but you must have something for all the mopping. I like to serve a combination of both toasted and un-toasted bread when it comes to entertaining.