Fried Goat Cheese Balls

These perfectly fried goat cheese balls are the best shareable appetizer. Crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, these tasty goat cheese fritters are served with a zesty arrabiata dip.

this recipe!

This post was originally published in November 2020 and has been updated for content.

When we used to live in the Chicago area, there was this little tapas restaurant that my husband and I used to frequent. They served bite sized fried goat cheese that was drizzled with honey. Once I had these tasty morsels, I knew I had to try and make them at home.

I have been making fried goat cheese for years and they are the perfect appetizer to serve with cast iron pan pizza, with roasted grapes and olives for a wine night or during the holidays with bacon wrapped dates.

🧀 Ingredient notes

• Goat Cheese - Use plain soft goat cheese that comes in a log, not the crumbles because it's creamier and will hold together in balls better.
• Dipping Sauce - Arrabiata in Italian means "angry". It's a spicy take on traditional marinara sauce using crushed chili or red pepper flakes. This sauce is reduced down to a thicker consistency and goes perfectly on top of the crispy and creamy fried goat cheese balls.

📋 Substitutions and variations

• Honey - Use regular breadcrumbs instead of seasoned ones and then drizzle the fried goat cheese in honey.
• Balsamic - Drizzle the goat cheese with balsamic vinegar instead of serving them with the arrabiata dip.

🔪 Step by step instructions

First, cook the garlic and red pepper flakes in oil for a few minutes until the garlic just starts to turn brown. Stir in the tomatoes and reduce the heat and allow the sauce to simmer for 15-30 minutes until it's thickened and reduced.

To prepare for breading the goat cheese, scramble the eggs with water in one dish and then add the breadcrumbs to another. Roll the goat cheese into small bite sized balls. Then, roll the balls into the egg mixture and then the breadcrumbs, and then repeat so the balls have all been breaded twice.

Place the breaded goat cheese in freezer on a sheet pan to set up while you heat the oil. Heat 1-2 inches of oil in a deep-sided skillet or small pot until it reaches 325˚ - 350˚. Working in small batches, fry the goat cheese in the hot oil until crispy and browned and then let them drain on a paper towel.

Once all of the goat cheese balls are fried, serve them at room temperature with the arrabiata dipping sauce.

⭐ Expert tips

• Make sure to dip the goat cheese in the egg mixture and then the breadcrumbs twice so they have a decent breading on them for frying.
• Don't skip on freezing the goat cheese balls while the oil is heating. This helps so they don't explode during frying.
• When frying, don't overcrowd the pan with too many goat cheese fritters or the temperature of the oil with lower and the will get soggy and crack open.
• Fry the goat cheese bites until just golden brown so they don't explode in the oil.

♨️ Alternative cooking methods

Air Fryer - These goat cheese bites can be cooked in an air fryer instead. Spray the air fryer basket with avocado or olive oil spray and then add the breaded goat cheese to the air fryer basket. Spray the tops of the balls generously with the oil spray and then cook at 400˚ for 5 minutes until golden brown.

⏲️ Make ahead instructions

These goat cheese balls can be breaded and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up the 2 days ahead of time. They can also be frozen on sheet pan and then stored in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Frozen goat cheese should be defrosted in the refrigerator. Follow directions as listed for frying.

Arrabiata dipping sauce can be made up to 3 days ahead of time, cooled completely and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. The sauce can also be stored in an airtight container and frozen for up to 2 months. Frozen sauce should be thawed in the refrigerator and can be served at room temperature or warmed slightly in a pot on the stovetop for serving.

🥡 Storage suggestions

Leftover goat cheese bites can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container and can be crisped up under the broiler in the oven or in the air fryer for a couple of minutes at 400˚.

For a quick overview of this recipe, check out my web story for this delicious fried goat cheese!

🫒 More appetizer recipes

If you loved this recipe for fried goat cheese balls, check out these other appetizer recipes that I know you will love too!

• Whipped Ricotta with Lemon
• Parmesan Rosemary Crackers
• Manchego Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates
• Roasted Grapes and Olives

📖 Recipe

Fried Goat Cheese Balls

Amanda

These perfectly fried goat cheese balls are the best shareable appetizer. Crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, these tasty goat cheese fritters are served with a zesty arrabiata dip.

5 from 10 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 35 mins

Cook Time 5 mins

Chilling Time 10 mins

Total Time 50 mins

Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine Italian, Spanish

Servings 15 servings

Calories 291 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Arrabiata Dip

• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves fresh garlic minced
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 14 oz canned diced tomatoes
• pinch kosher salt

Fried Goat Cheese

• 16 oz goat cheese log
• 3 large eggs
• 1 Tablespoon water
• 1 ½ cups italian seasoned bread crumbs
• 3-4 cups vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

 

Arrabiatta Dip

• Combine olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes in a small pan and heat over medium heat on the stovetop. Cook while stirring frequently for 2 minutes, or until the garlic just starts to brown.
• Add in tomatoes and salt and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring and mashing the tomatoes occasionally, until the sauce is cooked down and reduced by half. While sauce is simmering, prep goat cheese balls.

Fried Goat Cheese

• Take approximately 1 teaspoon of the goat cheese and roll it into a bite-sized ball. Repeat with the remaining goat cheese until there are approximately 60-80 balls.
• In a small bowl or shallow dish, scramble together eggs and water. In another small bowl or shallow dish, add the italian breadcrumbs.
• Working with 3-4 balls at a time,  coat goat cheese in the egg mixture and then the bread crumb mixture. Allow the excess egg mixture to drip off before coating it in the breadcrumbs. Repeat the process again so that the balls have been breaded twice. Repeat with the remaining balls.
• Place breaded goat cheese on a sheet pan and place in the freezer for 5-10 minutes and prep the oil for frying.
• While goat cheese is in the freezer, add 1-2 inches of vegetable oil to a deep sided skillet or pot. Heat over medium high heat to 325˚ - 350° and line a sheet pan or platter with paper towels.
• When oil is heated, remove goat cheese balls from the freezer. Working in batches of 6-8 balls at a time, use a slotted spoon to carefully lower the goat cheese into the hot oil. Fry for approximately 15-20 seconds, while moving the balls around with the spoon, until balls are browned on all sides.  Use the slotted spoon to remove them from the oil and place them on the paper towels to drain. Repeat with the remaining balls.
• Serve fried goat cheese balls at room temperature with arrabbiata dip.

Notes

• Use a log of goat cheese instead of crumbles because it will hold together in a ball together.
• Make sure to dip the goat cheese in the egg mixture and then the breadcrumbs twice so they have a decent breading on them for frying.
• Don't skip on freezing the goat cheese balls while the oil is heating. This helps so they don't explode during frying.
• When frying, don't overcrowd the pan with too many goat cheese fritters or the temperature of the oil with lower and the will get soggy and crack open.
• Fry the goat cheese bites until just golden brown so they don't explode in the oil.
• Instead of the dipping sauce, balls can also be drizzled in honey or balsamic vinegar.

 

Alternative Cooking Methods

Air Fryer - These goat cheese bites can be cooked in an air fryer instead. Spray the air fryer basket with avocado or olive oil spray and then add the breaded goat cheese to the air fryer basket. Spray the tops of the balls generously with the oil spray and then cook at 400˚ for 5 minutes until golden brown.

 

Make Ahead and Storage Instructions

Bread and stored goat cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator up the 2 days ahead of time. They can also be frozen on sheet pan and then stored in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Frozen goat cheese should be defrosted in the refrigerator. Follow directions as listed for frying.

Arrabiata dipping sauce can be made up to 3 days ahead of time, cooled completely and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. The sauce can also be stored in an airtight container and frozen for up to 2 months. Frozen sauce should be thawed in the refrigerator and can be served at room temperature or warmed slightly in a pot on the stovetop for serving.

Leftover goat cheese bites can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container and can be crisped up under the broiler in the oven or in the air fryer for a couple of minutes at 400˚.

Nutrition

Serving: 4ballsCalories: 291kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 9gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 326mgPotassium: 103mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 460IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 79mgIron: 2mg

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