Baked Goat Cheese Dip (with Tomatoes)

Creamy, tangy, and topped with perfectly roasted tomatoes, this Baked Goat Cheese Dip with (tomatoes!) makes the perfect appetizer for any occasion. Serve this goat cheese appetizer bubbling hot straight from the oven with little toasts or pita chips. Top with some fresh shredded basil and it becomes reminiscent of a goat cheese marinara dip, but feels healthier.

I know this dip sounds and looks sophisticated, but it couldn't be easier to prepare. A quick combination of ingredients and then it's baked to perfection.

Since goat cheese isn’t prized for its melting properties (or lack thereof) cream cheese and Monterey jack push this into creamy, melty dip territory. This is one goat cheese appetizer recipe you are going to want to save for later.

This decadent dip was partially inspired by the Tiktok viral recipe Baked Feta Pasta - of which I created a zesty version with chorizo and hot peppers (Baked Feta Pasta with Chorizo). I am so in on the baked cheese trend and hope it's here to stay. It was also inspired by Food Network’s Baked Goat Cheese Dip.

Baked gooey cheese and roasted tomatoes just belong together. Let’s get to what you’ll need to make this recipe.

Ingredients

For this Baked Goat Cheese Dip recipe you will need 3 different kinds of cheeses, cherry or grape tomatoes, olive oil, and garlic powder. And whatever dipping accompaniment you'd like to use to transfer the cheesy tomato dip into your mouth.

• Goat cheese - I opted for a plain goat cheese, but there are a lot of different options! I like to mix it up with an herbed goat cheese.
• Cream cheese - I like to use full fat cream cheese, but have not yet tested with low fat versions. If you try it, let me know in the comments how it turned out!
• Monterey jack cheese - It's perfectly melty! Which is just what this dip requires! Mozzarella cheese or mix of mozz and Monterey work well too.
• Grape or cherry tomatoes - I imagine you can use most any kind of poppable size tomato here. I usually go with grape or cherry tomatoes, but using a mix of different colored tomatoes yields very pretty - and delicious - results.
• Olive oil - Use a neutral-tasting olive oil.
• Garlic powder - I like powder here because easy button, but you can also add in a clove or two of finely minced garlic! I like to run garlic through a small food blender to make that task a breeze.
• For dipping: Try a French baguette, sliced and toasted or give pita chips a sample. You could also serve this with celery - I like it with celery the best because it's firm enough to stand up to the task of being loaded with delicious cheese.

A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below - keep scrolling!

Goat Cheese Dip Variations

• Spicy - Trader Joe’s has this wonderful Italian Bomba sauce that is the bomb eh! It’s made of fermented crushed Calabrian chile peppers and is my go-to when I want to add some heat. When you’re preparing the tomatoes, add a teaspoon or two of the Italian Bomba sauce. Other fantastic mix-in ideas include harissa and chili crisp. If using chili crisp, you can forgo the olive oil called for.
• Herbaceous - You should 100% garnish with fresh herbs like chives, oregano, basil, thyme, or parsley. You might also consider mixing in some dried herbs as you prepare the cheese-y base layer.
• Flavored cheeses - There are a lot of fun cheese flavors out there; mix it up with an herbed goat cheese or a pepper Jack cheese.
• Sweet - If you like savory and sweet, you can easily achieve that flavor profile here with a drizzle of honey or paired with a nice fig jam! The tang of goat cheese just belongs with honey and fig. For that matter, I bet this would be great with dates! They have this lovely sweetness to them that I suspect would be simply smashing against the three-cheese lineup.
• Texturally pleasing - Nuts make a great addition - try sliced almonds or crushed pisatchios.

How to Make Baked Goat Cheese Dip

Grab all your ingredients and preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to get started.

1. Add the goat cheese, cream cheese, Monterey jack, and garlic powder to a food processor.

2. Puree until smoothish, around 30 seconds.

3. Brush a baking dish with olive oil, and then add the cheese mixture to it.

4. Add the tomatoes to a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Add a few pinches of salt and pepper, and toss until the tomatoes are well coated with olive oil.

5. Pour the tomatoes on top of the cheese mixture, arranging in an even layer. Bake for 40 minutes. You want the tomatoes to be near bursting/burst before removing it from the oven.

6. Cut into slices and bake the French baguette alongside the dip. You don’t need to do this, but the oven’s already on, so why not? Serve while it's hot and bubbly. Enjoy!