Description
This Goat Cheese & Marinara Dip is a creamy, savory appetizer perfect for gatherings. Softened goat cheese and cream cheese are combined with Parmesan and basil, baked with marinara sauce until bubbly and golden. Served with homemade crostini or crisp crackers, it’s an irresistible starter or snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Dip
- 8 ounces goat cheese softened
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 1/2 cups jarred marinara sauce
- Pinch of kosher salt
- Fresh basil for garnish
Crostini
- Baguette sliced into 1/2 inch slices
- Olive oil for drizzling or brushing
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set the oven to 375 degrees F and grease an 8-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix Cheeses: In a medium bowl, combine softened goat cheese, cream cheese, grated Parmesan, and dried basil until smooth and well blended.
- Assemble Dip: Spread the cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish, leaving about a 1-inch border around the edges. Pour the marinara sauce into the border surrounding the cheese mixture. Sprinkle a pinch of kosher salt over the sauce.
- Bake Dip: Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes until the sauce is bubbly and the cheeses are golden brown on top.
- Prepare Crostini: Meanwhile, slice a baguette into 1/2-inch slices. Arrange slices on a baking sheet, drizzle or brush both sides with olive oil. Bake for 7 minutes, then turn slices over and bake for an additional 4 minutes until golden and crisp.
- Garnish Dip: Remove the dip from the oven and garnish with fresh basil cut into ribbons (chiffonade).
- Serve: Serve the warm dip immediately alongside crispy crostini or crackers for dipping.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, use homemade marinara sauce if desired.
- Substitute cream cheese with a low-fat version for a lighter dip.
- Celery sticks also make a fresh, crunchy dipping option.
- Prepare crostini simultaneously with the dip to save time.
- Leftover dip can be refrigerated and gently reheated before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
