Description
A warm and creamy Goat Cheese & Marinara Dip perfect for serving with crostini or crisp crackers. This easy baked appetizer combines tangy goat cheese, cream cheese, Parmesan, and a flavorful marinara sauce, topped with fresh basil ribbons for garnish.
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
- 1 baguette, sliced into 1/2 inch slices
- Olive oil for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and grease an 8-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Mix Cheeses: In a medium bowl, combine the softened goat cheese, cream cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, and dried basil. Mix well until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble Dip: Spread the cheese mixture evenly into the baking dish, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges. Fill this border with the marinara sauce and sprinkle a pinch of kosher salt over the top.
- Bake Dip: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is golden brown.
- Prepare Crostini: While the dip bakes, arrange the baguette slices on a large baking sheet. Drizzle or brush olive oil on both sides of each slice. Bake for 7 minutes, then flip the slices and bake an additional 4 minutes until golden and crisp. This can be done simultaneously with the dip.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the baked dip from the oven and garnish with fresh basil ribbons (chiffonade). Serve immediately with the warm crostini or your choice of crisp crackers.
Notes
- The dip can also be served with celery sticks for a fresh, crunchy alternative.
- You can make your own marinara sauce if preferred for a fresher taste.
- Ensure cheeses are softened before mixing to achieve a smooth consistency.
- Use a nonstick spray or brush the baking dish with olive oil if cooking spray is unavailable.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 recipe
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
