Fried goat cheese with wild honey and lemon thyme is a creamy, dreamy, crunchy treat and is my absolute guilty pleasure. I almost always order it when it’s on the menu at a restaurant and figured it was about time to figure out how to make it at home.

fried goat cheese

While I tend to opt for more vegan dishes that don’t include things like goat cheese, every once and awhile I crave this particular dish and indulge myself. These also make for a perfect appetizer when you need to wow a crowd but don’t have a lot of time. They are great for parties, holidays, and when you want a touch of elegance on the table.

The flavors can easily be customized to suit your preferences, too. You can omit the salt or thyme and swap them out for fresh rosemary or fried sage. I like to serve these on a bed of fresh arugula for extra appeal but also because the peppery leaves balance out the sweet honey and tangy cheese.

fried goat cheese with lemon thyme and wild honey

Ingredients

Fried goat cheese is simple and easy to make and only requires a handful of ingredients. You really only need the goat cheese, flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, but the flaky sea salt and fresh wild honey and lemon thyme really make the creamy and tangy flavors pop!

  • 1 8 0z goat cheese log
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1 tbsp Maldon sea salt flakes
  • honey for drizzling
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon thyme
  • oil for frying
fried goat cheese

Instructions

These fried goat cheese balls are super easy to make! One word of caution: I skipped the freezing step before and deeply regretted it. The cheese is much harder to handle and fry when not firmed up in the freezer.

  1. Place the goat cheese log in the freezer for ten to fifteen minutes to make it easier to shape.
  2. Prepare the flour, eggs, and bread crumbs for dredging.
  3. Take the goat cheese out of the freezer and slice it into thin rounds. Form each round into a ball, roughly a large teaspoon in size. Use kitchen gloves to help keep the cheese from sticking to your hands.
  4. Dredge each ball in the flour, egg, and then breadcrumbs.
  5. Place the goat cheese balls back into the freezer for another fifteen minutes before frying to prevent the cheese from melting.
  6. While the goat cheese is chilling, heat the oil over medium-high heat in a high-sided frying pan.
  7. Test the oil by dropping a small piece of breadcrumb into it and see if it sizzles. When the oil is hot enough, drop in a few goat cheese balls at a time.
  8. Fry them for about 20-30 seconds or until the breadcrumbs are golden brown.
  9. Remove and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Repeat with the remaining goat cheese balls.
  10. Drizzle honey over the goat cheese, sprinkle the flaky salt, and top with some fresh lemon thyme.
  11. Enjoy fresh! Fried goat cheese can be kept in the fridge for a day or two, but is best when enjoyed the same day.
bite of fried goat cheese balls

Try these related recipes:

Pumpkin Sage Pasta

Grilled Brie Sandwiches with Green Apple and Fig Jam

Fried Vegan Burrata Cheese

If you tried this recipe, leave us a comment below, and follow us for more recipes on InstagramPinterest, and Facebook.

fried goat cheese

Fried Goat Cheese with Wild Honey

Allison Crawford at The Hungry Carrot
Fried goat cheese is a tangy, creamy, crunchy treat that is flash-fried, drizzled with wild honey, and topped with fresh lemon thyme. So simple and quick to make for a crowd-pleasing appetizer.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Freezing Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 8 0z goat cheese log
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1 tbsp Maldon sea salt flakes
  • honey for drizzling
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon thyme
  • oil for frying

Instructions
 

  • Place the goat cheese log in the freezer for ten to fifteen minutes to make it easier to shape.
  • Prepare the flour, eggs, and bread crumbs for dredging.
  • Take the goat cheese out of the freezer and slice it into thin rounds. Form each round into a ball, roughly a large teaspoon in size. Use kitchen gloves to help keep the cheese from sticking to your hands.
  • Dredge each ball in the flour, egg, and then breadcrumbs.
  • Place the goat cheese balls back into the freezer for another fifteen minutes before frying to prevent the cheese from melting.
  • While the goat cheese is chilling, heat the oil over medium-high heat in a high-sided frying pan.
  • Test the oil by dropping a small piece of breadcrumb into it and see if it sizzles. When the oil is hot enough, drop in a few goat cheese balls at a time.
  • Fry them for about 20-30 seconds or until the breadcrumbs are golden brown.
  • Remove and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Repeat with the remaining goat cheese balls.
  • Drizzle honey over the goat cheese, sprinkle the flaky salt, and top with some fresh lemon thyme.
  • Enjoy fresh! Fried goat cheese can be kept in the fridge for a day or two, but is best when enjoyed the same day.
Keyword fried goat cheese, honey, lemon thyme