Who doesn't love a great cheese appetizer? These goat cheese balls are full of flavor, can be made a few weeks ahead of time, they take less than 6 minutes to cook, and the best part, they're fun to eat!!! We added cayenne pepper to the panko which gave them a little kick. It's also fun to add some of your favorite fresh herbs or buy goat cheese that already has the herbs mixed into the cheese. YUM!
One of our favorite past times is to have a TV binge-watching night or weekend!!! Plus, we love a good "Friday night martini night". So, we're always trying new snacks and love to share our favorites with our followers. These Goat Cheese Balls might be my favorite!!! Not only are they crunchy and creamy, as I mentioned, they are so easy to make and can be frozen in the freezer for a few weeks before air frying them. So they're always on hand!
Air Fry, Bake, or Fry in Oil
Once the goat cheese balls are formed and coated in panko they go into the freezer for at least 30 minutes. After that, they can remain in the freezer until you're ready to make them. The longest we have had them in the freezer is 3 weeks. I think they could stay longer but they are so good they keep calling my name. The best part is we usually make 2 to 3 each for a nice snack in the evening.
The goat cheese balls go great with Wine, a Martini, and even a Manhattan. I'm sure they will be wonderful with other cocktails. Since we watch how many calories we have every day sometimes we have them with flavored water and, believe it or not, they actually pair well with that too.
How to make these easy Goat Cheese Balls
Pick your favorite goat cheese and form them into balls. We measure them in one-tablespoon sizes. This makes it easy to figure out home much cheese you're having because, let me tell you, these bad boys are so good it's hard to stop eating them.
Breading the Cheese Balls
Next beat the egg until the yellow and white parts are mixed together. Make sure to remove any eggshells before it gets caught on a video. Yes, we had one little shell fall in while we were videoing and several people saw it on Instagram. OPPS!!! The shell was removed!!! It's so funny what gets noticed.
In the next step, mix together in a shallow bowl the panko, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. If you don't want it spicy leave out the cayenne pepper. Oregano is also really good with these goat cheese balls, depending on the flavor vibe you're going for. Just add ½ teaspoon of oregano with the seasoning. This is where you can have fun and add your favorite spices.
Place the goat cheese balls in the eggs then in the panko. Gently press the goat cheese into the panko mixture. Place on a freezer-safe plate and place in the freezer for 30 minutes. NOTE: If saving for a later date. After 30 minutes or so place the goat cheese balls in a freezer bag for storage. Place them back in the freezer in a spot where they won't get crushed.
Ready to Serve!
After the goat cheese balls have been in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. They're ready to air fry, bake or fry in oil. NOTE: We have not fried them in oil just because of the extra fat that is added....and frying is hard. The flavor is so great in the air fryer or oven we decided to avoid the hot oil and clean up.
Spray the Air Fryer basket with olive oil spray. Place the frozen goat cheese balls on the Air Fryer basket and lightly spray them with olive oil spray. This helps the panko to brown and adds that crunch!
Air Fry at 375 degrees for 6 to 8 minutes. The time all depends on the air fryer. They will be soft to the touch when they are done. If baking them bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. NOTE: All air fryers are different so the time does vary. We have 3 different air fryers and found that the goat cheese balls did take longer in two of the air fryers. What we found is to check them at 6 minutes and then cook at 3-minute intervals until they are done.
The final STEP is to ENJOY the Goat Cheese Balls!!!!!
TIP:
- Use olive oil cooking spray to spray the air fryer basket and the goat cheese balls prior to cooking
- If freezing for longer than 30 minutes, place the goat cheese balls in a freezer-safe container or bag.
- Make sure the place the goat cheese balls in a place in the freezer so they don't get crushed
- If you don't want the goat cheese balls to be spicy, leave out the cayenne pepper
Goat Cheese Balls
Ingredients
- 3 Ounces Goat Cheese
- 1 Egg
- ¼ Cup Panko
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper (Optional)
- Olive Oil Cooking Spray
Instructions
- Form Goat Cheese into balls. Use one tablespoon to measure the amount of cheese for each cheese ball.3 Ounces Goat Cheese
- Using the palms of your hand roll the cheese into nice smooth balls
- When all the cheese is formed into balls. Beat the egg in a shallow bowl. Beat the egg until the yellow and white parts are mixed together.1 Egg
- In a separate bowl, mix together the panko, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.¼ Cup Panko, ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder, ½ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- Place the goat cheese balls into the egg. We do three balls at a time. Roll the goat cheese balls around in the egg until lightly coated. Repeat this step with the remaining cheese balls.
- Transfer the goat balls to the panko mixture. Gently press the panko into the goat cheese until covered. Repeat this until all cheese balls are covered with the panko
- Transfer to a freezer-safe dish. Place in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. NOTE: If making the cheese balls ahead for a future use. After 30 minutes place them into a freezer-safe bag. And in a place in the freezer where they won't get smashed
- When ready to cook. Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray. Place the goat cheese on the air fryer basket. Fry, Fry, and Fry at 375 degrees for 6 to 8 minutes. If Baking preheat oven to 375 degrees and bake for 10 to 12 minutes.Olive Oil Cooking Spray
- Enjoy!!!!
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