Goat cheese balls are a delectable appetizer. Picture a perfectly crispy crust hiding a warm, soft, creamy center. I love setting out a plate as an appetizer at any party! These air fryer goat cheese balls deliver all the crunch and flavor without all the oil from deep frying.
Making delicious goat cheese balls in the air fryer is so simple, you’ll wonder why you didn’t add them to your entertaining menu sooner.
With just 7 required ingredients plus a dipping sauce of your choice, you’ll wonder how something so simple can be so delicious!
These crunchy air fried goat cheese bites are the perfect appetizer, as they’re both easy and impressive. Plus, you can swap around different flavors of cheese and dipping sauces to suit a wide variety of tastes!
They’re also delicious on top of a salad as a crunchy, creamy element. Alternatively, try them alongside a cup of soup for a side in the vein of grilled cheese!
Why Use the Air Fryer For Goat Cheese Balls?
The air fryer is the perfect tool for making great goat cheese balls. It delivers the browned, crispy exterior you want, plus a soft, warm, and creamy cheese interior.
It requires far less oil than deep frying, with just a small spritz on the breading to help the browning process along. While fried cheese balls aren’t a diet food by any stretch of the imagination, this version is still full of flavor and far less indulgent!
I also love that you can largely set them and forget them. Instead of tending a hot pan of oil over a stove with a lot of stirring, simply place them in the basket, shake them once, and you’re done. You can even make the balls ahead of time and store them in the fridge for faster prep!
Ingredients For Homemade Goat Cheese Balls
8 Ounces goat cheese, room temperature
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ cup all purpose flour
1 large egg
¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
Olive oil spray
2 Tbsp hot honey for dipping (optional)
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
Any flavor of goat cheese works great! Plain, herb, and even fruit flavors like blueberry goat cheese are delicious as goat cheese balls. Omit the salt and pepper if you choose a sweet flavor option
Feel free to add other herbs in to your savory options, like basil, thyme, or parsley, if you’d like
Hot honey is my favorite dipping accompaniment. However, plain honey is a great option if you don’t like heat. Feel free to swap in warmed fruit preserves, like raspberry, blackberry, or blueberry for another great choice!
Goat Cheese Balls With a Twist
Add Herbs or Spices. Especially with plain goat cheese, you can add herbs and spices to create your own flavors! Add herbs like basil, chervil, chives, dill, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, or thyme. Good spices are paprika, cayenne, red pepper flakes, or garlic powder
Infusions. Chop up and add some infusions to your softened goat cheese for a whole new flavor! Try pesto, sun dried tomatoes, homemade air fryer roasted red peppers, lemon zest, fennel, salami, fresh garlic, maple syrup, or prosciutto to name a few!
Use Nuts or Seeds. Using chopped nuts or seeds adds great texture to your goat cheese! Try it with almonds, walnuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, pine nuts, hazelnuts, or sunflower, pepita, pumpkin, or poppy seeds
Step-By-Step Preparation Guide
Divide the goat cheese into 24 pieces (I usually cut the log in half, then cut each into 12 even pieces) and roll each one into a ball
Place the rolled balls on a plate, silicone mat, or parchment lined tray and place in the freezer for 20 minutes to firm
Create a dredging station of the flour mixed with the salt and pepper, then a beaten egg, and lastly the panko breadcrumbs
Once the goat cheese balls are cold, remove them and roll them in the flour, the egg, and then the breadcrumbs until all of them are coated
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F
Place the coated goat cheese balls into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer
Spray the tops with a light mist of olive oil spray
Cook on the air fry setting for 6-8 minutes, pausing halfway through to flip and reapply the oil, until golden brown
Serve warm with hot honey (or your favorite option) for dipping
Can I Use Frozen Goat Cheese For Air Fryer Goat Cheese Balls?
You can use frozen goat cheese for air fryer goat cheese balls. However, you’ll need to defrost it to roll the balls into shape.
Once shaped and breaded, then the goat cheese may be frozen and held until ready to cook. It’s recommended to start with refrigerated goat cheese for ease and freeze after preparation.
Can I Make Goat Cheese Balls Ahead of Time and Air Fry Them Later?
Yes, you can absolutely make goat cheese balls ahead of time and air fry them later. Simply roll them in breading and store in the freezer for up to 1 month before cooking them.
You don’t need to defrost before cooking, either. Simply add 1-2 minutes to cooking time to account for the frozen state.
Can I Use Different Coatings For the Goat Cheese Balls?
Yes, you can use different coatings for the goat cheese balls. Feel free to swap in gluten free flour and breadcrumbs. The texture will change slightly but they will still be delicious.
You could also use finely crushed nuts for a variation in place of the breadcrumbs.
Can I Add Sweet Elements to the Goat Cheese Balls?
Yes, you can add sweet elements to the goat cheese balls. Use fruity goat cheese as a base, add honey or maple syrup, or add your own diced fruit to the mix.
You can also use a sweet dipping sauce to offset the tartness of the cheese.
How Do I Prevent the Goat Cheese From Oozing Out During Air Frying?
To prevent the goat cheese from oozing out during air frying, make sure to chill the cheese to firm it before breading, but after shaping. Also ensure that your breading is even all the way around the cheese ball for the best seal.
That said, it’s normal to end up with some oozing during cooking. Use a sheet of parchment underneath the balls in the air fryer to make cleanup easier.
Can I Air Fry Goat Cheese Balls Without Breading?
No, you cannot air fry goat cheese balls without breading. As a soft cheese, goat cheese needs the support of the breading to maintain shape.
Use a firmer cheese like halloumi if you want to air fry it without breading.
Does Goat Cheese Melt When Baked?
Goat cheese does not melt when baked. It becomes incredibly soft and spreadable, with a creamy consistency that doesn’t hold shape well.
That said, it will not pool or puddle like a traditional melting cheese, such as mozzarella.
Recipe Pro Tips
To prepare the goat cheese balls ahead of time, simply coat them in breading and return to the freezer for up to a month. You may need to add 1-2 minutes to cooking time to account for the frozen state
You can make the balls larger or smaller if you prefer a different cheese to breading ratio. I’ve made 8 ounces of cheese into 10, 20, and 24 balls depending on how I’d like them to look or what I’m doing with them
Shape the goat cheese balls much like you would a meatball, gently rolling the piece of cheese between the palms of your hand
Do your best to get a thorough, even coating with all steps of the breading process. It’s still normal for some of the cheese balls to burst open during cooking (they’re still delicious!). You can always repeat the egg and panko for a second layer if you’d like extra thick breading to mitigate this (you’ll need an extra egg)
Let them rest for 2-3 minutes if you plan to stick toothpicks in them for appetizers, as this will let them firm up slightly and make it much easier
Storage and Reheating Tips
Store leftover air fryer goat cheese balls in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. For longer term storage, freeze them after breading but before cooking for up to 1 month
To reheat fried goat cheese balls, air fry for 3-5 minutes at 350°F, or until warmed through. This works for leftover deep fried as well as a reheating method!
These air fryer goat cheese balls are so simple to make, yet so delicious. Best of all, you can make them ahead of time, so they’re ideal for when you have a last minute gathering or unexpected guests. Just heat and enjoy!
The air fryer delivers a crispy, golden crunch outside with warm, creamy goat cheese inside, without all the fat of deep frying.
You can make all sorts of flavor variations and even mix and match to create a platter. I love plain as a blank canvas, but using the blueberry goat cheese is my favorite sweet option for a quick preparation!
Air Fryer Goat Cheese Balls
Air fryer goat cheese balls have a crispy golden exterior and a soft, creamy interior. They’re perfect as an appetizer dipped in honey, or served on top of a salad for a meal!
Divide the goat cheese into 24 pieces (I usually cut the log in half, then cut each into 12 even pieces) and roll each one into a ball
8 Ounces goat cheese
Place the rolled balls on a plate, silicone mat, or parchment lined tray and place in the freezer for 20 minutes to firm
Create a dredging station of the flour mixed with the salt and pepper, then a beaten egg, and lastly the panko breadcrumbs
½ Tsp salt, ¼ Tsp black pepper, ¼ Cup all purpose flour, 1 Large egg, ¾ Cup panko breadcrumbs
Once the goat cheese balls are cold, remove them and roll them in the flour, the egg, and then the breadcrumbs until all of them are coated
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F
Place the coated goat cheese balls into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer
Spray the tops with a light mist of olive oil spray
Olive oil spray
Cook on the air fry setting for 6-8 minutes, pausing halfway through to gently flip and reapply the oil, until golden brown
Serve warm with hot honey (or your favorite option) for dipping
2 Tbsp hot honey for dipping
Notes
Any flavor of goat cheese works great! Plain, herb, and even fruit flavors like blueberry goat cheese are delicious as goat cheese balls. Omit the salt and pepper if you choose a sweet flavor option
Feel free to add other herbs in to your savory options, like basil, thyme, or parsley, if you’d like
Hot honey is my favorite dipping accompaniment. However, plain honey is a great option if you don’t like heat. Feel free to swap in warmed fruit preserves, like raspberry, blackberry, or blueberry for another great choice!
To prepare the goat cheese balls ahead of time, simply coat them in breading and return to the freezer for up to a month. You may need to add 1-2 minutes to cooking time to account for the frozen state
You can make the balls larger or smaller if you prefer a different cheese to breading ratio. I’ve made 8 ounces of cheese into 10, 20, and 24 balls depending on how I’d like them to look or what I’m doing with them
Shape the goat cheese balls much like you would a meatball, gently rolling the piece of cheese between the palms of your hand
Do your best to get a thorough, even coating with all steps of the breading process. It’s still normal for some of the cheese balls to burst open during cooking (they’re still delicious!). You can always repeat the egg and panko for a second layer if you’d like extra thick breading to mitigate this (you’ll need an extra egg)
Let them rest for 2-3 minutes if you plan to stick toothpicks in them for appetizers, as this will let them firm up slightly and make it much easier
Store leftover air fryer goat cheese balls in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. For longer term storage, freeze them after breading but before cooking for up to 1 month
To reheat fried goat cheese balls, air fry for 3-5 minutes at 350°F, or until warmed through. This works for leftover deep fried as well as a reheating method!
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any sauces or sides added, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
