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Fried Buffalo Goat Cheese Balls, simply the best…and so addicting. Soft, creamy goat cheese, rolled in Panko bread crumbs, and lightly pan-fried. Golden and crisp on the outside and extra soft and melty in the center. Drizzle each fried cheese ball with spicy homemade buffalo sauce for a truly delicious appetizer that’s perfect for game day and any other occasion in between.
It’s been the longest time since I’ve shared a recipe that involves buffalo sauce. There was a time, a few years ago, when buffalo sauce was kind of “trendy”. It seemed as though everyone was sharing a new way to incorporate buffalo sauce into recipes. Even though the trend has mellowed a bit, I still love anything covered in spicy buffalo sauce. It’s kind of hard to beat. To this day, I’m pretty sure my dad’s favorite dish to eat would be these extra delicious spicy cauliflower bites. Or maybe the buffalo quinoa bites from the cookbook.
And my brother’s favorite? Definitely this cheesy buffalo chicken french bread…
It’s safe to say my family loves buffalo sauce. In fact, homemade buffalo chicken is kind of my “signature item”. It’s one of the first dinners I made for my family, and it’s one they still request every chance they get.
Anyway, when I was brainstorming recipes for the Super Bowl this year, I knew I had to make these fried buffalo goat cheese balls. Not going to lie, these took me a little time to perfect, but I’m so happy with how they finally turned out.
They’re DELICIOUS, addicting, and the perfect appetizer to serve this Sunday…or any other day really. What’s not to love about fried cheese balls covered in buffalo sauce, you know?
Really, these are pretty simple.
Roll soft goat cheese into balls, coat them in Panko bread crumbs, pan fry the cheese in a little oil and drizzle with homemade buffalo sauce. Nothing crazy, but all things good.
The key is to roll the goat cheese into smaller balls, coat them, and then chill the cheese until firm. You can certainly fry the goat cheese right away and skip the chilling process. But I found the balls to cook a bit more evenly after they’ve chilled for a little in the fridge.
While the goat cheese is chilling, make the sauce. Now the sauce is truly everything. It’s the star, and you must make it right.
The details…
Start with butter. Yes, butter. Melt it and mix it with some olive oil. My original buffalo sauce recipe was actually made using all butter, but over the years I’ve found the combination of butter and olive oil to be really nice, and a little less greasy.
Now, add seasoned salt. It’s usually a mix of smoky paprika, turmeric, onion powder, garlic, and salt. I use Lawry’s Seasoned Salt by McCormick, and no, this is not sponsored, I just like their seasoned salt.
Next, the hot sauce. I highly, highly recommend Frank’s Red Hot Sauce. Again, not sponsored, this is just the hot sauce I’ve used and loved for years and years. It’s the best when it comes to making a really good buffalo sauce. Trust me.
Then add a pinch of pepper, and that’s your buffalo sauce. Very simple. Very delicious.
As soon as the goat cheese is done frying, arrange the perfectly crisp balls onto a serving plate and drizzle with sauce. These are great room temperature, but I highly recommend serving them warm, if possible.
SO GOOD when hot and melty. Serve these for the Super Bowl, but make sure to keep them in mind for other occasions too. Because trust me, you’ll be the most loved hostess among friends and family.
If you make these buffalo goat cheese balls be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Fried Buffalo Goat Cheese Balls
Servings: 10 (18-20 balls)
Calories Per Serving: 307 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 log (10 ounce) goat cheese
- oil, for frying
- chopped green onions or chives, for serving
Buffalo Sauce
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup Franks Red Hot Sauce
- 3/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
Instructions
- 1. Add the flour and a pinch of pepper to a medium bowl. Add the egg and 2 tablespoons water to a separate shallow bowl or pie plate. Add the Panko to another medium sized bowl.2. Roll the goat cheese into 20-24 balls (about 1 tablespoon each). Roll each goat cheese ball in the flour, then dip through the egg mix, and then dredge in the Panko mix. Place each ball on the prepared baking sheet as you work. Freeze 20 minutes or until firm.3. Meanwhile, make the buffalo sauce. Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl. If the butter firms up, warm the sauce in the microwave. 4. Heat 1-2 inch of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the goat cheese balls in batches, 1 to 2 minutes or until golden and crisp on all sides. Remove and drain on a paper towel lined baking sheet.5. Arrange the balls on a serving plate and drizzle with buffalo sauce. Sprinkle with chives or green onions. Serve and enjoy!
Another Super Bowl hit! They disappeared so fast!! I made half the recipe with Jalapeno Goat Cheese. Such a hit, and Frank’s dipping sauce was the perfect accompaniment.
Looking forward to making this for any gathering!
Hey Kym,
Happy Valentine’s Day! 💌 I appreciate you giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was tasty! xT
i am dying to try these but will drizzle with hot honey instead! 🙂
I hope you love the recipe Jami! Let me know if you give it a try! xT
One of the best appetizers ever!
Hey Christina,
Happy Monday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xT
If I wanted to prep these the night before making them, can I freeze them and then pull them out the next day to fry?
Hey Zoe,
I would probably just keep them in the fridge. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Do you have a suggestion for an alternative sauce for people who don’t like hot sauce?
Thanks!
Hey Jennifer,
Try BBQ sauce! I hope this recipe turns out amazing for you, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
These were SO GOOD! Definite crowd pleaser.
The freezing process before frying was really important. Also a few of mine exploded while frying but I think it was because my oil was too hot at first so make sure your oil temp doesn’t get too high. Once I got that down they were perfection.
Hey Merideth,
I love to hear that this recipe worked out for you, thanks a bunch for giving it a try! xTieghan
I’m thinking about using a walnut crust as opposed to panko. Would that still work when frying? Trying to be less carb heavy!
Hey Katherine,
I would just be sure the walnuts are very finely ground. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know how it turns out! xTieghan
made these for the Super Bowl and they were tasty. Easy to make and everyone seemed to enjoy them. Only thing I wasn’t a fan of was the sauce. The olive oil with the buffalo sauce just tasted weird. I ended up just doing buffalo sauce mixed with honey, less was more for me in this case. Nevertheless, I enjoyed these! make sure the oil is not as hot, the cheese came right out and I had a couple of empty balls. xo
Hey Lola,
I am delighted you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! So sorry you did not enjoy the sauce. xTieghan
Can you air fry these?
Hey Janelle,
I’ve never tested these in the air fryer, but I am sure they would turn out for you! Let me know:) xTieghan
Can you air fry instead?
Hey Danielle,
I’ve never tested these in the air fryer, but I’m sure it would work well. Let me know how they turn out! xTieghan
Do you think I can bake these instead???
Yes, that should work fine! xTieghan
Do you think they would taste as yummy if air fried??
Hey Puja,
I’ve never tried these in the air fryer before, but I think it would work well! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan