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Embracing the summertime strawberries with these simple Marinated Goat Cheese Strawberry Crostini. Creamy goat cheese, marinated in a mix of fresh garden herbs, high-quality oil, salt, and pepper, served over grilled bread and topped with fresh strawberries and sweet honey. This is great excuse to pick up a fresh baguette at your local market. The fresh baguette slices make for a delicious base of this recipe. This is the simplest of appetizers, yet so amazingly GOOD. Enjoy for breakfast, brunch, a quick (and easy) lunch, or as a simple appetizer for your next summer picnic.
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It’s pretty clear to see that I’m completely embracing any and all summertime foods.
We’ve done salads, cobblers, berry-filled scones, simple plates of pasta, and today I’m finally sharing my go-to summer appetizer with you guys. I’ve been making a version of these crostini for years now. They change ever so slightly every time I make them. But they’re always delicious, and my favorite way to use up fresh summer strawberries. With Father’s Day on Sunday, I figured an easy appetizer was the perfect thing to share.
Well, that and the fact that I have bundles of fresh strawberries on hand from Whole Foods, a garden full of herbs, and more goat cheese than I could possibly ever need.
If you’re new to goat cheese, it’s creamy, a little tangy, and I always find it pairs best with something sweet. Typically that means a drizzle of honey, but adding fresh berries really kicks things up.
The herbs add a nice savory element. So with our garden flourishing, I picked as many as I could, then put this recipe together in a matter of minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 (10 ounce) log goat cheese
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Chopped fresh basil
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- Fresh thyme
- Sourdough or French baguette
- Fresh strawberries
- Honey
The details…
This is hands down the simplest appetizer. Here’s what you’ll need…a good amount of goat cheese, fresh herbs, a baguette of bread, and high-quality olive oil.
Start with the goat cheese, as you’ll want to allow it to marinate and become infused with the herbs’ flavors. Take a log of goat cheese and slice it into rounds. I find it easiest to arrange the rounds in a square baking dish. Then add the fresh herbs, basil, and thyme. Season the cheese with red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
Now drizzle over some high-quality olive oil (I really love Brightland extra virgin olive oil) and allow the cheese to sit at room temperature for fifteen minutes to an hour, or keep in the fridge for a day or so. So simple, so easy, but truly elevates the goat cheese and gives it a whole new layer of flavor.
Marinating the cheese in herbs and oil allows the cheese to become infused with delicious summer flavors. Enjoy this strawberry goat cheese crostini!
While the cheese is marinating…
Prep the bread and chop the strawberries – nice, thin slices will do.
I like to use a crusty sourdough baguette, but really any bread works. Just slice, drizzle with olive oil, and then either place the bread on the grill or toast it up in the oven. During the summer months, I’m constantly grilling bread. It gives it a nice coloring, smoky flavor, and the perfect crunch.
Now, slice up plenty of fresh juicy strawberries, gather up some sweet honey, and a few more herbs for topping.
Spread the marinated goat cheese over the warm grilled bread, top with strawberries, and drizzle generously with salted honey. Finish with a few fresh herbs and a few pinches of salt.
And that’s it… it doesn’t get any easier.
Notes, swaps, and substitutions.
If you don’t love goat cheese, use fresh burrata cheese or cubed feta cheese. Either would be delicious.
For the herbs, you can really use any mix of fresh herbs that you love most. I find basil and thyme to pair perfectly with sweet strawberries, but chopped chives, rosemary, or oregano will be great too! Again, use what you love most.
And lastly, while strawberries are my go-to for this crostini, raspberries, blackberries, or even blueberries would all work well. Or maybe do a combo for a red, white, and blue crostini. That would be fun for the Fourth of July!
Oh, and yes, peaches work too! YUM!
So you see, this is a very adaptable recipe. It’s great for summer entertaining, a light lunch, or just a simple afternoon snack. And yes, I will be making this for Father’s Day on Sunday to go alongside my grilled steak salad and hot fudge cookies for dessert. Hey, I have to show my dad some real love, you know?!
Looking for other summer appetizer recipes? Here are some favorites.
Pastry Wrapped Baked Brie with Thyme Butter Roasted Plums
Pan-Fried Feta with Peppered Honey
Pan Fried Brie with Peppered Honey and Olives
And last year’s round-up of our 25 Most Popular Summer Recipes!
Lastly, if you make this marinated goat cheese strawberry crostini, 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 tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Marinated Goat Cheese and Strawberry Crostini
Ingredients
- 1 (10 ounce) log goat cheese, sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil , plus more for drizzling
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, plus more for serving
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- kosher salt and fresh black pepper
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 sourdough or french baguette, sliced
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
- honey, for serving
Instructions
- 1. Arrange the goat cheese slices in a square baking dish. Sprinkle over the basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Add the thyme. Drizzle the olive oil over the goat cheese. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or refrigerate for up to 24 hours. 2. Preheat your grill to high heat or preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.3. Place the bread on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil on both sides of each slice, season with salt. Place the bread on the grill and grill both for about 2-3 minutes per side or until lightly toasted. Remove from the grill.4. Spread the goat cheese over the bread. Top with strawberries, basil, and honey. Sprinkle with sea salt. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Inspired to make this by a pint of on-the-way-out strawberries. I used oregano rather than thyme since that’s what I had on hand. So delicious! The marinated goat cheese makes a huge difference!
Hey Annie,
Wonderful! I am so glad this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for making it! Have a lovely week:) xTieghan
I just saw this on IG and it looks yummy for Father’s Day. I came here for the recipe and a little more detail. Are we supposed to mix the goat cheese with the oil and herbs? Or do the oil/herbs get thrown out afterward? Thanks!
Hey Krista,
Since the goat cheese will already be flavored with the olive oil and herbs you do not need to mix it up, but if you want the extra flavor that is fine too! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Amazing! It was a hit with everyone this weekend!
Thank you Lindsey! I am really happy this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
I made a whole “summer menu” of recipes from your blog a couple of weeks ago, and this one was the clear favorite! The balance of flavors, sweet and salty were so yummy!
I am so happy to hear that, Tiffany! Thank you so much for trying this one! xTieghan
Made this yesterday for a ladies luncheon, it was a huge hit! They absolutely loved it! The ingredients are so delicious and fresh! Thank you for your amazing recipes! ?
Love that! Thank you Karen! xTieghan
I’ve made this 3 times in 2 weeks to rave reviews! It’s delicious and makes a stunning presentation. Because I have a bumper crop of mint, I made half with mint and half with basil, both delicious. I also drizzled aged syrupy balsamic vinegar over the top and really liked the taste.
That is so amazing to hear!! Thank you so much Katherine! xTieghan
This strawberry crostini is heaven!!! We’ve made it twice-once with the marinated goat cheese (yum) but we LOVED mixing the herbs and olive oil into the ricotta and then putting that on the grilled bread-heaven!!! Thank you so much for the recipe!!
Thank you Ellen! I am really glad you have been loving this recipe! xTieghan
This is incredible! So so easy and delicious. My husband likes spice so I tripled the crushed red pepper and the balance with the honey and cooling goat cheese – I just can’t say enough. Amazing.
Thank you so much Jess!! I am really happy to hear that! xTieghan
Do you have any tips on how to make the salami provolone roll ups? I’ve made them a few times and they are delicious but I’m. It sure I am assembling them correctly. A lot of my cheese leaks out the ends. Mine are not as pretty as the pic in your cookbook.
Hi Cyndy,
It is important to roll like a burrito and fold the sides in so the cheese does not leak out. I hope this helps! xTieghan
This was just soooooo delicious. Simple and so creative, love the use of fresh herbs and summer strawberries, and well – cheese, always 🙂 Thank you so much for all of your amazing recipes. Love them! xx
Thank you so much Jenny!! I hope you continue to enjoy my recipes! xTieghan
This is so good! Made this last night for girls night happy hour…big hit. I have some marinated goat cheese left over, can hardly wait to make a piece or two for me today! Thanks for such a great recipe and blog!
Oh so fun!! I am so glad this turned out so well for you all! Thank you Jenni! xTieghan
This is INCREDIBLE. Everything I love in a perfect summer combination.
Thank you Mandy!! I am so glad you loved this! xTieghan
So easy, SO good. We used balsamic glaze instead of honey but I think the effect was basically the same. Will definitely be making these all summer.
Love that!! Thank you for trying these, Becky! xTieghan
Made these for Father’s Day! Yum!! We also had some tomatoes we wanted to get rid of so I did half with strawberries and half with tomatoes I just cookies up on the stove with some balsamic. Great recipe!
Thank you Ashley!! I am really happy to hear that! xTieghan
Absolutey marvelous. Crunchiness of the bread with the creamy goat chees topped with the juicy strawberries and a dollop of silky honey. A celebration of textures. My new favourite strawberry recipe. And the addition of red pepper flakes leaves you with the feeling of that last perfect kiss. You just want to savour the moment. Good job on this recipe.
I am so glad you loved this one, Adele! Thank you for trying it! xTieghan