From start to finish, the preparation of these Pioneer Woman Goat Cheese Balls takes fewer than thirty minutes and requires only a small handful of common ingredients. They are the ideal morsel for serving as an appetizer at a party and make a delectable addition to a salad on a weekday. On the outside, they have a coating made of crunchy pecans and panko breadcrumbs, and on the inside, they have a filling made of smooth goat cheese flavored with garlic and herbs.
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Why You’ll Love This Pioneer Woman Goat Cheese Balls
- With the mini size, you get a more well-rounded combination of crunchy breadcrumbs on the outside and smooth goat cheese on the inside.
- Because of the smaller scale, this recipe for goat cheese is also ideal for use in appetizers. You are able to prepare them in advance, and the presentation is outstanding.
What Are Goat Cheese Balls?
Your Christmas buffet will be enhanced with the addition of this delectable Goat Cheese Ball. This goat cheese ball is guaranteed to be a favorite at any get-together because it is loaded with flavorful ingredients such as sweet dried cranberries, nutty pecans, and green onions.
Pioneer Woman Goat Cheese Balls Ingredients
- Goat Cheese. This recipe calls for a log of goat cheese rather than crumbled goat cheese from a jar. Logs of goat cheese range in size from 4 ounces to as much as 10 ounces; my preference is for the garlic-herb kind. If you can only find a 10-ounce log, it will have to do. You can probably bread the other 2 ounces of cheese using the remaining flour, egg wash, and breading mixture.
- Flour. Goat cheese balls should be made with regular flour. It will improve the egg wash’s ability to coat the balls.
- Egg. The egg wash coating will aid in adhering the bread crumbs to the goat cheese balls. You must not skip this procedure!
- Pecans. A fantastic crunch and nutty flavor from the pecans blend wonderfully with the sharp tang of the goat cheese. If you don’t have any peanuts on hand, you can substitute with almonds, walnuts, or cashews. Experiment!
- Panko Breadcrumbs. These fried goat cheese balls get their crispness from a coating of panko breadcrumbs. The breading may not get quite as crispy if you use ordinary breadcrumbs or Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs instead.
- Vegetable Oil. I always have vegetable oil on hand because it is such a useful all-around oil. It has a high smoke point and doesn’t change the flavor of the goat cheese balls, therefore I use it for frying. Canola or sunflower oil are two other viable alternatives for deep-frying.
How To Make Pioneer Woman Goat Cheese Balls
- Slice the goat cheese logs in half lengthwise so that you have two 4-ounce logs. Divide each slice in half lengthwise and roll each half into a ball; this will yield 24 balls.
- Prepare some flour in a pie plate. In a pie pan, crack an egg and beat it. Panko breadcrumbs, pecans, salt, and pepper should all be mixed together in a small dish.
- Bread the goat cheese balls by dredging them in flour, then dipping them in the egg mixture, and finally coating them in bread crumbs, all in separate batches.
- Spread out on a big dish and chill in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Heat about 1.5 inches of vegetable oil in a big pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. I pour around 4 cups of vegetable oil into my Dutch oven and begin to work. This ensures that the goat cheese balls don’t burn during the frying process.
- As soon as the oil has reached the appropriate temperature, test it before frying the goat cheese balls in batches of 6–8, depending on the size of your pot. To achieve a golden brown and crispy exterior, cook for around 30–45 seconds. If they’re browning more quickly than that, the oil is probably too hot. They are taking longer to cook because the oil temperature is too low.
- Using a slotted spoon, move the goat cheese balls to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Use Kosher salt instead.
- Serve with honey by transferring to a serving plate. If you want things spicy, sprinkle on some crushed red pepper and fresh chopped parsley. Serve hot.
Recipe Tips
- Always have a dry and damp hand when breading. Roll goat cheese in flour with your left hand, then drop it in egg wash. Roll goat cheese balls in egg wash, then put them in breading. Use your left hand to bread the balls. This prevents breading your fingers while breading balls.
- I enjoy garlic and herb goat cheese, but use your favorite flavor or add your own. Tomato basil, jalapeño honey, blueberry lemon, fig and olive, or cranberry cinnamon are flavored possibilities.
- Don’t skip freezing. This helps everything stay together when added to oil.
- Insert a wooden spoon handle into the oil to measure its temperature. Small bubbles around the handle indicate the oil is ready. Wait a few minutes.
- Depending on how your balls cook, adjust the stove temperature. I recommend this heavy-bottom Dutch oven because all pots and burners cook differently. It retains heat and heats oil evenly.
- If goat cheese balls brown in less 30 seconds, your oil is too hot. Taking more than 60 seconds means your oil is too chilly. Crispy exterior, warm goat cheese interior is the secret. If you cook them too soon, they won’t be creamy inside. If you cook them too long, the goat cheese will melt and escape the crust. Test a few balls to check how they cook before continuing.
Recipe Variations
- Goat cheese balls with cranberries. This festive season, try serving a goat cheese ball stuffed with cranberries and pecans. This cheese ball is a crowd-pleaser because of its delicious combination of goat cheese, sweet dried cranberries, crunchy pecans, and aromatic green onions.
- Goat cheese balls Keto.These caramel-coated goat cheese balls made in an air fryer are keto-friendly and make for a delicious Christmas appetizer. Crispy bites of goat cheese are made by covering them in a gluten-free coating and then frying them in an air fryer. After that, we drizzled a sugar-free caramel syrup on top.
- Goat cheese balls air fryer. To make a delicious appetizer fit for a holiday celebration, try this recipe for Airfryer Honey Goat Cheese Balls. They only require 5 ingredients and are stuffed with smooth goat cheese and drizzled with honey.
What To Serve With Pioneer Woman Goat Cheese Balls?
- As an Appetizer. To prepare a quick and easy appetizer, simply poke a toothpick through the middle of each goat cheese ball.
- On a Salad. These goat cheese balls are a delicious way to add a little something more to your salad. The Avocado Potato Salad, the Potato Salad Recipe, or the Bbq Macaroni Salad Recipe would all benefit from having them tossed with them.
- With Soup. Cut them into little cubes and serve them beside a warm bowl of soup (like Potato Soup).
How To Store Pioneer Woman Goat Cheese Balls?
In The Fridge:
You may keep any leftover Goat Cheese Balls in the refrigerator for up to a week if you place them in an airtight container.
In The Freezer:
Freeze leftovers Keep the Goat Cheese Balls in a container that is airtight and safe for the freezer for up to two months. Before reheating, allow to defrost in the refrigerator for a whole night.
To reheat the goat cheese balls, place them on a baking sheet and heat them in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. You may also give the goat cheese balls a quick pan fry in a large saute pan with a bit of oil that has been heated over medium heat until they are crispy on the outside and have reached the desired temperature on the inside.
Can Goat Cheese Be Cooked?
Yes! Because it melts so smoothly and works well with a wide number of different taste combinations, goat cheese is often considered to be one of the best cheeses for cooking. The cooking process transforms goat cheese into a texture that is extremely creamy, which makes it an excellent choice for use in creamy dips or tangy flatbread pizzas.
Can You Flavor Goat Cheese?
Yes! Goat cheese has a flavor that is great on its own, but it really shines when paired with other flavors such as garlic, fresh herbs, cranberries, blueberries, walnuts, honey, and a variety of other ingredients. Because goat cheese’s acidic flavor isn’t overpowering, you may easily pair it with sweet preserves, herb pesto, savory herbs, and crunchy almonds. Because goat cheese also has a highly creamy texture, it can be mixed into and combined with virtually anything without losing its distinctive flavor.
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Pioneer Woman Goat Cheese Ballsn Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving
- Calories 75
- Total Fat 6g
- Saturated Fat 4.1g
- Cholesterol 13mg
- Sodium 130mg
- Total Carbohydrate 0g
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugars 0g
- Protein 5.3g
Nutrition Facts Source: Source
Servings 4
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 75
- Calories from Fat 54
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 6g10%
- Saturated Fat 4.1g21%
- Cholesterol 13mg5%
- Sodium 130mg6%
- Potassium 7.4mg1%
- Protein 5.3g11%
- Vitamin A 5.9 IU
- Calcium 3.1 mg
- Iron 3 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
