Fried Buffalo Goat Cheese Balls.
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!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Fried Buffalo Goat Cheese Balls
Soft, creamy goat cheese, rolled in Panko bread crumbs, and lightly pan-fried. Golden and crisp on the outside, extra soft and melty in the center. Drizzle with spicy homemade buffalo sauce for a truly delicious appetizer.
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!
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Instant Pot Sticky Korean Chicken.
Tieghan, you’ve out done yourself. Per usual I’m awake at 0430 with my 6’4″ husband Princeton, a United States Airman. However, today he’s looking over my shoulder at the photos whilst I’m opening your latest email and he’s already made a shopping list of ingredients, to pick up at the Commissary on his way home.
That is so amazing! I hope you both loved this recipe, Jennifer!
This looks amazing! Would it work to bake them? I’m afraid of mess/burns/etc. and don’t deep fry. Thanks for all your deliciousness!
Hey Lori! The cheesy gets a little too melty when baking, so it’s not something I recommend. If you want to bake, just make sure to freeze the balls for at least and hour then bake at 400 for 15 minutes. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
Drooling over here
Love that! I hope you tried these Jessica!
These look delicious! I also fry goat cheese balls and top them with some strawberry jalapeno jelly. They are so good!
Yum! I hope you try these! Thank you Marlo!
Absolutely scrumptious!! I adore cheese, and goat cheese is probably one of my favorite. How can you go wrong with coating these delicious little balls with panko crumbs and frying them? Wow, amazing. I love how simple your buffalo sauce is. What a great idea for the Super Bowl. Thanks for the post.
Thank you so much Linger! I am so glad you like this recipe and I hope you try this!
Wow, these look delicious! Will definitely make these for Sunday’s Super Bowl! Can’t go wrong with fried cheese and buffalo sauce!
Agreed! Thank you so much Joshua!
I enjoy goat cheese, but my family…not so much, hehe. Are there any other cheeses that would substitute well with this recipe? How would mozzarellas work? Or even Brie?
HI! You can use the mini mozzarella balls. Those work great! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
I was a little jealous that my husband attended a special release party of GOAT beer (go, Tom Brady!) at the Sam Adam’s brewery this afternoon on his way to work and I missed out on what he said was a beer I would have loved. But then I came across this recipe in my inbox and recalled that I had a 4oz log of herb goat cheese in fridge and decided to make this recipe right away. I loved how the crispy coating balanced out the smoothness of the warmed cheese. The buffalo sauce added a bit of heat to this otherwise frosty New England evening. Looks like I got my GOAT cheese fix after all!!
I am so glad you loved these Jessica! Thank you!
Hi!! Can’t wait to make these! I saw this recipe from a few years back (done a little differently of course). Is there a reason why you’re omitting the blue cheese this time?
Hey Melissa! The blue cheese causes the balls to melt out and makes them harder to handle. It’s delicious, just a little bit tricker to work with. Feel free to add a couple tablespoons of crumbled blue cheese if you would like. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
What oil do you use for frying them?
Olive oil! I hope you love these Darcy!
Do you think you could make these ahead of time and leave in the freezer or fridge until ready to fry? I’m thinking just the day beforehand or something…..not sure how the extended time in the freezer or fridge would impact them.
HI! You can make ahead and keep in the fridge until ready to fry! That works really well. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
These look great! What kind of oil do you use to fry?
Hi Charlotte! I use olive oil! I hope you love this!
Hi Charlotte, I like to use olive oil since I am not deep frying these. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
These look delicious- do you think an air fryer would work?
HI! I have not tested these in the air fryer, so I am not sure. I would think it would work just fine. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan, I have recently discovered your blog and recipes. Yesterday I made the fried goat cheese balls and they were super crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Super melty deliciousness !! They disappeared very quickly! Keep up the good work and I look forward to trying more of your recipes!
Welcome! I am so glad you already tried this recipe and loved it Linda! Thank you so much!
These are PERFECTION!!! I did put more like 3 tablespoons of olive oil in the pan for frying. And also adjusted the second batch to cook on 6 on my stove. Versus the 8 I did the first batch on. Unreal. Will be a staple in our household going forward. THANK YOU!!!
Thank you so much Carolyn! I am so glad you loved this recipe!!
I am not sure if my last post posted. So here I go again.
PHENOMENAL! Followed recipe as it is.
First batch was fine but needed more oil
and lower heat.
Second batch was perfect. Heat on 6-7
But with 4 tablespoons oil. Came out perfect!
I had trouble pooping for a few days but the GOAT (Tom Brady) and the Patriots won the Super Bowl so this recipe will definitely be a new tradition!
Thats great! I am so glad you like this recipe! xTieghan
Amazing recipe! Made these for a super bowl party, recipe was perfect! Easy to follow and they turned out delicious! Everyone was raving about them (no exaggeration and no leftovers! :)) Also, I used gluten free flour (King Arthur) and gluten free panko, turned out beautifully (crunchy fried goodness is one thing I miss on a GF diet, so I was so happy these converted so well!
Hi Amber! I am so glad these turned out amazing for you and your guests! Thank you so much! xTieghan
I made these tonight and they are SO GOOD. I dipped them in my favorite store bought sriracha buffalo sauce and omggg!
Sounds so amazing Liz! Thank you so much! xTieghan
I made these for my boyfriend and I during the superbowl and oh dear… it was too much goat cheese and buffalo sauce for each of us even to eat only about 5 each. We had such terrible upset stomachs later. Not one our favorites… usually we love your appetizers but this one not so much.
Hi Katie! I am sorry to hear that! Please let me know if there is any questions I could help with! Otherwise, I hope you love other recipes of mine! xTieghan
I made these tonight for Christmas as an appetizer and they were a hit. Thank you!
Yes! That is so amazing! Thank you so much Stephanie! xTieghan
Would this work in the air fryer instead?
HI! I am not familiar with the air fryer so I really cannot say. I would imagine it would work well. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and Happy New Year! xTieghan
I made these last night and we couldn’t put them down!
Thank you so much Ashley! That is so amazing to hear! xTieghan
Do you think you could fry in advance and then reheat in the oven? Thinking of bringing these to a party and not sure if I’d have the ability to fry on-site!
Hi Nicole! Yes, that works well. I reheat mine all the time. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
Made these babies for my hubby for the super bowl yesterday. He loved them, especially the sauce! They were super simple to make and even easier to eat! I also made the sweet and savory bacon cheese twists at my eight year old son’s request and they were delicious. Because it was just us and the kids there were leftovers but they disappeared around lunch today. This is my third recipe of yours in a week and I have been SO satisfied with them all! You are my new go to for meal planning ideas. Right on with ease to prepare and full flavor! Thanks for doing what you do and sharing!!
Aw I am so glad you and your husband loved this recipe so much! Thank you so much for trying it! I hope you continue to enjoy my recipes Jodi! xTieghan
I’d love to try this recipe but I want to make them bigger, like two tablespoons of goat cheese per ball. Would you suggest any changes to the cook time or heat?
Hi Valerie,
I haven’t tested this but I would just fry them for 2-3 minutes. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Delicious. I might reduce the amount of butter for the buffalo sauce and make less of it next time, but overall very yummy.
I used to make a different type of goat cheese ball recipe, which was equally as delicious, but frequently had the outside crust coming off in the fryer and having the goat cheese spill out in the fryer. They told us to refrigerate instead of freeze. So thank you for a much better method. Next time I make that recipe I will remember what I learned here to fry it properly.
Amazing! I am really glad this turned out so well for you!! xTieghan
These were so delicious! It helps I’m a huge goat cheese fan. I did have some people who were not buffalo fans though, so i dressed some of the balls with the buffalo sauce and some simply with cracked pepper and honey. Delicious!
Hi! Do you think these would be ok to serve at room temp?
Thanks!
Hey Sasha,
I prefer to serve these warm:) I hope you enjoy the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
How would you do these in an air fryer?
Hey Robin,
So sorry I have not tested these in the air fryer, but I think they would work well! I hope you love the recipe:) Happy Holidays! 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
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
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
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
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