This Tomato Goat Cheese Crostini is simple but tastes upscale and insanely delicious. The crusty bread topped with tangy goat cheese, marinated tomatoes, and balsamic glaze makes it the perfect appetizer for every event from holidays to barbecues to girls’ night.
The ingredient list looks similar to our Classic Bruschetta, but this Tomato Goat Cheese Crostini recipe adds an irresistibly creamy layer of goat cheese that takes it over the top.
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Easy Tomato Goat Cheese Crostini Recipe
My cousin’s wife, Alla, shared this amazing recipe with me last week and I didn’t lose any time in making it. She recommended using Garlic and Herb Boursin cheese as the spread since she isn’t a fan of goat cheese. I tested this with goat cheese and Bourisn and it was hard to pick a favorite! I even had friends over for dinner to make a second batch the same day, and they were pretty split on which was better so if you aren’t a fan of goat cheese, try the Boursin – it’s delicious!
Though it looks complicated, I love the ease of this recipe. Mix the tomato with seasonings and olive oil, toast the bread, and spread the goat cheese. Oh, did I mention the balsamic glaze drizzle over the top? My mouth is watering!
It’s simple to make, but these Tomato Goat Cheese Crostinis taste complex and elevated. They always wow my guests. You can even make the components ahead of time and assemble just before serving, and it’s simple to double the recipe. It doesn’t get any easier.
Ingredients for Tomato and Goat Cheese Crostini
It’s the fresh ingredients for Tomato Goat Cheese Crostini that really shine through in each crunchy bite! When shopping, opt for fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best taste.
- Baguette – cut into 1/2” slices on a diagonal. The thin slices toast up perfectly and are bite-sized
- Tomato topping – quartered cherry tomatoes, chopped basil, minced garlic clove, salt and pepper. (see our easy technique below for chopping the basil)
- Goat cheese – buy the log instead of the crumbles for easy spreading.
- Balsamic glaze – use either store-bought or our easy homemade balsamic glaze.
Variations
Crostinis are so versatile, so feel free to swap ingredients to your liking. Here are some of my favorites:
- Tomatoes – Cherry tomatoes are sweet and delicious year round and they look extra pretty, so they are the tomato of choice here, but you can also chop up Roma tomatoes or heirloom tomatoes when they are in season
- Cheese – we have tested this with a variety of cheeses and you can change it up based on your preference. Try Boursin Cheese – their garlic and herb or chive varieties are delicious as a spread on the toasts. You can also make a herbed cream cheese as we did on Smoked Salmon Tea Sandwiches.
- Bread – try sliced Sourdough Bread or French Bread instead of a baguette. Use whichever is your favorite bread, or even use a whole slice and make an open-face sandwich.
How to Chop Basil
To chop basil without crushing it, carefully stack the leaves and roll them into a tube. Using a sharp knife, thinly slice the tube of basil. Don’t go back over a second time with the knife since this will crush the leaf.
How to Make Tomato Goat Cheese Crostini
This Tomato Goat Cheese Crostini recipe comes together quickly without much fuss, but it’s best to assemble just before serving.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F while you slice the Baguette on the diagonal making 24 1/2” thick slices.
- Bake the Crostini – Place the slices on a baking sheet and brush with the extra virgin olive oil, flipping to brush both sides. Bake the bread slices for 7-10 minutes until the edges are toasted to just golden. Then, cool the toasts to room temperature.
Pro Tip:
When the crostini are done, the edges of the bread will be golden and crisp, but the center should still have some give when you push them on top. Don’t dry them out completely – remember you aren’t making croutons.
- Mix the tomato topping while the bread toasts. Toss the quartered tomatoes, chopped basil, minced garlic, olive oil, salt (hold the salt if making ahead), and pepper gently until mixed.
- Assemble the crostini by spreading goat cheese on each cooled toast, and then spoon the tomato topping over the cheese. Arrange on a serving platter and drizzle with balsamic glaze.
How to Serve Tomato Goat Cheese Crostini
To serve these crostini as an appetizer to be eaten immediately, serve them assembled on a platter.
If the Tomato Goat Cheese Crostini is meant for guests to graze on over a longer time, you can allow guests to assemble the toasts themselves Charcuterie-style to prevent the crostini from getting mushy. Plate the toast on the platter with the tomato mixture and glaze on the side.
If you have any tomato topping left over, try serving it on top of salmon, steak, or grilled chicken, like in our Bruschetta Chicken.
Make-Ahead
- Make Crostini Ahead: You can toast the bread slices up to a day ahead. After they cool, store them in a zip lock on the counter (in a cool, dry area) for 3-4 days.
- Make tomato topping ahead, but leave out the salt to keep the tomatoes from getting juicy, cover and refrigerate for one day.
- Balsamic glaze can also be made ahead and stored at room temperature for 3 to 4 weeks.
- To serve: mix the salt into the tomatoes (and strain if it’s too wet), assemble and serve.
You’ll love these easy Tomato Goat Cheese Crostini that add a bit of elegance to your appetizer menu. The crusty bread, creamy cheese, garlicky tomatoes, and tangy balsamic glaze are perfectly balanced in this irresistibly crunchy bite-sized dish!
More Bruschetta and Crostini Recipes
Try this Tomato Goat Cheese Crostini recipe and you’ll be hooked on bite-sized Hors d’oeuvres. Don’t wait to try these other favorites:
- Kielbasa and Cucumber Crostini
- Gouda and Tomato Tea Sandwiches
- Canapés with Garlic Herb Cream Cheese and Avocado
- Roasted Pepper Bruschetta
- Canapés with Eggs and Chives
- Carrot and Cheese Spread
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Tomato Goat Cheese Crostini
Ingredients
- 1 baguette, sliced into 1/2” thick diagonal slices
- 4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, (12 oz) quartered
- 2 Tbsp basil, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced or squeezed with a garlic press
- 1/8 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 4 oz goat cheese, Boursin Cheese, or cream cheese
- 2 Tbsp balsamic glaze, to drizzle*, homemade or storebought
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 ̊F with a rack in the center of the oven. Using a serrated knife, slice the baguette into 1/2” thick slices, cutting them diagonally (or on the bias).
- Arrange toasts on a rimmed baking sheet. Brush both sides with extra virgin olive oil, about 3 Tbsp for 1 baguette. Bake the toast for 7 to 10 minutes until the edges are slightly golden.* Remove them from the oven and cool to room temperature.
- While the toasts are in the oven, make your tomato topping. In a mixing bowl, combine tomatoes, basil, garlic, 1 Tbsp olive oil, salt, and pepper and toss gently to combine.
- Once the toasts are cooled to room temperature, spread the goat cheese or your desired cheese over the tops of your toasts then add your tomato topping. Set the crostini on a serving platter and drizzle the tops with balsamic glaze
Notes
- Spread the cheese and add the tomato topping on the toast no more than 1 to 2 hours before serving so the bread doesn’t get soggy. Add the glaze just before serving.
- Make the tomato topping (omitting salt), toast, and balsamic glaze up to 24 hours in advance, storing them separately. Then add salt to the tomato mixture and assemble the dish just before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
Natasha Kravchuk
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
Goat cheese is seriously the best!! These are amazing & such a crowd-pleasing appetizer!
It really is a crowd pleaser!
New go-to party appetizer! It looks sooo good and tastes like no other.
HI Sha, I”m so happy to hear that you loved this new Tomato Goat Cheese appetizer!
Amazing!! My book club friends loved this. I used cream cheese and they were absolutely delicious.
That’s wonderful, Kara!
Since I live alone and can’t eat the entire loaf of bread myself, how do I keep it fresh after opening it? Thank you.
Hi Kathy, to keep it fresh you can leave the bread in a bread box or paper bag for a few days. You can also freeze bread for longer storage. I hope that helps.