"Thanksgiving Baked Feta" Is the Easiest Appetizer You'll Ever Make
Holiday festivities start well before the roasted turkey comes out of the oven, so it is a good thing that some of our favorite holiday appetizers are the easiest ones to make (hello 2-Ingredient Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese Dip!). Whether you’re in charge of the entire Thanksgiving menu or just making a single dish, my goal is to get the most flavor with the least amount of effort.
Baked Brie has been my go-to cheesy contribution for years, but this holiday season I’m switching it up with baked feta with honey. In this recipe, cover a block of briny feta cheese in honey-and-fig-glazed pecans, and bake until the nuts are glazed and fragrant and the cheese is soft and spreadable. It’s a ridiculously delicious appetizer that will look stunning on the holiday table.
Why You’ll Love It
Honey and feta are a winning combination. The combination of honey, fig jam-glazed pecans, and briny feta is both simple and elegant but delicious.
Nobody needs to know how easy it is to make. Make this dip from start to finish in just 15 minutes. That’s something to be thankful for.
Key Ingredients in Baked Feta with Honey
Feta cheese: Pick up a block of feta cheese, not crumbles, for this baked dip. If the feta is packed in brine, drain the cheese and pat dry before placing in the baking dish.
Pecans: Pecans give this cheesy spread a nutty crunch. Both pecan halves and pieces work well in this recipe, though the latter are often less expensive.
Honey: Use honey and jam to coat the pecans, and then after baking, add an extra drizzle of honey for a deliciously sticky shine.
Fig jam: Fig jam is a fancy-sounding preserve with caramelized flavor that turns a simple block of cheese into a holiday-ready appetizer.
How to Make Baked Feta with Honey
Coat pecans with honey and preserves. Stir chopped pecans, honey, and fig jam together until the nuts are sticky and glazed, and pile on top of a block of feta cheese. Add fresh thyme and dried red pepper flakes to the baking dish.
Bake the cheese and honey-coated nuts. Bake until the feta is warmed through and softened and the nuts are fragrant and glossy.
Helpful Swaps
Nuts: Swap pecans for your other nuts, such as walnuts.
Jam: Replace the fig jam with your favorite flavor of preserves, such as raspberry, fruit, or apricot.
Baked Feta with Honey Recipe
Baked feta cheese topped with honey-glazed pecans is the ultimate holiday appetizer.
Prep time 5 minutes
Cook time 10 minutes
Serves 6
Ingredients
1 (8-ounce) block block feta cheese, drained if brine-packed and patted dry
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup pecan halves (about 2 ounces), coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons honey, divided
2 tablespoons fig jam
4 sprigs fresh thyme, halved
1 pinch red pepper flakes
Crackers, for serving
Instructions
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Arrange a rack in the upper third of the oven and heat the oven to 400°F.
Place 1 (8-ounce) block feta cheese in a small oven-safe baking dish and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil.
Stir 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans, 2 tablespoons of the honey, and 2 tablespoons fig jam together in a small bowl until the nuts are coated. Pile the nuts onto the feta cheese. Scatter 4 halved fresh thyme sprigs and 1 pinch red pepper flakes around the baking dish.
Bake until the feta is warmed and softened, and the nuts are toasted, 9 to 10 minutes. Serve immediately with crackers.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. The nuts will soften upon refrigeration.
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