Smoked Feta Cheese With Hot Honey

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Smoked Feta With Hot Honey is a unique, delicious, and super easy appetizer. The balance of salty, sweet, and spicy flavors works so well in this effortless dish. You only need a few ingredients to make this delightful smoked cheese.

Feta cheese with hot honey and thyme in a cast iron skillet.

I’m a firm believer that everyone should have a few easy appetizer recipes tucked away in their back pockets! I used to be one of those people who never knew what to make an easy appetizer, and came to an end as soon as I started testing out smoked cheese recipes. My first experiment was my Smoked Cream Cheese recipe, which I love serving as an appetizer when hosting a BBQ.

This smoked feta recipe came next! It's perfect because it requires very little effort (set it and forget it) so you can focus on all the other things you need to do! That's another reason why I love to serve this during the holiday season. It's perfect for a Thanksgiving appetizer or Christmas charcuterie board.

While smoking cheese might sound a bit odd, the smokey flavor adds extra depth, making it a truly unique appetizer. Once smoked it is best served warm as the inside of the cheese will be slightly melted and gooey, and I know you are going to love it!

If you are looking for more easy appetizers check out my Whipped Feta With Blistered Tomatoes, Creamy Arabic Hummus, or Turkish Labneh.

For more Traeger recipes check out my Traeger Smoked Salmon, Traeger Baked Potatoes, or Traeger Baked Beans.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easy Appetizer: This is a simple and easy appetizer. If you are prepping for a holiday or dinner party, all you have to do is stick a block of feta on the smoker, then tada, an hour later you have a delicious appetizer that will impress your guests.
Fun Flavors: The combination of the salty feta, the sweet honey, and the kick of spice really play well together. It's a new spin on a classic cheese!
Simple Ingredients: You don’t need any fancy ingredients for this dish. You likely have everything in your pantry or fridge already!
Dress Up Other Meals: You can use this smoked feta to top burgers, sandwiches, and salads.

Ingredients

Olive Oil: You don’t need to use any sort of fancy olive oil. Whatever you use for cooking will be perfect. You can also use avocado oil if you choose.
Feta Cheese: When shopping for Feta Cheese it’s important to buy the real deal! Look for cheese that is made in Greece and only contains Sheep and possibly some goat’s milk. If your Feta has cow’s milk in it, I’d recommend searching for a different brand. Ideally, your feta should come stored in a brine, and be white, not yellow.
The best place to buy true whole milk feta is at a Greek or Middle Eastern grocery store. If you are in a pinch, you can certainly find some good picks at your regular grocery store. My personal favorite is Mt. Vikos.
Hot Honey: Hot honey is key! It adds the spicy sweetness that makes this dish really special. I'm a big fan of Mike's Hot Honey or Savannah Bee Company’s hot honey, which you can get at Costco!
Thyme: I enjoy using a few sprigs of fresh thyme in this recipe. If you don’t have fresh thyme, you can use fresh rosemary, or skip the herbs altogether.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Substitutions And Variations

Mix Up The Flavors: If you don’t like hot honey, use regular honey. You can also top it with fig jam, for extra flavor, which is also wonderful/
Dairy-Free: If you don’t eat dairy, you can also make this recipe by using dairy-free cheese. While it won’t be traditional, it’s a good substitute for our vegan friends.
Whip It Up: Whipping feta in the food processor with a bit of sea salt adds airiness and creaminess to the cheese. Try giving it a pulse or two and serving this as a creamy dip.
Honey: If you don't have hot honey, you can use regular honey and sprinkle a few red pepper flakes over the top.

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How To Make Smoked Feta With Hot Honey

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

Step 1. Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees.

Step 2. Lightly oil the bottom of a small cast iron skillet. Place your block of feta on the cast iron skillet.

Step 3. Drizzle a little of the hot honey over the feta, then place the fresh thyme leaves next to the block.

Feta cheese with hot honey and thyme in a cast iron skillet on grill grates.

Step 4. Place the cast iron skillet directly on the grill grate of your pellet grill.

Step 5. Smoke the cheese for 60-75 minutes or until it has warmed through.

Expert Tips And Notes

Quality Matters: Make sure you use a high-quality ingredients. Organic feta from Greece and good quality hot honey are key.
Low And Slow: Let the it ride low and slow on your pellet grill. The longer it cooks the more the smokey flavor will infuse the cheese.

What To Serve With Smoked Feta

This is a wonderful appetizer, however, you can also use it to level up almost any dish. Try serving smoked feta with:

Crackers
Crostini
Pita Chips
Stuffed Peppers
On A Meat And Cheese Board
On Salads
Smoked Burgers
Sandwiches
Quiche
Gratins
Omelets Or Scrambles
Roasted Veggies
On Grilled Meats
In Pasta Dishes (try using it in the viral feta pasta)

Storage and Reheating

Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Reheating: If you need to reheat, you can place it in an oven-safe container and gently heat it at 200 degrees for 10 minutes.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use another cheese for this recipe?

Yep! You can use other firm cheeses like halloumi, gouda, or cream cheese, any of these will work well when smoked.

Does Feta Cheese Melt When It Is Smoked?

Smoking feta occurs at a low to medium heat, therefore the cheese does not fully melt. When it is ready, the inside should be a little gooey, but certainly not melted. You will also notice that the cheese will form a delicate skin of smokiness when it's ready.

Is Hot Honey Spicy?

Hot honey has a little kick, but it's not really spicy. If you're sensitive to heat, start with a small drizzle and add more to taste. You can also mix it with regular honey to tone it down.

Other Related Appetizer Recipes

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