If you love Boursin cheese, you already know that it doesn't need much help to become a great appetizer. Put it on a cheese board with crackers and you're done. But Boursin is also incredibly useful in easy appetizer recipes, especially when you need something delicious without a lot of work.
These Boursin cheese appetizer recipes and ideas include everything from simple crostini and stuffed vegetables to warm dips. My favorite is this Boursin cheese dip with roasted tomatoes, which takes just a few ingredients and turns a round of Boursin into a warm, creamy appetizer with caramelized tomatoes.
It's one of those recipes that's perfect for last-minute guests, holiday parties, game day or anytime you need an easy appetizer.
When it comes to charcuterie platters with cheese, I am always happy to see Boursin cheese on the cheese board.
Table of contents
- What is Boursin Cheese?
- Why Boursin Makes Such An Easy Appetizer
- Boursin Cheese Dip With Roasted Tomatoes
- How To Make Boursin Cheese Dip With Roasted Tomatoes
- What To Serve With Boursin Dip
- More Easy Boursin Cheese Appetizer Ideas
- Your Boursin Questions Answered
- Why This Is Such a Good Party Appetizer
- Other Ways To Use Boursin Besides Appetizers
What is Boursin Cheese?
Boursin Cheese is a soft, spreadable Gournay cheese from France. It's creamy and slightly crumbly, with a texture that's different from cream cheese.
The classic Garlic & Fine Herbs flavor is particularly good for appetizers, but Boursin comes in several flavors, so don't be afraid to experiment.
Because it's already seasoned, Boursin is an easy shortcut when you're making dips and spreads. You can simply spread it on crackers, add it to warm vegetables or stir it into another recipe.
It's a soft, spreadable cheese made of cream.
It is a bit crumbly, making it different than cream cheese, but that means that in savory recipes it can often be used in place of cream cheese.
Yes, creamy Boursin cheese flavored with garlic and fine herbs, makes a great appetizer all on its own with your favorite cracker, or spread on a French baguette slice.
But that folks, is just the beginning.
Why Boursin Makes Such An Easy Appetizer
One reason I like keeping Boursin in the refrigerator is that it can become an appetizer with almost no preparation.
You can:
- Spread it on crackers or baguette slices
- Add it to a cheese board
- Use it as a dip for vegetables
- Stuff it into mini peppers or cherry tomatoes
- Spread it on crostini
- Wrap it in prosciutto
- Stir it into warm roasted vegetables
- Add it to caramelized onions
- Stir it into pasta for an easy sauce
- Add it to scrambled eggs
- Spread it on a bagel
And that's before you even start cooking with it.
Boursin Cheese Dip With Roasted Tomatoes
This is my favorite way to turn Boursin into a hot appetizer.
The recipe is almost ridiculously easy.
Roast cherry or grape tomatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper until they become soft and caramelized. While the tomatoes are still warm, stir in a round of Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs cheese.
That's it.
The heat from the tomatoes softens the Boursin into a creamy dip that's full of roasted tomato flavor. You can add garlic, red pepper flakes or fresh herbs if you'd like, but the basic combination of Boursin + roasted tomatoes is wonderful on its own.
Serve it warm with crackers, pita chips, potato chips or slices of baguette.
Why Roasting The Tomatoes Matters
Don't skip the roasting step.
Fresh tomatoes contain a lot of water, while roasting concentrates their flavor and brings out their natural sweetness. The tomatoes also develop caramelized edges that add much more flavor to the creamy Boursin.
This is one reason I prefer using roasted vegetables in simple Boursin appetizers rather than just stirring raw vegetables into the cheese.
How To Make Boursin Cheese Dip With Roasted Tomatoes
1. Roast the tomatoes
Slice cherry or grape tomatoes in half and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Drizzle with olive oil and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add a little red pepper flakes or thinly sliced garlic if you'd like.
Roast until the tomatoes are soft and caramelized.
2. Add the Boursin
Transfer the warm tomatoes to a serving bowl.
Add the Boursin in small pieces and gently stir until the cheese becomes creamy and combines with the warm tomatoes.
3. Finish and serve
Drizzle with a little more olive oil or, if you like a sweet-and-spicy combination, a little hot honey.
But of course, one could also stir in some sun-dried tomatoes, as they make everything taste great.
Sprinkle with green onions and red pepper flakes before serving and be sure to add this roasted tomato recipe to your appetizer table.
With the variety of flavors that Boursin produces, I'm guessing one of them may be at the next party I have.
Serve immediately while the dip is warm.
What To Serve With Boursin Dip
This dip is soft and creamy, so choose something sturdy enough for scooping.
Try:
- Baguette slices
- Crostini
- Pita chips
- Potato chips
- Crackers
- Toasted bread
- Sturdy vegetables
For a holiday party, colorful tortilla chips make a fun and easy presentation.
If you're serving this as part of a larger appetizer spread, put the warm dip in a shallow serving bowl or on a shallow plate so it's easy for everyone to reach.
More Easy Boursin Cheese Appetizer Ideas
You don't need a separate recipe every time you want to serve Boursin. Think of the cheese as an ingredient that can turn simple foods into appetizers.
Boursin Crostini
Spread Boursin on toasted baguette slices and add a topping.
Try:
- Tomato and crispy bacon
- Caramelized onions
- Roasted peppers
- Prosciutto
- Fresh herbs
- A drizzle of hot honey
One of my favorite combinations is Boursin, crispy bacon and tomato. The creamy cheese, salty bacon and juicy tomato make an especially good bite.
Boursin and Prosciutto
Spread Boursin on a thin slice of prosciutto and roll it up.
Cut the rolls into smaller pieces for an easy finger food, or serve them whole as part of a cheese board.
Stuffed Mini Peppers
Fill small sweet peppers with Boursin and serve them cold, or roast them until the cheese is warm.
This is an especially easy option when you want something that doesn't require crackers or bread.
Boursin with Caramelized Onions
Warm caramelized onions with Boursin and add a splash of balsamic vinegar.
Top with crispy fried onions for texture.
Serve with crackers, toasted bread or potato chips.
Boursin on a Cheese Board
Boursin belongs on a cheese board just as easily as it belongs in a recipe.
Put out a round of Boursin with:
- Crackers
- Sliced baguette
- Apples or pears
- Grapes
- Prosciutto
- Salami
- Olives
- Nuts
The beauty of this option is that there is virtually no cooking involved.
Your Boursin Questions Answered
Often, yes.
Boursin and cream cheese don't have exactly the same texture or flavor, but Boursin can be used as a flavorful substitute in many savory recipes.
The advantage is that Boursin already contains herbs and seasonings, so it can add more flavor without requiring as many additional ingredients.
This is particularly useful in dips, spreads, stuffed vegetables and pasta sauces.
For appetizers, Garlic & Fine Herbs is my usual choice because it works with so many ingredients.
But different flavors can change the character of an appetizer, so use whichever variety you enjoy.
If you're making the roasted tomato dip, a garlic-and-herb variety works especially well with the sweetness and acidity of the tomatoes.
Yes.
Boursin is particularly good in warm appetizers because it softens easily.
For this roasted tomato dip, the cheese is stirred directly into the warm roasted tomatoes. The residual heat softens the cheese and creates a creamy dip.
If the dip cools too much before serving, warm it gently.
This particular roasted tomato dip is best served warm, so I recommend preparing the tomatoes ahead of time and adding the Boursin shortly before serving.
You can roast the tomatoes earlier in the day, refrigerate them, then gently rewarm them before stirring in the cheese.
That makes this an especially useful appetizer for entertaining because most of the preparation can happen before guests arrive.
Boursin is widely available in grocery stores and is usually found in the specialty cheese or refrigerated cheese section.
I often find it at Trader Joe's, Kroger and Costco, although availability and flavors vary by store.
Boursin softens when warmed rather than behaving exactly like a traditional melting cheese. That's why it works so well when stirred into hot roasted tomatoes or vegetables.
Follow the storage and use-by instructions on the package. Once opened, keep Boursin refrigerated and use clean utensils when serving.
Why This Is Such a Good Party Appetizer
The best party appetizers don't always need to be complicated.
Sometimes it's a matter of having a few good ingredients and knowing what to do with them.
Boursin is one of those ingredients.
Keep a round in the refrigerator and you can have an appetizer ready with crackers and fruit in minutes. Add roasted tomatoes and you have a warm, creamy dip. Spread it on crostini and add a few toppings and suddenly you have something that looks much more elaborate than it actually was.
And when you're hosting, I'll take an appetizer like that any day.
More Easy Appetizer Recipes
If you're planning a party, don't stop with one appetizer. Here are a few more easy TIHIC favorites to add to the table:
Favorite Cocktail Cheese Biscuits
Other Ways To Use Boursin Besides Appetizers
Boursin is great in this creamed spinach casserole.
Make a BLT by spreading some cheese on a slice of bread and top it off with candied crispy bacon and a round of tomato sprinkled with salt and black pepper.
If you want a Boursin pasta recipe, just stir this roasted tomato dip into spaghetti and you have an easy and delectable dinner.
This herby delight would make great filling in these chicken breasts.
So next summer go ahead and plant that prolific cherry tomato plant because this is good stuff.
I'm guessing this Boursin cheese appetizer will be a great addition to your appetizer collection-at least I hope it will be!
I'd love to hear if you make this recipe!
Please share a review or rate the recipe,
and be sure to tag me on social!
Recipe
Boursin Cheese Dip With Roasted Tomatoes
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: 20 - 30 Minutes
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: 4 to 6 Servings 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Cuisine: American
Description
This easy, almost two ingredient, Boursin cheese roasted tomato dip is irresistable!
Ingredients
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, sliced in half
2 T olive oil
Salt and Fresh Pepper and Pepper Flakes
2 thinly sliced cloves garlic (optional)
1 round Boursin garlic and herbs cheese at room temperature
Your choice of dippers-crackers, baguette slices, potato chips, etc.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375.
Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.
Slice tomatoes in half and place on baking sheet. Add garlic if you'd like. Drizzle with 1 - 2 T of olive oil. Sprinkle with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper and perhaps a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Bake about 15 minutes or until caramelized. Turn over and bake that side until caramelized.
In small-ish pieces stir the cheese into the warm tomatoes until it has melted and is creamy.
Drizzle with more olive oil or even with hot honey before serving.
Serve with pita chips, baguette slices, potato chips or crackers.
Notes
- For the creamiest dip, allow the Boursin to come to room temperature before using.
- The tomatoes should be nicely caramelized but not dried out.
- Serve the dip warm. If it cools too much, gently rewarm it.
- Hot honey adds a delicious sweet-and-spicy finish.
- This recipe can easily be doubled for a party.
Emily says
I was planning on making this for an appetizer for Christmas dinner at a friend's home. Is this supposed to be served hot? I already bought red & green chips to serve with it. Are they sturdy enough to scoop this dip?
Abbe says
I would serve it straight out of the oven. If it cools off a bit just pop in the microwave for a minute or so and it will still taste great! I think red and green chips would be perfect and very festive!
Cindy B says
So do you mix the Bourson with the roasted tomatoes while they're still on the baking sheet or after they've been transferred into a bowl to serve?
Abbe says
I would scrape the tomatoes into your serving dish and stir the cheese into that. Hope that helps!
Dolores says
I was looking for ways elevate the flavor of boursin or to make it more interesting. Looking forward to trying this recipe.
chef Mimi says
Very nice! I love Boursin as well. When we were poor I figured out how to make it from scratch, with dried and fresh herbs, and I still enjoy doing it that way. I sometimes add goat cheese as well for extra zing. I call it faux Boursin!!
Abbe says
I have seen recipes for it and think I tried it years ago. It's about time to try it again!