Pan-fried brie is the ultimate easy appetizer for any size crowd! Creamy Brie cheese with a crispy pistachio crust, drizzled with honey and served with your favorite crackers. It’s perfect for entertaining or elevating your charcuterie board!
Brie cheese, but make it coated in crushed pistachios and pan-fried to golden perfection! I first fell for this fried cheese appetizer on a date night with my husband, and now it’s a go-to for dinner parties and holidays. (Pro tip: It’s a total showstopper for Christmas or New Year’s Eve!)
Brie is my all-time favorite cheese (with Port Salut as a very close second), and if you’ve been around here for a while, you know I have plenty of Brie recipes—from puff pastry Brie bites to whipped Brie. If you’ve never had Brie before, it has a rich, creamy texture with a mild, buttery flavor and just a hint of earthy, mushroom-like notes from the rind. Anyway, it wasn’t until that recent night out that I tried my first-ever fried Brie. Two words: life-changing.
It doesn’t get much better than a wheel of melted Brie encased in a nutty crust. It’s like one giant, sophisticated cheese curd. Serve it warm with a drizzle of honey alongside crackers, and watch it disappear in seconds. Trust me, this easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer is about to make you the MVP of every party!
Grab These Ingredients
- Brie cheese: I used an 8-ounce wheel of Brie for this recipe and left the rind on. The rind helps hold the cheese together as it melts into creamy perfection. Removing it will lead to a gooey mess in your skillet, so save yourself the cleanup and keep it intact.
- Pistachios: I recommend using roasted, salted pistachios for the most flavor. Make sure to crush them finely so they stick evenly to the Brie.
- Panko breadcrumbs: These light, crispy breadcrumbs add the perfect crunch.
- Flour: Helps the egg and nut coating adhere to the cheese.
- Egg: Acts as the glue to hold everything together. A quick whisk with water loosens the egg mixture for even coating.
- Oil for frying: You’ll need just enough oil to create a shallow fry—about ½ inch in your skillet. Vegetable oil is classic, but avocado oil is a great choice for its high smoke point and it contains healthier fats.
- Honey: Drizzle it on just before serving for the ultimate sweet-and-savory combo.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Kelly’s Recipe Tips
- Use a food thermometer. Please don’t attempt to fry the Brie without one! If your oil gets hotter than 300°F, your nuts will burn.
- Use a spatula to transfer the Brie from the skillet onto your serving plate. Once it has been pan-fried, it will get melted and gooey in the center, so if you try to transfer it with tongs, you risk it falling apart.
- Bake or air-fry it! Once you’ve coated the Brie with the pistachios, spray it with cooking spray, then:
Bake: Pop it in a 300°F oven for 8 to 12 minutes until gooey in the center and toasted on top.
Air fry: Line your air fryer with parchment paper or a Silpat baking mat and air-fry at 300°F for 8 to 10 minutes. - Not a fan of pistachios? Finely ground walnuts, pecans or almonds make equally delicious crust alternatives.
- Skip the honey and top the Brie with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt or a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
- Make fried Brie bites! Cut your Brie wheel into uniform pieces, about 1 ½ inches each. Freeze prep and dredge as usual, then fry for about 1 minute per side. These crispy, gooey bites are perfect for parties, charcuterie boards or any gathering where finger food is a must!
What to Serve with Brie
This melted Brie makes the best appetizer for a crowd, especially during the holidays! Pair it with a cranberry champagne cocktail for a festive, guaranteed hit with your guests. Here are a few delicious options for serving this Brie cheese appetizer:
- Sliced apples or pears – Their natural sweetness and crunch complement the creamy Brie perfectly.
- Crusty bread – Think baguette slices or a rustic loaf for scooping up all that gooey goodness.
- Assorted crackers – Choose a mix of textures, like buttery, whole grain or seeded crackers.
- Charcuterie – Serve with thinly sliced cured meats like prosciutto or salami for an extra indulgent spread.
Now it’s your turn to try this easy pan-fried Brie! Let me know how it turns out in the comments below or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@justataste)—I’d love to see your cheesy creations!
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Place the Brie in the freezer for 15 minutes while you prepare the coating.Â
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Add the pistachios to the bowl of a food processor and blend until finely ground. (Alternately, add the pistachios to a sealable plastic bag and crush until finely ground.)
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In a medium bowl, stir together the ground pistachios and Panko breadcrumbs.Â
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In a separate medium bowl, add the flour.
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In a third medium bowl, whisk the egg with 2 tablespoons water.Â
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Dredge the Brie in the flour, shaking off an excess. Dip the Brie in the eggs then coat it all over with the pistachio mixture.
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Add 1/2-inch oil to a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Line a plate with paper towels.Â
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Once the oil reaches 300°F on an instant-read thermometer, add the Brie and cook until golden brown on one side, about 2 minutes. Flip it once and continue cooking an additional 1 to 2 minutes. Using a spatula (the Brie will be very gooey inside), transfer it onto the paper towel-lined plate. Let it rest for 5 minutes before drizzling with honey and serving with crackers.
Calories: 189kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.003g, Cholesterol: 49mg, Sodium: 214mg, Potassium: 145mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 229IU, Vitamin C: 0.4mg, Calcium: 71mg, Iron: 1mg
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