If you’re looking for something to truly wow your friends at your next dinner party or just indulge yourself with the ultimate cheese experience, look no further than this Skillet Melted Brie with Roasted Garlic, Thyme & Chili Honey. This savory-meets-sweet appetizer is outrageously delicious, offering an oozy brie with mellow roasted garlic, fresh thyme, and a zippy drizzle of chili honey. Each ingredient plays a starring role, and the Thyme & Chili Honey brings the perfect punch to tie it all together into something you’ll crave again and again!
Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need a handful of ingredients to create this show-stopping dish, but don’t underestimate their combined magic! Each one contributes something unique, from the silkiness of the brie to the invigorating herbal and spicy-sweet notes of the Thyme & Chili Honey.
- Brie Wheel (8 oz / 225 g): Creamy and luscious, brie is the buttery heart of this dish and turns gloriously gooey in the oven.
- Olive Oil (1 tablespoon / 15 ml): Adds richness and helps mellow the garlic as it roasts, infusing the brie with depth.
- Garlic (1 small head): Roasted until caramel-sweet, this is the secret weapon for maximum savoriness.
- Fresh Thyme Leaves (1 teaspoon / 2 g): Sprinkle atop the brie for an aromatic herbal pop that works in harmony with the honey.
- Honey (3 tablespoons / 45 ml): The base for the Thyme & Chili Honey, balancing the cheese and garlic with a gentle sweetness.
- Chili Flakes (1/2 teaspoon / 1 g, adjust to taste): Provides that little sassy kick, transforming simple honey into an irresistible drizzle.
- Optional Garnishes: Cracked black pepper and extra fresh thyme sprigs for an elegant finish, plus crusty bread or crackers for scooping up every last bit.
How to Make Thyme & Chili Honey
Step 1: Roast the Garlic
Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). Grab your head of garlic and, with a sharp knife, slice about a quarter inch off the top to expose the cloves. Drizzle a generous tablespoon of olive oil over the cut side, then wrap the whole head snugly in foil. Place your package directly on the oven rack or in a small baking dish. Let it roast for 30 to 35 minutes, until the cloves inside are meltingly soft and caramelized. Once it’s cool enough to handle, you’ll be rewarded with a mellow, sweet garlic that just begs to be spread on oozy brie.
Step 2: Make the Thyme & Chili Honey
While the garlic works its magic in the oven, it’s time to bring the heat (and the sweet)! In a small saucepan or even a microwave-safe bowl, combine your honey and chili flakes. Gently warm over low heat (just enough to get it flowing and infuse the flavors) for about 2–3 minutes, stirring gently. Remove from the heat and let it cool slightly. This spicy-sweet concoction is what takes your skillet brie from good to “where has this been all my life?” Keep it nearby—you’ll want to drizzle it over everything.
Step 3: Prepare and Bake the Brie
Next up: prepping the star of the show. Unwrap your brie and place it in a small oven-safe skillet or baking dish. Using a sharp knife, score the top of the cheese in a criss-cross pattern. This helps the thyme, garlic, and honey infuse every bite. Sprinkle the fresh thyme leaves right on top, then slide the skillet into your still-hot oven. Bake for about 10–12 minutes, until the cheese is molten and the rind just starting to split at the edges. There’s nothing quite like that moment when the brie is perfectly gooey.
Step 4: Assemble and Serve with Thyme & Chili Honey
Once out of the oven, working quickly, squeeze the roasted garlic cloves over the hot brie (just use your fingers or a fork to nudge the soft cloves out of their skins). Gently spread them across the warm surface. Now, the crowning touch: an enthusiastic drizzle of your Thyme & Chili Honey all over the bubbling cheese and roasted garlic. Finish with a crack of black pepper and extra thyme sprigs if you like. Serve immediately with your favorite crunchy bread or crackers while everything is gloriously molten!
How to Serve Thyme & Chili Honey
Garnishes
Elevate your platter with a sprinkle of fresh thyme sprigs and a twist of cracked black pepper right before serving—the simple greenery and peppery aroma add charm and just a touch more herbal fragrance. If you’re feeling a little playful, a few extra chili flakes scattered across the top make a lovely (and spicy!) visual hint of what’s inside.
Side Dishes
Pair your skillet full of Thyme & Chili Honey brie with a selection of accompaniments to set the stage. Think slices of toasted baguette, crisp seed crackers, or even tart apple wedges. Their crunch and freshness contrast beautifully with the warm, oozing cheese and will keep everyone diving back for more.
Creative Ways to Present
There’s so much room for fun here! Try serving your skillet right from the oven on a chunky wooden board, surrounded by little ramekins of extra Thyme & Chili Honey, olives, grapes, or even a handful of toasted nuts. If you want something a bit rustic, set the skillet center-table picnic-style and encourage everyone to dip straight in. Presentation-wise, a few edible flowers or microgreens scattered on top look stunning too.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you somehow manage to have any leftover brie (a rare event, honestly!), let it cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days. The combination of roasted garlic and Thyme & Chili Honey will continue to soak into the cheese, keeping the flavors bold even after a day or two.
Freezing
While brie can technically be frozen, the texture tends to change a bit when thawed, becoming a touch grainy. If you’re determined to freeze leftovers, wrap them tightly and use within a month. Thawed brie is still perfectly fine melted in a sandwich or baked in a puff pastry, especially once topped with leftover chili honey.
Reheating
To revive your Thyme & Chili Honey brie, simply place the portion you want in an oven-safe dish and warm it at 325°F (160°C) for 8–10 minutes until the cheese is soft and molten again. A quick microwave session also works for a single serving—just heat in 20-second bursts until it’s pleasantly oozy. Add a fresh drizzle of honey and thyme to wake up the flavors.
FAQs
Can I use a different type of cheese for this recipe?
Absolutely! While brie is a dream in the skillet, you can also use camembert for its similar creamy texture. Just keep in mind that not all cheeses melt the same way. Soft rinds work best with the earthy-sweet combination of roasted garlic and Thyme & Chili Honey.
Is the chili honey very spicy?
The gorgeous thing about this Thyme & Chili Honey drizzle is how customizable it is. Use more or less chili flakes to get the zing that’s perfect for your palate. Start slow if you’re sensitive to heat; the honey’s sweetness always takes the edge off.
What’s the best way to scoop up the melted brie?
Definitely serve this with thick slices of rustic bread, baguette, or sturdy crackers. The whole point is to get that creamy brie, mellow garlic, and Thyme & Chili Honey onto something you can dunk and savor. Apple slices work well too for a crisp, tart contrast!
Can I prepare any part of this ahead for entertaining?
You sure can! The garlic can be roasted and the Thyme & Chili Honey mixed up to 2 days ahead—just keep both in the fridge. When party time rolls around, assemble and bake the brie fresh, then finish with your prepped toppings for an effortless yet impressive starter.
Is this recipe vegetarian?
Yes—it’s vegetarian-friendly as written, assuming you use plant-based cheese or check that your brie is made with vegetarian rennet. The combination of roasted garlic, thyme, and chili honey is naturally delightful for all cheese lovers!
Final Thoughts
Cheese lovers, you have to give this Skillet Melted Brie with Roasted Garlic, Thyme & Chili Honey a try! It’s a dish that feels luxurious but is secretly so easy to pull off, and it never fails to spark joy around the table. Go on, treat yourself and your favorite people—you deserve every silky, dreamy bite.
