Making Mealtime Meaningful: Discover how we're giving back with the 12T Cares program →
hearts
When you share or print a 12 Tomatoes recipe,
you're making mealtime meaningful.
100% of the Share to Care sponsor fees fund meals for families in need. Learn More
Marinated Cheese Dip Horizontal 5

A cheese tray is a safe bet at just about any function– from holiday parties to casual weeknight get-togethers, more cheese is always welcome. But this isn’t just your regular cheese… this is a Marinated Cheese Tray. While it sounds fancy and it tastes absolutely gourmet, it’s secretly incredibly easy to whip up. If you’re looking for a dish that will steal the show, this is the one.

Marinated Cheese Dip Vertical 8
Marinated Cheese Dip Vertical 1
Marinated Cheese Dip Vertical 3

You can use your regular run of the mill cheese in this dish and still get stellar results. But if you want to go for a nicer selection from the cheese counter, be my guest! The magic here is in the marinade. It’s made with a base of olive oil and white wine vinegar, then roasted red peppers, garlic, and green onions that add a vibrant burst of flavor. Dried oregano gives it a Mediterranean taste, while just a pinch of sugar balances everything out. Whisk the mixture until it’s nice and smooth then pour it over your cheese stacks.

Marinated Cheese Dip Vertical 6
Marinated Cheese Dip Vertical 9
Marinated Cheese Dip Vertical 13

After letting it chill for at least five hours (or overnight if you can wait) the cheeses will have absorbed all the zesty goodness from the marinade. When you’re ready to serve, grab some crackers, pretzels, or toasted bread and you’re ready to go. Give it a try and this Marinated Cheese Tray will undoubtedly become your go-to appetizer for any occasion.

Marinated Cheese Dip Vertical 17
Marinated Cheese Dip Vertical 18

Yield(s): Serves 16

20m prep time

5h inactive

4.4
Rated by 14 reviewers
hearts
When you share or print a 12 Tomatoes recipe,
you're making mealtime meaningful.
100% of the Share to Care sponsor fees fund meals for families in need. Learn More
Ingredients
  • 3/4 cup olive oil
  • ½ cup white wine vinegar
  • 8 oz roasted red peppers, drained and chopped
  • 3 green onions, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ¾ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, chilled
  • 2 (8 oz) blocks mozzarella
  • 1 (8 oz) block cheddar cheese
Preparation
  1. Place cream cheese in freezer while you prep other ingredients. It will slice best when cold!
  2. In a small bowl, combine oil, vinegar, red pepper, green onions, garlic, sugar, oregano, salt, and pepper. Whisk mixture until fully blended.
  3. Slice cheddar and mozzarella cheese into small squares about a ¼ inch thick. Remove cream cheese from freezer and slice into similar sized squares.
  4. In a 11x7-inch baking dish, line up cheese slices alternating the mozzarella with the cheddar and cream cheese until the dish is full.
  5. Whisk the marinade again if need be, then pour it over the cheese.
  6. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to marinate for 5 hours or up to overnight.
  7. Serve with crackers, pretzels, or toasted bread.

Recipe adapted from Allrecipes.com