Goat Cheese Pear Flatbread (Print View)

Flatbread layered with goat cheese, pears, caramelized onions, walnuts, and a spicy honey finish.

# Components:

→ Flatbread Base

01 - 1 large store-bought or homemade flatbread, approximately 12 by 8 inches
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Cheese & Dairy

03 - 5 ounces goat cheese, softened
04 - 1/4 cup cream cheese, softened

→ Vegetables & Fruit

05 - 1 large ripe pear, thinly sliced
06 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced

→ Nuts & Seeds

07 - 1/4 cup walnuts, roughly chopped

→ Hot Honey

08 - 3 tablespoons honey
09 - 1/2 to 1 teaspoon hot sauce such as Sriracha or chili flakes, to taste

→ Herbs & Seasoning

10 - 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, plus additional for garnish
11 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the red onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and caramelized, approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
03 - In a small bowl, combine goat cheese and cream cheese, mixing until smooth and fully incorporated.
04 - Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the flatbread, leaving a small border around the edges. Layer the caramelized onions and pear slices evenly over the cheese. Scatter chopped walnuts and thyme leaves on top. Season lightly with salt and black pepper.
05 - Place the assembled flatbread on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the cheese is warmed through.
06 - While the flatbread bakes, combine honey and hot sauce in a microwave-safe bowl. Warm for 10 to 15 seconds and stir thoroughly to combine. Adjust the spice level according to preference.
07 - Remove the flatbread from the oven. Drizzle generously with hot honey. Garnish with additional fresh thyme if desired. Slice into portions and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 35 minutes, which means you can go from craving something impressive to actually serving it.
  • The hot honey drizzle at the end feels like a secret move that makes people think you know more about cooking than you actually do.
  • It's naturally vegetarian and looks fancy enough to share with guests, but humble enough to eat standing at the counter in your kitchen clothes.
02 -
  • Don't skip the caramelizing step for the onions—rushing it by using high heat gives you cooked onions, not the deep, sweet flavor that makes this flatbread actually memorable.
  • Slice your pear as close to assembly time as possible and pat the slices dry, otherwise they'll release moisture and make your cheese base soggy during baking.
03 -
  • Make your cheese mixture slightly thinner than you think you need it, because it will spread more easily and bake more evenly across the flatbread.
  • If you're making this ahead, assemble everything except the hot honey, refrigerate it, then bake it straight from cold—you might need an extra 2–3 minutes in the oven.
Return