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This Pan Fried Brie with Peppered Honey and Olives is the perfect (EASY) appetizer that everyone will love. Creamy melty Brie cheese, coated in Panko bread crumbs, and pan-fried to golden perfection. Nothing beats a crispy fried layer surrounding an entire wheel of melted Brie. Serve this warm, topped with lemony fried olives, capers, and drizzled with peppered honey. Add your favorite crackers for scooping. A great quick-and-easy appetizer for any occasion…this app is always the first to disappear! 

overhead close up photo of Pan Fried Brie with Peppered Honey and Olives

And just when you thought Brie couldn’t actually get any better…I went and pan-fried it. And yes, it’s just as incredible as it sounds.

What’s not to love about a giant wheel of Brie coated in breadcrumbs and pan fried? It’s crisp on the outside with melty, creamy, buttery cheese inside.

It. Is. Heaven.

I could probably just end the blog post right there, because really most of us are here for the fried Brie. But you all know me, I have a small story tell and details to share.

overhead prep photo of brie before cooking

The story…

It’s short and sweet. Mother’s Day is Sunday, and even though this will be one of the most unusual Mother’s Day in the history of time (dramatic, but going with it), we still need to celebrate Mom. Personally, that means making all of my mom’s favorite foods. Gifts are hard, she’s can be tricky, but with food, I know exactly what she loves.

Pasta, bread, butter, bread, basil, bread, cheese, plenty of naan…seeing a pattern here? And course, chocolate too. Oh, and maybe throw in some chicken for a little protein too. My mom certainly loves her carbs, and trust me, we all love her for that.

Oh yes, and Brie, anything with Brie.

Which is where this recipe comes in. I had two wheels of Brie in my fridge. For weeks I had this recipe concept in my head, but the question was, would it work? Could I actually pan-fry Brie, or would it melt all over? I was scared, so I put off testing this for a while. Then one day I finally built up the courage, and wow, I should not have waited so long! Not only is this recipe EASY, but oh-my-gosh…it is so delicious (isn’t most everything with Brie)!

overhead photo of olives in skillet

The details…

Start with the honey, it’s literally just honey and black pepper mixed together. Simple, simple, but I love peppery honey with cheese.

Now, let’s talk about the fried Brie. Which isn’t really “fried” since we’re only cooking it in a little bit of extra virgin olive oil. The Brie is first dredged through Panko bread crumbs. Then it goes into the freezer to chill out before cooking. This step, while slightly annoying, it crucial. Chilling the Brill allows the cheese to firm up so that when it cooks it doesn’t melt out all over your skillet. It only needs about fifteen minutes in the freezer, so it’s really not that long to wait.

While the Brie is chilling, make the fried olives and capers. This is simple too, just simmer olives, lemon, and capers together until everything is warmed and lightly “fried”. I’ve always loved warm olives in olive oil, but capers are a newer ingredient for me…and I’m loving them. They add a vinegary, salty touch that’s delicious with this rich Brie cheese.

Finally, grab the Brie and add it to the skillet with some olive oil. Pan fry both sides until golden. It takes maybe 10 or so minutes total to put together and the outcome could not be more delicious. The outside of the cheese remains crispy, while the inside is warm and extra melty.

overhead photo of Pan Fried Brie with Peppered Honey and Olives

I love serving this Brie topped with the salty olives and drizzled generously with the peppered honey. The honey seeps into the cheese creating the perfect salty, sweet, and peppery flavor with every single bite.

Mouthwatering! Just add your favorite crackers or toasted bread for scooping.

So darn delicious, EASY, and pretty too! This is going to make the perfect appetizer/snack for Mother’s Day this weekend.

…or maybe just a random Tuesday snack.

Honestly, do both, you can never ever have too much warm, melty, pan-fried Brie. Never.

FAQ:

Can I pan-fry a whole wheel of brie?
Yes—keep the rind on and work over medium heat. It’s done when the exterior is deep golden and the center feels soft with a gentle press.

Do I have to bread it?
No. A bare rind will still crisp; it’s just a thinner crust. If you coat, keep it light so the cheese doesn’t overheat before the crust browns.

How do I keep it from bursting?
Start with chilled brie and a preheated pan, then avoid poking or flipping repeatedly. If you see seepage, lower the heat and give it a brief rest.

What toppings work best?
For sweet: hot honey, fig or cranberry jam. For savory: garlicky chili oil, thyme/rosemary, lemon zest, and flaky salt for crunch.

overhead photo of Pan Fried Brie with Peppered Honey and Olives and the brie is broken into and oozing out

Looking for a few other Brie app ideas? Try these…

Pastry Wrapped Baked Brie with Thyme Butter Roasted Plums

Artichoke and Broccoli Pesto Brie Panini

Asparagus and Brie Puff Pastry with Thyme Honey

Lastly, if you make this pan fried brie with peppered honey and olives, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!

Pan Fried Brie with Peppered Honey and Olives

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 381 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Ingredients

Peppered Honey

Fried Brie

Instructions

  • 1. To make the honey. Combine all ingredients in a glass jar.
    2. To make the Brie. Whisk the egg in a shallow bowl. Add the Panko to a separate shallow bowl. Dip the Brie through the egg, turning to coat on all sides, remove and allow any excess to drip off. Dredge the Brie through the Panko, turning to coat and pressing gently to adhere. Transfer the Brie to the freezer, freeze 15-20 minutes.
    3. Meanwhile, heat 1/4 cup of olive oil, the olives, and crushed red pepper flakes together in a medium skillet set over medium heat. Simmer 5 minutes, until lightly fried. Add the lemon zest, capers, and thyme, and cook another 5 minutes, until the lemon is fried. Remove from the skillet to a serving bowl.
    4. To the same skillet add the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil. Remove the Brie from the freezer and place in the skillet. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until golden brown. If your Brie punctures, don't stress, just keep cooking. Carefully transfer the Brie to a serving plate.
    5. Serve the Brie warm, topped with fried olives and honey. Enjoy with crackers or bread.
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overhead photo of Pan Fried Brie with Peppered Honey and Olives

This post was originally published on May 5, 2020
4.24 from 204 votes (170 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    So easy, simple, delectable and looks gourmet! I couldn’t believe how the flavors worked together so well. Sweet, spicy and salty. Served with fresh slices of homemade sourdough. Thanks for a great recipe.

  2. Hi Tieghan! Could I use Halloumi cheese instead of Brie for this? I want to make some Greek food over the weekend, including your salmon from Super Simple:)

    1. Hi Krissy,
      Totally, Halloumi would be delicious! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan

  3. 5 stars
    Just made this with Camembert instead of Brie and so so delicious! Super easy to make and such a good starter ? the honey and pepper complement the cheese so well!

  4. 5 stars
    This was amazing. Was making it for a wine tasting but didn’t get to it in time, so did the wine tasting and ate a lot of food. Then made it for people at the end of the night after they had eaten dinner. It was gone! People loved it and ate it all.

  5. Do you have any mains you would suggest this go with in particular? Trying to work this into the menu, but I’m not sure what to pair with it! Chicken- fancy style?

  6. 5 stars
    This was super easy and loved by all. I couldn’t find wheels of Brie so used two wedges. I made one sweet with the honey topping and one savory with the capers and olives (and honey too). The honey was the biggest hit so next time I may keep it simple and do honey only. The melted Panko covered cheese was divine.

    1. I am really glad this recipe turned out so amazing for you Marilyn! Thank you so much for trying it! xTieghan

  7. 5 stars
    This was unreal. I didn’t have time to take a picture because my family immediately devoured it. I threw the Brie on the skillet for 5-6 minutes on each side, 2-3 wasn’t quite long enough. Thank you for this wonderful recipe! I loved the pepper honey and the fried lemon was amazing!!

  8. 5 stars
    This was amazing! What flavor the green olives and capers add! I would never have thought to have honey too! The flavor combination is spot on! Will make again when we can have friends over with a good bottle of wine!

    1. That sounds like the perfect night with friends! Thank you so much Anna! I am glad you enjoyed this one! xTieghan

    1. Hi Lee,
      Sure that would work! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan

  9. Can you suggest something other then Olives to put on top? Or even using a different kind of brie?! Thank you!

    1. Hi Jessica,
      You could use capers in place of the olives. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan

  10. 5 stars
    oh my, what another knockout! have to save this for the weekend for my cheat day but really really impressive creative and beautiful, thank you!