Cheese, on its own, is magical. But crispy fried cheese? Even better. Not only is this pan fried halloumi recipe incredibly delicious, but you'll find it's just as easy too. These crispy pieces of fried halloumi are served alongside spicy honey for dipping, making them the perfect cheesy, easy appetizer for any occasion.
There's no reason you can't fry halloumi on its own and serve it up without any breading. But a light layer of panko takes it to the next level and gives it an irresistible crunch. Then, you dip the crispy pieces of cheese into spicy honey and prepare to fall in love.
My goat cheese grilled cheese with honey and red pepper flakes is one of the most popular recipes on my site. That tells me you probably like honey and red pepper flakes on other things too, which is why I think you'll be just as obsessed with this recipe as I am!
But if you're new to halloumi cheese, let's start by talking about that a little bit before we get into the recipe details.
This is an awesome appetizer, but if you need inspo for full meals, you'll find that here: 11 Meatless Monday Meals to Satisfy Your Comfort Food Cravings
What is halloumi cheese?
Most halloumi is made from a mixture of goat's and sheep's milk or cow's milk, or sometimes just one of those. The cheese is really salty, and it has a high melting point which makes it perfect for frying! Halloumi has almost a "rubbery" texture, but only in the sense that it's rather firm and holds its shape. It also doesn't have an overpowering "cheese" flavor the way feta or blue cheese can. It's just a really delicious treat and it also makes a great meat substitute because you can fry or grill it without it melting all over the place.
It usually comes shaped like this, folded in half. When I cook with it, I lay it flat (it's okay if it cracks) and then I slice it. 
Fried halloumi ingredients
Now, onto the good stuff! Here's what you need to make this fried halloumi recipe with hot honey and garlic for yourself.
- Halloumi cheese
- Panko bread crumbs
- Eggs
- Garlic powder
- Liquid honey
- Red pepper flakes
- Olive oil
The hot honey is the cherry on top! Don't skip it.
Recipe tips
Before you go ahead and make this recipe for yourself, please take a minute to read these tips so it turns out as amazing as possible for you!
- Gently dap the slices of halloumi with paper towel or a dish towel before coating it in the egg to remove any additional moisture.
- Don't worry about getting every piece totally covered in the breading! It's not meant to be substantially coated, so don't worry about there being gaps in the breading.
- Lay your fried halloumi pieces on a paper towel for a minute or two after cooking them to absorb any extra oil.
- These are best served hot, right after cooking.
- If you cut your halloumi into approximately 1 cm. thick strips, this makes about 16-20 pieces
- You'll have extra breadcrumbs and egg left in their dishes. Don't worry about using all of it, but it's better to have more than you need.
Need more recipes with breadcrumbs in your life? Try this next: CREAMY LEMON PASTA WITH GARLICKY BREADCRUMBS
📖 Recipe
Crispy Fried Halloumi with Hot Honey & Garlic
Ingredients
- 2-3 tablespoon olive oil for frying
- 8 oz halloumi cheese sliced
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs you won't use every last bit
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 eggs whisked
- ⅔-1/2 cup liquid honey
- red pepper flakes to taste, I add a generous pinch to the honey
Instructions
- Slice your halloumi into strips about 1 cm. thick. (Don't make them too thin or they'll fall apart)Blot each piece with paper towel to remove excess moisture.
- Whisk two eggs in a shallow dish. In a separate dish, add the panko crumbs and garlic powder and stir.
- To the dish with the eggs, add each slice of halloumi and flip so the slices get coated with the eggs.
- Move the slices of halloumi from the egg dish to the dish with the breadcrumbs. Flip the pieces so they're covered on both sides. Don't worry if there are gaps without breading, the cheese doesn't need to be completely covered.
- Heat 2 tbsp. of olive oil in a large frying pan on medium heat. Once hot, add the halloumi and cook on each side for 2-4 minutes, or until it is crispy and golden brown to your liking. If you're cooking in batches, add another splash of oil between batches. Move the fried halloumi to a plate lined with paper towel for a moment before serving to absorb excess oil.
- Combine honey and red pepper flakes in a small bowl for dipping. I add a generous pinch for more of a kick.
- Serve the fried halloumi hot, within a few minutes of cooking. Dip each piece into the hot honey. Enjoy!
Nutrition
You may have noticed I haven't been posting too many new recipes lately. To be honest, the last few I was working on just didn't blow me away. Not to mention, my "day job" has been busier than ever so I have nothing left in my cup at the end of the day...I'm guessing some of you can relate? ANYWAY, all of that to say....this recipe has lit a fire under my butt again. It was love at first taste and I just couldn't wait to share it with you.
I hope you're as excited about it as I am. Please let me know what you think!
Thanks for sticking around, means a lot to me!
XO,
Chelsea
PS. If you like fried halloumi you'll also like...
- PUFF PASTRY CHEESE STRAWS WITH WHITE CHEDDAR & BLACK PEPPER
- ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS GARLIC CHEESE BREAD
- THE BEST CRISPY BAKED BUFFALO CAULIFLOWER BITES EVER
- Delicious Easy Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce in 30 Seconds
- Fried Cheese & Pickles: My Take on Pickles in a Blanket
- Vegetarian Summer Sandwich with Halloumi, Cucumber, and Tzatziki
Learn more about me (Chelsea Kram) and XO&So here: About Me.
[…] Crispy Pan Fried Halloumi with Hot Honey & Garlic — XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food […]