Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, there are parties galore! These Beef Crostini with Blue Cheese Spread are a cinch to prepare and will get rave reviews from your guests!

If you’re hunting for Roast Beef Appetizer Ideas, this delicious bruschetta recipe will fit the bill!

Beef Crostini with Blue Cheese on a square white appetizer plate.

Why You Must Make

  • These elegant little nibbles are far from daunting to prepare. I made sure to have grilled beef on the menu the night before and part of the beef fillet aside for these appetizers.
  • The spread itself is only two ingredients, blue cheese, and cream cheese. It’s SO flavorful with little effort.
  • The toasts are just sliced baguettes and olive oil. Easy, peasy bruschetta bread!! Also in the mix were julienned sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil or roasted red bell pepper slices to the mix for a third texture and flavor!

Ingredient Notes

  • Kitchen Staples – Olive Oil
  • Baguette – A baguette is the perfect costini bread. Slice on the diagonal. You will only need about half the loaf.
  • Blue Cheese – Room temperature for easy mixing/blending
  • Cream Cheese – Room temperature for easy mixing
  • Beef Tenderloin Fillet – Seasoned, grilled, chilled, then sliced thinly. Or use any leftover roast beef.
  • Roasted Red Bell Pepper – Sliced very thinly (I used jarred peppers). Both these and the sun-dried tomatoes add another dimension and flavor to the crostini
  • Sun-dried Tomatoes in Oil – Sliced very thinly
  • Aged Balsamic Vinegar – To drizzle before serving
  • Fresh Herbs – I used thyme and oregano, to garnish, optional, but makes a fancier appearance. Use a super tiny sprig to garnish the steak crostini and larger sprigs to garnish the serving tray.
Beef Crostini with Blue Cheese Spread lined up on a white platter.

How to Make

So whether you’re throwing a holiday party or just bringing a dish to help out the host/hostess, these easy beef crostini are ideal. A few simple ingredients make for a terrific appetizer.

  • Grill your beef the night before and park it in the refrigerator.
  • The toasts, blue cheese spread, and other bruschetta toppings can be prepped ahead of time, too.
  • For classic bruschetta toasts, rub a garlic clove over the toasted slices before adding any toppings.
  • The day you plan to serve, just smear on the blue cheese spread and add your toppings.
  • You can arrange them on a serving platter, cover them with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator until serving time.
  • Garnish with tiny sprigs of fresh herbs for a restaurant-worthy appearance!

Tips for an Easy Cocktail Party Menu

There’s no need to sweat. Map out a menu you can put together with little effort!

  • Add a cheese board to the buffet. Pick 3 different kinds of cheese (no need for blue with these crostini on the menu) like sharp cheddar, soft Brie, and how about a chunk of Gruyere? All are readily available. Or ask your cheesemonger for some suggestions.
  • If you love blue cheese, these festive Blue Cheese Balls are another marvelous appetizer.
  • Make sure to purchase a fun variety of crackers, dried and fresh fruit, nuts, and even some fig jam or honey to go with the cheeses.
  • Buy some good quality dips and fill some bowls with sweet potato chips, wedges of naan or pita, and vegetables to accompany them. There’s nothing wrong with supplementing with a couple of store-bought items.
  • If you want a signature drink or full bar, go for it. Otherwise, wine, beer, and sodas along with an ice bucket, and some sparkling water with lime slices or La Croix will do.
  • Remember, the goal is to gather with your friends and/or family. It’s the people that make the party and the food is secondary. Just be welcoming and accommodating and you’ll have a lovely gathering!
Beef Crostini with Blue Cheese Spread on a narrow white tray viewed from above.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the Difference Between Bruschetta and Crostini?

Bruschetta, the Italian word for “to roast over coals,” is a garlic bread made by rubbing garlic cloves over toasted bread, then drizzling with olive oil before adding toppings. Crostini translates to “little toasts” in Italian but can also refer to the canapes made with toasts and savory toppings. The terms are often used interchangeably.

What Are Some Other Bruschetta Toppings?

We love the combination of diced fresh tomatoes and basil. It’s simple and classic. Add slices of fresh mozzarella for the Caprese trifecta! How about sauteed mushrooms? Caramelized onions and Gruyere cheese? Melted Brie and fresh berries? The options are endless.

How Do You Store Leftover Bruschetta?

Store bruschetta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. But note that unless there is a barrier of cheese, etc. between the toasts and other toppings, the bread can get soggy. 

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Beef Crostini with Blue Cheese Spread | Baguette toasts smeared with a blue cheese spread and topped with peppers or tomatoes and rare grilled beef!

Beef Crostini with Blue Cheese Spread

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Yield 8

These Beef Crostini with Blue Cheese Spread are a cinch to prepare and will get rave reviews from your guests!

Ingredients

  • ½-⅓ of a baguette, sliced on the diagonal (16 slices)
  • Olive oil, to brush on bread slices
  • 3 ounces blue cheese, at room temperature
  • 6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 8 ounces beef tenderloin fillet, seasoned, grilled, chilled, then sliced thinly
  • 2-3 tablespoons roasted red bell pepper, sliced very thinly (I used jarred peppers)
  • 2-3 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes in oil, sliced very thinly
  • Aged balsamic vinegar, to drizzle before serving
  • Fresh herbs, I used thyme and oregano, to garnish, optional

Instructions

  1. Place baguette slices on a sheet pan and brush tops with olive oil. Turn on the broiler, and watching carefully, place the pan in the oven until the tops of the slices are toasted. Remove and set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix together the blue cheese and cream cheese. Refrigerate.
  3. Slice the beef into 16 very thin slices. Refrigerate.
  4. An hour or two before serving, smear the toasts with the blue cheese mixture, then top about half with some of the roasted peppers and the other half with the sun-dried tomatoes. Place a slice of beef over each toast.
  5. Drizzle with a few drops of a good-quality balsamic vinegar. Garnish with a tiny herb sprig if desired. Keep chilled until ready to serve.

Notes

Amounts of ingredients will vary depending on the size of your baguette and slices.  Cream cheese comes in 8 ounce packages and you will probably have some leftover blue cheese, so feel free to mix up some more of the spread if you need it.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

2 toasts

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 330Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 433mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 15g

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