Flaky puff pastry meets tender potatoes, crumbled bacon, melty blue cheese, and a drizzle of spicy honey in this flavor-packed savory puff pastry tart. It may look fancy, but it's easy to pull together as a crowd-pleasing appetizer or pair it with a salad for an elegant light meal any time of year.
Why You'll Love this Savory Puff Pastry Tart:
- Bold, crave-worthy flavors - melty blue cheese, crispy bacon, and a sweet-spicy drizzle bring next-level flavor.
- Easy but elegant - looks fancy, but comes together with simple ingredients and minimal effort.
- Versatile & shareable - serve it as an appetizer, light brunch, or centerpiece at your next gathering.
Jump to:
Key Ingredients:
- Puff pastry (thawed): Your choice of store-bought or homemade. Puff pastry creates a crisp yet delicate base.
- Cream cheese: Creates a smooth, creamy base for spreading on the tart.
- Minced garlic: Infuses the cream cheese mixture with savory, garlicky flavor.
- Blue cheese: Adds a tangy, creamy kick that pairs wonderfully with the bacon and honey.
- Red potatoes: Once baked, they have a lovely tender texture that is crispy around the edges.
- Red onion: Adds a mild sweetness and depth of flavor when roasted.
- Fresh rosemary: Roughly torn, providing aromatic, earthy notes.
- Egg + splash of cream: Makes an egg wash to crisp up the pastry edges.
- Bacon: Brings salty, smoky crunch to complement the creamy filling and sweet drizzle.
- Spicy honey: Made with honey, hot sauce, and chili flakes for a sweet-spicy drizzle to finish.
Dietary & Allergy-Friendly Swaps:
- To make gluten-free: Use gluten-free puff pastry (such as Sweet Loren's Gluten-Free Puff Pastry) and be sure to check for any hidden gluten in pre-made ingredients.
- To make dairy-free: Swap both cream cheese and blue cheese for dairy-free cheese alternatives and use a dairy-free cream substitute.
- To make vegetarian: Simply omit the bacon or replace it with a handful of sautéed mushrooms.
- For a lower-fat version: Use reduced-fat cream cheese and skip the bacon, or opt for turkey bacon as a leaner alternative.
- To make nut-free: This recipe is naturally nut-free, but double-check any pre-packaged ingredients.
How to Make Blue Cheese & Potato Puff Pastry Tart:
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment. Thinly slice potatoes (using a mandoline) and toss with half the olive oil and a pinch of salt. Toss sliced red onion with remaining oil and a pinch of salt in a separate bowl.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Roll thawed puff pastry to about 10x13" and place on the baking sheet. Dock the center with a fork.
- Make Cheese Base: Whisk softened cream cheese with a splash of cream until smooth. Stir in half the blue cheese. Spread over pastry, leaving a 1½-inch border.
- Assemble Tart: Layer potatoes over the cheese mixture, slightly overlapping. Top with red onion and rosemary.
- Fold & Bake: Fold pastry edges over the filling, pressing corners to seal. Brush crust with egg wash (egg + splash of cream). Bake 25-30 minutes, tenting with foil if edges brown too fast.
- Add Bacon & Finish Baking: Sprinkle crumbled bacon and remaining blue cheese over the tart. Return to oven for 8-12 minutes, until cheese melts and bacon is warm.
- Serve: Cool slightly, then drizzle with honey, hot sauce, and chili flakes. Slice and serve.
Tips for Success:
- Use a mandoline for potatoes: Thin, even slices ensure they cook through and the edges crisp up nicely.
- Dock the pastry center: Pricking the middle with a fork helps prevent the center of the tart from puffing too much under the filling.
- Tent with foil if needed: If the edges start browning before the center is fully baked, loosely cover with foil to prevent burning.
Make Ahead & Storage:
- To make ahead: Assemble the tart up to the point of baking, then cover and refrigerate for up to 4 hours. When ready to bake, brush with egg wash and proceed as directed. (Note: avoid assembling more than a few hours ahead to prevent sogginess.)
- Leftovers: Store any cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350ºF until warmed through and crisp again, about 8-10 minutes.
- Freezing not recommended: Due to the delicate texture of puff pastry, this tart is best enjoyed fresh or refrigerated.
FAQ's:
Can I use store-bought puff pastry?
Absolutely! Store-bought puff pastry works great here. Just be sure it's fully thawed before rolling it out, and check the ingredients if you need a gluten-free version.
Do I need to pre-cook the potatoes?
Nope! As long as they're sliced very thin (a mandoline helps), they'll cook through in the oven. Thicker slices may stay firm in the center.
Can I make this without blue cheese?
Yes! Try swapping it with goat cheese if you prefer a milder flavor. This does change the flavor profile slightly, but is just as delicious!
How spicy is the spicy honey?
It has a little kick, but it's more warm and sweet than hot. You can easily adjust the amount of chili flakes or hot sauce to match your spice tolerance.
More Savory Brunch Recipes You Will Love:
- Classic French Croque Madame Sandwich with Parmesan Béchamel
- Cheesy Mushroom Toast with Garlic & Thyme
- Smoked Salmon, Goat Cheese, and Avocado Brunch Salad with Creamy Garlic Dill Dressing
- Cajun Shrimp & White Cheddar Cheese Grits
Recipe
Blue Cheese & Potato Puff Pastry Tart with Spicy Honey
Flaky puff pastry meets creamy cheese, tender red potatoes, smoky bacon, and a drizzle of spicy honey in this craveable savory tart. Simple to assemble, stunning to serve, making it perfect as an appetizer or light meal.
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry thawed
- ¼ cup cream cheese room temperature
- Splash of cream about 1-2 tsp
- 1½ teaspoon minced garlic
- ¼ cup crumbled blue cheese divided
- 1½ cups thinly sliced red potatoes about 2 small-to-medium potatoes
- ¼ red onion thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil divided
- A few sprigs fresh rosemary roughly torn
- 1 egg + splash of cream for egg wash
- 3 -4 strips bacon cooked and crumbled
- Salt & freshly ground black pepper
Spicy Honey:
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce adjust to taste
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes
Instructions
- Prep oven & potatoes: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Slice potatoes using a mandoline until nearly translucent. Toss with ½ tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of salt. In a separate bowl, toss sliced red onion with remaining olive oil and salt.
- Roll & prep pastry: Lightly roll the thawed puff pastry into a 10x13-inch rectangle. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Dock the center of the pastry with a fork, leaving a 1½-inch border.
- Make the cheese base: In a bowl, whisk together cream cheese, splash of cream, and minced garlic until smooth. Stir in half the blue cheese (2 tbsp). Spread the mixture evenly over the docked pastry center.
- Layer the tart: Arrange sliced potatoes on top in slightly overlapping rows. Top with sliced red onion and rosemary. Fold pastry edges over the filling to form a rustic border. Press corners gently to seal.
- Egg wash & bake: Beat 1 egg with a splash of cream and brush onto the pastry edges. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until pastry is golden and potatoes are mostly tender. If edges darken too quickly, cover loosely with foil.
- Final toppings & bake again: Sprinkle on the remaining blue cheese and bacon. Return to the oven for another 8-12 minutes, until blue cheese melts and tart is crisp and golden.
- Finish with spicy honey: In a small bowl, whisk together honey, hot sauce, and chili flakes. Let tart cool slightly, then slice and drizzle spicy honey over just before serving.
Notes
- To make gluten-free: Use a gluten-free puff pastry (such as Sweet Loren's or Schär), and double-check all packaged ingredients for hidden gluten.
- Don't skip docking the pastry: Pricking the center with a fork helps keep the middle from puffing up too much under the toppings.
- Nutritional Information is an estimate only and will vary according to specific ingredients and amounts used.
Nutrition
Calories: 306kcalCarbohydrates: 34.2gProtein: 7.6gFat: 16.6g
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
Tried This Puff Pastry Tart recipe? I'd love to hear how it turned out! ⭐ Please leave a star rating and review in the recipe card below. Your feedback helps others discover this easy, flavorful dish. Enjoy, and happy cooking! Follow me on Instagram and Pinterest for more delicious recipes, travel inspiration, and behind-the-scenes content.
Cheryl Anderson says
where do you add the egg?
Must Love Garlic says
Hi, Cheryl! The egg is used as a wash to brush the edges of the puff pastry before baking. It creates a beautiful golden sheen. I hope you enjoy!
Mary Ellen Sanger says
Great combination of textures and tastes. Have made it twice to great acclaim. I used baby reds and it worked fine. Thanks for this lovely recipe!
Must Love Garlic says
Thank you so much for the kind words, Mary! I'm so glad you enjoy it!