Goat cheese vs. feta: What’s the difference?

Goat cheese and feta might look similar, but they each have distinct personalities. Both are soft, white, fresh cheeses that add a tangy punch to salads, pastas, and Mediterranean dishes. But while they share some traits, these are two different types of cheese, including origin, flavor, texture, and even how they’re made.

If you’ve ever wondered which one to crumble over your salad or spread on warm bread, this guide breaks down everything you need to know about Goat cheese vs. feta, including taste, nutrition, and the best ways to use each.

🧭 Origins and history

Feta

Feta is one of the world’s oldest cheeses, with roots that trace back over 2,000 years to ancient Greece. The name “feta” means “slice” in Greek and refers to its traditional cutting and storage in brine. True Feta is a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) product, meaning only cheese made in specific regions of Greece, using at least 70% sheep’s milk (and up to 30% goat’s milk), can legally be called Feta within the EU.

Its history is tied deeply to Greek agriculture, where sheep and goats thrived in the rocky, mountainous terrain. The resulting milk gave Feta its distinctive tang and creamy sharpness, which defines Mediterranean cuisine today.

Goat cheese

Goat cheese, also known as chèvre in French, has a similarly ancient history and is perhaps even older than feta, depending on who you talk to. Humans began domesticating goats thousands of years ago, and goat milk was one of the first used to make cheese.

Unlike Feta, Goat Cheese isn’t tied to one country or recipe. It’s a broad category that covers a wide variety of cheeses made from goat’s milk. This can include fresh and spreadable logs to aged wheels with wrinkled rinds. While France is the best-known producer of chèvre, many regions around the world make their own versions, each with distinct textures and flavors.

🧂 Key feta vs goat cheese differences

Here’s a quick side-by-side look at how Goat cheese vs feta.

🧀 Taste and texture

Feta

Feta is known for its bold, salty tang and crumbly texture. It’s slightly grainy and firm when sliced, but it melts in your mouth with a creamy finish. Because it’s stored in brine, it has a distinct salty punch that enhances Mediterranean dishes. Its strong flavor means a little goes a long way, which makes it perfect for crumbling over salads or adding to baked dishes.

Goat cheese

Fresh goat cheese (chèvre) is softer and creamier with a slightly earthy flavor that becomes sharper as it ages. The flavor can vary widely depending on the goat’s diet and the cheesemaker’s process. It can be mild and lemony or deep and musky. Its creaminess makes it easy to spread on bread, blend into dips, or dollop on top of roasted vegetables.

⚖️ Nutrition comparison

Here’s a quick feta cheese vs goat cheese nutrition comparison:

🥗 Nutritional takeaway

• Feta is lighter in calories and fat but higher in sodium.

• Goat Cheese packs more protein and healthy fats, and is often easier to digest for people sensitive to cow’s milk.

If you’re watching your salt intake, goat cheese might be a better choice. But for a zesty kick, Feta brings that unmistakable Mediterranean zing.

🍽️ How to use each cheese

Feta in cooking

Feta’s crumbly texture and salty edge make it incredibly versatile. Try cheese pairing it:

• In Greek salad with cucumbers, olives, and tomatoes

• Baked in spanakopita (spinach pie) or feta-stuffed peppers

• Crumbled over roasted vegetables or pasta

• Whipped with olive oil for a creamy feta dip

Goat cheese in cooking

Goat Cheese is prized for its spreadable texture and mellow tang. It’s perfect:

• On toast or crostini with honey or fruit

• In salads with beets, arugula, or walnuts

• In quiches, tarts, or stuffed chicken

• As a pizza topping or melted into creamy sauces

Both cheeses pair beautifully with fresh herbs, olive oil, and citrus. Goat cheese adds richness and creaminess, while Feta gives a salty punch.

🐄 Digestibility and dietary notes

Goat cheese is often easier to digest than Feta because it’s made entirely from goat’s milk, which has smaller fat globules and different proteins compared to cow’s or sheep’s milk. For those sensitive to lactose or casein, goat cheese can be a gentler option.

Feta, while slightly higher in lactose, still contains less than most cow’s milk cheeses and is tolerated by many people who have mild dairy sensitivities.

🧩 Which should you choose?

If you want:

• A strong, salty flavor → Go for Feta

• A creamy, mild, tangy spread → Choose Goat Cheese

• Lower sodium → Goat Cheese wins

• Authentic Greek flair → You can’t beat Feta

Both cheeses bring a unique charm to your kitchen and can even complement each other in certain dishes, such as Mediterranean grain bowls or mixed cheese platters.

🧀 Feta vs goat cheese: Final thoughts

Feta and Goat Cheese may share a similar look, but their personalities couldn’t be more different. Feta delivers sharp, salty boldness, while Goat Cheese leans creamy and tangy. Both are delicious, nutritious, and deeply rooted in centuries of cheesemaking tradition.

Whether you’re layering feta into a Greek salad or spreading goat cheese on warm bread with honey, it's hard to go wrong with either.

Goat cheese vs feta FAQ

Is feta goat cheese?

No, feta isn’t goat cheese. Traditional feta is made mainly from sheep’s milk, sometimes mixed with up to 30% goat’s milk.

Is goat cheese good for you?

Goat cheese can be a healthy option in moderation. It is packed with protein, calcium, and healthy fats, and is often easier to digest than cow’s milk cheese.

Does goat cheese have lactose?

Yes, goat cheese contains lactose, but in smaller amounts than cow’s milk cheese, making it easier to digest for many people with mild lactose sensitivity.

What does goat cheese taste like?

Goat cheese has a tangy, creamy flavor with earthy notes that become sharper and more pronounced as it ages.

Is feta goat cheese?

No, feta is not goat cheese; it’s made mostly from sheep’s milk, sometimes blended with a small amount of goat’s milk.

Is feta cheese healthy?

Feta cheese can be healthy in moderation, depending on the person. It’s high in protein and calcium, but also contains sodium and fat.

Can dogs have feta cheese?

Most dogs can have small amounts of feta cheese occasionally, but it’s high in salt and fat, so it should only be an occasional treat.