Is there anything more summer-perfect than a Caprese salad? We think not. One of our favorite anytime flavor combos, this quintessential summer salad is especially good when the weather starts to get warmer and all the best produce (like juicy, in-season tomatoes) start popping up at stores and farmer's markets. If you love a Caprese like we do, you're probably going to be eating so many this summer that you might want to experiment a little. These 25 recipes will help you do just that.
What even is a Caprese salad?
Hailing from the island of Capri, this salad mirrors the colors of the Italian flag- green, white, and red, just like another favorite, the margarita pizza. Traditionally served as an antipasto, or appetizer, it is the perfect light, herbaceous dish to start any meal with. The salad itself is extremely simple, usually consisting of just sliced fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, and sweet basil, topped with a drizzle of good olive oil and sometimes balsamic vinegar. Because this salad focuses on only a few ingredients, it’s important to prioritize quality and freshness when selecting them.
Buy the best tomatoes:
Since tomatoes are the true star of this dish, it's best to wait until local tomatoes are in season (if they're not, try cherry tomatoes—they're tastier year-round). When shopping, look for tomatoes that feel heavy in your hands and show a bit of resistance when pressed (not squeezed!). They should smell a bit earthy and sweet. We love the traditional bright red beefsteak tomatoes, but heirlooms are great too; they can add new dimensions of flavor, not to mention beautiful color.
Prioritize fresh mozzarella:
If you can get your hands on it, look for mozzarella packaged in water or brine, which helps maintain the cheese's flavor and texture. Here freshness really does matter. To make slicing a breeze, keep the mozzarella cold until right before you're ready to build your salad or meal.
Get creative!
And don't think that the Caprese inspiration needs to stop at the classic ingredients of tomato and mozzarella; there are so many incredible fruits that also lend themselves to work well with these flavors! While any fresh summer produce will work, some of our favorite additions are juicy watermelon, ripe peaches and sweet strawberries. These fruits are the star of the show in our watermelon strawberry Caprese and our salads. Speaking of burrata, it is one of the best substitutions for mozzarella in any of these recipes to add an extra level of richness, like in our sheet-pan burrata Caprese gnocchi recipe.
Here at Delish, we're big believers that everything is better topped with melty cheese, including Caprese-inspired recipes. From our caprese-stuffed chicken to our Caprese bites and chicken-avocado caprese salad, we can't get enough of the refreshing burst of flavors when you combine sweet tomatoes, cheesy mozzarella, and fresh basil. From appetizers to dinner, let your imagination run wild and go wild capr-azy with this delicious flavor combination.
Want even more cheese recipes?Try our best ricotta recipes and our favorite mozzarella recipes next.
1
Caprese Sandwich
In this sandwich, custy, tender peasant bread (or ciabatta) encases thick slices of perfectly ripe red tomatoes, generous slabs of fresh mozzarella, and brightly flavored pesto. A drizzle of balsamic reduction adds a tangy sweetness, while fresh basil leaves and baby arugula provide a bit of crunch.
Get the Caprese Sandwich recipe.
2
Caprese-Stuffed Chicken
If your chicken dinner rotation is starting to err on the more basic side, let us introduce you to one of our faves: Caprese-stuffed chicken. Spinach, melty mozzarella, and sun-dried tomatoes all get stuffed into chicken breasts for a cheesy, flavorful dinner that's fancy enough for date night, but easy enough for busy weeknights.
Get the Caprese-Stuffed Chicken recipe.
3
Sheet-Pan Burrata Caprese Gnocchi
This is one of our favorite ways to prepare gnocchi. Roasting gives the pasta a slightly browned exterior while still maintaining a pillowy, chewy interior. To accompany the gnocchi, we are utilizing the flavors of a Caprese salad without relying on the seasonality of tomatoes. Enter beautiful and perfectly sweet bell peppers.
Get the Sheet-Pan Burrata Caprese Gnocchi recipe.
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4
Caprese Asparagus
Mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, balsamic, and just a touch of honey come together to turn humble asparagus into something worthy of a fancy meal. What can we say—everything's better Caprese'd!
Get the Caprese Asparagus recipe.
5
Caprese Bites
If you’re in need of a quick and easy appetizer or a last-minute addition to your co*cktail party, then these Caprese bites are the simple solution your guests will thank you for. Focusing on three ingredients and requiring no cooking, these bites require very little effort and time.
Get the Caprese Bites recipe.
6
Watermelon Strawberry Caprese Salad
We took inspo from two summer salad staples—Caprese salad and watermelon feta salad—to create this best-of-both-worlds creation. In it, fresh strawberries combine with juicy watermelon, tangy feta, and fresh basil for an extra-sweet summer treat.
Get the Watermelon Strawberry Caprese Salad recipe.
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7
Caprese Salad
Hailing from the island of Capri and mirroring the colors of the Italian flag, the simple Caprese salad is the perfect way to start any late-summer meal. It’s one of our favorite ways to show off those juicy, in-season farmer’s market tomatoes by complementing them with fresh basil and creamy mozzarella.
Get the Caprese Salad recipe.
8
No-Knead Caprese Focaccia
Nothing is as rewarding as a slice of homemade focaccia, and the truth is you don’t even have to work that hard to get it. In this Caprese-topped focaccia recipe that remains true—this basic no-knead recipe uses just 5 ingredients (flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and olive oil) and a little time.
Get the No-Knead Caprese Focaccia recipe.
9
Caprese Chicken Saltimbocca
Glance at the ingredient list for this Caprese chicken saltimbocca recipe, and it reads like an all-star roster of deliciousness. Prosciutto and chicken? Present. Ciliegine (aka, tiny balls of mozzarella) and juicy cherry tomatoes? They're here too. Finally, the dynamic duo of basil leaves and balsamic vinegar enhance the Italian flavors.
Get the Caprese Chicken Saltimbocca recipe.
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10
Watermelon Caprese
This watermelon Caprese combines slices of juicy, sweet watermelon, mozzarella, fresh basil, and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic glaze to top it all off. The result is a simple, sweet-salty snack ready in 15 minutes (and isn’t that what summer is all about?).
Get the Watermelon Caprese recipe.
11
Campfire Caprese Brie
A fun take on a classic baked brie, this entire appetizer comes together in a cast iron skillet, making it perfect for an upscale camping meal, or a fun treat to impress guests at your next BBQ or summertime co*cktail party.
Get the Campfire Caprese Brie recipe.
12
Peach & Burrata Caprese
In this recipe, we switched out juicy tomatoes for plump summer peaches and replaced the sliced fresh mozzarella with its creamier cousin, burrata. Surrounded by fragrant basil then topped with candied pecans and a drizzle of spicy honey, this sweet & savory salad treads a fine line between appetizer and dessert—and we’re totally here for it.
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13
Chicken Caprese Pasta Salad
This recipe combines an Italian idea, a Spanish technique, and an American invention, and turns them into a perfectly harmonious pasta salad you’re going to want to make again and again. It’s one of those dishes that, after one taste, you’ll go: Why have I never made this before?
Get the Chicken Caprese Pasta Salad recipe.
14
Caprese Chicken
When we’re looking for a classic summer dinner, this Caprese chicken wins out as one of our all-time favorite versions. This one-pan meal reinvents the classic salad, complete with cheesy-smothered chicken, balsamic-glazed tomatoes, and fresh basil. Ready in 30 minutes, this quick and easy dinner is a summertime must.
Get the Caprese Chicken recipe.
15
Chicken-Avocado Caprese Salad
To make this chicken-avocado salad, we kept it simple, just adding grilled balsamic chicken, creamy avocado, and a little romaine for crunch. The result is a simple salad that is still refreshing and light, but also satisfying enough to be dinner.
Get the Chicken-Avocado Caprese Salad recipe.
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16
Caprese Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella cheese, and earthy basil also happen to make a great match for a warm and satisfying soup. Finish with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar glaze, and you’ll be a spoon away from soup heaven. Best part? It comes together in just an hour.
Get the Caprese Chicken Gnocchi Soup recipe.
17
Caprese Garlic Bread
This recipe is even wonderful when tomatoes aren't in season. In the oven, sad-looking slices take on a deeper, sweeter, more tomato-y flavor. Don't want to make your own balsamic glaze? You can find it bottled at most grocery stores.
Get the Caprese Garlic Bread recipe.
18
Caprese Chicken & Polenta Bake
Gnocchi lovers, this dish is for you, but it has a little spin—rather than using gnocchi made from potatoes, it’s prepared with polenta gnocchi. While we could basically go all carbs all the time, we opted for a meal-in-one casserole instead, adding spinach and chicken cutlets to complement the polenta gnocchi.
Get the .
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19
Caprese-Stuffed Bread
Come summertime, making a Caprese pull-apart bread is one of the best things you can do with fresh tomatoes. Filled with mozzarella, basil, and plenty of butter, this bread is absolutely beautiful. If you have any leftover tomatoes, make some bruschetta too!
Get the Caprese-Stuffed Bread recipe.
20
Caprese Steak
Grilled steak is already so delicious on its own, but in this recipe it is elevated with a flavorful balsamic marinade, melty mozzarella cheese, juicy beefsteak tomatoes, and fresh basil. This Caprese steak is sure to level up your weeknight dinner game this summer.
Get the Caprese Steak recipe.
