The Best Caprese Salad Recipes

Essentially, Caprese is an Italian salad made with fresh mozzarella cheese, juicy tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of olive oil. The classic never gets old, but there are so many wonderful ways to transform this side dish, using it with almost any meal.

Caprese salad with mozzarella cheese and olive oil

Fresh, juicy tomatoes are the base of this classic salad. Just four ingredients make it the perfect appetizer for entertaining. To bring it all together, sprinkle with basil and drizzle with olive oil.

Recipe: Caprese salad with mozzarella cheese and olive oil

Caprese pasta

Jill and Joe Biden's pasta salad will make your guests feel like VIPs. For a truly special dish, use pasta in your guests' favorite shapes.

Recipe: Caprese pasta

Caprese with mini bocconcini

Rachel offers a way to make Caprese that's faster, easier, and even tastier! Her pesto-style sauce infuses every bite with the rich flavor of fresh basil.

Recipe: Caprese with mini bocconcini

Quiche with Caprese filling

Classic Caprese—beautifully layered fresh mozzarella, tomato, and basil—is both elegant and delicious (especially during peak tomato season). You'll get all of this in this delicate quiche, which is surprisingly low in calories.

Recipe: Quiche with Caprese filling

Caprese Salad with Balsamic Vinegar

Ree adds a simple balsamic glaze to this classic salad. Simmer the vinegar over low heat until it thickens, and you'll be surprised by its sweet, tangy flavor!

Recipe: Caprese Salad with Balsamic Vinegar

Thin crust pizza without yeast "Caprese"

Trust me, you won't be able to resist this pizza! Sliced heirloom tomatoes create colorful layers on a thin, crisp, Parmesan-covered crust.

Recipe: Thin crust pizza without yeast "Caprese"

Pasta Alfredo with Chicken and Caprese

This one-skillet dinner combines creamy Alfredo pasta with a fresh Caprese salad.

Recipe: Pasta Alfredo with Chicken and Caprese

Caprese salad with sun-dried tomatoes

Roasting enhances the tomatoes' natural sweetness, giving Aina's salad a rich, sophisticated flavor.

Recipe: Caprese salad with sun-dried tomatoes

Caprese on toast in the oven

Improving on a tried-and-true classic isn't easy, but Giada has managed it: she layers traditional Caprese ingredients on toasted baguette slices.

Recipe: Caprese on toast in the oven

Caprese Salad with Prosciutto and Fried Artichokes

If you love artichokes, this recipe is for you. Lightly sautéed in olive oil, they add a crisp texture to an elegant salad.

Recipe: Caprese Salad with Prosciutto and Fried Artichokes

Caprese Canapes with Plum-Balsamic Dressing

An eye-catching, delicious and aromatic fresh appetizer, perfect for summer parties.

Recipe: Caprese Canapes with Plum-Balsamic Dressing

One-Pot Caprese Pasta

This dish is similar to your favorite summer salad, only more filling. Try cooking the pasta in one pot: it saves time. The pasta and sauce cook together, so dinner takes just 15 minutes. Stir in fresh mozzarella at the end for an instant creamy sauce that coats the pasta, adding a cheesy flavor.

Recipe: One-Pot Caprese Pasta

Caprese salad with tortellini

This cheese dish is absolutely beautiful. Cheese tortellini are mixed with tiny mozzarella balls and colorful heirloom cherry tomatoes.

Recipe: Caprese salad with tortellini

Chicken Caprese on a baking sheet

This easy one-sheet lunch requires no extra cookware. Juicy baked tomatoes and cheesy chicken breasts are enhanced with a vibrant touch of fresh basil and balsamic vinaigrette.

Recipe: Chicken Caprese on a baking sheet

Fusilli alla caprese pasta

Aromatic garlic oil adds a new dimension of flavor to the classic combination of fresh tomatoes and basil. And with the addition of pasta, you get a complete dish.

Recipe: Fusilli alla caprese pasta

Caprese appetizer on skewers

Trisha Yearwood's skewers will become your grilling favorite: perfectly toasted baguette and perfectly melted cheese. Soak wooden skewers in water beforehand to prevent burning.

Recipe: Caprese appetizer on skewers

Tomato, mozzarella and celery salad

The garnish uses less traditional ingredients like celery, making this Caprese a year-round favorite.

Recipe: Tomato, mozzarella and celery salad

Caprese tartlets

Melissa De Arabian transforms white bread into a delightful appetizer. Each mini-tartlet is filled with cream cheese and basil, then baked until golden brown. Fresh tomatoes add vibrant color to the tartlets.

Recipe: Caprese tartlets

Tomato soup with roasted peppers and tomato and smoked mozzarella panini

A toasted panini pairs perfectly with a bowl of hot tomato soup. Who doesn't love gooey cheese? To ensure the mozzarella melts thoroughly, press the sandwich with a small frying pan while cooking.

Recipe: Tomato soup with roasted peppers and tomato and smoked mozzarella panini

Speedini sandwiches with caprese

We love this recipe. Tomatoes, capers, and red wine vinegar add a fresh, tangy flavor to Bobby Flay's hearty Italian sandwich.

Recipe: Speedini sandwiches with caprese

Caprese salad with plums

Tomatoes and plums combine to create a stunning dish that's sure to impress your party guests. Top this new take on the classic salad with creamy burrata cheese, fresh basil, and mint.

Recipe: Caprese salad with plums

Calzone with Caprese Filling

You don't need to go to a pizzeria to make this calzone. When you seal the calzone, make slits in the dough at the top to allow steam to escape.

Recipe: Calzone with Caprese Filling

Caprese with tomatoes and bocconcini mozzarella

Geoffrey Zakarian knows that we eat with our eyes first. This colorful salad is made with yellow and red tomatoes, cut into pieces of various shapes and sizes.

Recipe: Caprese with tomatoes and bocconcini mozzarella

Salad with mozzarella and Greek olives

Warm weather means al fresco dining and refreshing salads. Nancy Fuller makes a chopped version of the classic Caprese, adding romaine lettuce, Kalamata olives, and a light red wine vinaigrette.

Recipe: Salad with mozzarella and Greek olives

Caprese appetizer in endive boats

Use endive leaves as edible spoons at a picnic. These bite-sized boats contain tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil; they can be served with fresh vegetables for a light appetizer.

Recipe: Caprese appetizer in endive boats

Caprese Salad

It's hard not to fall in love with a salad that requires just five ingredients and takes 10 minutes to prepare—especially when it's loaded with ripe summer tomatoes, fragrant basil, and thick slices of mozzarella.

Recipe: Caprese Salad