Caprese Salad Recipe

By Becky Hardin

Published Sep 3, 2023

Chopped caprese salad in a white bowl. - 3

If Caprese Salad is on the menu, I’m ordering it. At home, I love to make this simple homemade chopped version. I think it’s the perfect easy side dish for any BBQ. Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil, and Balsamic Vinegar are one of my all-time favorite flavor combinations. This Caprese salad with cherry tomatoes is my go-to side dish for everything Summer!

up close caprese salad in white bowl - 5

What’s in this Caprese Salad Recipe?

In the Spring and Summer, you can always find me making Caprese Salad. The fact that this cherry tomato Caprese salad is low-carb and gluten-free makes it the ultimate recipe to bring to any occasion. I love that almost anyone can enjoy it, regardless of special diet.

Balsamic Vinegar: Adds a sweet, fruity, and acidic taste to this salad.
Honey: Adds a touch of sweetness to the balsamic and helps to thicken it into a rich glaze .
Cherry Tomatoes: The perfect bite-sized tomatoes for this chopped salad. You could also use grape tomatoes or chop up a regular tomato.
Mozzarella Ciliegine: These whole milk fresh mozzarella balls or “pearls” are the perfect size for a chopped salad, but you could also dice up a larger mozzarella ball.
Fresh Basil: Adds a pop of freshness and color to the salad.
Salt + Pepper: Enhances the natural flavor of the tomatoes and cheese.

Pro Tip: You can also add 1 tablespoon of olive oil if you’d like the added flavor, but it’s not necessary.

Variations on Chopped Caprese Salad with Cherry Tomatoes

If you can find heirloom cherry tomatoes, they are a great addition to this salad, as each color has a unique taste! I even like to use my herb marinated mozzarella to add just a little extra something!

If you’re looking to spice things up just a bit, you could try sprinkling on some Italian seasoning or crushed red pepper flakes.

how to make caprese salad step by step - 6

How to Store

I recommend eating within 24 hours, but this chopped Caprese salad will stay good in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. It can get a bit juicy, so drain before serving. It’s always better the fresher you can serve it, but we do love this as leftovers. No shame in your game!

Serving Suggestions

This Caprese Salad with cherry tomatoes is great on its own or even used as a fresh salsa for chicken, fish, or homemade fresh pasta ! Save some of this and throw it on a burger, or simply enjoy it with some cheese focaccia .

We love to serve it with Italian classics, like Grandma’s homemade meatballs , stuffed shells , lasagna , baked ziti , shrimp scampi , or chicken parmesan .

5-Star Reviews

“Had this at a restaurant a few years ago and it was delicious. Had a craving for it tonight it was wonderful and quickly made!” – Tywanda Lowe

“Hey there, stumbled upon this recipe when looking for caprese salads and this was such a winner! I made it pretty much as instructed; the only difference was I added chopped and skinned cucumbers as per another recipe which just added more crunch. Seriously, that balsamic honey reduction? This is 100% going into our hosting recipe repertoire. Thanks for posting!” – Jo

Ingredients1x2x3x

▢ ½ cup balsamic vinegar
▢ 2 tablespoons honey
▢ 10 ounces cherry tomatoes chopped in half
▢ 8 ounces Mozzarella Ciliegine “cherry-sized” whole milk fresh mozzarella
▢ ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
▢ Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Video

Instructions

Add the balsamic vinegar and honey to a small saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Once it’s reduced by approximately half and thickened to your liking (about 10-15 min), remove from the heat. Be careful it doesn’t get too thick, but a bit syrupy is good. ½ cup balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons honey
Toss all ingredients except for the reduction in a bowl. Drizzle with the reduction, adding a little at a time, tossing, tasting, and then adding more to your liking. 10 ounces cherry tomatoes, 8 ounces Mozzarella Ciliegine, ¼ cup chopped fresh basil, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Becky’s Tips

You can also add 1 tablespoon of olive oil if you’d like the added flavor, but it’s not necessary.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

More Recipes featuring Caprese Salad Flavors

Caprese Pasta Bake
Cheesy Caprese Dip
Caprese White Chicken Lasagna
Bruschetta Chicken
Caprese Stuffed Salmon

Caprese Salad is a salad originating in Capri, Italy that is traditionally made with tomato, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and balsamic dressing. We have changed things up a bit but kept it classic. It’s one of my very favorite recipes on the site!

Yes, this Caprese salad with cherry tomatoes is very healthy! It’s high in protein, vitamin C, and calcium. The mozzarella is a bit high in saturated fat, but overall this dish has a good balance!

For this chopped Caprese salad recipe, we simply cut cherry tomatoes in half. For ease, you could place your tomatoes between two plates and slice horizontally to cut a bunch all at once!

The best way to keep tomatoes from getting soggy is to eat them right away! The longer they sit, the more juice they will release, so you may need to drain the salad if you’re saving it for later. You could also wait and add the tomatoes just before serving.

Chopped Caprese Salad Recipe

Ingredients

½ cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
10 ounces cherry tomatoes chopped in half
8 ounces Mozzarella Ciliegine “cherry-sized” whole milk fresh mozzarella
¼ cup chopped fresh basil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

Add the balsamic vinegar and honey to a small saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Once it’s reduced by approximately half and thickened to your liking (about 10-15 min), remove from the heat. Be careful it doesn’t get too thick, but a bit syrupy is good. ½ cup balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons honey
Toss all ingredients except for the reduction in a bowl. Drizzle with the reduction, adding a little at a time, tossing, tasting, and then adding more to your liking. 10 ounces cherry tomatoes, 8 ounces Mozzarella Ciliegine, ¼ cup chopped fresh basil, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Video

Notes

You can also add 1 tablespoon of olive oil if you’d like the added flavor, but it’s not necessary.

Nutrition

By Becky Hardin

Published Jul 12, 2017

This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.

Essential Grocery List

It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!

It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.

However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.

In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.

I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.

Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List

What to Buy at the Grocery Store

This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.

When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.

So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!