By Becky Hardin
Updated Jun 24, 2025
Marinated Mozzarella Balls are the perfect appetizer for cocktail hour, holiday parties, or any time you need something simple. I love that these delicious herb and olive oil marinated mozzarella balls are so easy to make and serve. They are sure to be a crowd pleaser!
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Easy Marinated Mozzarella
This marinated mozzarella recipe is so simple to make and so flavorful, it’s sure to be your new favorite appetizer!
I only need a few ingredients to make this super simple recipe. After a few minutes of prep, I let the mozzarella soak in the seasoned olive oil and end up with the tastiest little snack.
These mozzarella balls are great for charcuterie boards and New Year’s Eve . You can make this recipe using mozzarella cubes or slices—and feel free to play around with the herbs or add more or less of the chili flakes.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ ½ cup olive oil use a good quality EVOO
- ▢ 1 clove garlic grated
- ▢ ¼ cup chopped fresh herbs see recipe note
- ▢ ½ tsp sea salt
- ▢ ¼ tsp red pepper flakes optional
- ▢ 16 oz mozzarella pearls or sliced mozzarella*
Instructions
- In a medium jar or measuring cup, combine the olive oil, garlic, herbs, sea salt, and red pepper flakes. Mix (or shake) to combine. ½ cup olive oil, 1 clove garlic, ¼ cup chopped fresh herbs, ½ tsp sea salt, ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- Pour the seasoned olive oil over the mozzarella pearls and mix until the olive oil has coated the mozzarella. 16 oz mozzarella pearls or sliced mozzarella*
- Cover the mozzarella cubes and place them in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
- Serve with crackers or crostini.
Becky’s Tips
- Both mozzarella pearls or sliced fresh mozzarella work wonderfully. When serving as a stand-alone appetizer or a mezze platter, I use pearls. When serving with crostini or crackers, I use sliced!
- Grating the garlic helps it evenly distribute, but it does create a strong flavor. If you don’t want quite so much garlic flavor , smash the clove and add it whole to the marinade.
- Use your favorite herbs. I used 2 tbsp fresh basil, 1 ½ tbsp fresh parsley, and 1 tsp fresh thyme but any combination will work.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Herb Marinated Mozzarella Balls Step by Step
Gather your ingredients.
Combine the seasoning : In a medium jar or measuring cup, combine ½ cup olive oil, 1 clove garlic, ¼ cup chopped fresh herbs, ½ teaspoon sea salt, and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes. Mix (or shake) to combine.
Add the mozzarella : Pour the olive oil mixture over the mozzarella balls and mix until the olive oil has coated them. Cover the jar or bowl and place it in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
Serve and enjoy: Serve with crackers or crostini straight from the fridge or at room temperature.
How to Store
Store olive oil marinated mozzarella in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Serving Suggestions
These are the perfect appetizer for cocktail hour. I love having other appetizers and nibbles, like fresh tomato bruschetta or savory marinated olives . For more substance, I’ll whip up jalapeño popper deviled eggs . You can also add these to salads or pastas to kick them up a notch!
more super cheesy recipes to try
Smoky Port Wine Cheese Log Recipe
Cheese Straws
Fried Goat Cheese Balls with Cherries and Pecans
Mini Cheese Ball Bites
Herb Marinated Mozzarella Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup olive oil use a good quality EVOO
- 1 clove garlic grated
- ¼ cup chopped fresh herbs see recipe note
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes optional
- 16 oz mozzarella pearls or sliced mozzarella*
Instructions
- In a medium jar or measuring cup, combine the olive oil, garlic, herbs, sea salt, and red pepper flakes. Mix (or shake) to combine. ½ cup olive oil, 1 clove garlic, ¼ cup chopped fresh herbs, ½ tsp sea salt, ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- Pour the seasoned olive oil over the mozzarella pearls and mix until the olive oil has coated the mozzarella. 16 oz mozzarella pearls or sliced mozzarella*
- Cover the mozzarella cubes and place them in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
- Serve with crackers or crostini.
Notes
- Both mozzarella pearls or sliced fresh mozzarella work wonderfully. When serving as a stand-alone appetizer or a mezze platter, I use pearls. When serving with crostini or crackers, I use sliced!
- Grating the garlic helps it evenly distribute, but it does create a strong flavor. If you don’t want quite so much garlic flavor , smash the clove and add it whole to the marinade.
- Use your favorite herbs. I used 2 tbsp fresh basil, 1 ½ tbsp fresh parsley, and 1 tsp fresh thyme but any combination will work.
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!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
