Easy Bacon Caprese Salad

Some bacon, a few tomatoes, some mozzarella cheese and a handful of basil and you are on your way to make the deliciousness that is this bacon caprese salad recipe!

Jump to:

• 🔎 A quick look at this recipe
• ⭐️ Why this recipe works
• 🍅 What are heirloom tomatoes?
• 🥓 Ingredients you need
• 📝 Ingredient notes
• 💡 Ingredient substitution ideas
• 👩🏻‍🍳 How to make this recipe
• 🧐 Recipe FAQs
• 🍽️ What to serve with this recipe
• Bacon Caprese Salad
• 💫 Variations on this recipe
• ❤️ Other Caprese recipes we love!
• ⭐️ We want to know what you think!

🔎 A quick look at this recipe

⭐️ Why this recipe works

• 🥓 Bacon makes everything better. Crispy, smoky bacon adds a savory crunch that takes classic Caprese salad from delicious to downright irresistible.
• 🍅 Fresh summer ingredients shine. Juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella (or burrata), and fragrant basil are simple ingredients that deliver huge flavor.
• 🥗 Ready in about 25 minutes. Most of the time is spent crisping the bacon, making this an easy side dish or light meal for busy summer days.
• 🥄 The bacon vinaigrette is pure magic. A little of the reserved bacon drippings mixed with olive oil and red wine vinegar creates a dressing you’ll want to drizzle on everything.
• ☀️ Perfect for entertaining. It looks gorgeous on a platter, comes together quickly, and always gets rave reviews at cookouts, picnics, and family dinners.
• 🧀 Easy to customize. Swap in burrata, use cherry tomatoes, try turkey bacon, or drizzle with balsamic instead of red wine vinegar—it still comes out delicious.

Adding crispy bacon to a classic Caprese salad is one of those “why didn’t I think of this sooner?” ideas.

This easy salad comes together in about 25 minutes, so it’s just as happy on a busy weeknight table as it is at a backyard BBQ or summer cookout. It’s also a fabulous excuse to use those gorgeous garden tomatoes while they’re at their juicy best.

And whether you’re Team Fresh Mozzarella or Team Creamy Burrata, this recipe is delicious with either one. If you’re planning ahead, you can cook the bacon and whisk together the dressing a day in advance, then simply assemble everything just before serving so the fresh tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella stay at their absolute best.

Basically, it’s summer on a plate…with bacon. Which, let’s be honest, is almost always an improvement.

If you haven’t yet discovered the wonder that is caprese, in its purest form it is a delectable conglomeration of tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and basil, and I do love it that way. And along the way I have turned caprese into an caprese appetizer, a caprese steak topping, a caprese chicken salad and a caprese pastry. 

But wouldn’t you think the first lightbulb that went off in my head would have been to add bacon to the mix?  Well, better late then never, here I am with bacon caprese salad.  

It’s a quick and easy combination of all the traditional elements – tomatoes, basil and cheese, with bacon scattered in and a drizzle of olive oil and red wine vinegar.

It’s the perfect side dish to whatever you might have going on as a main course, or a decadent salad all on its own. Especially with some hunks of fresh bread on the side. And super especially if you can score some heirloom tomatoes!

🍅 What are heirloom tomatoes?

Heirloom tomatoes are tomatoes that have been grown from a single, original seed and not cross-bred with other strains for tomato. Heirlooms are famous for their rich and pure flavors, and are usually juicier and a little bit sweeter, and come in all kinds of varieties.

Unlike the cross-bred tomatoes (usually the ones you find in the supermarket), heirlooms are a bit more delicate and yep, a bit more expensive – and usually only available in the summer – but when you are making something where tomatoes are the star of the show, go for it!

🥓 Ingredients you need

📝 Ingredient notes

• Bacon: We like thick cut bacon for this recipe, but any kind will work…even turkey bacon if that is your thing!
• Tomatoes: Heirloom tomatoes of any kind are our first choice, but any variety of tomatoes are fine – we have even used halved cherry tomatoes.
• Cheese: Mozzarella is the traditional choice – the fresh kind from the fancy cheese section of your supermarket. Burrata (which is a mixture of mozzarella and cream) is also AMAZING in this recipe.
• Vinegar: We like red wine vinegar for its gentler taste, but you can also use balsamic vinegar…cut it back to 1 tablespoon and taste to see if you want more.

💡 Ingredient substitution ideas

Missing something or want to swap in something different? Check out the links below to find more ingredient substitution ideas. 👇🏻

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.

👩🏻‍🍳 How to make this recipe

STEP 1: Cook some chopped bacon in a skillet over medium high heat until it’s nice and crisp.  Drain it on paper towels, leaving drippings in pan.

STEP 2: Arrange some sliced tomatoes on a platter or individual plates.  Tear some mozzarella cheese into bite sized pieces, tucking the pieces in and around the tomatoes.  Scatter the cooked bacon and basil leaves on top (if your basil leaves are large, give them a quick chop).

STEP 3: Pour the bacon drippings into a small jar and add some olive oil and vinegar. Close the lid tightly and shake. Drizzle the dressing over the salad, sprinkle with a little salt and pepper and serve it up!

I think I may have reached all new heights of caprese-ness.  What do you think??

🧐 Recipe FAQs

🍽️ What to serve with this recipe

This deluxe Caprese salad makes a perfect side dish for grilled steak or chicken, and it can also stand on its own as a main dish with some bread on the side. And a nice tall glass of strawberry lemonade!

💫 Variations on this recipe

🥑 Add sliced avocado for extra creamy goodness.

🍷 Finish with a drizzle of balsamic glaze for a sweet-tangy touch.

🍑 Add grilled peaches for a delicious summer twist.

🌰 Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts for a little crunch.

🥬 Use peppery arugula instead of basil for a different flavor.

🍗 Add grilled chicken to turn it into a complete meal.

❤️ Other Caprese recipes we love!

⭐️ We want to know what you think!

If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars) and any comments you have in the Comments section below!

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