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Why we love this recipe
These cute little caprese bites just might be my favorite appetizer recipe (don’t tell my other appetizer recipes!), and here’s why.
They feature all the scrumptious flavors of a Caprese Salad in one delicious bite. Creamy mozzarella, sweet tomatoes and delicious basil, with a touch of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
They take about 15 minutes to put together (including the time you take to sneak a few bites of the mozzarella, for, you know, quality control purposes!).
They are PERFECTION during the summer, but since cherry tomatoes mysteriously hold their flavor all year round, you can break them out in February too. Basil might be tricky to find then, but shake some dried basil on them instead and that’s almost as good.
This is a great recipe to make with the kiddos, by the way. Your little kitchen helpers will be so happy to assemble these Caprese nibbles.
What is a Caprese Salad?
Caprese salad (otherwise known as Heaven On A Plate) is made up of sliced tomatoes, sliced mozzarella cheese and chopped basil, drizzled with olive oil and a little balsamic vinegar, sometimes sprinkled with a little sea salt.
This irresistible combo of summer flavors has let me down many a caprese road – looking at YOU, Bacon Caprese Salad.
But I think these caprese salad skewers are my very fave! Let’s make ’em!
Ingredients you need
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Tomatoes: Any tomato that will fit on a toothpick will work! Cherry tomatoes of all colors, grape tomatoes and baby heirloom tomatoes are all perfect.
- Mozzarella Cheese: We love getting the little mozzarella balls for this recipe (look in the specialty cheese section of your supermarket) but you can also get a regular piece of mozzarella – the fresher the better! – and cut it into cubes.
- Basil: If you don’t have it growing in your garden, look for it in the produce section of your supermarket. The kind that still has the roots attached will keep best.
- Balsamic Vinegar: This amazing vinegar is a dark, concentrated, slightly sweet and syrupy vinegar made from grape juice. It’s heavenly for salad dressings, drizzled over steak…and for these skewers to sit in! If you want a gentler taste, you can also skip the oil and vinegar.
And! Technically these aren’t an ingredient, but I also can’t resist showing you the toothpicks I used for some of these.
It’s actually all about that toothpick holder. I got it from my bestie, and I am obsessed with it. (Food blogger life!) Anyway, here goes with how to make ’em.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.
How to make this recipe
STEP 1: Cut 24 cherry tomatoes in half. You can use any kind of cherry tomato, as long as it is bite-sized.
STEP 2: Use some pretty ornamental toothpicks (regular ones also work just fine!) to assemble the caprese skewers as follows: basil leaf, tomato half, mozzarella cube, other tomato half. Repeat until you have made 24 of the best caprese skewers in the land.
STEP 3: Drizzle a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar onto a platter. Stand or lay the caprese skewers in the oil and vinegar, sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve.
STEP 4: Realize in 5 minutes that all the caprese salad skewers have been gobbled up, and repeat from step one! It’s one of the best ways I know to use up all that glorious summer basil.
Equipment we used for this recipe
These are some of my favorite kitchen tools! These are Amazon affiliate links, which means I get a little something if you buy through my links at no extra cost to you. (Which helps pay for all that bacon I keep buying! 😄) And I only share things I use and love. I’m so grateful for your support!
- Bamboo Toothpicks: Perfect for these caprese skewers, a platter of antipasto skewers, or anything else that needs a festive toothpick!
- Measuring Cup: We love these angled cups that show the measurements on both the inside and outside of the cup.
- Cutting Board: These sturdy, dishwasher-safe boards come in all kinds of sizes!
Recipe FAQs
This amazing vinegar is a dark, concentrated, slightly sweet and syrupy vinegar made from grape juice. It’s heavenly for salad dressings, drizzled over steak…and for these skewers to sit in!
Well, I have to state for the record that balsamic vinegar is the very best, but you can swap in red wine vinegar if you need to. You can also leave out the oil and vinegar completely, especially if you are making a plate of these caprese bites for the kiddos.
Yes! Except for the oil and vinegar – do that part at the last minute so things don’t get soggy.
Put a flat side of the tomato half on the bottom (check out the picture above) and they will stand up obediently!
Leave your question (or comment or suggestion) in the Comments box below the recipe and I will answer pronto!
The Southern husband and I have a tradition of going out to lunch on Fridays, which always leaves us not hungry enough for a full Friday night dinner, but wanting a little nibble. So I am proud to say I have happily served these up for dinner with nothing else but a glass of wine!
Other appetizer recipes we love!
We want to hear 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 your thoughts in the Comments section below the recipe.
Caprese Salad Skewers
This super simple recipe for caprese salad skewers turns everyone’s favorite Italian salad into an appetizer! Sweet tomatoes, cheery basil and creamy mozzarella, all in one delicious bite.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 24
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 24 cherry tomatoes
- 24 basil leaves
- ½ pound mozzarella cheese, cut into 24 cubes (or use small mozzarella balls)
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1/8 cup balsamic vinegar
- Sea salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Cut the cherry tomatoes in half.
- Use toothpicks to assemble the caprese skewers as follows: basil leaf, tomato half, mozzarella cube, other tomato half. Repeat until you have made 24 of the best caprese skewers in the land.
- Drizzle the olive oil and vinegar onto a platter. Stand or lay the caprese skewers in the oil and vinegar, sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve.
- Realize in 5 minutes that all the caprese salad skewers have been gobbled up and repeat from step one!
Notes
- Tomatoes: Any tomato that will fit on a toothpick will work! Cherry tomatoes of all colors, grape tomatoes and baby heirloom tomatoes are all perfect.
- Mozzarella Cheese: We love getting the little mozzarella balls for this recipe (look in the specialty cheese section of your supermarket) but you can also get a regular piece of mozzarella – the fresher the better! – and cut it into cubes.
- Basil: If you don’t have it growing in your garden, look for it in the produce section of your supermarket. The kind that still has the roots attached will keep best.
- Balsamic Vinegar: This amazing vinegar is a dark, concentrated, slightly sweet and syrupy vinegar made from grape juice. It’s heavenly for salad dressings, drizzled over steak…and for these skewers to sit in! If you want a gentler taste, you can also skip the oil and vinegar.
Cassidy says
Such a simple yet pretty appetizer! Love this for parties!
And it is party season! :)