20 Caprese Salad Recipes to Serve All Summer Long
Come summer, we want to dive face-first into a fresh caprese salad as often as humanly possible. While we have nothing against the timelessly delicious combo of tomato, mozzarella cheese and basil, we urge you to give one of these unconventional caprese salad recipes a try this year. These twists feature unique ingredients that bring the O.G. to a whole new level.
21 Picnic-Perfect Pasta Salad Recipes to Enjoy All Summer Long
1. Tomato-Peach Caprese Skewers
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, no cook
Since you're already planning to pile pounds of farmers market peaches into your tote bag, put them to good use with this simple salad. The balsamic glaze drizzle is optional...but we wouldn't skip it.
2. Corn Fritter Caprese with Peaches and Tomatoes
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly
This savory "salad" is as summery as it gets, considering peaches, tomatoes and corn make an appearance. Once you've mixed the simple corn fritter batter, you're more than halfway there.
3. Grilled Caprese Skewers with Halloumi and Sourdough
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, <10 ingredients
Any salad that features bread as a main ingredient is one we're eager to devour. The skewer components (including tangy halloumi in place of mozz) are brushed with garlic-infused olive oil before hitting the grill.
4. Joanna Gaines’s Peach Caprese Salad
Amy Neunsinger/Magnolia Table
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
Our favorite shiplap expert also whips up a damn good appetizer. The key here is drizzling all the salad's components in white balsamic vinaigrette. (Go ahead and add some crushed red pepper flakes while you're at it.)
5. Caprese Salad with Grilled Zucchini
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
So much summer produce, so little time. Plate the usual caprese suspects atop grilled slabs of zucchini (eggplant or yellow summer squash would work too).
6. Breakfast Caprese with Soft-Boiled Eggs
Healthyish
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, high protein, vegetarian
Whether you serve it atop crusty bread or a mound of dressed greens, this protein-packed salad won't disappoint. Runny yolks make everything better, no?
7. Caprese Pasta Salad
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, make ahead
Now *that's* our kind of salad. Requiring only nine ingredients, this gem will be a breeze to chill and carry to any picnic, barbecue or cookout on your calendar.
8. Caprese Garlic Bread
The Mom 100
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, vegetarian
Buttery, herby and oh so garlicky, this is one starter that even picky kids can get behind. Finish it with all the balsamic glaze and fresh basil your heart desires.
9. Balsamic Chicken Caprese Salad
Averie Cooks
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
A picnic table showstopper if we've ever seen one. Feel free to serve all the ingredients over pasta or rice if you're not a fan of romaine lettuce.
10. Melon Caprese Skewers
What’s Gaby Cooking
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
Aren't these little guys by Coterie member Gaby Dalkin the cutest? Cantaloupe, watermelon and honeydew are revelatory as is at this time of year, but they'll be even tastier drenched in basil vinaigrette.
11. Avocado Strawberry Caprese Salad
Two Peas and Their Pod
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Vibrant summer strawberries and buttery avocado make upgrading the classic a cinch. Let blueberries, blackberries and raspberries in on the fun too, if you feel so inclined.
12. Panzanella-Style Caprese Asparagus Salad
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
This take on caprese salad is ideal for late spring or early summer, when asparagus is still in season. In addition to asparagus and tomato, the salad also boasts avocado, kalamata olives and microgreens.
13. Pesto Caprese Quinoa Salad
What's Gaby Cooking
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
Tossed in basil vinaigrette, the quinoa base takes on a savory, pesto-like flavor. Sub burrata for bocconcini for an extra creamy consistency.
14. Spicy Corn and Peaches with Burrata
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Every friend group and family has at least one tomato hater. They'll be happy to get in on this tomato-free twist on caprese, which still calls for plenty of mozz and fresh basil.
15. Tropical Summer Caprese Salad
Floating Kitchen
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, make ahead
Sweet-tart pineapple and juicy kiwi hold down the fort for tomatoes, while a cayenne-kissed dressing ups the heat. Hazelnuts also offer much-welcomed crunch to the dish.
16. Honey and Oregano Broiled Feta Caprese
Salt & Wind
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
If briny feta cheese is more your style than mild mozz, you'll adore this Mediterranean-inspired spin on caprese. Might we suggest breaking up all the ingredients and tossing them in pasta, à la TikTok's viral recipe?
17. Cantaloupe and Mozzarella Caprese Salad
Foodie Crush
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, no cook
A touch of honey rounds out the salty, vinegary notes of this appetizer. The recipe is no cook, but feel free to crisp up the prosciutto in a skillet before plating if you're feeling ambitious.
18. Avocado Caprese Pasta with Grilled Broccoli Rabe
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
Complete with homemade basil-arugula pesto. The recipe calls for using roasted cashews in the sauce, but you can substitute almonds, pistachios or just about any nut in your pantry.
19. Burrata Salad with Tomato & Nectarine
Feasting at Home
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegetarian, no cook
Let this be the year that you stop overlooking nectarines in favor of peaches. Here, they're paired with roasted beets, red onions, heirloom tomatoes, burrata cheese and fresh basil.
20. Mini Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
I Am A Food Blog
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
When in doubt, sandwich all the classic caprese ingredients between two slices of bread, grill it in butter and call it a day. Slather both sides with marinara or pesto for a flavor boost.
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Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.
