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!
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.
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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
Chopped Caprese Salad Recipe
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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
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
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
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.
Mmm….caprese! If this is what you ate in Italiy, I think Italy and I would get along just fine. :)
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My favorite. Here is a suggestion I take a inexpensive bottle of balsamic vinegar and pour I the whole bottle in a saucepan and cook to reduce by half when cool pour back in to the bottle and use that on my career salad give a whole new taste to the salad. I keep the remaining in the fridge for later use.
These are the absolute best! One of my favorites, just made them Sunday????
I add some chopped garlic and a little sea salt
How long will it stay good in the fridge for?
I’ve been making these for years! Great simple recipe, thanks for putting this up! I’m eating one right now lol
Super yummy! Thanks for the recipe!
One of my favorites – ever!!! Love your photos!
Thanks mom :)