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!

Herb marinated mozzarella in white bowl with spoon.

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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.

Recipe Card

Herb Marinated Mozzarella Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Prep: 5

Chill Time: 1

Total: 1 5

Servings:

Author: Becky Hardin

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Marinated Mozzarella Balls are the perfect appetizer for cocktail hour, holiday parties, or any time you need something simple. This delicious and easy recipe is sure to be a crowd pleaser!

Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.

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.

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.

Calories: 290kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 13gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 502mgPotassium: 46mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 402IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 287mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

How to Make Herb Marinated Mozzarella Balls Step by Step

Ingredients to make herb marinated mozzarella: a measuring cup of olive oil, a bowl of herbs, a bowl with garlic, salt, and chili flakes, and a bowl of mozzarella.

Gather your ingredients.

Bowl of herb and olive oil seasoning and a bowl of mozzarella balls and slices.

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.

Pouring the seasoned olive oil over the mozzarella balls.

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.

Herb marinated mozzarella in white bowl with baguette slices on a wooden cutting board.

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!