Mozzarella and Tomato Caprese Appetizer Bites
Looking for an appetizer recipe that’s quick, easy and delicious to make? Wait until you try these mozzarella and tomato caprese appetizer bites.
I LOVE anything with mozzarella and tomatoes.
It’s so good right?
From caprese salads to bruschetta tomatoes, flatbread pizzas, and more, I could eat them all day every day.
Today, we are whipping up a batch of mozzarella and tomato caprese appetizer bites.
Have you ever made it before?
It’s an easy blend of a capreses salad with pesto served on crusty Italian bread.
And it’s so delicious.
I make this often as appetizers for brunches, dinners, cocktail parties, or anything in between.
They hold up well during an event. There’s never a crumb left when the party is over.
And you can even make this as a meal too!
Wait until you try these tomato and mozzarella caprese bites!
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What Kind of Tomatoes Are Best for Caprese?
For anything caprese, I’d use heirloom tomatoes, especially if you can get them while they are in season.
However, garden, roma, cherry or vine tomatoes work really well too.
The fresher the ingredients, the better this dish will be. But if you are making it when tomatoes are not in season, grab what looks freshest to get the best flavor.
Is Caprese a Healthy Snack?
In general, yes because the tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella each have lots of nutrition that is essential for good health.
Of course, how you prepare it will matter. It’s a healthier dish when served without extra carbohydrates like bread.
And if you have an intolerance to dairy, you might want to omit the fresh mozzarella or swap it out for something you can have.
What is the Difference Between Bruschetta and Caprese?
While they might seem similar, bruschetta and caprese are different because one has mozzarella and the other does not.
Bruschetta tomatoes is also typically served on crusty Italian or a french baguette and caprese is typically prepared as a salad.
However, you can totally add mozzarella to bruschetta.
And you can also add crusty bread to caprese, which is what we are doing today!
Mozzarella and Tomato Caprese Appetizer Bites
A caprese appetizer bite is a simple and delicious dish that is made with fresh mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and basil pesto on skinny Italian or French bread slices.
This fast, easy, and delicious recipe is simple to prepare and can be made in minutes.
I love using my homemade pesto recipe as the base and if it’s time to harvest tomatoes from my garden, even better!
But the best part?
You could even make this dish as a sandwich! Instead of cutting the slices, make it on fresh Italian or French bread.
And sometimes, I’ll even toss it into my pannini press. It is so yummy!
Ingredients
To make a caprese appetizer with basil pesto on sliced French bread, you will need the following ingredients:
- Basil pesto
- 1 Loaf French bread, sliced
- Fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
- Small garden tomatoes, sliced thin
- Cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
While I like to use a fresh basil pesto for this dish, feel free to sub it out for a different kind of pesto or store bought.
Directions to Make Mozzarella and Tomato Caprese Appetizer Bites
Pre-heat oven to 400.
Cut bread into thin slices. You could use French bread too. I usually grab whatever is available at the market.
You want it to be small enough though so when you slice it they are small disks. So skip the larger loaves of Italian bread. They don’t work as well unless you are making these as a sandwich.
Place sliced bread onto baking sheet and toast in the oven for 5 minutes. We are just crisping it up so it holds the mozzarella and tomatoes appetizer better.
While the bread is toasting in the oven, thinly slice the mozzarella and tomatoes.
Remove bread from oven and immediately prepare each bite.
Spread a thin layer of basil pesto onto each slice of French bread.
Top each slice with a slice of mozzarella cheese.
Then add a slice of tomato. If the tomato slices are too big for the bread, cut them in half.
Pop it back in the oven and bake for 10 minutes or until cheese is melty.
Sprinkle the chopped basil over the top.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
If you want to make this dish ahead of time, toast the bread and assemble the mozzarella and tomato caprese appetizer bites but don’t bake them until you are ready to serve.
Enjoy!
Mozzarella and Tomato Caprese Appetizer Bites
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400.
- Cut bread into thin slices.
- Place sliced bread onto baking sheet and toast in the oven for 5 minutes.
- While the bread is toasting in the oven, thinly slice the mozzarella and tomatoes.
- Remove bread from oven and immediately prepare each bite.
- Spread a thin layer of basil pesto onto each slice of French bread.
- Then add a slice of tomato.
- Top each slice with a slice of mozzarella cheese
- Pop it back in the oven and bake for 10 minutes or until cheese is melty.
- Sprinkle the chopped basil over the top.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
More Easy Appetizers for a Party
What is your easy appetizer to serve at a party? I would love to know more in the comments below.
Here are some more of my favorites.
- Proscuitto and Brie Appetizer Bites
- Easy Cucumber Sandwiches with Cream Cheese
- Hot Artichoke and Spinach Dip Recipe
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Quick and Easy Dishes to Try
Since we moved, I’m all about cooking in my new kitchen! The former homeowners designed a working kitchen and let me tell you, we’ve been working it here.
We’ve got three ovens and 6 burners so it’s been a lot of fun making dishes for friends and family.
Here’s what I’ve been cooking up lately!
- Meatballs in the Oven with Italian Gravy
- Corn Chowder Easy Recipe
- Chicken Soup Recipe Homemade
- Healthy Instantpot Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe
- Creamy Pumpkin Soup Recipe
- The Best Coffee Cake Recipe
- Apple Crisp Easy Recipe
- Pineapple Dump Cake Recipe
- Quick and Easy Spinach Tortellini Soup Recipe
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