Hot Caprese Dip Recipe with Mozzarella

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If you love a classic caprese salad, you are going to love this Hot Caprese Dip! This easy recipe requires just five ingredients and features gooey cheese, juicy tomatoes, your favorite pesto and a balsamic glaze drizzle. This is the ultimate party dip for your next gathering or for a special snack!

I don’t know what party or celebration you have coming up next, but you have to give this amazing caprese cheese dip a try! It is so good and was a bit hit in my house. It would be a fabulous addition to any holiday party, especially as a 4th of July, Thanksgiving or Christmas appetizer.

If you are hosting a game day celebration, birthday gathering, or dinner party this is a great choice! Nothing sounds better to me than this dip with a little wine and conversation any time of year.

Who doesn’t love a good cheesy dip? While I appreciate the flexibility of cold dips like my dill pickle dip recipe or cream cheese olive dip, some of my favorites are hot dips. If you love baked dips too, be sure to try my cream cheese and bacon dip and cheesy spinach and bacon dip. They are so delicious!

Caprese Dip Recipe Ingredients

Only five ingredients are required to make this easy dip recipe.

• cream cheese: This recipe was only tested with the full fat variety.
• cherry tomatoes/grape tomatoes: If you don’t have these available, diced tomatoes, like a roma tomato, should be a good substitute.
• basil pesto sauce: You can make homemade pesto or use refrigerated pesto or jar pesto.
• mozzarella cheese: Part-skim, low moisture mozzarella in a block is preferred. While pre-shredded is convenient, it doesn’t melt as well.
• balsamic glaze: You can make your own balsamic glaze with balsamic vinegar or you can keep it simple and buy it. I used the Good and Gather Balsamic Glaze from Target and it was delicious!
• fresh basil leaves: Optional for garnish or for making a flavorful pesto.

I used Classico Traditional Basil Pesto for convenience because we always have that on hand for meatball subs and as a spread for sandwiches. Nothing wrong with store-bought pesto. You can use whatever pesto you like!

How to Make Hot Caprese Dip

This caprese dip recipe comes together in just a few easy steps. Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (177°C). Slice your cherry tomatoes in half. Set aside.

Grab your favorite pie plate or serving dish and spread your softened cream cheese evenly over the bottom. I recommend an offset spatula if you have one available or the back of a spoon.

Add the pesto sauce on the top of your cream cheese in an even layer.

Next add a layer of your sliced cherry tomatoes over the top.

This doesn’t have to be exact. If you really love tomatoes you can pack them in a little tighter, too.

Now it is time to add your shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.

That’s it! Place it in the oven and bake for approximately 20 to 25 minutes. The cheese should be fully melted and the edges will start to get golden brown.

You can add additional tomatoes and fresh chopped basil or even oregano as garnish.

To really elevate this dip to new heights, drizzle balsamic glaze over the top. A little goes a long way but it really helps to capture that true caprese salad flavor. Next time I might try some toasted pine nuts or sliced green onion on the top. They aren’t part of a traditional caprese salad but I think they’d be a tasty addition.

What to Serve with Caprese Dip

There are many dipping options for this caprese salad dip recipe. I do like slices of bread or crackers best. Some of my favorites include:

• sliced baguette (toasted or grilled)
• focaccia (cut into strips)
• ciabatta bread (toasted or grilled)
• pita chips
• artisan crackers
• bagel chips
• mozzarella sticks (low carb, double the cheese option)
• veggies like carrot sticks or bell pepper strips
• tortilla chips

If you like a good cheese pull the mozzarella cheese does not disappoint! This party dip is pretty thick with the mozzarella cheese so you’ll want something sturdy to dip. Alternatively you can offer guests a spoon and spreader to dig in and easily spread over a cracker or pita chip.

This baked carprese dip creates the most gooey cheese! It is best served warm because the melted cheese will become more firm. You can just scoop out the creamy dip underneath as well.

You can skip the mozzarella cheese if you need a party dip that will sit out for a long period of time or you’d rather serve it as a cold caprese dip! I love it both ways. It’s pretty hard to resist those caprese flavors. It just might be the best cheese dip recipe out there. You be the judge and let me know what you think!

Be sure to store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. It should last 3-5 days.

More Party Foods

Looking for more hot finger foods for your next party besides a warm caprese dip? (Who doesn’t love more easy appetizer ideas?) Here are a few suggestions!