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Home » Recipes » Salad Recipes

Easy Caprese Salad with Cherry Tomatoes

Modified: Apr 8, 2022 by Kori Butler · Published: Jul 17, 2020

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Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad is so tasty - and easy! Made with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and fresh basil, chopped caprese salad is the perfect Summer salad that you can make in 8 minutes or less! This is also a low carb and keto salad so everyone can enjoy!

Cherry tomato caprese salad in a clear bowl with mozzarella pearls and basil.

You'll love this Easy Caprese Salad

"This is one of my favorite salads. It reminds me of our trip to Italy - in which we ate A LOT of it. It's just so fresh and delicious - I can't get enough of it. I came up with this idea when my garden started producing a ton of cherry tomatoes one year." 🙂 -Kori

Got cherry tomatoes? Be sure to make this delicious Roasted Cherry Tomato Soup (It's so easy!) or this Tomato and Mozzarella Caprese Frittata. If you love Caprese salads be sure to make this Grilled Eggplant Caprese Salad!

Super Easy

Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad can be made in 8 minutes or less with just a few simple ingredients! Fresh cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil are tossed with a tangy vinegar dressing. Oh Yum.

Perfect Year-Round

Caprese salad with cherry tomatoes is the perfect summer salad for your next potluck, backyard bbq, or cookout! Bonus: it can easily be doubled or tripled if you are serving large crowds!

Healthy Salad

Chopped caprese salad is a low-carb & keto salad! 

Full nutritional information is located at the bottom of the recipe card but here are the most important if you're following a low-carb or keto diet:

13.5g fat | 2.3g net carbs | 6.9g protein

Everything you'll need for a Tomato Caprese Salad

Here's what you'll need to make this cherry tomato salad:

Cherry Tomato and Mozzarella Salad Ingredients

  • Cherry Tomatoes - I used cherry tomatoes because they are so convenient. You can serve them whole or even halve them. I often do both to take advantage of the cherry tomato juices.
  • Mozzarella Pearls - the whole milk variety of mozzarella will give this salad the best flavor. I used mozzarella balls because they are SUPER easy - no cubing needed!
  • Fresh Basil - fresh is best! Pick the small leaves, and you don't have to tear or slice the leaves.
  • Olive Oil
  • Vinegar - use balsamic vinegar or white wine vinegar - or a combination of the two.
  • Garlic
  • Kosher Salt or Sea Salt
  • Ground Black Pepper

For exact ingredient quantities, please see the recipe card below!

Tools to Make an Easy Caprese Salad

  • Cutting board
  • Chef knife
  • Medium-sized mixing bowl
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons

How to Make a Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad

Add

In a medium-sized bowl add cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, oil, vinegar, garlic, basil, salt, and pepper.

Adding all the salad ingredients to a large clear salad bowl.

Toss

Toss everything together until combined and well-coated with dressing.

Tossing all the salad ingredients in a clear bowl.

Serve

Adjust flavors as needed. Serve and enjoy!

Taking a spoonful of caprese salad.

How to Serve Tomato Basil Mozzarella Salad

  • Caprese salad makes a great side salad to so many dishes!
  • It is the perfect salad to take for a cookout or picnic because it keeps and travels well.
  • Want to go Italian? Serve this salad with one of these fantastic main dish Italian recipes Italian Crock Pot Beef Roast, Stuffed Italian Meatloaf, or Italian Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs!

Easy Caprese Salad Tips

  • I like to use the tiny small basil leaves for cherry tomato Caprese salad because you can just toss them in. If you don't have small leaves available no worries! Just tear the basil or chiffonade (fastest way) the leaves. Here's a video on how to chiffonade basil.
  • Is your salad too tangy? Add a little sugar (or substitute). Is it too sweet? Add a little white wine or regular vinegar.
  • If you aren't a balsamic vinegar fan, use white wine vinegar instead. Balsamic vinegar is a sweeter vinegar so it goes well with the tang of the tomatoes. You can also use half balsamic vinegar and half white wine vinegar if you want. If you use white wine vinegar only, you may want to add a 1/2 or 1 tsp of sweetener to offset the tang. Just make the salad with the vinegar you like, then do a taste test. Adjust seasoning from there!
  • If you don't have cherry tomatoes: slice Roma tomatoes and whole mozzarella, and use full-sized basil leaves. Alternate the tomatoes, mozzarella slices, and basil on a platter. Drizzle the rest of the ingredients over the salad. So good!

Be sure to pin me to Pinterest for later! 🙂

Pinterest pin with a clear glass bowl full of cherry tomato caprese salad.Pin

Easy Caprese Salad FAQs

Can this Caprese Salad be made ahead?

You can prep this salad up to 24 hours in advance. Add all ingredients to a bowl, except the basil. Stir, cover, and keep in the refrigerator until about 1 hour before you plan on serving it. Then add the basil.

Basil is best served when fresh, and once you tear it or chiffonade, it will become bruised. Voila! One delicious Caprese salad!

Can I make caprese salad without balsamic vinegar?

Yes, you can make caprese salad without balsamic vinegar. Whether you don't like balsamic vinegar, or you are watching your sugar content, you can substitute a white wine vinegar or even red wine vinegar.

While balsamic vinegar is traditionally used, I use white wine vinegar too. Sometimes I even mix the two. I have, on occasion, picked up a very sweet balsamic vinegar. It's okay to use half white wine vinegar and half balsamic.

What is the best vinegar to use in caprese salad?

The classic way is to serve caprese salad with balsamic vinegar or white wine vinegar. Some balsamic vinegar is very sweet, so you can blend two types together if you'd prefer (or use less).

How long will caprese salad last in the fridge?

Once the dressing is added, this salad is best when eaten within 1 to 2 days.

Can I make caprese salad without basil?

Yes and no. Technically it isn't going to be a true Caprese salad without basil, but as with anything, it is totally a personal preference!

Is caprese salad healthy?

Yes, Caprese salad is healthy. Tomatoes are very healthy and provide almost 30% of your day's vitamin C and 20% of vitamin A. The mozzarella provides calcium, and the olive oil is a healthy fat.

This recipe fits well into the low carb and ketogenic diets because it has 13.5 g fat, 6.9 g protein, and only 2.7 g net carbs.

There is no added sugar in this recipe, and all ingredients are gluten-free. If you are worried about the sugar content in balsamic vinegar, use white wine vinegar. If you want to offset the tang of the vinegar and tomatoes, use 1/2 to 1 tsp of sugar-free sweetener.

How can I lower the fat in this salad?

You can use a lower fat mozzarella and cut into cubes if it doesn't come in the pearl size. You can also use less olive oil than the recipe calls for.

How many carbs in cherry tomatoes?

There are 6 grams of carbs in cherry tomatoes for every 1 cup. Each cup also has 2 grams of net fiber, resulting in 4 net carbs.

Can I eat tomatoes on keto?

Yes, absolutely. You can eat tomatoes on keto. Each cup has only 4 net carbs. It is important to eat nutritious vegetables when following a keto diet. For more information on what you can eat on keto please see our Printable Keto Food List PDF

How many calories in caprese salad?

There are 157 calories per serving, this salad serves 8 people, and each serving is approximately 1/2 to 2/3 a cup.

Can I ask you a favor?

If you tried this recipe, let me know! I'd love for you to come back and give the recipe a 5 star rating and leave a review in the comments! 🙂 Let's stay connected, so please follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest! Subscribe to my newsletter to get healthy fresh recipe ideas every week!

📖 The recipe.

Square image of cherry tomato caprese salad in a clear bowl. Red tomatoes, green basil, and white mozzarella pearls

Caprese Cherry Tomato and Mozzarella Salad

This salad is so tasty - and easy! Made with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and fresh basil chopped caprese salad is the perfect Summer salad that you can make in no time!
4.73 from 76 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Author Kori Butler
Prep Time 8 minutes mins
Total Time 8 minutes mins
Course Salad Recipes
Cuisine Italian
Servings 8 servings
Calories 157 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups cherry tomatoes (halved)
  • 8 ounces whole-milk mozzarella pearls (about 1½ cups)
  • ½ cup fresh basil leaves (tear or slice larger leaves)
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon vinegar (use balsamic vinegar or white wine vinegar - or a combination of the two)
  • 1 garlic clove (minced)
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper

Instructions
 

  • In a medium-sized bowl add cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, basil, olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper.
  • Stir until combined. Refrigerate up to 1 or 2 hours before serving.
  • Adjust seasoning to your taste.

Video

Kori's Tips

  • Don't miss all of our helpful hints, substitution ideas, cooking tips, and other delicious recipes that can be found in our post. Check it out!
  • VARIATIONS: Use balsamic vinegar or white wine vinegar; substitute cubed part-skim mozzarella for the whole milk variety.
  • TOP TIPS: For best flavor use whole milk mozzarella and fresh basil. Time-saving tip: leave half (or more) of the cherry tomatoes whole, use baby basil leaves so you don't have to tear or cut them, use mozzarella pearls so you don't have to cut up any cheese.
  • Salad too tangy? Add a little sugar (or substitute).
  • Salad too sweet? Add a little white wine or regular vinegar.
  • Nutrition

    Serving: 1/8 recipe (approx 1/2 to 2/3 cup)Calories: 157kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 6.9gFat: 13.5gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 258mgFiber: 0.7gSugar: 1.8g
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Mention @seekinggoodeatsofficial or tag #seekinggoodeats! Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Suzie

      September 30, 2022 at 10:22 pm

      This was easy to make and so good; everyone loved it!

      Reply
      • Kori

        October 07, 2022 at 7:57 am

        Great, thank you for trying it out! Glad that everyone loved it 🙂

        Reply
    2. Heather

      August 24, 2022 at 8:56 pm

      This was delicious! I didn't actually measure anything, either, and the flavors melded together perfectly. I will definitely make it again!

      Reply
      • Kori

        August 30, 2022 at 8:32 am

        Thank you for trying out the recipe! I love that you just tossed it all in, and voila! Delicious salad! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Charlene Seger

      October 10, 2021 at 8:01 pm

      This was a great recipe! I used yellow cherry tomatoes
      from my surplus and didn't put all the cheese in, it seemed to be too much. Added it in with the little bit of leftovers. I'll make this again!

      Reply
      • Kori

        October 12, 2021 at 10:24 am

        Great! Thank you!! So glad you loved the salad and were able to use up some surplus cherry tomatoes. That's EXACTLY how I came up with the recipe. More cherry tomatoes than I knew what to do with. lol 🙂

        Reply
    4.73 from 76 votes (76 ratings without comment)

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    Hey there, I'm Kori.

    I’m a culinary school trained chef specializing in holistic nutrition and wellness. I’ve always been a major foodie, and as I’ve aged, the full impact of my love of food—and not-necessarily-healthy eating habits—caught up to me. In an effort to make positive changes in my life (and hopefully yours, too), I created this website where I could share great-tasting, craveable, healthy recipes.

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