30 Irresistible Mozzarella Recipes for Cheesy Appetizers, Dinners, and Comfort Food

Fresh mozzarella is one of the most versatile cheeses, known for its mild, creamy flavor and delightful meltability. While it's a staple on pizzas and in pasta dishes, it shines in so many other recipes—from fresh salads and appetizers to baked mains and snacks. Whether you're using fresh mozzarella balls (like bocconcini or burrata) or slices, these recipes highlight its fresh taste and texture. Here are over 30 expanded recipes to inspire your next meal!

1. Classic Caprese Salad

A timeless Italian salad featuring layers of fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, and basil, drizzled with olive oil and balsamic.

Ingredients:

• 4 large ripe tomatoes, sliced
• 1 pound fresh mozzarella, sliced
• Fresh basil leaves
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Balsamic glaze or vinegar
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Arrange alternating slices of tomato and mozzarella on a platter.
2. Tuck fresh basil leaves between the slices.
3. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Serve immediately for the freshest taste.

2. Margherita Pizza

The classic pizza topped with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and basil—simple yet incredibly flavorful.

Ingredients:

• 1 pizza dough
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 8 oz fresh mozzarella, sliced
• Fresh basil leaves
• Olive oil
• Salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 475°F (245°C).
2. Roll out dough and spread tomato sauce.
3. Top with mozzarella slices.
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes until crust is golden.
5. Add fresh basil and drizzle olive oil before serving.

3. Fresh Mozzarella Bruschetta

Toasted bread topped with a fresh tomato mixture and melted mozzarella.

Ingredients:

• Baguette slices
• Fresh tomatoes, diced
• Fresh mozzarella, diced or sliced
• Garlic, basil, olive oil
• Balsamic vinegar

Instructions:

1. Toast baguette slices with olive oil.
2. Mix diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oil.
3. Top toast with tomato mixture and mozzarella.
4. Broil until cheese melts.
5. Drizzle with balsamic.

4. Prosciutto and Mozzarella Skewers

Easy no-cook appetizer with prosciutto-wrapped mozzarella, often with melon or tomatoes.

Ingredients:

• Fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini)
• Prosciutto slices
• Melon cubes or cherry tomatoes
• Basil leaves
• Balsamic glaze

Instructions:

1. Wrap mozzarella with prosciutto or alternate on skewers.
2. Add melon or tomato and basil.
3. Thread onto skewers.
4. Drizzle with balsamic glaze.
5. Chill until serving.

5. Fried Fresh Mozzarella Bites

Crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside—perfect party appetizer.

Ingredients:

• Fresh mozzarella balls
• Flour, eggs, breadcrumbs
• Oil for frying
• Marinara sauce for dipping

Instructions:

1. Cut mozzarella into bite-sized pieces.
2. Dredge in flour, egg, then breadcrumbs.
3. Fry in hot oil until golden.
4. Drain on paper towels.
5. Serve with warm marinara.

6. Panzanella Salad with Fresh Mozzarella

Italian bread salad upgraded with creamy mozzarella.

Ingredients:

• Stale bread cubes
• Tomatoes, cucumbers, onions
• Fresh mozzarella, torn
• Basil, olive oil, vinegar

Instructions:

1. Toast bread cubes.
2. Mix with chopped veggies.
3. Add torn mozzarella and basil.
4. Dress with oil and vinegar.
5. Let sit to absorb flavors.

7. Fresh Mozzarella Pasta Dish

Simple pasta with cherry tomatoes, basil, and creamy fresh mozzarella or burrata.

Ingredients:

• Pasta of choice
• Cherry tomatoes
• Fresh mozzarella or burrata
• Garlic, olive oil, basil
• Parmesan (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta al dente.
2. Sauté garlic and tomatoes in oil until bursting.
3. Toss with hot pasta.
4. Add torn mozzarella and basil.
5. Top with cheese and serve warm.

8. Burrata Salad

Creamy burrata (a type of fresh mozzarella) served with ripe tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of olive oil for a luxurious salad.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 burrata balls
• Ripe heirloom tomatoes, sliced
• Fresh basil leaves
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Balsamic glaze
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Place burrata on a platter.
2. Arrange tomato slices around it.
3. Tear basil leaves over the top.
4. Drizzle generously with olive oil and balsamic glaze.
5. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Serve with crusty bread to scoop up the creamy center.

9. Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

Juicy meatballs with a surprise gooey fresh mozzarella center, baked or simmered in sauce.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• Garlic, parsley, parmesan
• Fresh mozzarella cubes
• Marinara sauce

Instructions:

1. Mix beef, breadcrumbs, egg, seasonings.
2. Form meatballs around mozzarella cubes.
3. Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes or simmer in sauce.
4. Serve with pasta or as appetizers.

10. Eggplant Parmesan with Fresh Mozzarella

Breaded eggplant slices layered with marinara and topped with fresh mozzarella for a melty classic.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggplants, sliced
• Breadcrumbs, eggs for breading
• Marinara sauce
• Fresh mozzarella, sliced
• Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

1. Bread and fry or bake eggplant slices.
2. Layer in dish with sauce and cheeses.
3. Top with fresh mozzarella.
4. Bake at 375°F until bubbly.

11. Caprese Stuffed Chicken

Chicken breasts stuffed with tomato, basil, and fresh mozzarella, baked to perfection.

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken breasts
• Tomatoes, sliced
• Fresh mozzarella, sliced
• Basil leaves
• Balsamic glaze
• Olive oil, salt, pepper

Instructions:

1. Cut pockets in chicken breasts.
2. Stuff with tomato, mozzarella, basil.
3. Season and sear, then bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes.
4. Drizzle with balsamic.

12. Fresh Mozzarella Grilled Cheese

Elevated grilled cheese with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil for a caprese twist.

Ingredients:

• Sourdough bread slices
• Fresh mozzarella, sliced
• Tomatoes, sliced
• Basil leaves
• Butter

Instructions:

1. Layer mozzarella, tomato, basil on bread.
2. Butter outside of sandwich.
3. Grill until golden and cheese melts.

13. Peach and Arugula Mozzarella Salad

Summery salad with juicy peaches, peppery arugula, and creamy fresh mozzarella.

Ingredients:

• Arugula
• Ripe peaches, sliced
• Fresh mozzarella, torn
• Balsamic vinaigrette
• Toasted nuts (optional)

Instructions:

1. Toss arugula with vinaigrette.
2. Top with peach slices and mozzarella.
3. Add nuts for crunch.
4. Serve fresh.

14. Baked Mozzarella Chicken

Tender chicken topped with marinara and melted fresh mozzarella.

Ingredients:

• Chicken breasts
• Marinara sauce
• Fresh mozzarella, sliced
• Italian seasoning
• Parmesan

Instructions:

1. Season and bake chicken.
2. Top with sauce and mozzarella.
3. Bake until cheese is bubbly.

15. Caprese Skewers

Bite-sized appetizers with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and basil on skewers.

Ingredients:

• Cherry tomatoes
• Fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegine)
• Fresh basil leaves
• Olive oil
• Balsamic glaze

Instructions:

1. Thread tomato, folded basil, mozzarella on toothpicks.
2. Repeat.
3. Drizzle with oil and balsamic.
4. Serve chilled.

16. Lasagna with Fresh Mozzarella

Classic lasagna layered with rich sauce, noodles, ricotta, and topped with fresh mozzarella for extra creaminess.

Ingredients:

• Lasagna noodles
• Meat sauce or marinara
• Ricotta cheese
• Fresh mozzarella, sliced
• Parmesan

Instructions:

1. Layer noodles, sauce, ricotta.
2. Repeat layers.
3. Top with fresh mozzarella slices.
4. Bake covered, then uncovered until golden.

17. Fresh Mozzarella Panini

Pressed sandwich with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, pesto, and prosciutto.

Ingredients:

• Ciabatta bread
• Fresh mozzarella, sliced
• Tomatoes
• Pesto
• Prosciutto (optional)

Instructions:

1. Layer ingredients on bread.
2. Brush with oil.
3. Press in panini maker until golden and melted.

18. Marinated Fresh Mozzarella Balls

Mozzarella pearls marinated in olive oil, herbs, garlic, and red pepper flakes.

Ingredients:

• Fresh mozzarella balls
• Olive oil
• Garlic, basil, oregano
• Red pepper flakes
• Salt

Instructions:

1. Mix oil with herbs and spices.
2. Add mozzarella.
3. Marinate overnight.
4. Serve as appetizer or on salads.

19. Baked Ziti with Fresh Mozzarella

Creamy baked pasta with sauce, ricotta, and torn fresh mozzarella on top.

Ingredients:

• Ziti pasta
• Marinara
• Ricotta
• Fresh mozzarella
• Parmesan

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta.
2. Mix with sauce and ricotta.
3. Top with fresh mozzarella.
4. Bake until bubbly.

20. Prosciutto Wrapped Mozzarella

Fresh mozzarella sticks wrapped in prosciutto and baked or grilled.

Ingredients:

• Fresh mozzarella, cut into sticks
• Prosciutto slices
• Olive oil
• Balsamic

Instructions:

1. Wrap mozzarella with prosciutto.
2. Bake or grill until prosciutto crisps.
3. Drizzle with balsamic.

21. Fresh Mozzarella Flatbread

Quick flatbread topped with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and arugula.

Ingredients:

• Flatbread or naan
• Fresh mozzarella
• Tomatoes
• Arugula
• Olive oil

Instructions:

1. Top flatbread with cheese and tomatoes.
2. Bake until melted.
3. Add fresh arugula.

22. Stuffed Peppers with Mozzarella

Bell peppers stuffed with rice, meat, and topped with fresh mozzarella.

Ingredients:

• Bell peppers
• Ground meat, rice
• Sauce
• Fresh mozzarella

Instructions:

1. Stuff peppers.
2. Bake with sauce.
3. Top with mozzarella and broil.

23. Mozzarella and Tomato Tart

Puff pastry tart with fresh mozzarella and sliced tomatoes.

Ingredients:

• Puff pastry
• Fresh mozzarella
• Tomatoes
• Basil pesto

Instructions:

1. Spread pesto on pastry.
2. Layer tomatoes and mozzarella.
3. Bake until golden.

24. Chicken Parmesan with Fresh Mozzarella

Breaded chicken topped with marinara and fresh mozzarella.

Ingredients:

• Chicken cutlets
• Breadcrumbs
• Marinara
• Fresh mozzarella

Instructions:

1. Bread and fry chicken.
2. Top with sauce and cheese.
3. Bake until melted.

25. Fresh Mozzarella Antipasto Platter

Assorted platter with fresh mozzarella, meats, olives, and veggies.

Ingredients:

• Fresh mozzarella
• Prosciutto, salami
• Olives, roasted peppers
• Bread

Instructions:

1. Arrange artfully on platter.
2. Serve at room temperature.

26. Corn and Mozzarella Salad

Fresh corn off the cob with mozzarella cubes and tomatoes.

Ingredients:

• Fresh corn
• Mozzarella cubes
• Tomatoes
• Vinaigrette

Instructions:

1. Mix all ingredients.
2. Dress and chill.

27. Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Meatballs

Variation with chicken for lighter meatballs.

Ingredients:

• Ground chicken
• Mozzarella cubes
• Seasonings

Instructions:

1. Form around cheese.
2. Bake or fry.

28. Fresh Mozzarella Quesadilla

Italian-Mex fusion with mozzarella, tomatoes, basil in tortilla.

Ingredients:

• Tortillas
• Fresh mozzarella
• Tomatoes, basil

Instructions:

1. Fill tortilla.
2. Grill until melted.

29. Baked Mozzarella Sticks (Healthier)

Baked version using fresh mozzarella.

Ingredients:

• Fresh mozzarella sticks
• Breadcrumbs
• Egg

Instructions:

1. Bread and bake.

30. Fresh Mozzarella Breakfast Sandwich

Egg, mozzarella, tomato on English muffin.

Ingredients:

• English muffin
• Egg
• Fresh mozzarella
• Tomato

Instructions:

1. Assemble and toast.

These 30 recipes showcase the versatility of fresh mozzarella in salads, appetizers, pizzas, pastas, mains, and more. Enjoy experimenting with this delicious cheese!