Hot Caprese Dip
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Hot Caprese Dip is an amazingly cheesy appetizer that folds your favorite flavors of Caprese salad into a melty dippable recipe, perfect for serving hot to excited friends and family.
A great appetizer that you can heat up in 20 minutes or less, baked caprese dip may be your new favorite way to enjoy the classic combination of tomatoes and mozzarella.
Now, there are plenty of dips out there that you can serve cold, like taco dip, cucumber dip, or fiesta corn dip, but because this hot dip includes melted shredded cheeses, you want it served immediately hot and fresh.
Ingredients
- sour cream
- Italian seasoning, garlic powder, dried thyme
- Monterey Jack and shredded mozzarella cheese
- fresh basil
- freshly diced tomatoes
- balsamic glaze or drizzle (optional)
- Melba toast, tortilla chips, or pieces of torn bread
How to make Hot Caprese Dip
This cheesy tomato mozzarella Caprese dip is perfect for football parties, potlucks, BBQs, and pretty much any cookout party!
Whether you’re sitting down for a movie and need a little cheese with a glass of wine or all of your friends, this is the ultimate way to enjoy ooey, gooey cheese.
- Prepare the Oven and Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 1-1/2 quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside.
- Mix the Base: In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of sour cream with one teaspoon each of Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and dried thyme. Stir these ingredients until well mixed.
- Add cheese and basil: Gently fold 8 ounces of each shredded Monterey Jack and mozzarella cheese into the sour cream mixture. Stir in 1 cup of chopped fresh basil to incorporate evenly.
- Assemble the Dip: Evenly spread the cheese mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle 1 cup of diced tomatoes over the top of the mixture.
- Bake the Dip: Place the casserole dish in the oven and bake for 20-22 minutes or until the cheese bubbles around the edges.
- Broil for a Golden Finish: To achieve a golden, bubbly top, broil the dip for 2-5 minutes. Watch closely, as the broiler can brown the cheese very quickly.
Serve and Enjoy: Remove the Caprese Dip from the oven. Garnish with one tablespoon of chopped fresh basil and balsamic glaze. Serve immediately while hot, accompanied by Melba toast or pieces of bread for dipping.
Expert Tips
- Cooking in stoneware helps hot cheese dips like this stay warm much longer. Cheese can “set” as it cools, leaving a less gooey dip, so it’s important to serve immediately and keep hot as long as possible.
- Balsamic Reduction (made from homemade balsamic vinegar) also makes a perfect drizzle at the end right before you eat. Make this while your dip is heating up in the oven.
Related Caprese Recipes
I love making savory Caprese salads, from mini Caprese Sliders to perfect Caprese pizza, so here are my favorite options for getting your cherry tomatoes and mozzarella on.
Hot Caprese Dip
Ingredients
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 8 oz. shredded Monterey jack cheese
- 8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup chopped fresh basil plus 1 tablespoon for garnish
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- melba toast for serving
- Balsamic glaze optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 1-1/2 quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together 1 cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon dried thyme until well combined.
- Fold in 8 oz. each of shredded Monterey Jack and mozzarella cheeses along with 1 cup of chopped fresh basil.
- Transfer the cheese and sour cream mixture into the greased casserole dish and evenly top with 1 cup of diced tomatoes.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-22 minutes or until the edges of the cheese are bubbly.
- For a golden top, broil the dip for 2-5 minutes, keeping a close eye to avoid burning.
- Remove the dip from the oven, garnish with an additional tablespoon of fresh basil, drizzle with Balsamic Glaze, and serve hot with Melba toast to dip.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Could I add some minced garlic? I do this with Brie but have never tried the pearl cheese balls – not sure how it would blend with garlic…
Honestly I love garlic and cheese/mozzarella, so I say yes for sure.
There are no ingredients listed.
Yes, I noted that in the opening of the article. They were accidentally deleted and I have to redevelop the entire recipe before I can add them back in.