This hot and bubbly Skillet Caprese Dip blends melted mozzarella, ripe tomatoes and fresh basil for an easy and delicious appetizer perfect for date night or any night!
Take a Date Night Dip
We love a great dip in this house. Dips make perfect quick snacks or thoughtful appetizers for a casual meal. This Skillet Caprese Dip is a hot take on the cool and classic combination of fresh mozzarella, vine-ripened tomatoes, and fresh basil. It’s so simple, yet special enough to make the date-night-in or entertaining menu. It’s quickly becoming one of our favorites. I can’t wait to share it with you!
How to Bake Crostini
You can eat this dip with crackers or with a toasted baguette. Getting a perfectly toasty crostini for dipping is easy-peasy. First, preheat the oven to 375°F. With a serrated knife, slice a crusty baguette on the diagonal into 1/4-inch thick slices. Brush each slice on both sides with olive oil, then place the slices in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, Bake for 6-8 minutes, until lightly toasted and golden brown around the crust. Remove from the oven and sprinkle lightly with sea salt.
How to Make Skillet Caprese Dip
The beauty of this Skillet Caprese Dip lies in its simplicity. Three ingredients. A little heat. And a whole lotta yum. It’s actually a little bit habit forming, so I would not be surprised if, once you try this amazing dip, you find yourself grabbing for that mini-skillet over and over again when the craving calls! It’s so, so good.
Okay, let’s get dipping!
If you’re toasting a baguette for the dip, go ahead and get that going first. If you’re using crackers, then jump right into making the dip!
First, drain the container of mozzarella cheese balls. The marinade seasoning should still stick to the cheese and the bottom of the container. Add those seasonings and the drained marinated cheese balls to a mini cast iron skillet over medium-low heat.
Let the cheese balls heat and start to melt. As they melt, they will release some liquid. If necessary, use an oven mitt to carefully lift the skillet and drain some of the liquid from it.
Return the skillet to the stovetop and cook until bubbling and melted, stirring often, for about 10 minutes.
While the cheese is melting, dice the tomatoes and chop the fresh basil. Once the cheese is melted, turn off the heat. Top the melted cheese with the diced tomatoes and chopped fresh basil.
Serve with toasted baguette or crackers. I like to serve the skillet with an oven mitt, so that if people need to touch the skillet as they scoop the cheese from it, no one gets burned!
Pro tip! As the cheese cools, it will start to harden. Place a serving knife to slice the cheese from the skillet, or return the skillet to the stovetop over low heat for a few minutes to melt again.
Enjoy, friends!
Want to Dip Some More?
For another melty miracle, this time with a Mexican flare, try this Skillet Queso Fundido. It’s pure cheesy goodness that comes together in minutes with just 3 ingredients. Pass the chips! My Spinach Dip is a simple and delicious appetizer to serve for any occasion. Everyone always enjoys dipping into it with fresh veggies and chunks of bread. And if you haven’t tried my Grilled Brie with Strawberries is a must try that’s sure to be a big hit!
I hope you find amore with this Skillet Caprese Dip! If you make it and post a pic to social, be sure to tag me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see! I just love seeing how inspired and creative y’all get with the ideas I share.
xoxo,
Skillet Caprese Dip
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
This hot and bubbly Skillet Caprese Dip blends melted mozzarella, ripe tomatoes and fresh basil for an easy and delicious appetizer perfect for date night or any night!
Ingredients
- 1 (12 ounce) container marinated fresh mozzarella cheese balls
- 10 cherry tomatoes, diced
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Drain the container of mozzarella cheese balls. The marinade seasoning should still stick to the cheese and the bottom of the container.
- Heat a mini cast iron skillet over medium low heat. Add the drained marinated cheese balls along with all of the seasonings left in the container.
- Let the cheese balls heat and start to melt. As they melt, they will release some liquid. If necessary, use an oven mitt to carefully drain some of the liquid from the skillet.
- Return the skillet to the stovetop and cook until bubbling and melted, stirring often, about 10 minutes.
- While the cheese is melting, dice the tomatoes and chop the fresh basil.
- Once the cheese is melted, turn off the heat. Top the melted cheese with the diced tomatoes and chopped fresh basil.
- Serve with toasted baguette or crackers.
Notes
- Serve the skillet with an oven mitt for people to use if they need to touch the skillet as they scoop the cheese from it.
- As the cheese cools, it will start to harden. Either place a serving knife to slice the cheese from the skillet, or return the skillet to the stovetop over low heat for a few minutes to melt again.
How to Toast Crostini
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 8 min
- Total Time: 13 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 crusty baguette
- olive oil
- flakey sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- With a serrated knife, slice the baguette on the diagonal into 1/4-inch thick slices.
- Brush each slice on both sides with olive oil.
- Place the slices in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 6-8 minutes, until lightly toasted and golden brown around the crust.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle lightly with sea salt.
What brand of cheese do you use? I made this last night, the cheese never melted. Impossible to use as a dip. I’m wondering if the brand makes a difference?
Hi Janice! I use either the Trader Joe’s brand or the BelGioioso brand of marinated mozzarella cheese balls. Both work great! Which brand did you use?
I used Belgioioso brand. The cheese melted & was bubbly but was never creamy, maybe it needed to heat longer?