Like a Caprese salad on a stick, these Caprese salad skewers are an easy summer appetizer perfect for parties, cookouts, and entertaining. Made with colorful cherry tomatoes, creamy mini mozzarella balls, and fresh basil leaves, they're simple to assemble and always a crowd-pleaser. Finish them with a drizzle of basil vinaigrette, balsamic glaze, or your favorite vinaigrette just before serving.
Caprese salad is the inspiration for these easy skewers. The classic Italian salad is made with ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, and good olive oil, often served as a starter or antipasto. These Caprese skewers turn those same simple summer flavors into a colorful, no-cook appetizer that's easy to serve for parties, cookouts, and casual gatherings.
Caprese Salad Skewer Recipe Snapshot
- Easy no-cook appetizer - Just assemble, chill, and serve.
- Summer flavor - Cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, fresh basil, and a simple drizzle.
- Perfect for entertaining - Great for cookouts, holidays, and game days.
- Make-ahead friendly - Assemble ahead and drizzle just before serving.
- Easy to customize - Finish with balsamic glaze, basil vinaigrette, pesto vinaigrette, or good olive oil.
Ingredients You'll Need
Caprese Skewers
- Tomatoes - Choose cherry or small grape tomatoes for their size.
- Mozzarella - I buy what is called Ciliegine, fresh, mini mozzarella balls.
- Basil - Use just the leaves, smaller leaves work easier.
- Dressing - Finish with lemon basil vinaigrette, basil pesto vinaigrette (thinned down pesto), balsamic glaze, or simply good olive oil.
Lemon Basil Vinaigrette
- Oil - Use good extra virgin olive oil.
- Acid - Fresh lemon juice gives the vinaigrette bright, clean flavor.
- Basil - Use fresh basil leaves only, no stems.
- Garlic - A small clove adds savory depth. Grate it with a microplane so it blends smoothly.
- Dijon - A little Dijon adds flavor and helps emulsify the vinaigrette.
Please see the recipe card for measurements, salt, and pepper.
Tools - Use mini bamboo skewers to assemble the skewers, the 5"- 6" size.
Chef's Tips
- Don't dump out the liquid brine. Store any leftover mozzarella in the container with the brine to keep it fresh.
- Choose multi-colored tomatoes for more visual appeal.
- While many recipes skewer the whole tomato, I like to get the cherry size and cut them in half crosswise. They look so nice on the skewers, and they don't explode quite as much in your mouth, so they are easier to eat.
How to Make Caprese Salad Skewers
Making Caprese skewers is an easy assembly job. Halve the tomatoes, drain the mozzarella balls, wash and dry the basil leaves, and have the skewers ready.
Thread on a tomato half, a folded basil leaf, a mozzarella ball, another basil leaf, and finish with another tomato half. Repeat to make 12 skewers. Place them on a platter to serve, or in a covered container to chill until ready to dress and serve.
Serving Suggestions
Arrange the Caprese skewers on a platter and drizzle with lemon basil vinaigrette just before serving. A little balsamic glaze or good balsamic vinegar is delicious too. Use homemade balsamic glaze if you prefer a thicker, sweeter finish.
More Easy Appetizer Recipes
For more inspiration check out the Appetizer Recipe index page.
If You Make These
If you make these Caprese Salad Skewers, please drop me a comment and let me know how you enjoyed them. I love hearing from you and your comments help other readers too. Thanks for supporting my site.
📖 Recipe
Caprese Salad Skewers with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette
Equipment
- 12 Mini bamboo skewers
Ingredients
Caprese skewers
- 12 small cherry tomatoes, halved multi-colored looks great
- 4 ounces mini mozzarella balls Ciliegine 12 balls
- 12 5"- 6" bamboo skewers
Lemon Basil Vinaigrette (makes extra)
- ¾ cup good olive oil
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup basil leaves
- 1 garlic clove chopped fine or microplaned
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
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Instructions
Assemble the skewers
- Cut the tomatoes in half crosswise. Build skewers starting with a tomato half, then basil leaf, then a cheese ball, then leaf, the another tomato half. Lay skewers on a platter and drizzle with the vinaigrette and serve.
Make the Vinaigrette
- Add all vinaigrette ingredients to a blender and blend briefly until smooth as you prefer.
Notes
Nutrition
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Denise says
It looks so good being so colorful. And it's so easy to make, washed, cut and skewed. Never thought of Italy when prepared this sort of salad.
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
These look just perfect! Love all the fresh ingredients and the basil vinaigrette!