Name: Hot Caprese Dip
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 22 min
Total time: 32 min
Yield: 4 people
Cuisine: Italian
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)

Hot Caprese Dip

Baked hot Caprese dip with melted cheese, tomatoes and fresh basil combines minimal effort with major flavor making one of the simplest warm cheesy dips with ease. Taking Italian favorite Caprese and translating to a dippable version, this is big game ready and mouthwateringly delicious. Perfect for entertaining, this is absolutely one of the quickest and easiest dips that feed a party.

Prep

5 min

Cook

22 min

Total

32 min

Serves

4 people

Calories

509

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.

caprese dip with balsamic vinegar reduction on top

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.

mozzarella cheese dip covered with tomatoes

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.

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.