This hot Caprese dip is a tasty, fast and easy way to serve fresh cheese, tomatoes and basil. This 10-minute appetizer tastes delicious served with veggies, crackers, or pita chips!
Caprese Dip
Easy, fresh, and cheesy, this Caprese Dip is the perfect Italian style appetizer!
A traditional Caprese Salad is a classic Italian dish, made with just a few simple ingredients: fresh mozzarella cheese, thick slices of red ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, and olive oil.
It also happens to be one of my favorite salads ever!
This Caprese dip is a twist on the Italian favorite — and it’s made for sharing! Melty cheese, flavorful pesto, and juicy tomatoes combine to create a warm appetizer that’s guaranteed crowd pleaser! There is something so delicious and satisfying about hot dips!
This one as good as anything you’ll find in a restaurant and it is SO easy to make at home!
All you need are 3 ingredients and 10 minutes!
I’ve got a lot of tomato plants in my garden, so I am excited to find any new recipe that really lets those fresh veggies shine! This one is a definite keeper!
If you are looking for the perfect party dip for your next get together or a unique way to enjoy the flavors of a tomato mozzarella salad, you are going to love this Caprese dip!
Related: For another fun dip idea, try our holiday butter board recipe!
Ingredients
- 8oz Cream Cheese, softened
- 6oz Pesto Sauce
- Cherry Tomatoes, sliced
Kitchen Supplies Used
- Round Pie Dish or Iron Skillet
Instructions
Pre-heat oven to 350°F.
In a glass pie dish, use a spoon or spatula to spread out the cream cheese to evenly coat the bottom of the baking dish. If the cream cheese is at room temperature, it is much easier to spread, so you may want to plan ahead.
Cover the cheese with a layer of basil pesto mixture. I left a bit of space around the perimeter of the pan so you can see the cheese layer underneath.
Top with slices of cherry tomato or grape tomato slices, leaving a little bit of space between each.
Bake for 10 minutes until hot and bubbly.
Best enjoyed warm.
Optional Garnish Ideas
- Drizzle of balsamic vinegar
- Pinch of sea salt and cracked black pepper
- Spicy minced garlic or red pepper flakes
- Fresh basil leaves
- Shredded mozzarella to make it extra cheesy
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should You Serve with Caprese Dip?
Anything you like! Some of our favorite accompaniments for this warm Italian cheese dip are:
- Baguette slices
- Fresh vegetables
- Pita chips
- Club crackers
- Toasted Crostini
What is Pesto?
Pesto is essentially an Italian sauce or condiment. Traditional pesto ingredients include garlic, pine nuts, salt, fresh basil, and hard cheese (Pecorino Romano or Parmigiano-Reggiano, for example). These ingredients are then puréed with olive oil to form a thick paste.
You’re welcome to use a store bough pesto for this dish, or you can make it homemade. It’s actually quite easy! Check out our recipe for homemade pesto sauce here!
Is It Normal to Have Liquid in the Dish Too?
Yes, it is normal to have a bit of liquid around the edges of the dip. The tomatoes will release a bit of moisture when they cook and pesto contains oil, so those will be in the dish. It really shouldn’t be more than a Tablespoon or so.
If it is more liquid than you like, simply blot some of the excess with a paper towel.
How Do I Keep This Dip Warm?
The good thing about using cream cheese for this dish is that it is easy to scoop up on your chips, bread, etc. — even as it starts to cool. Feel free to pop it back in the oven for a few minutes if you want to heat it up again. Because it is dairy-based this dip should not be left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Printable Copy of our Caprese Dip Recipe:
If you like this recipe, please rate it! We’d also love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Hot Caprese Dip (10 Minute Appetizer)
Equipment
- Round baking dish
Ingredients
- 8 oz Cream Cheese softened
- 6 oz Pesto
- 6 Cherry Tomatoes sliced
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Spread cream cheese to cover the bottom of baking dish or iron skillet.
- Top with a layer of pesto sauce.
- Finish by placing tomato slices on top.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Be sure to pin our Tomato Mozzarella Dip on Pinterest:
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