Caprese Sandwich

Caprese Sandwich is one of our ABSOLUTE Summer sandwiches for picnics, beach trips, light lunches and more! We love everything Caprese here and everything Burrata, and today we merged those together once again with bright flavors of Basil Pesto, summer heirloom tomatoes and more!

Can we talk for a minute about the simple yet GENIUS combination of flavors that make a Caprese? As basic as it is, Tomatoes, fresh Mozzarella and Basil along with salt, Olive oil and Balsamic. These make some of the BEST recipes you’ll ever have!

Inspired by the classic Caprese salad, this sandwich combines all the components in one irresistible bite.

A Caprese sandwich is beloved because it delivers pure Italian flavor in a portable form. Simple yet elegant, it works for lunch, dinner, picnics, and anything in between.

What Is a Caprese Sandwich?

A Caprese sandwich takes the classic Caprese salad which is made of fresh mozzarella, juicy fresh tomatoes, basil leaves, olive oil, and sometimes balsamic vinegar, and turns it into a delicious sandwich. In keeping with authentic Italian ingredients, we used ciabatta rolls for the sandwich bread here.

The inspiration comes from the Insalata Caprese, an Italian dish from the island of Capri known for simple, bright flavors. Unlike heavy deli sandwiches, a Caprese sandwich stays light and fresh, showcasing each ingredient without overpowering it.

Today’s Caprese Sandwich is another addition to some of our HIT Caprese Recipes and Burrata Recipes on the website.

Caprese Recipes we can’t get enough of:

• Caprese Salad
• Chicken Caprese
• Burrata Caprese — A personal FAVORITE!
• Caprese Skewers
• Caprese Pizza
• Caprese Toast
• Caprese Bites

Why You’ll Love This Caprese Sandwich Recipe

• Fresh and Vibrant Flavors. The combination of red tomato, white mozzarella, and green basil celebrates the colors and tastes of summer and Italian cuisine. We added Burrata Cheese for an extra level of creamy!
• Quick and Easy: All you need is 10 minutes to assemble, so it’s a perfect choice for weeknight meals or lunch on the go.
• Super Customizable, so you can add basil pesto as we did here along with balsamic glaze, arugula and of course Burrata Cheese. You can also grill the bread, add in summer fresh fruit like peaches or prosciutto for variations that suit every taste. Add in some avocado for a creamy taste.
• Great for Any Occasion! Whether you want a light lunch, a gourmet picnic option, or a crowd pleasing appetizer, this sandwich delivers on flavor and simplicity.
• Make them mini! You can cut the sandwich into 1 inch chunks and skewer them like those Caprese Skewers, or even turn this into sliders. See our tutorial for Chicken Sliders or Turkey Sliders for how to do it!
• The type of bread will determine the crunchy or soft texture you want. So if you’re all for crunch, start with a crusty loaf of Italian ciabatta, or a baguette. Otherwise you can even use a brioche for a softer bun.

Caprese Sandwich Ingredients

1. Heirloom Tomatoes. It’s summer and they’re perfectly in season, sweet and rich in flavor! Use ripe tomatoes and opt for your favorite type.
2. Fresh Mozzarella. Use lactose free mozzarella if you need to like I do, also find a low-moisture block.
3. Fresh Basil Leaves. Lots and lots of that!
4. Arugula. optional, but we love adding greens to our sandiwches!
5. Basil Pesto. It adds a richer basil flavor to the sandwich
6. Olive oil. Quality Moroccan extra-virgin Olive oil from Mina is what we use all the time!
7. Balsamic Syrup. For the sweetness and taste of balsmic.
8. Bread. Focaccia or baguette or ciabatta are our TOP picks. You can use sourdough bread as wwe did with the Caprese Toast.
9. Add ons: Avocados, red onions, fresh fruit or your favorites! Also try Sun Dried Tomato Pesto!

Basil Mayo Ingredients

Basically two ingredients are the base here, these make the best flavor to spread on your sandwich.

1. Homemade BEST Basil Pesto.
2. Mayo
3. Extras: Lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic. These are all optional.

How to Make Caprese Sandwich

1. Start with a generous spread of basil mayo over each half of your cut up bread. 
2. Layer some arugula at the bottom of the sandwich along with some fresh basil leaves. And now start with the tomato slices. Slice them into 1/8 inch thickness and start layering them.
3. Now it’s time for the cheese. Thinly sliced fresh mozzarella cheese (sliced to about the same thickness of the tomatoes) goes on top. We love Burrata Cheese and that’s why we’re adding it too! It’s optional , but seriously WHY NOT?
4. Now it’s time to add lots and lots of fresh basil leaves over the cheese and a drizzle of balsamic syrup. You can drizzle as much or as little as you like. A final drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of chilli flakes and salt finish off the filling for this phenomenal caprese sandwich recipe.
5. Now take the other loaf of bread that’s slathered with basil mayo and firmly place it over the filling. Press it down slightly to have all the sandwich components stick together. Then it’s time to slice!
6. SERIOUSLY IRRESISTIBLE!!

Pro Tips for Caprese Sandwich

• Always use fresh mozzarella for Caprese recipes, it makes a huge difference and it’s how originally it’s meant to be! Buy the water packed mozzarella.
• You can find lactose free if you need to like I do!
• Similarly buy fresh burrata that can be lactose free. Burrata cheese is optional, but adds SO MUCH to this sandwich!
• Summer seasonal tomatoes and garden fresh basil are idea to make this recipe, however you can use any type of tomatoes for this recipe. And if you can’t find fresh basil leaves, add extra of the Basil Pesto drizzled over the tomatoes not just in the mayo.
• This is one of the best vegetarian sandwiches, however we’ve made Chicken Caprese and it was a HIT! You can add some chicken, or meats here too!
• Use your favorite bread. A good bread is the ultimate texture binder to this recipe. So focaccia or crusty baguette or ciabatta or sourdough.The best thing is to choose bread that’s intact and makes a good portable sandwich.
• You can toast or use a grill pan or oven to toast your bread in butter before assembling.

What is Caprese?

Caprese is an Italian dish from the island of Capri. It’s made using fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and fresh basil, seasoned with salt, balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

What’s the Best Bread for Caprese Sandwiches?

Our favorite bread to use for this recipe is focaccia. But any crusty bread will work like ciabatta or sourdough or baguette. Overall you want to avoid soft white breads as they’re not sturdy enough to handle the toppings.

Do I need Basil Pesto?

No, but we LOVE it! We always make large batches of our Basil Pesto and I share a full tutorial on freezing it and storing so you never run out of basil pesto all year round! So while we LOVE our homemade pesto, you can use store bought.

What can I add to Caprese Sandwich?

Aside from the classics, add your favorite meats, roast veggies, and any ingredients you like! keep in mind not to over stuff the sandwich so it’s easier to eat 🙂

Caprese Chicken Sandwich

While we may make this into a separate post, for now you can make this by adding some grilled chicken, rotisserie chicken tossed with basil pesto, or better yet Chicken Caprese cooled and sliced up. Add it over the greens before proceeding with the tomatoes.

Is a Caprese sandwich healthy?

Yes, it’s generally a balanced option with fresh vegetables, protein from cheese, and healthy fats from olive oil. Using whole grain bread would add some extra fiber.

Can I grill the Caprese sandwich?

Absolutely! Grilling or toasting helps melt the cheese slightly and crisps the bread, creating a warm and flavorful version. Press the assembled sandwich into a panini press or outdoor grill until the bread is golden brown.

Do I need to use balsamic glaze?

No it’s optional, but balsamic glaze adds sweetness and acidity that brightens the sandwich.

Can I make this vegan?

Yes! Replace the mozzarella with tofu or a dairy free cheese alternative and use vegan pesto or olive oil.

How do I keep the bread from getting soggy?

Lightly toast or grill the bread first and avoid adding heavy dressing or sauce to bread before assembly. Also add balsamic glaze at the end

Burrata Recipes

• Burrata Caprese
• Burrata Pizza
• Burrata Salad
• Burrata Pasta
• Burrata Cheese
• Roasted Acorn Squash with Burrata!

5 from 9 votes

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Caprese Sandwich

Caprese Sandwich is one of our ABSOLUTE Summer sandwiches for picnics, beach trips, light lunches and more! We love everything Caprese here and everything Burrata, and today we merged those together once again with bright flavors of Basil Pesto, summer heirloom tomatoes and more! 

Course beach, lunch, main, Picnic, Salad, sandwich

Cuisine American, Italian, Mediterranean

Keyword beach sandwich, caprese, Caprese recipe, Caprese recipes, caprese sandwich, picnic sandwich, sandwich

Prep Time 15 minutes

Servings 6 sandwiches

Calories 380 kcal

Author Mahy

Ingredients

Caprese Sandwich

• 1 Focaccia bread flavored or plain, or your favorite crusty bread
• 1 cup arugula
• 5 Heirloom tomatoes sliced into 1/8 thickness
• 2 balls Fresh Mozzarella sliced into 1/8 inch thickness
• 1 small burrata cheese torn apart
• 1 cup basil leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper more or less to taste
• 2 tablespoons balsamic syrup more or less to taste
• 3 tablespoons olive oil more or less to tase
• 1/2 teaspoon chillli flakes optional

Basil Mayo

• 2/3 cup Mayonnaise light is better
• 3 tablespoons Basil Pesto recipe here
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice optional
• 1 pinch salt

Instructions

1. Choose your bread and slice it in half.

   

2. Mix all ingredients for the basil mayo together and set aside.

   

3. Slather both sides of the bread with the basil mayo generously.

   

4. Start layering the caprese sandwich. Start with the greens.

5. Go over that with the tomatoes.

   

6. Cheeses go next.

   

7. Lots of fresh basil over the cheese, and the seasoning which includes salt, chilli flakes, balsamic and olive oil to your taste. feel free to add more or less of those.

   

8. Place the other half of the bread over the filling and press firmly.

   

9. Slice the sandwich and serve right away!

   

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Pro Tips for Caprese Sandwich

• Always use fresh mozzarella for Caprese recipes, it makes a huge difference and it's how originally it's meant to be! Buy the water packed mozzarella.
• You can find lactose free if you need to like I do!
• Similarly buy fresh burrata that can be lactose free. Burrata cheese is optional, but adds SO MUCH to this sandwich!
• Summer seasonal tomatoes and garden fresh basil are idea to make this recipe, however you can use any type of tomatoes for this recipe. And if you can't find fresh basil leaves, add extra of the Basil Pesto drizzled over the tomatoes not just in the mayo.
• This is one of the best vegetarian sandwiches, however we've made Chicken Caprese and it was a HIT! You can add some chicken, or meats here too!
• Use your favorite bread. A good bread is the ultimate texture binder to this recipe. So focaccia or crusty baguette or ciabatta or sourdough.The best thing is to choose bread that's intact and makes a good portable sandwich. 
• You can toast or use a grill pan or oven to toast your bread in butter before assembling.

What to Serve with Caprese Sandwich

We love it as it is--honestly what else can you ask for in LIFE? We've had friends and family love it with soups and salads. Try it with:

• Mediterranean Soup
• Halloumi Fries
• Tabouleh or Tabouli With Lemon Tahini Dressing
• Pan Fried Potatoes
• Luscious Carrot Tomato Basil Soup

Caprese Sandwich Variations

• Grilled Caprese Sandwich: Press in a panini maker with pesto and extra cheese for a melty, warm upgrade.
• Caprese Club Style: Add crispy bacon or prosciutto for a heartier sandwich.
• Vegan Caprese: Use tofu or dairy free mozzarella for a vegan alternative. 
• Open Face Caprese/ Caprese Toast: Serve on toasted slices with olive oil and balsamic for a simple, elegant bite.
• Caprese Sliders: Use slider buns and follow our Turkey Sliders or Cheeseburger Sliders for assembly directions.
• Caprese Sandwich Skewers: Similar to our Caprese Skewers, except you will cut the sandwich into chunks and skewer them.

What is Caprese?

Caprese is an Italian dish from the island of Capri. It's made using fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and fresh basil, seasoned with salt, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. 

What’s the Best Bread for Caprese Sandwiches?

Our favorite bread to use for this recipe is focaccia. But any crusty bread will work like ciabatta or sourdough or baguette. Overall you want to avoid soft white breads as they're not sturdy enough to handle the toppings.

Do I need Basil Pesto?

No, but we LOVE it! We always make large batches of our Basil Pesto and I share a full tutorial on freezing it and storing so you never run out of basil pesto all year round! So while we LOVE our homemade pesto, you can use store bought. 

What can I add to Caprese Sandwich?

Aside from the classics, add your favorite meats, roast veggies, and any ingredients you like! keep in mind not to over stuff the sandwich so it's easier to eat 🙂

Caprese Chicken Sandwich

While we may make this into a separate post, for now you can make this by adding some grilled chicken, rotisserie chicken tossed with basil pesto, or better yet Chicken Caprese cooled and sliced up. Add it over the greens before proceeding with the tomatoes. 

Is a Caprese sandwich healthy?

Yes, it’s generally a balanced option with fresh vegetables, protein from cheese, and healthy fats from olive oil. Using whole grain bread would add some extra fiber.

Can I grill the Caprese sandwich?

Absolutely! Grilling or toasting helps melt the cheese slightly and crisps the bread, creating a warm and flavorful version. Press the assembled sandwich into a panini press or outdoor grill until the bread is golden brown.

Do I need to use balsamic glaze?

No it’s optional, but balsamic glaze adds sweetness and acidity that brightens the sandwich.

Can I make this vegan?

Yes! Replace the mozzarella with tofu or a dairy free cheese alternative and use vegan pesto or olive oil.

How do I keep the bread from getting soggy?

Lightly toast or grill the bread first and avoid adding heavy dressing or sauce to bread before assembly. Also add balsamic glaze at the end

Nutrition Facts

Caprese Sandwich

Amount Per Serving

Calories 380 Calories from Fat 288

% Daily Value*

Fat 32g49%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Trans Fat 0.05g

Polyunsaturated Fat 12g

Monounsaturated Fat 9g

Cholesterol 11mg4%

Sodium 792mg34%

Potassium 273mg8%

Carbohydrates 27g9%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 7g14%

Vitamin A 1315IU26%

Vitamin C 15mg18%

Calcium 40mg4%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Caprese Toast Chicken Caprese Burrata Caprese Caprese Skewers