This easy Caprese salad with spinach is a great side dish for your next cookout! Ripe tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fragrant basil combine delicious Italian flavors with filling and nutritious baby spinach! Make it in just 10 minutes!
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You'll Love This Easy Spinach Caprese Salad
- Traditional Italian salad with tangy flavor and added fiber from spinach.
- Caprese salad with spinach is the perfect side dish for summer BBQs and parties.
- Simple and fresh ingredients that are the perfect light meal for summer dinners!
- A fun spin on traditional Caprese salad - just like our caprese bow tie pasta salad.
- Full of delicious fresh basil flavor - just like our homemade basil pesto!
- Uses up lots of cherry tomatoes - just like our roasted cherry tomato pasta.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.
- Balsamic glaze: Balsamic vinegar may be substituted, but balsamic glaze is preferred. You can make balsamic reduction if you'd like!
- Cherry tomatoes: Either cherry, Roma tomatoes, or grape tomatoes may be used. Heirloom tomatoes are also great to use when in season.
- Kosher salt and black pepper: Simple seasonings to add enhanced flavor.
- Fresh spinach: Fresh baby spinach leaves or chopped spinach work best.
- Extra virgin olive oil: Use avocado oil as a similar replacement.
- Fresh mozzarella: Creamy mozzarella pearls make a nice presentation in this spinach caprese salad. You can also chop slices of buffalo mozzarella into bite-sized pieces. Goat cheese or feta cheese also work as substitutes.
- Fresh basil leaves: Chop basil into long strips, also known as chiffonade basil. Dried basil is not recommended.
How to Make This Fresh Caprese Salad Recipe
Below are step-by-step instructions for how to cook this recipe. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cooking time and temperatures.
- Add all of the spinach Caprese salad ingredients to a large bowl.
- Drizzle the dressing ingredients across the salad bowl and gently toss to incorporate.
Expert Tips
- Follow the recipe card with no substitutions for the best results.
- Add some cooked chicken breasts for added protein and an easy cold lunch for meal prep!
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice or sprinkle chopped red onion over the top of the salad for more salad toppings with fresh flavor!
- This Caprese salad with spinach is best served the day it is made. If they are leftovers, store the dressing separately from the undressed salad in an airtight container.
- Like baby spinach salad? Try our pesto orzo salad with spinach or our spinach quinoa salad.
Recipe FAQs
Traditionally, Caprese salad consists of tomato slices, fresh basil, and fresh mozzarella. Both this Caprese salad with spinach and our caprese pasta salad are different versions of the Italian classic salad. If you like this Caprese spinach salad, you may also like our mozzarella bruschetta.
Caprese refers to the salad combination of fresh mozzarella, basil, and slices of tomato. Burrata is a creamy cheese in the form of a ball. You can make Caprese salad with burrata if you desire.
Other Fresh & Inspired Italian Dishes to Try!
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Fresh Caprese Spinach Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 4 cups baby spinach
- 4 leaves basil chiffonade
- 1 cup mozarella pearls
- salt and pepper to taste
Dressing Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoon balsamic glaze more or less to taste
Instructions
- Combine cherry tomatoes, spinach, basil, and mozzarella cheese into a large salad bowl.1 cup cherry tomatoes, 4 cups baby spinach, 4 leaves basil, 1 cup mozarella pearls
- Drizzle olive oil and balsamic glaze over the top of the salad and gently mix to incorporate. Season with salt and pepper to taste.salt and pepper, ¼ cup olive oil, 2 tablespoon balsamic glaze
Anonymous
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Lyndsey Piccolino