I’m sure your brain goes straight to pizza and pasta, right? I’m right there with you, and this list has plenty of each. Mozzarella is so versatile, and there are so many incredible recipes that don’t include heavy pasta or bread. From Caprese salads and crustless spinach quiche to super simple sheet-pan chicken and delicate little tarts, this is one fabulous cheese! I’ve pulled together 30 incredible mozzarella recipes, and each is as good as the last! Whether you’re using the fresh stuff or even just string cheese, there are loads here to choose from. Let’s dig in.
1. Barilla Lasagna Recipe
Lasagna is such a comfort food, and I make it quite often during the colder months. There’s just something about that layered mix of pasta, meat, and stringy mozzarella cheese that I can’t ever resist. For this recipe, you’ll use whatever marinara sauce you prefer – that might be from a jar, or maybe you have a go-to recipe your family just loves! Then instead of a creamy sauce, you’ll mix up some drained ricotta, mozzarella, parmigiano-reggiano, and eggs. This will bake, set beautifully in the oven, and let you cut it nice and clean.
2. Cheesy Garlic Bread
Isn’t garlic bread just the best side dish around? I’ve never put it out and had leftovers, and it’s always the first thing I order when we eat out. It’s kind of crazy, really, because it’s so insanely easy to make at home. You’ll just need a decent loaf of bread and lots of garlic butter! I like mine with plenty of cheese, so go for a mix of something strong (like a mature cheddar), along with the creamy mozzarella.
3. Baked Tomatoes with Mozzarella & Parmesan (Cheesy Oven Roasted Tomatoes)
These are so good; you can easily serve them as the main course! It’s easier to use tomato slices for this. That way, they won’t topple over when you move the tray. I like to go for something big and ripe, but you could always use cherry tomatoes and simply make it in a baking dish.
4. Tomato Mozzarella Salad with Balsamic Reduction
There’s nothing better than a platter full of juicy tomato slices, fresh chunks of mozzarella, and plenty of zesty balsamic. This dish is especially effective when you stack everything up and add in basil leaves for a lovely fresh color contrast.
5. Pasta with Tomatoes and Mozzarella
If you have ever had pasta in Italy, you’ll know that they don’t over-saturate it with sauce. Instead, they like to use fresh ingredients and let the pasta shine. Using fresh tomatoes instead of a heavy sauce will keep your pasta light and allow those sweet and tangy flavors to come together just right. I like to use a medley of cherry tomatoes, so you get a lovely sweetness and plenty of gorgeous colors.
6. Cherry Tomato Mozzarella Saute
This fantastic little dish would work as a simple starter or as a side to some juicy roasted chicken. As much as I love a Caprese salad, when it’s cold out, I like to reach for something warm. This dish will do just that! Once the shallots, garlic, and thyme are tender and fragrant, simply stir through the tomatoes and mozzarella for a simple but delicious meal.
7. 30-Minute Mozzarella Chicken
Not only does mozzarella melt beautifully, but it looks terrific when it bubbles and turns golden. In this dish, you’ll heat crushed tomatoes with softened onions and garlic, along with Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, basil, and pesto, for a quick but powerful tomato sauce. This is great over pasta or with a side of crunchy roasted potatoes.
8. Low-Carb Spinach and Mozzarella Egg Bake
This egg bake (or crustless quiche) is a filling and tasty start to the day. You’ll need quite a lot of spinach, which needs to be softened before mixing in. If you want to use frozen, be sure to thaw it out fully and drain well. Adding green onions will give you a great flavor along with the spinach, but you could always add in some extras if you wanted to. Red peppers would be a great option!
9. Pizza Quesadilla
Quesadillas are the ultimate lazy snack. Just throw some cheese in a tortilla and maybe some leftover chicken, and it’s ready to go. This recipe includes pizza sauce and pepperoni, which are such a classic combination! These are great for those late-nite cravings or when you want pizza but are trying to cut back on the carbs.
10. Zucchini Pizza Casserole
Speaking of cutting carbs: you have to try this gluten-free, veggie-loaded pizza casserole. The crust is a mix of shredded (well-drained) zucchini, eggs, mozzarella, cheddar, and parmesan cheese. It’s colorful, healthy, and holds up well to the topping without falling apart. Keep it vegetarian and load the top with olives, tomatoes, and peppers, or make it a meat feast with salami, chicken, and lots of bacon.
11. Caprese Chicken Cheese Wrap
I could probably live off sandwiches and would happily have them for lunch and dinner every day. But sometimes, the bread gets to be a little too much. These wraps are light, healthy, and so easy to put together. Feel free to use bread if you prefer! But these are especially tasty if you use sun-dried tomato tortillas!
12. Olive Oil Marinated Mozzarella Balls
We marinate our meats to infuse them with flavor, but cheese? Oh, yes! First, you’ll blend the olive oil with garlic, herbs, red pepper flakes, and salt. If you can, let it sit a while so the flavors can really infuse the oil. To be honest, this is an excellent oil for dipping or drizzling over chicken! But when you add in the cheese, it’s something so special!
13. Homemade Mozzarella Sticks
Did you know you can make crunchy mozzarella sticks with string cheese? I know you have some in the fridge right now, and I’m willing to bet you have breadcrumbs in the pantry. So, what are you waiting for? For the best results, you have to freeze these babies before you fry them. It’s the key to getting them perfect!
14. Pepperoni Pizza Mozzarella Chips
If you’re like and have a borderline addiction to chips, you’ll know it’s not always easy to give them up. If you’re looking to cut carbs and maybe try keto, these are the perfect alternative! They’re also ridiculously easy! Start by adding little piles of mozzarella to your lined baking sheet, and then add on your extras. Garlic powder, basil, and chopped pepperoni will give you that pizza flavor. As they bake, the cheese will melt before it starts to crisp up beautifully. Let them cool and enjoy!
15. Grilled Mozzarella Sandwich
Put those processed cheese slices away because this is the only grilled cheese sandwich you’ll ever need again! Homemade walnut pesto on thick slices of sourdough with fresh tomatoes and melted mozzarella – I know you’re drooling! If you’ve ever made pesto before, you’ll know that pine nuts can be a touch expensive. Walnuts are a fabulous alternative and bring so much lovely buttery flavor to the mix.
16. Sheet-Pan Chicken with Tomatoes and Mozzarella
Sheet-pan meals are amazing when you’re looking for something fast but delicious. They’re so easy to make and super hands-off, so they’re perfect for a busy weeknight. Cherry tomatoes are the best choice for this, and if you can find a colorful medley, this dish is going to look stunning! The best part is, everything bakes together, and when it’s done, the tomatoes will be blistered and juicy and the chicken will be tender and covered in gooey mozzarella.
17. Classic Stuffed Shells Recipe
I adore stuffed shells! They just look so incredible lined up in your baking dish, bubbling with cheese. This recipe uses ricotta, parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses for a creamy and decadent bite. Remember to drain the ricotta so you don’t end up with watery pasta, and feel free to add some meat in there if you want! You could easily top it off with bacon bits or even mix sausage meat into the sauce.
18. White Pizza (Pizza Bianca)
I love pizza in all of its many forms, and white pizza is just as appealing to me as anything else. It might have something to do with the heavenly mix of garlic, herbs, ricotta, and mozzarella. I also like to top mine with some red onion slices and prosciutto if I have it.
19. Tomato Mozzarella Pasta Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Summer is basically here, and that means it’s BBQ season! And no good BBQ is complete without a generous selection of pasta salads. Now, I love a creamy mayo based salad as much as you, but it’s nice to have variety. This tomato and mozzarella salad is super light, tangy, and such a nice change from the heavier creamy kinds of pasta you usually see.
20. Hot Spinach Dip
It’s safe to say that if this is on the menu, I’ll be ordering it. We all know it’s delicious and impossible to resist! And it’s so easy to make! Just blend cream cheese and sour cream with cooked spinach, garlic, parmesan and mozzarella cheese. Again, please be sure to drain the spinach if you use frozen. That stuff is so full of water and it will ruin your dip.
21. Zucchini Lasagna
This dish is hearty, flavorful, gluten-free, and bursting with veggies! What more could you ask for? This would make a fabulous vegetarian option, and if you use this veggie-loaded sauce, it’s gonna be incredibly healthy. Since zucchini is so watery, I highly recommend either grilling your slices first, or salting them in a bowl to draw out the excess liquid. It only takes a few minutes and will make all the difference.
22. French Bread Pizza
Homemade pizza doesn’t always mean making dough (and a mess!). Sometimes, it’s just grabbing whatever bread you have and adding your toppings. French bread is a fabulous choice because it’s thick and crunchy but nice and tender inside. It will also hold extra toppings – so go crazy!
23. Tomato and Mozzarella Toasts
It’s funny how using real tomatoes instead of pizza sauce turns this into a perfectly acceptable breakfast! The only downside here is that you need to roast your tomatoes first, so they become sweet and extra juicy. But it’s so worth it when you take that first bite. Alternatively, you could also try frying them on the stovetop with a bit of garlic and oil. It will be faster, but you need to keep an eye on them and keep them moving.
24. Jersey Diner-Style Disco Fries
Fries with cheese and gravy are not a new thing, and you’ll see them all over under plenty of different names. You’ve had poutine, right? These are so great and so naughty. They’re messy, salty, and just the perfect snack when you need something bad. Our friends up north like to use cheese curds, but I find a blend of cheddar, Gruyère, and mozzarella is the best! You get so much added flavor, and amazing cheese pulls!
25. Spaghetti Pie
Spaghetti pie is such a weird and wonderful creation. Who knew we’ve been eating spaghetti wrong all this time? You’ll need to make up your spaghetti like normal, but then it gets mixed with eggs and parmesan. This will help it set as the crust. For the filling, you can really do whatever you like here. If you thought that white pizza sounded good, give it a try! Or keep it classic and use marinara and lots of cheese!
26. Tomato Mozzarella Salad with Basil and Quinoa
Let’s be honest: quinoa might be packed with protein, but it’s not the tastiest grain! That’s why I like to load mine up with delicious extras! This would be the perfect recipe to use some of those marinated mozzarella balls! It would impart so much fantastic flavor and double as a dressing, so you’ll save more time.
27. Tomato and Mozzarella Tart
There’s so much to love about these tarts, and I highly recommend you give them a try. If pastry is your nemesis – I feel you! It’s not the easiest thing to make, and it can get messy! Save your sanity and just use the frozen ready-made stuff. Where you want to focus is on the filling. This recipe has lots of caramelized red onions under the tomato and mozzarella for a tangy flavor contrast.
28. Fried Mozzarella Bites
These little bites are the perfect little alternative to mozzarella sticks. They’re like popcorn chicken and so great to serve as a light appetizer. Again, those marinated cheese balls would be perfect in this! But you could always just chop up your string cheese into bite-sized pieces, too.
29. Easy Pizza Dip
Here’s another delightful carb-free way to enjoy pizza! Hot dips are the perfect party snack, and you can serve them with everything from crusty bread to crunchy veggies. The base for this is cream cheese, making it super rich and creamy. For the best results, start with very soft cream cheese, or blend it a little before you add it to the baking dish. Over this, you’ll sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan cheese before layering some delicious pizza sauce.
30. Pesto Mozzarella Chicken Sliders
All you’ll need for these scrumptious sliders is five ingredients and 10 minutes of your time. You can make these so fast; just cut your rolls as one, like their one big loaf. Fill it like you would a sandwich, and then let your guests pull them apart when they’re hot. I love the combination of pesto and chicken with the gooey mozzarella, but this sun-dried tomato pesto is out of this world! Maybe make half and half, so you’ll get the best of both worlds. Click on a star to rate it!
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