Caprese Garlic Bread

Caprese Garlic Bread is a delicious fusion of classic garlic bread and fresh Caprese salad. Italian bread is sliced, spread with homemade garlic herb butter, then topped with melted mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and fresh basil. Baked until golden and bubbly, it’s finished with a drizzle of balsamic glaze for the perfect appetizer, side dish, or party food.

Love More Bread Recipes? Try My Lemon Loaf Bread or this Crispy Focaccia Bread next.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Crispy, cheesy, and bursting with fresh Italian flavor in every bite. Toasted garlic bread is topped with melty mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, and fragrant basil for a simple yet irresistible appetizer. Perfect for parties or as a side dish, it disappears fast every time.

Print

Ingredient List

For the Bread:

• 1 loaf Italian bread
• ¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1–2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil (plus extra for garnish)
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
• Optional: balsamic glaze for drizzling

Substitutions: You can use a French baguette instead of Italian bread, or swap in fresh mozzarella for an even creamier texture. If you don’t have Italian seasoning, a mix of dried oregano and basil works beautifully.

Why These Ingredients Work

Italian bread gives you that perfect sturdy base—it holds up to all the toppings without getting soggy, and those crusty edges get wonderfully golden and crispy.

Butter and garlic are the foundation of any great garlic bread. The butter melts into every nook and cranny, while the fresh minced garlic delivers that punch of flavor we all crave.

Fresh basil and Italian seasoning bring herbaceous notes that tie the whole dish together and complement the tomatoes beautifully.

Mozzarella cheese melts into gooey perfection and creates that gorgeous cheese pull we all love.

Grape or cherry tomatoes stay juicy and sweet when roasted, and they don’t release too much water that would make the bread soggy.

Parmesan cheese adds a salty, nutty layer of flavor and helps create that golden-brown top.

Balsamic glaze (optional but highly recommended!) adds a sweet-tangy finish that elevates the entire dish.

Essential Tools and Equipment

• Large baking sheet
• Small mixing bowl
• Sharp serrated knife for slicing bread
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Butter knife or offset spatula for spreading

How To Make Caprese Garlic Bread

Step 1: Preheat and Prep

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.

Step 2: Slice the Bread

Slice the Italian bread in half lengthwise and place it cut-side up on your prepared baking sheet. Make sure both halves are stable and lying flat.

Step 3: Make the Garlic Butter

In a small bowl, mix the softened butter with minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and chopped fresh basil. Stir until everything is well combined and fragrant. Note: Make sure your butter is truly softened—it should be easy to stir and spreadable.

Step 4: Spread the Magic

Spread the garlic butter mixture evenly over both halves of the bread. Get it all the way to the edges! This is where all that flavor comes from, so don’t be shy.

Step 5: Add the Cheese

Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the buttered bread. Cover every inch for maximum cheesy goodness.

Step 6: Top with Tomatoes

Arrange the halved tomatoes over the cheese, cut-side up. They’ll release their juices as they bake, creating little pockets of sweet tomato flavor.

Step 7: Finish with Parmesan

Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the tomatoes and mozzarella. Add a crack of black pepper if desired for a little extra zing.

Step 8: Bake to Golden Perfection

Bake in the preheated oven for 12–15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges of the bread are golden and crispy. Keep an eye on it during the last few minutes—you want golden, not burnt!

Step 9: Garnish and Serve

Remove from the oven and let cool slightly for 2–3 minutes. Garnish with additional fresh basil leaves. If using, drizzle with balsamic glaze right before serving for that restaurant-quality finish.

You Must Know

Room temperature matters! Make sure your butter is fully softened before mixing. Cold butter won’t incorporate the garlic and herbs properly, and it’s much harder to spread evenly on the bread.

Don’t overbake. Once the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges are golden, it’s done. Overbaking can make the bread too hard and dry out those beautiful tomatoes.

Personal Secret: I like to lightly toast my bread cut-side up for 3–4 minutes BEFORE adding the garlic butter. This creates an extra-crispy base that holds up beautifully to all the toppings and prevents any sogginess.

Pro Tips & Cooking Hacks

• Use fresh garlic, not jarred! The flavor difference is night and day.
• Pat your tomato halves dry with a paper towel before adding them. This prevents excess moisture from making the bread soggy.
• For extra flavor, add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to the garlic butter for a subtle kick.
• If your mozzarella isn’t browning, turn on the broiler for the last 1–2 minutes—but watch it like a hawk!
• Slice the bread on a diagonal after baking for beautiful presentation pieces.

Flavor Variations / Suggestions

Mediterranean Twist: Add sliced Kalamata olives and a sprinkle of feta cheese along with the mozzarella.

Pesto Lovers: Spread a thin layer of pesto under the garlic butter for an extra layer of basil flavor.

Add Protein: Top with cooked, crumbled Italian sausage or crispy prosciutto for a heartier version.

Spicy Kick: Mix red pepper flakes into the garlic butter or add sliced jalapeños on top.

White Pizza Style: Skip the tomatoes and add dollops of ricotta cheese before baking.

Make-Ahead Options

Prep the garlic butter: You can make the garlic butter mixture up to 3 days ahead and store it covered in the refrigerator. Just let it come to room temperature before spreading.

Assemble ahead: You can assemble the entire bread (through Step 7) up to 4 hours ahead. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Add 2–3 extra minutes to the baking time if baking from cold.

Freezer-friendly: Assemble the bread completely, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then foil, and freeze for up to 1 month. Bake from frozen at 375°F for 20–25 minutes.

Recipe Notes & Baker’s Tips

• The type of bread matters! A sturdy Italian or French loaf works best. Soft sandwich bread will get too soggy.
• Fresh basil is key for that authentic Caprese flavor. Dried basil just won’t give you the same bright, fresh taste.
• If you can only find large tomatoes, you can dice them instead of using cherry tomatoes—just make sure to remove excess seeds and juice.
• Leftover garlic butter? Save it! It’s incredible on pasta, vegetables, or regular toast.

Serving Suggestions

This Caprese Garlic Bread is perfect as an appetizer before Italian night, alongside a big bowl of pasta, or served with soup or salad for a lighter meal. I love serving it at parties—just slice it into smaller pieces and watch it disappear!

Perfect Pairings:

• Fresh green salad with balsamic vinaigrette
• Tomato basil soup or minestrone
• Grilled chicken or fish
• Pasta dishes (it’s amazing with spaghetti marinara!)
• A glass of Pinot Grigio or iced tea

Garnishing Ideas:

• Extra fresh basil leaves
• A drizzle of high-quality olive oil
• More cracked black pepper
• Balsamic glaze (this is a game-changer!)
• Fresh microgreens for color

How to Store Your Caprese Garlic Bread

Room Temperature: Best enjoyed fresh and warm! This bread is at its prime right out of the oven.

Refrigerator: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. The bread will soften as it sits.

Reheating: Place on a baking sheet and reheat in a 350°F oven for 8–10 minutes until warmed through and the cheese is melty again. You can also use an air fryer at 350°F for 3–4 minutes. Avoid the microwave—it makes the bread rubbery!

Freezing: You can freeze baked garlic bread, tightly wrapped, for up to 1 month. Reheat from frozen at 350°F for 12–15 minutes.

Allergy Information

Contains: Dairy (butter, mozzarella, Parmesan), gluten (bread)

Dairy-Free Option: Use vegan butter and dairy-free mozzarella and Parmesan alternatives. Nutritional yeast can add a cheesy flavor if you can’t find good dairy-free cheese.

Gluten-Free Option: Use your favorite gluten-free Italian bread or baguette. Make sure it’s a sturdy loaf that can hold the toppings.

Nut-Free: This recipe is naturally nut-free.

Questions I Get Asked A Lot

Can I use pre-made garlic bread instead of making my own garlic butter?

You could, but I really don’t recommend it! The fresh garlic butter with basil is what makes this recipe special. Pre-made garlic bread usually has different seasonings that might clash with the Caprese flavors. Plus, making the garlic butter takes all of 2 minutes!

My bread got soggy. What did I do wrong?

This usually happens if the tomatoes released too much liquid. Next time, pat them dry with paper towels before adding them to the bread, and make sure you’re not overbaking. Also, using a sturdy bread (not soft sandwich bread) makes a huge difference!

Can I make this on the grill?

Absolutely! Wrap the assembled bread tightly in foil and place it on a preheated grill over medium heat for 12–15 minutes. The bread gets a little smoky flavor that’s amazing!

What if I don’t have fresh basil?

Fresh basil really makes this dish shine, but if you’re in a pinch, you can use 1 teaspoon dried basil in the garlic butter. I’d still recommend trying to find fresh basil for garnish—it makes a big difference in the final presentation and flavor.

💬 Tried this recipe? Leave a comment and rating below! I’d love to hear how your Caprese Garlic Bread turned out! Did you add any fun variations?