40 Mozzarella Recipes To Make Your Meals Extra Cheesy

Grilled cheese, mac & cheese, cheesy party dip... Obviously, we LOVE cheese, and nothing beats mozzarella for versatility. Whether you’re just beginning to explore all the Italian cheese has to offer, or are a bonafide expert already, we’ve got a recipe for you. Check out our list of 40 mozzarella recipes—it’s time to get extra CHEESY.

When you think mozzarella, what comes to mind? If you’re in the string cheese and shreds crowd, you’ll be happy to know there’s a whole world of mozzarella out there to discover. At its most basic, mozzarella is a byproduct of the early stages of the cheesemaking process, where Little Miss Muffet’s curds and whey get separated from one another. Take those curds, add a little salt, and work them until they form a ball, and you’ve got mozzarella!

Not that there’s anything wrong with shreds or string cheese. Their lower fat content makes them the best for uniform melting, and they’re integral to some of our favorite mozzarella recipes, like homemade pizza, mozzarella sticks, cheesy garlic bread, and stuffed peppers. When we’re looking to fancy things up though, there’s nothing better than fresh mozz. The different sizes are known by different names (ovoline, ciliegine, and perline are a few popular options), so pick the one that’s best for your recipe. One of the most classic options is to make a caprese salad with large slices, but you can also toss the smaller balls into salads, like our summer panzanella or antipasto chickpea salad, or stick them on skewers, like in our melon prosciutto skewers.

Want to take things truly next level? Try mozzarella di bufala (yep, from buffalo milk), mozzarella fior di latte (from top of the line cow’s milk), or burrata. Burrata is essentially fresh mozzarella surrounding scraps (straciatella in Italian) leftover from the cheese-making process, and it’s DELICIOUS. It’s exceptional alongside pasta, like in our sheet-pan burrata caprese gnocchi, or in a salad, like our peach & burrata caprese salad.

Whatever you do, make sure you’ve got a plan to finish your fresh mozzarella as soon as possible—it won’t stay good as long as it’s shredded or stick-ed counterparts.

For caprese salad you're going to want to avoid any mozzarella labeled as aged or "low moisture". These cheeses won't give you the luscious creaminess needed to counteract the acidity of the tomatoes here. If you can get your hands on it, look for any mozzarella that is packaged in water or brine, which really helps to maintain the cheese's flavor and texture.

Get the Perfect Caprese Salad recipe.

Don't let the deep hues of caramelized mozzarella fool you—this is indeed a white pizza with absolutely no sauce. White pizzas can be boring without the acidity of tomatoes, but we've made a pie that takes advantage of the flavors from three different cheeses.

Get the White Pizza recipe.

Mozzarella sticks are the quintessential party appetizer. They're hot, crunchy, and oozing with molten cheese—what's not to love?! Dipped in homemade marinara sauce, we think there's no better snack.

Get the Mozzarella Sticks recipe.

We changed up the classic caprese salad by switching out juicy tomatoes for plump summer peaches and replacing sliced fresh mozzarella with its creamier cousin, burrata. Surrounded by fragrant basil then topped with candied pecans and a drizzle of spicy honey, this sweet & savory salad is a STUNNER.

Get the Peach & Burrata Caprese recipe.

These (keto-friendly!) cheesy chicken breasts make the perfect quick and easy weeknight dinner. The ranch seasoning is optional...but how could you not?

Get the Cheesy Bacon Ranch Chicken recipe.

Save yourself some time and make the simple Italian dressing for this pasta salad ahead of time! Mix it together and store it in the fridge until you are ready to serve your pasta—the flavors will meld and taste better that way too.

Get the Italian Pasta Salad recipe.

This easy dinner harnesses the power of seasoned sausage, jarred marinara, and fresh potato gnocchi to make a super-flavorful dish with minimal prep and active cooking time. Perfect for a lazy night when you're craving the 3 C’s: comfort, carbs, and cheese.

Get the One-Pan Cheesy Sausage Gnocchi recipe.

Panzanella is one of those summer recipes that truly tastes like summer. It's one that you want to make in peak season—when the tomatoes are extra juicy, the squash slightly sweet, and the basil extra cheap. To give this classic dish more flavor, we grill the bread, zucchini, and onion until charred, then toss those with the remaining ingredients.

Get the Summer Panzanella recipe.

We took a couple shortcuts for this lasagna recipe by using store-bought marinara and boxed pasta sheets—topped with delicious, melty mozzarella no one will know the difference. It saves a ton of time without sacrificing any flavor, but feel free to make your own homemade spaghetti sauce too.

Get the Classic Lasagna recipe.

The secret to really good low-carb bread? Cheese, glorious cheese! Fun fact: The same concept applies to cauliflower crust pizza.

Get the Keto Garlic Bread recipe.

This versatile chickpea salad is a great summer side, but can easily be a full meal on its own! Adding a spoonful of Dijon mustard to your red wine vinaigrette makes it creamier in both taste and body—consider it your secret weapon in making a classic dressing just that much better.

Get the Antipasto Chickpea Salad recipe.

When you're craving pasta, these zucchini boats are a great option. Sweet, juicy shrimp bathed in a creamy tomato-Parmesan sauce, then baked with mozzarella until the umami skyrockets—the easy filling tastes almost like a creamy shrimp scampi.

Get the Garlicky Shrimp Zucchini Boats recipe.

Akin to a Puerto Rican lasagna, pastelón layers up crispy fried sweet plantains with melty mozzarella cheese and picadillo— a mix of ground beef, tomatoes, sofrito, herbs, briny olives, and a pop of sweetness from raisins. It takes a bit to prepare all the elements, but it’s worth it for this sweet and savory dish you can easily serve to a crowd.

Get the Pastelón recipe.

Arancini are like the more sophisticated and cooler cousins of mozzarella sticks. The Italian dish is prepared by forming cooled risotto into balls, filling them with some sort of filling (typically mozzarella), then breading and deep frying them into golden, crispy perfection.

Get the Arancini recipe.

This easy quesadilla is for those that love that steak, pepper, and melty cheese combo of a Philly cheesesteak but seek the crunch of a crispy tortilla over a hoagie. It’s quick and comforting and a fun spin on everyone’s favorite sandwich.

Get the Philly Cheesesteak Quesadilla recipe.

This is one of our favorite ways to prepare gnocchi. Roasting gives the pasta a slightly browned exterior while still maintaining a pillowy, chewy interior. To accompany the gnocchi, we are utilizing the flavors of caprese without relying on the seasonality of tomatoes. Enter beautiful and perfectly sweet bell peppers.

Get the Sheet-Pan Burrata Caprese Gnocchi recipe.

How do you improve upon the *perfection* that is classic chicken parm? Stuff it with even MORE cheese! It might sound overly indulgent, but trust us when we say that it's juuust right.

Get the Mozzarella-Stuffed Chicken Parm recipe.

These foil pack potatoes are the cheesy side your BBQ needs. They're great for camping too—the Parmesan and mozzarella might just sway even those who hate the outdoors.

Get the Campfire Potatoes recipe.

Nothing beats a fresh-out-of-the-oven pizza, and once you see how easy it is to make for yourself, you'll never order delivery again. Switch up the toppings and add your favorites to make it your own. Pepperoni, mushrooms, bell peppers, pineapple? You can have it all!

Get the Homemade Pizza recipe.

This bruschetta-inspired, mozzarella-topped chicken is incredible when tomatoes are at their peak mid-summer. We like to use use any big tomato that looks juicy at the farmers market—a colorful mix is always fun!

Get the Grilled Bruschetta Chicken recipe.

If you haven't experienced the flavor combo of prosciutto + melon, get on it STAT. It's the ultimate in sweet and salty.

Get the Melon Prosciutto Skewers recipe.

The great thing about regular Italian subs is how simple and adaptable they are, and this one is no different. Feel free to swap in and out your favorite ingredients, but don't skip the Parmesan garnish. It adds a bit of nutty, cheesy texture you'll look forward to in every bite.

Get the Sheet-Pan Italian Subs recipe.

Rather than toast the bread cubes on their own for this summery salad, you'll roast them alongside tomatoes, onion, and garlic. The tomatoes burst as they roast, mixing their juices with the bread and fresh arugula. The combination of roasted tomatoes, toasted bread coated with Parmesan, fragrant garlic, and mozzarella ends up tasting like pizza. Yum!

Get the Sheet-Pan Panzanella recipe.

Need a quick brunch meal on the fly? We bet you’ve got the ingredients for this in your kitchen already. If you've got eggs, canned white beans, shredded mozzarella, and some marinara, you've got breakfast! The best part? This easy, cheesy recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes.

Get the Cheesy White Bean Skillet recipe.

Calzones are seriously underrated. They're basically an individual pizza all wrapped up, with no cheese sliding off or floppy crusts. Just pure deliciousness wrapped up in a pillowy dough—what more could you want?

Get the Calzone recipe.

The magic of a little freshly grated nutmeg is most pronounced in dairy, making stuffed shells a perfect occasion to use this special spice. You can choose between Parmesan or pecorino cheese to pair with mozzarella—both are delicious.

Get the Stuffed Shells With Spinach recipe.

All we want in life is bread and cheese and this is the perfect way to get both. It is the ultimate tear and share appetizer that is amazing for any party or, you know... just when you want an extra fun dose of garlic bread. You can serve it all by itself but you can also prepare a dipping sauce, like marinara.

Get the Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread recipe.

This salad has ALL the toppings, and is SO adaptable. Not a fan of olives? Only have feta cheese? Vegetarian? No problem! You can swap pretty much anything into this hearty salad.

Get the Antipasto Salad recipe.

What sets these potatoes apart is we take the time to hasselback the potatoes by making slices through the potato to create ridges that will not only help to make the potatoes extra crispy, but also allows the garlic butter, cheese, and herbs to coat every inch of them.

Get the Garlic Butter Potatoes recipe.

To recreate the beloved pizza hot pocket, we used canned pizza dough, store-bought marinara, shredded mozzarella, and pepperoni. The egg wash gives the crust a beautiful shine and helps it get golden brown.

Get the Copycat Pizza Hot Pockets recipe.

This is our take on classic stuffed mushrooms: they're simple and insanely delicious. Cream cheese, bacon, and spinach make a classic combo while tomatoes and mozzarella add a pop of freshness. The buttery panko topping then puts it all over the top.

Get the Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms recipe.

These gorgeous stuffed peppers are everything you love about a caprese salad, turned into an easy summertime meal. Don't skip the final drizzle of balsamic glaze, it takes these over the top.

Get the Caprese Chicken Stuffed Peppers recipe.

These manicotti are the epitome of comfort food. When you're craving cheese and carbs, there's really nothing better. If you're craving this but you want something a little lighter, try our zucchini manicotti! All the cheesy goodness you love, no noodles involved.

Get the Cheese Manicotti recipe.

This stuffed chicken breast recipe is a veritable rainbow of bright summery veggies and mozzarella cheese. Feel free to use your favorite produce, as long as you keep it colorful!

Get the Primavera-Stuffed Chicken recipe.

Chaffles, or cheese waffles, are the keto-friendly version of waffles made from mozzarella and almond flour. We made these savory so you could pile them high with your favorite breakfast foods. Looking for something a little sweeter? Try our cinnamon roll chaffles!

Get the Keto Chaffle recipe.

You won't regret swapping your favorite cheese with mozzarella for this Greek-inspired grilled cheese. We love this full of feta, kalamatas, and roasted red peppers, but feel free to swap in additional ingredients too if you like.

Get the Greek Grilled Cheese recipe.

Serve this easy copycat Olive Garden fondue with toasty baguette, crunchy fruit like apples or pears, or crudité veggies.

Get the Smoked Mozzarella Fondue recipe.

This is our absolute fave panini combo (pesto on everything, please!), but feel free to change it up for whatever sauce you've got kicking around.

Get the Chicken Pesto Panini recipe.

A meatball sub is the definition of comfort: saucy meatballs, melty cheese, toasted bread...what more could you want? Our meatballs are what make it: a combo of diced celery, carrots, onion, and garlic, with both beef and pork (the oldest trick in the book).

Get the Meatball Subs recipe.

If you like eggplant Parm, eggplant rollatini will be right up your alley. Eggplants are sliced thin, breaded, and fried to golden perfection, rolled with creamy ricotta filling then baked, surrounded by delicious red sauce and a generous sprinkling of melty mozzarella and nutty Parmesan.

Get the Eggplant Rollatini recipe.