40 Recipes With Mozzarella That Are Cheesy Perfection
Too much mozzarella? Impossible.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf
In our humble opinion, there’s no such thing as too much cheese. Whether we’re talking macaroni and cheese, pimiento cheese, or a slow cooker full of Rotel dip, so many of our favorite Southern recipes revolve around cheese. Today, we’ve rounded up a collection of our best recipes that use mozzarella cheese. Mozzarella comes in many forms, from tiny pearls for appetizers and salads, to soft circles for topping pizzas, to shredded pieces for sprinkling on decadent pasta bakes, and these mozzarella recipes showcase it in all its glory. Whether you’re looking for a comforting classic like lasagna or baked ziti, or you want to jazz up suppertime with homemade calzones or pizza sliders, these mozzarella recipes are certified crowd pleasers. Get the kids involved at dinner with a make-your-own pizza night, or serve the winning appetizer at the tailgate with one of our creamy dip recipes that features mozzarella. Go ahead and turn your buggy down the dairy aisle—you’re going to want to make every one of these recipes with dreamy mozzarella cheese.
Pizza Sliders
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Give us a recipe that starts with Hawaiian sweet rolls, and we’re all in. These easy Pizza Sliders will be a favorite for weeknight dinners and tailgates alike.
Sausage-Pimiento Cheese Pasta Rollups
We’re always thinking of new ways to Southern-up a recipe, and this pimiento cheese-filled pasta dinner is the latest and greatest. It’s pretty enough for company but comes together quickly.
Mini Caprese Bites
This no-cook appetizer couldn’t be easier to throw together, and it’s light enough that it won’t spoil dinner for hungry guests.
Chicken Alfredo Lasagna
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey
Recipe mash-ups like this one, which combines chicken Alfredo and lasagna, just give you twice as much to love! Plus, you can prep it ahead of time, cover well, and freeze for up to two months.
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
With shredded mozzarella and mozzarella pearls, this filling pizza recipe features double the mozzarella goodness. Swap pickled sliced banana peppers for jalapeños if you want a bigger kick.
Chicken Parmesan Casserole
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf
If you’re looking to get your chicken parmesan fix in an easy way that still looks worthy for company, look no further. “Like a lazy man's chicken parm. DELICIOUS. Whole family loved it,” wrote one reviewer.
Easiest-Ever Pasta Salad
FRED HARDY, FOOD STYLIST: MARGARET MONROE DICKEY, PROP STYLIST: CALEB CLARKE
Store-bought ingredients like mini mozzarella pearls, marinated artichoke hearts, bottled Italian salad dressing, diced salami, and more come together to make a colorful pasta salad that only tastes better the longer it marinates.
Million Dollar Spaghetti
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
This million dollar dish will be your new go-to pasta bake. Because it freezes beautifully for up to three months, it’s a great option to bring to a family you know who’s in a time of need.
Mini Muffuletta Sandwiches
Bring a little New Orleans to your next party with these flavorful mini sandwiches. We loved what one five-star review had to say about this recipe: “I made these sandwiches for our New Orleans-themed Christmas Eve. I thought they'd be overshadowed by the hot appetizers on the table, but they were far and away everyone's favorite! They were also the easiest recipe I put together that day. My mom liked them so much, she served them at her New Year's Eve party, too.”
Broccoli-Sausage Pizza
Veggies taste infinitely better when they’re atop a pizza, don’t you agree? This simple recipe uses turkey sausage for a lightened-up swap that still has plenty of flavor.
Our Best Lasagna
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
From macaroni and cheese to lemon meringue pie, we don’t use the word “best” lightly around here. You can trust this lasagna will be a hit with your family.
Spaghetti Squash Casserole
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
You will never guess that this low-carb, cheesy casserole doesn’t have real spaghetti in it. Because you have to roast and scrape the spaghetti squash strands, it does take more time than your average pasta bake.
Hot Crab-And-Artichoke Dip
This elegant appetizer was made for busy hosts. Endive leaves are a fun option to add color to your serving dish alongside crackers.
Baked Ziti
Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
When it comes to cheesy pasta bakes, it doesn’t get more classic than Baked Ziti. It has all the comforting flavor of lasagna without all the hands-on time spent layering ingredients.
Butternut Squash Lasagna
Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
This fresh fall recipe is a delicious way to enjoy lasagna without the meat. “My husband, who is a meat and potatoes guy, commented three times how good it was,” wrote a reviewer. “I thought the flavors were incredible-the sage, squash, and cheeses blended perfectly. We found it full of flavor!”
Sheet Pan Veggie Supreme Pizza
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
We love putting our sheet pan to work on busy weeknights, and this homemade pizza is our latest and greatest way to do so. A tip from the Test Kitchen: Drain your tomatoes on paper towels first to get rid of excess moisture and prevent a soggy pizza.
Chicken Caprese Pasta
This fresh, summery recipe proves that pasta night doesn’t have to be heavy. Store-bought shortcuts like jarred pesto and rotisserie chicken make it super quick.
Meatball Casserole
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Sure, you can make your meatballs from scratch, but we make this recipe super quick and easy by using frozen, and your supper crew will be none the wiser.
Warm Spinach-Sweet Onion Dip with Country Ham
This skillet dip was made with Southern tailgates in mind. With the addition of country ham and sautéed sweet onion, it’s like a kicked-up version of your usual spinach dip.
Classic Lasagna
“This recipe has been one of our go-tos at Southern Living for a while. It was first featured in our May 1982 issue,” says Senior Producer Ivy Odom.
Supreme Pizza
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Rishon Hanners, Prop Stylist Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland
Take our Test Kitchen’s advice for the best texture: "Using a very high oven temperature is a pro tip to getting that pizzeria-style crispiness, rise, and texture from your store-bought dough. A pizza stone ensures a crisp bottom crust. If you don't have one, use a baking sheet turned upside down."
Creamy Turkey Pasta Bake
Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Micah Morton, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner
Our Test Kitchen developed this recipe as a tasty new way to use up leftover Thanksgiving turkey, but you can enjoy it with rotisserie chicken for an average weeknight as well.
Lasagna Soup
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
We can’t imagine a better comfort food mash-up than lasagna and soup. The five-star reviews speak for themselves on this one, y’all!
Spinach-Artichoke Dip
When you hear the words “party dip,” Spinach-Artichoke Dip is probably the first recipe that comes to mind. This recipe is particularly creamy thanks to mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, cream cheese, and mayo.
Pizza Casserole
Southerners will turn anything into a casserole if we can help it. “It looks like pizza, smells even better than pizza, and it’s got pasta in it. What more is there to love?” says Senior Producer Ivy Odom.
White Calzones with Marinara Sauce
What’s better than pizza night? Calzone night! This is a fun recipe to have the kids help you put together on a Friday evening.
Mexican Street Corn Pizza
This vegetarian pizza is a fun way to serve even the pickiest eaters some veggies, but you can add chicken to it for a protein boost.
Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip
The best thing about slow-cooker dips is not only how easy they are, but that you can keep them warm during the entire party right there in the slow cooker.
Easy Chicken Parmesan
Stacy Allen; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood
We love what one five-star reviewer had to say about our Test Kitchen’s easy take on chicken parmesan: “Delicious, best I've Ever eaten, even from some Big Time Italian Restaurants. It's easy, fast And Scrumptious!!!”
Pizza Pepper Poppers
With just five ingredients and 10 minutes of hands-on time, you can serve up these precious (and low-carb!) appetizers for any occasion.
Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole
You can basically find a pound of ground beef in our freezer at all times, and we’re always looking for inventive ways to use it on our busy weeknights. This comforting casserole is a surefire way to please a crowd for days on end.
Chicken Cannelloni With Roasted Red Bell Pepper Sauce
Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
This baked pasta dish is pretty and delicious. A jar of Alfredo sauce is a shortcut ingredient no one will detect.
Baked Caprese Chicken With Green Beans and Corn
This sheet-pan recipe gives you a well-rounded meal in just one dish. All of the reviews for it are five stars, with one reader even writing, “Absolutely loved it, so many flavors dancing on your taste buds.”
French Onion Chicken Casserole
Craving French onion soup but need something more filling for your family supper? Meet your match!
Creamy Corn Jalapeño Poppers
Antonis Achilleos, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Andrea Fanning
If you think that once you’ve tried one jalapeño popper recipe, you’ve tried them all, think again. This version utilizes fresh summer corn and a surprise ingredient, miso, for a flavor boost.
Skillet-Baked Ziti with Andouille, Tomatoes, and Peppers
We added a Southern touch to classic baked ziti with Andouille sausage. You can serve this hearty dinner family-style right from the skillet.
Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad
HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; PROP STYLING: LYDIA PURSELL; FOOD STYLING: TONI BROGAN
This colorful summer salad is a beautiful way to let fresh ingredients shine. Our Test Kitchen pros say it’s best served at room temperature (not straight from the refrigerator).
Rigatoni With Grilled Veggies and Mozzarella
The beauty of this summery pasta is that it can be enjoyed warm with the veggies fresh of the girl or chilled the next day for lunch.
West Virginia Pepperoni Rolls
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Dailey
This iconic state recipe makes for a fun appetizer for adults or after-school snack for the kids.
Three-Cheese Pasta Bake
What’s better than one cheese? Three, of course! Our Test Kitchen recommends adding chicken, shrimp, or sausage to this pasta bake to elevate it to main dish status.
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