Description
A delicious and creamy Caprese Dip that combines roasted cherry tomatoes, basil pesto, and a blend of melted cheeses for a crowd-pleasing appetizer. Perfectly baked until golden and bubbly, this dip is served warm alongside crusty bread, crackers, or tortilla chips.
Ingredients
Scale
Roasted Tomatoes
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes (divided)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons basil pesto (homemade or store bought)
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
- Red pepper flakes, to taste
Cheese Mixture
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup fresh chopped basil
- 8 ounces low-moisture mozzarella cheese, cut into chunks
- 8 ounces shredded provolone cheese
- 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
For Serving
- Crusty bread, crackers, or tortilla chips
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F and position the oven rack in the middle to ensure even cooking.
- Roast Cherry Tomatoes: Place 1 cup of whole cherry tomatoes in the bottom of a 2-quart baking dish or cast iron skillet. Drizzle with olive oil, then add basil pesto, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Toss gently to coat all the tomatoes evenly. Bake for 15 minutes to soften and infuse the tomatoes with flavor.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: While the tomatoes are roasting, combine the sour cream and fresh chopped basil in a bowl. Add the mozzarella chunks, shredded provolone, and freshly grated parmesan cheese, mixing thoroughly until well combined.
- Combine Tomatoes and Cheese: Once the tomatoes finish roasting, add the cheese mixture to the baking dish with the tomatoes. Toss them together to mix well. Cut the remaining 1 cup of cherry tomatoes in half and arrange them evenly on top of the cheese mixture.
- Final Bake: Return the dish to the oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes. Bake until the cheese has melted fully, the top is slightly golden, and the edges are bubbling.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh basil just before serving. Serve the warm dip with crusty bread, crackers, or tortilla chips for dipping.
Notes
- Use low-moisture mozzarella for best melting results and less moisture in the dip.
- If you prefer a spicier dip, increase the red pepper flakes slightly.
- Fresh basil added after baking preserves its vibrant flavor and color.
- For a lighter version, substitute sour cream with Greek yogurt.
- This dip can be made ahead and refrigerated, but for best texture, reheat before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Caprese dip, roasted tomato dip, cheesy dip, basil pesto dip, Italian appetizer, party dip, baked cheese dip
