Caprese is the best salad in disguise ever. It tastes delicious, and its ingredients are packed with health benefits--all without a single piece of spinach or romaine lettuce in sight. Its simplicity makes it a perfectly versatile dish, easy to dress up and down.

Caprese lovers, rejoice: here are three easy and delicious ways to spice up the mozzarella, tomato and basil classic. They are sure to make an easy lunch, a quick snack or a simple meal that's perfect for sharing.

Caprese Pasta Salad

  • Prep Time:5 mins
  • Cook Time:15 mins
  • Total Time:20 mins
  • Servings:3
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 1 box 16-oz rotini pasta
  • 1 8-oz container grape or cherry tomatoes
  • 1 8-oz container mozzarella pearls
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup pesto
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
  • Salt and pepper to taste
pasta, macaroni, tomato, spaghetti, salad, vegetable
Rachel Hellman
  • Step 1

    Cook pasta according to box directions.

    soup, vegetable, broth, cream
    Rachel Hellman
  • Step 2

    Cut the tomatoes in half.

    vegetable, tomato, cherry tomato, pasture
    Rachel Hellman
  • Step 3

    Add olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and pesto to the pasta.

    pasta, fusilli, sauce
    Rachel Hellman
  • Step 4

    Add the tomato, mozzarella pearls and basil.

    pasta, fusilli, salad, tomato, basil
    Rachel Hellman
  • Step 5

    Mix well and enjoy!

    pasta, macaroni, vegetable, spaghetti, tomato
    Rachel Hellman

Caprese Calzone

  • Prep Time:5 mins
  • Cook Time:10 mins
  • Total Time:15 mins
  • Servings:4
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 1 tube Pillsbury pizza crust
  • 2 Roma tomatoes
  • 4 oz. mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil
bread, dough, pastry, flour
Rachel Hellman
  • Step 1

    Preheat oven to 425° F. Divide and lay out the pizza crust.

    cake, dairy product, bread, pastry, sweet
    Rachel Hellman
  • Step 2

    Slice the tomatoes.

    vegetable, tomato
    Rachel Hellman
  • Step 3

    Place the tomato, mozzarella and basil on the pizza dough.

    basil, tomato, mozzarella
    Rachel Hellman
  • Step 4

    Fold over the pizza dough and seal.

    dough, flour, dairy product, pastry, bread, meringue, dumpling, cream, sweet
    Rachel Hellman
  • Step 5

    Bake calzones for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown, and enjoy immediately.

    bread, dough, pastry, flour
    Rachel Hellman

Caprese Avocado Toast

  • Prep Time:5 mins
  • Cook Time:0
  • Total Time:5 mins
  • Servings:2
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 pieces toasted bread
  • 4 oz. fresh mozzarella
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
avocado, toast, tomato, bruschetta, cherry, bread, salad, sandwich
Rachel Hellman
  • Step 1

    Scoop out the center of the avocados.

    vegetable, salad, lettuce, herb
  • Step 2

    Mash in the lemon juice, salt and pepper.

    vegetable, herb, spinach, salad, pasta
  • Step 3

    Slice the tomatoes in half.

    vegetable, tomato, cherry tomato, cherry
    Rachel Hellman
  • Step 4

    Spread the avocado mixture on the toasted bread.

    avocado, toast, guacamole, bread, sandwich
    Rachel Hellman
  • Step 5

    Layer on tomato and mozzarella, and lightly drizzle Balsamic vinegar on top.

    avocado, cherry, tomato, bruschetta, toast, bread, sandwich, cherry tomato
    Rachel Hellman

After trying these three simple but delicious recipes, I hope you feel as if you have just taken a short vacation to the coast of Italy. Not only did you make something delicious in just a few minutes, but you put wholesome ingredients in your body (read: win-win-win).