14 Mozzarella Recipes That'll Leave You Wanting More (2024)

Mozzarella is a perennial favorite, whether adorning pizzas, summery Caprese salads, or cold-weather comfort food classics like lasagna and baked ziti. In this collection of mozzarella-packed favorites, you will find recipes that use the cheese in all its forms: fresh and firm, aged and melty, or fashioned with cream into a big oozy ball of burrata. For those whose love of mozzarella runs especially deep, we recommend trying your hand at making fresh mozzarella from scratch.

  • Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina (Baked Gnocchi With Tomato and Mozzarella)

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    Gnocchi alla Sorrentina is a Southern Italian baked pasta starring plump potato gnocchi. The secret to success is getting each component right, from the tomato sauce to the torn pieces of fior di latte mozzarella, and to use homemade gnocchi that hold their shape but remain tender.

    Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina

  • Marinated Mozzarella, Cherry Tomato, and Basil Salad

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    Here, cherry-sized mozzarella balls (ciliegine) are marinated in extra virgin olive oil, fresh basil, salt, and pepper, and then tossed with sweet cherry tomatoes and golden balsamic vinegar—a flavorful rendition of a classic (but sometimes bland) dish. Since this salad utilizes cherry tomatoes, it's inherently more versatile than a classic Caprese, which really ought to be made with peak-summer slicing tomatoes.

    Marinated Mozzarella, Cherry Tomato, and Basil Salad

  • Korean-Style Fire Chicken (Buldak) With Cheese

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    Chargrilled chicken thighs, slathered in a spicy gochujang-spiked glaze and topped off with a layer of gooey, melted mozzarella is messy, greasy, bar-food perfection.

    Korean-Style Fire Chicken (Buldak) With Cheese

  • Korean Corn Cheese

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    This sizzling skillet of sautéed onion, sweet corn kernels, and melted mozzarella is seasoned with a few spoonfuls of savory, funky doenjang paste and Chinese mustard powder. It's perfect for enjoying straight out of the oven while the cheese is nice and gooey.

    Korean Corn Cheese

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  • Baked Ziti With Two Mozzarellas and Parmesan Cream Sauce

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    Two mozzarellas—low-moisture and fresh—deliver both the best melting properties and the best fresh milky flavor to this upgraded take on baked ziti. The parmesan cream sauce stands in for the usual ricotta or cottage cheese, which has a smoother, more luxurious texture. For a more traditional take, try Kenji's recipe for no-boil baked ziti.

    Baked Ziti With Two Mozzarellas and Parmesan Cream Sauce

  • Rich and Creamy Saffron Arancini With Mozzarella

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    Made with short-grain rice and a rich bechamel, these arancini fry up with a crispy crust, a tender, creamy filling, and a core of molten mozzarella.

    Rich and Creamy Saffron Arancini With Mozzarella

  • Crostini With Blistered Cherry Tomatoes, Burrata and Chive Oil

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    The building blocks of a classic Caprese salad are re-imagined in these summery toasts. First, cherry tomatoes are blistered in a skillet until bursting with juice. Then, creamy burrata takes the place of standard fresh mozzarella. Instead of basil leaves, a quick and easy chive oil is drizzled over the toasts.

    Crostini With Blistered Cherry Tomatoes, Burrata and Chive Oil

  • Foolproof Pan Pizza

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    Say the word "mozzarella" and most people automatically think of pizza. Obviously, listing favorite recipes from our vast archive of pizza recipes is beyond the scope of this round-up. However, we would be remiss not to add at least one recipe as a reminder of all the delicious applications for mozzarella. Enter Kenji's extremely popular recipe for pan pizza, which requires little more than a scale, a few bowls, and a cast iron skillet—no baking steel or fancy outdoor oven required.

    Foolproof Pan Pizza

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  • Mozzarella-Stuffed Crispy Baked Onion Rings

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    If you've ever struggled to choose between mozzarella sticks and onion rings, you know how difficult ordering bar food can be. But what if there was an appetizer that combined them both, so you'd never have to face such a cruel and impossible decision again? Try this mash-up app and enter a brave new world.

    Mozzarella-Stuffed Crispy Baked Onion Rings

  • Hasselbacked Melted-Mozzarella and Garlic-Butter Bagels

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    Cutting a bagel vertically, like a Hasselback potato, makes more of its dense and tender crumb available to soak up garlic butter and hold gobs of melted mozzarella cheese.

    Hasselbacked Melted-Mozzarella and Garlic-Butter Bagels

  • Grilled Mozzarella Sandwiches With Mortadella, Pesto, and Artichokes

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    These crisp grilled cheese sandwiches are filled with melted mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced marinated artichoke hearts, pesto, and mortadella. A little anchovy punches up the savory flavor of each bite.

    Grilled Mozzarella Sandwiches With Mortadella, Pesto, and Artichokes

  • Baked Saffron Risotto With Mozzarella and Crispy Topping

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    Risotto is not exactly a make-ahead food—no matter what tricks you use, it always requires last-minute finishing right before serving. But by using the tricks we developed for rice balls, it's possible to turn a classicallya-la-minutedish into a make-ahead baked casserole. Like baked mac and cheese, but with rice.!

    Baked Saffron Risotto With Mozzarella and Crispy Topping

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  • The Best Chicken Parmesan

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    Kenji's recipe for this Italian-American classic is made even better with a buttermilk brine for tender chicken, a flavorful breading, and slow-cooked red sauce. One of the highlights, of course, is a molten layer of mozzarella blanketing each tender, crispy cutlet. If you're craving smothered fried eggplant instead, check out our recipe for eggplant parm.

    The Best Chicken Parmesan

  • Ultra-Creamy Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna

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    Lasagna is another dish that we have covered extensively over the years at Serious Eats. This rich, hearty vegetarian lasagna recipe, stuffed with spinach and mushrooms, is particularly generous with the shredded whole milk mozzarella.

    Ultra-Creamy Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna

14 Mozzarella Recipes That'll Leave You Wanting More (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with a lot of mozzarella? ›

  1. Mozzarella Schnitzel. ...
  2. Heirloom Tomato & Cornbread Panzanella. ...
  3. Pizza Party Strata With Garlic Bread & Pepperoni. ...
  4. Tomato, Nectarine & Mozzarella Salad. ...
  5. Summer Farro Salad. ...
  6. Jim Lahey's No-Knead Pizza Dough + Margherita Pie. ...
  7. Easiest, Cheesiest Skillet Dip. ...
  8. Creamiest Baked Mac & Cheese.
May 9, 2023

Can you freeze fresh mozzarella? ›

It is possible to freeze mozzarella cheese; however, because it is a softer cheese you will have the most success when the mozzarella is shredded. Whereas a hard or semi-hard block of cheese will stay fresh in your freezer up to 6 months, fresh shredded cheeses such as mozzarella will last around 3-4 months.

What is the difference between mozzarella and burrata? ›

The Difference Between Burrata vs Mozzarella

Fresh mozzarella cheese is a semi-soft Italian cheese made from cow or water buffalo milk. Burrata cheese takes the mozzarella one step further — it’s mozzarella that’s formed into a pouch and then filled with soft, stringy curd and cream.

Does fresh mozzarella melt like shredded? ›

Fresh mozzarella does not melt well because it is stored in brine. Because of the high moisture content, fresh mozzarella releases water when it melts. This can ruin your pizza and make it watery. You can use processed mozzarella in your pizza, or you can use a mix of milk, half-and-half, or cream.

Why can't you freeze mozzarella cheese? ›

Freezing mozzarella can impact the texture slightly. Any moisture in the cheese or trapped on the surface of it (such as condensation) could expand and contract as it's frozen and thawed, giving you a more crumbly type of texture.

Can you freeze whole mozzarella cheese? ›

However, you may wonder whether you can freeze mozzarella cheese to extend its shelf life and reduce waste. The answer is yes, you can freeze mozzarella cheese, but there are some important factors to consider to ensure the best quality and safety.

Why does fresh mozzarella not melt well? ›

Because fresh mozzarella holds so much moisture, however, it can make pizza watery, thus ruining a delicious meal. Fortunately, there are some easy steps you can take to avoid soggy, watery pizza when melting fresh mozzarella.

Can I cut mold off mozzarella cheese? ›

Discard any soft cheese showing mold. For hard cheese, such as Cheddar, cut off at least 1-inch around and below the mold spot (keep the knife out of the mold itself). After trimming off the mold, the remaining cheese should be safe to eat.

How long does real mozzarella last in the fridge? ›

With proper storage in a refrigerator, mozzarella cheese can last for up to one to two weeks. In a freezer, mozzarella cheese can last longer, up to approximately three months. If you find any change of shape, color, taste, and aroma of any part of the cheese, cut and throw away that part.

What is the most expensive cheese in the world? ›

1. Pule Cheese - $600 Per Pound. Pule cheese is the most expensive cheese in the world because it is produced exclusively at Serbia's Zasavica Special Nature Reserve. This rare cheese is made from the milk of Balkan donkeys which are endangered and native to Serbia and Montenegro.

Why is burrata so expensive? ›

Making burrata is complicated due to the creamy center and even additional ingredients. This makes Burrata cheese more expensive than mozzarella.

Why is burrata suddenly popular? ›

Burrata has become an influencer in its own right. 'Burrata is one of those things that is so popular because it's incredibly simple, but it's luxurious. It's not that much more expensive than any other cheese,' says Sophie Wyburd, a chef and food content creator with more than 84,000 Instagram followers.

Why is my mozzarella rubbery on pizza? ›

Most of the domestic fresh Mozzarella that I've purchased tend to melt nicely in the oven, but tend to get rubbery if the pizza is allowed to sit more than a few minutes. In some cases, they go rubbery during the cooking process itself and are never soft.

Why is my fresh mozzarella rubbery? ›

Mozzarella is Dry and Rubbery

You may have stretched the curds too much. Simply let the cheese fall on its self a few times and put it in your container. It loses a lot of moisture during the stretching process.

Why does my homemade pizza get watery? ›

The steam from the base can't escape, so it condenses on your crispy surface and turns it wet and soggy. Use a pizza stone or a pan with holes to get a crispy pizza crust. A pizza stone will keep your pizza hot and its porousness will absorb some condensation.

How long does mozzarella last in the fridge? ›

With proper storage in a refrigerator, mozzarella cheese can last for up to one to two weeks. In a freezer, mozzarella cheese can last longer, up to approximately three months. If you find any change of shape, color, taste, and aroma of any part of the cheese, cut and throw away that part.

Can I freeze mozzarella in water? ›

Avoid freezing fresh mozzarella cheese as it looses its smooth texture and becomes a very dry and crumbly after defrosting. Fresh mozzarella has more water content, which causes crystals to develop in the freezer.

How do you preserve mozzarella cheese long term? ›

Store unopened packages of mozzarella in the freezer for 3 months. If you haven't punctured the vacuum seal of your cheese, store it in the freezer before you eat it. Thaw it in the fridge for 1 day before you use it. Don't store opened mozzarella in the freezer.

Is it OK to eat a lot of mozzarella cheese? ›

Is mozzarella cheese harmful? Consuming too many high-fat foods like mozzarella cheese can lead to an increased calorie intake and weight gain. Consuming too much saturated fat can increase your blood cholesterol levels and your risk for heart disease.

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