15-Minute Arugula Caprese Salad

I’m obsessed with classic caprese salad. However, I find that it’s a little tempting to want to eat serving after serving of the famous Italian appetizer. It’s almost too easy to forget that you’ve eaten nearly a block of cheese to yourself! That’s why I created this salad – to add a little greens to balance out the decadent mozzarella.

What’s an Arugula Caprese Salad?

An arugula caprese salad contains all the usual suspects of a classic caprese (sans the basil) and lays them on top of a bed of arugula. Below, find a quick rundown of the flavor, texture, and time it takes to pull this salad together. 

• Flavor: This salad is a trifecta of nutty mozzarella and avocado, sweet tomatoes, and arugula. All three flavors are brought together seamlessly with a slightly sweet, slightly salty vinaigrette.  
• Texture: This salad isn’t short on texture – you’ll get forkfuls of creamy mozzarella and avocado, juicy tomatoes, and crunchy arugula. 
• Time: From prep to table, this salad only takes 15 minutes.  

Assembling Arugula Caprese Salad

Assembling this arugula caprese salad is so simple you can hardly call it a recipe. Below, find a quick rundown of the recipe before you dive in. 

• Make the Dressing: Whisk the olive oil, honey balsamic vinegar, sea salt, black pepper, and lemon juice together. Set it aside.
• Dice the Cheese & Veggies: Dice the mozzarella cubes and the avocados into thin slices. Next, slice the cherry tomatoes in half. 
• Assemble the Salad: Place the arugula onto a serving platter or in a large bowl and top it with the avocado, mozzarella, and cherry tomatoes. Drizzle the dressing on top and give the salad a good toss. Enjoy immediately!

Ingredients for Arugula Caprese Salad

The key to a great arugula caprese salad is to use the freshest salad ingredients possible. Below, find a quick overview of the short ingredient list and a few helpful pointers for the grocery store. 

• Arugula – Fresh baby arugula adds such a nice subtle spice to the salad. If you don’t like it, swap it out for spinach or your favorite salad greens.
• Cherry Tomatoes – Cherry tomatoes are sweeter than full-size tomatoes and pop in your mouth when you bite into them. Opt for a multi-color variety to add more dimension to your salad. If you can’t find cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes will work just as well.
• Avocado – Use a ripe, yet still firm avocado. If your avocados are super hard, place them in a paper bag with a couple of apples overnight. This magic trick will soften them right up!
• Fresh Mozzarella – Use whole-packed fresh mozzarella or small mozzarella cheese balls.  
• Olive Oil – Use high-quality, 100% olive oil. Nothing compares to the taste over cheaper blends! 
• Balsamic Honey Vinegar – You can find honey-infused balsamic vinegar in most grocery stores or on Amazon. It’s sweet and salty!
• Lemon Juice – Fresh lemon juice adds just the right amount of citrus to the dressing.
• Salt & Pepper – Add the salt and pepper to the dressing last and adjust to taste. If you like it a bit more spicy, add a few more cracks of pepper.

Tasty Proteins to Add

If you don’t plan on serving this arugula caprese salad as a side, top it with your favorite protein for a filling meal. Below, find some tasty options to inspire you:

• Chicken: Air fryer chicken breasts or grilled chicken 
• Beef: Cast iron ribeye steak or air fryer steak bites 
• Seafood: Air fryer shrimp or oven-baked salmon

Storage Tips 

Once the salad has been tossed, it should be eaten within 2-3 hours. If you’d like to keep it on hand longer, store the dressing in a sealable canning jar or airtight container and toss it only before you plan to serve. The dressing should stay fresh for up to two weeks when stored properly.

FAQ

Other Tasty Salads to Try

• Beet And Goat Cheese Arugula Salad – Sweet beet and tangy goat cheese salad
• Farro Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette – Arugula base topped with farro, crisp apples and more, tossed in the best dressing
• Tomato Mozzarella Lettuce Salad – Tomato, mozzarella, and herb salad
• Ultimate Garden Salad Recipe – Simple garden salad
• Homemade Creamy Caesar Salad – Classic tangy caesar

Recipe

15-Minute Arugula Caprese Salad

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Servings

8 servings

Prep Time 15 mins

Total Time 15 mins

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

This arugula caprese salad is made with juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, buttery avocado, and a tangy vinaigrette. Crazy easy and so good!

Ingredients

• 2 cups arugula
• 2 large avocados
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup fresh mozzarella cheese

Dressing

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp balsamic honey vinegar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper to taste
• 1/4 tsp salt to taste

US Units – Metric

Instructions

• In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil, honey balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and lemon juice together. Set the dressing aside.
  
• Dice the fresh mozzarella and avocados into strips. Slice the cherry tomatoes in half.
  
• Place the arugula onto a serving platter, followed by the avocado, mozzarella, and cherry tomatoes.
  
• Drizzle the dressing over the salad and carefully toss to combine. Enjoy!
  

Nutrition Facts

15-Minute Arugula Caprese Salad

Amount Per Serving

Calories 160 Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Fat 14g22%

Saturated Fat 3g15%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 8g

Cholesterol 11mg4%

Sodium 168mg7%

Potassium 319mg9%

Carbohydrates 6g2%

Fiber 4g16%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 379IU8%

Vitamin C 11mg13%

Calcium 88mg9%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.