Easy Marinated Mozzarella Balls
These marinated mozzarella balls are truly one of the easiest appetizers you can make – and one of the most delicious too! Marinated in olive oil and the tastiest blend of fresh herbs and seasonings, your party guests will love these!
I think marinated cheese in general is an underrated appetizer. But let me tell you, they are truly one of the first appetizers gone at parties for a reason! Super delicious! Just serve these marinated mozzarella balls with toothpicks for easy eating! I also love to add a bowl of them to my larger charcuterie spreads.
Ingredient Notes for Marinated Mozzarella Balls
MOZZARELLA BALLS: The star of the show! You can find mozzarella balls at almost any grocery store, sometimes they’re called mozzarella pearls. You can also cut up larger mozzarella slices into small bites too.
EVOO: This recipe only has a few ingredients, so make sure you use high-quality extra-virgin olive oil because the taste makes all the difference!
RED WINE VINEGAR: This adds a delicious depth of flavor, but you can experiment with other vinegar varieties like champagne vinegar or balsamic vinegar too.
GARLIC: You’ll need two cloves of minced garlic. I recommend using fresh garlic cloves if possible.
HERBS: Use fresh herbs for this recipe. You’ll need 6 tablespoons total so I recommend 3 tablespoons of fresh basil, 2 tablespoons of fresh parsley, and 1 tablespoon of fresh thyme or other herb (rosemary, dill and chives are also great choices). If you want to use dried herbs, you’ll need to reduce the amount used.
RED PEPPER FLAKES: These add a little kick without being too spicy. You can adjust the amount to preference.
SALT & PEPPER: I’d start with 1/2 teaspoon of each, but you can add more or less to taste.
Make in Advance
Hosting a party can be a lot of work so take appetizers off the list because I actually encourage you to make this one in advance! Yes, make it a day or two before serving so the flavors have more time to meld together and marinate. Of course, you *can* make it right before eating, but if you have time, I suggest eating on day two for a richer flavor. They will last for up to 7 days in the refrigerator (in an airtight container).
I highly encourage you to play around in the kitchen and customize this recipe to your own favorite flavors! Here are a few more add-ins you can experiment with adding to your marinated mozzarella!
- Sun-Dried tomatoes
- Diced Olives
- Hot Sauce
- Lemon Zest
- Flavored Olive Oils
I think this is a great appetizer to serve for pizza night and lasagna or sphagetti night. It’s also a naturally low-carb appetizer!
I hope you enjoy this recipe! Here a few others I highly recommend too: Alabama Fire Crackers; Cream Cheese & Sausage Dip; Buffalo Chicken Wonton Cups.
Marinated Mozzarella Balls
Ingredients
- 16 ounces mozzarella balls (or "mozzarella pearls")
- 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 3 tablespoons fresh basil (finely chopped)
- 2 tabelspoons fresh parsley (finely chopped)
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme or rosemary (finely chopped (or any herb of choice))
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, fresh herbs, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.
- Add the drained mozzarella balls and stir to coat evenly.
- Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least an hour or until ready to serve. Olive oil can solidify in the refrigerator so be sure to remove at least 20 minutes prior to serving and stir well. Enjoy within 7 days.
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