By Christie Vanover | Published January 30, 2015 | Last Updated November 28, 2023
Caprese sandwich sliders are individual servings of caprese salad (basil, tomato and mozz) layered between King’s Hawaiian Rolls. The classic combination is then smothered with butter and Italian dressing.
Hawaiian roll sliders with tomato, basil and mozzarella
Caprese is a classic Italian salad with layers of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil. It’s a light fresh dish, but it’s not exactly finger food.
These sliders, made with King’s Hawaiian Rolls, sandwich the vibrant flavors between soft, tender rolls, making them the perfect party food.
Caprese Sandwich Recipe with Hawaiian Roll Sliders
Ingredients
- 24 King’s Hawaiian Honey Wheat Rolls
- 1 bunch of fresh basil
- 6 tomatoes sliced
- 16 ounces fresh mozzarella sliced
- 1 stick ½ cup melted butter
- 2 tablespoons Italian dressing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Line a 13×9 pan with foil, allowing some to overhang, so you can pull the finished sliders out.
- Leave the rolls connected and cut them in half. Place the bottoms in the pan.
- Place basil on top.
- Slice the tomatoes and pat with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Cover the basil with a single layer of tomatoes.
- Add a layer of sliced mozzarella.
- Combine the melted butter and Italian dressing in a bowl. Pour over the rolls. Cover with foil and let set for 10 minutes.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and cook for 5 more minutes.
- Lift the foil out of the pan, and serve warm.
Nutrition
The nutrition information is an estimate created using an online nutrition calculator
Ingredients for Italian Hawaiian Sliders
This recipe only requires a few ingredients. Most can be found in the produce, bakery and deli sections of your local grocery store.
- King’s Hawaiian Rolls: Look for these near the bakery section at the grocery store. I like using the Honey Wheat Rolls, but any variety will work.
- Fresh Basil: You’ll find this in the produce section, often near the tomatoes.
- Fresh Tomatoes: Look for large ripe tomatoes that are bright red.
- Fresh Mozzarella Cheese: This comes in a log and is usually located in the deli section of your grocery store near the fancier cheeses.
- Stick Butter: Use salted or unsalted.
- Italian Dressing: This will add great zesty flavor to the rolls.
Substitutions: Instead of fresh basil, you can use store-bought pesto or homemade pesto.
How to make caprese sandwiches
Start by heating the oven to 350F degrees. You can bake 12 at a time in a 13×9 pan.
Line the pan with aluminum foil so that it overlaps the sides. When the caprese sliders are done, just grab the foil by the sides and lift these colorful delights straight out of the pan.
- Keep the rolls connected and cut the whole package in half horizontally. Place the bottoms in the pan.
- Place basil on top.
- Slice the tomatoes and pat with a paper towel. Cover the basil with a single layer of tomatoes.
- Add a layer of sliced mozzarella.
✔️ PRO TIP
Patting the tomatoes dry with a paper towel removes excess moisture, so the sandwiches don’t get soggy.
- Combine the melted butter and Italian dressing in a bowl. Pour over the rolls. Cover with foil and let set for 10 minutes.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and cook for 5 more minutes or until the cheese is melted and the tops are golden brown.
- Lift the foil out of the pan, and serve warm.
How to serve caprese sandwiches
These simple caprese sandwiches taste best straight from the oven while the cheese is still soft and melted. But they’re also pretty amazing at room temperature.
Lift the foil out of the pan and cut the sliders into individual sandwiches. Then, pile on a party platter or plate and serve.
How to store caprese sliders
Leftover caprese sliders don’t hold up very well because over time the tomatoes may make the buns soggy.
If you do have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.
Caprese sandwiches include the basic ingredients from a classic caprese salad: fresh tomatoes, creamy fresh mozzarella cheese and fresh basil leaves.
Not really. While the tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese in caprese sandwiches have some health benefits, the rolls and the entire stick of butter that gets poured on top increase the fat, carb and calorie count significantly.
Caprese is an Italian word. The proper pronunciation is kah-PRAY-zay. If you can roll the R, you’re pronunciation will be even more authentic.
Anonymous says
These were very good but pouring the butter on top of the rolls turned out bad. It made the rolls very soggy on the bottom. I would suggest brushing thinly on all sides of bread and not pouring.
Beth Campbell says
These were tasty, but the basil turned quite dark and didn’t look very appetizing…perhaps I kept the sliders in the oven too long? I also wonder about the addition of either a balsamic/olive oil drizzle or smear of pesto. I agree that it is an adaptable recipe and a great alternative for guests who avoid meat!
Mina says
These were delicious and such a big hit at the party I took them to. The only thing was I had to leave them in a lot longer then directed. I left them in 10 minutes uncovered then an additional 10 covered. They were great though I will definitely make again.
Ecfinn says
Hi there, thanks for this recipe. Can you tell me what brand of Italian dressing you prefer for this recipe?
Lois says
I am getting ready for some entertaining my son’s wedding, Christmas and lots of family descending .Can I make these ahead of time and freeze them? I do that with the ham/cheese sliders but have some vegetarians coming and this looks great!
Ame says
I made these tonight for my vegetarian kids and they loved them. I kept seeing the recipe for the ham version pop up in my facebook feed so I went in search of a veg version and came across your website. These were perfect and such a quick dinner! I scaled it down and used a 4 pack of the Hawaiian rolls because I wasn’t sure how they could turn out. I ended up using a second 4 pack, they were such a hit!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
I just love how easy these sliders can be made in a large sheet pan – often the assembly of little sliders can be quite finnicky so it does put me off making them. I have to try this recipe out!
zestuous says
Thanks Thalia! It’s really easy and adaptable. Enjoy!