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Elevate your appetizer game with these irresistible Caprese sandwich sliders. Perfect as appetizers or a quick lunch. 

Hawaiian Caprese Sliders from Zestuous

Hawaiian roll sliders with tomato, basil and mozzarella

Caprese sandwich sliders are individual servings of classic Caprese salad (fresh basil leaves, fresh tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese) layered between King’s Hawaiian Rolls. The classic combination is then smothered with butter and Italian dressing.

Caprese is a classic Italian salad with layers of creamy fresh mozzarella, juicy ripe 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.

This easy sandwich recipe is perfect for any occasion, whether you’re making them for a party, game day or an easy lunch. It’s the perfect combination of seasonal ingredients and delicious flavor. 

4.89 from 9 votes

Caprese Sandwich Recipe with Hawaiian Roll Sliders

Caprese sandwich sliders are individual servings of caprese salad (basil, tomato and mozz) layered between King’s Hawaiian Rolls.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 24 Sliders

Ingredients 

  • 24 King’s Hawaiian Honey Wheat Rolls
  • 1 bunch of fresh basil
  • 6 tomatoes, sliced
  • 16 oz fresh mozzarella, sliced
  • 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 stick
  • 2 tbls Italian dressing

Instructions 

  • Preheat: 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.
  • Cut: Leave the rolls connected and cut them in half. Place the bottoms in the pan.
  • Basil: Place basil on top.
  • Slice: Slice the tomatoes and pat with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Cover the basil with a single layer of tomatoes.
  • Mozzarella: Add a layer of sliced mozzarella.
  • Combine: Combine the melted butter and Italian dressing in a bowl. Pour over the rolls. Cover with foil and let set for 10 minutes.
  • Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and cook for 5 more minutes.
  • Serve: Lift the foil out of the pan, and serve warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 154kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 7gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.001gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 216mgPotassium: 88mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 385IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 99mgIron: 0.2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Italian
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Hawaiian Caprese Sliders from Zestuous

Ingredients for a caprese sandwich

  • King’s Hawaiian Honey Wheat Rolls: Typically found in the bakery section or bread aisle. Serves as the base for the sliders, providing a slightly sweet and soft texture.
  • Fresh basil: Adds a fragrant and herbaceous element to the sliders.
  • Tomatoes: Adds a refreshing contrast to the cheese and bread. Look for bright red, ripe tomatoes. 
  • Fresh mozzarella: Found in the cheese or deli section. Offers a creamy and mild flavor, creating a classic caprese combination with tomatoes and basil.
  • Melted butter: Adds richness and a glossy finish to the tops of the rolls.
  • Italian dressing: Provides a zesty and herby dressing for the sliders, tying all the flavors together and adding a touch of tanginess.

Substitutions: Instead of purchasing store-bought dressing, you can make your own. Alternatively, you can choose other types of bread, such as ciabatta rolls, sourdough bread, crusty bread or slices of bread and cut them into smaller portions for sliders. You can use whole milk mozzarella or skim mozzarella for the mozzarella cheese. 

See the full recipe card for servings and a full list of ingredients.

How to make caprese sandwiches

  1. PREHEAT: reheat the oven to 350F degrees. Line a 13×9 pan with foil, allowing some to overhang so you can pull the finished sliders out.
  2. CUT: Leave the rolls connected and cut them in half horizontally. Place the bottoms in the pan.
  3. BASIL: Place basil on top.
  4. SLICE: Slice the tomatoes into thick slices and pat them with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Cover the basil with a single layer of tomatoes.

✔️ PRO TIP

Patting the tomatoes dry with a paper towel removes excess moisture, so the sandwiches don’t get soggy.

  1. MOZZARELLA: Add a layer of sliced mozzarella.
  2. COMBINE: Combine the melted butter and Italian dressing in a bowl. Pour over the rolls. Cover with foil and let set for 10 minutes.
  3. BAKE: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and cook for 5 more minutes until the top of the sliders are golden brown.
  4. SERVE: Lift the foil out of the pan and serve warm.
Hawaiian Caprese Sliders from Zestuous

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.

Serve up these sandwiches with a side of pasta salad, fresh fruit, French Onion Beef Sliders or Giardiniera sausage stuffed mushrooms for a huge appetizer spread. 

Storage

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a caprese sandwich made of?

Caprese sandwiches include the basic ingredients from a classic caprese salad: fresh tomatoes, creamy fresh mozzarella cheese and fresh basil leaves.

Are caprese sandwiches healthy?

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.

How do you pronounce caprese?

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.

Can I add toppings other than Italian dressing?

Yes. Feel free to add some homemade pesto, store-bought pesto, olive oil, balsamic vinaigrette or a balsamic reduction instead.

What type of tomatoes should I use for these sandwiches?

Use whatever type of juicy tomatoes you can find. Some great options are Roma tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes or beefsteak tomatoes.

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Christie Vanover

About Zestuous

Hi. I’m Christie, the head cook and award-winning competitive pitmaster for Team Girls Can Grill. I have won multiple grand championships and have dozens of top ten category finishes. People know me as the girl who is forever hovering over a grill, smoker or campfire with tongs in one hand and a glass of wine in the other.


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Recipe Rating




9 Comments

  1. 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.

  2. 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!

  3. 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.

  4. 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!

  5. 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!

  6. 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!