Easy Burrata Appetizer with Garlicky Cherry Tomatoes

With just a handful of simple ingredients, this Burrata Appetizer is not only flavorful but stupid easy! Garlicky, roasted tomatoes and creamy burrata cheese are a match made in heaven.

This easy appetizer is great for parties and your friends will think you spent way more time on this recipe than you did. Served on toasted crostini slices, it’s one of those comfort food recipes you’ll crave!

This post was originally published in June, 2015 and has now been updated with better directions so you can make this roasted cherry tomato appetizer perfectly every time.

Until my sister-in-law served me roasted cherry tomatoes as a side dish during a family meal, I would have never even thought to make a cherry tomato appetizer. But now I want it all the time. It’s that good.

This Tomato and Burrata Appetizer Recipe is a Crowd Pleaser

Burrata with tomatoes is one of my favorite easy appetizers to make when I have people coming over. Or if I just want something extra delicious. Burrata is so super creamy and the tomatoes are sweet and flavorful.

They work together in this appetizer like a dream. And of course, anything you can eat on a nice piece of toasty bread is A+ in my book! One of my favorite things about this recipe is that you can make it ahead of time and then serve it at room temperature!

This could also be called Roasted Tomato Burrata Bruschetta but because I don’t pre-spoon that garlicky goodness onto the bread for you, it’s more like a dip. (Also you need to try my Bruschetta Chicken. YUM!)

No time to roast the tomatoes? Try this Burrata with Basil Oil and Garlic instead.

Ingredient Notes

This Burrata Appetizer recipe doesn’t take a lot of ingredients which means you need to make sure you use the best quality you can. And I find it pretty crazy that I’m not a big tomato fan but cherry tomatoes are a favorite of mine.

Cherry tomatoes are easy to find and are in season year-round. They are easy to work with and aren’t too full of moisture. If you need to substitute them, you can use plum tomatoes or another small, sweet tomato-like grape tomatoes.

Beefsteak and Roma tomatoes would not be as delicious.

Fresh, minced garlic will give you the best flavor but if you don’t have any, you can use jarred. I always have these garlic tubes in my fridge in case I run out as a backup.

A baguette, sliced up and toasted in the broiler with a little olive oil is the perfect way to shove that tasty burrata and the sweet tomatoes into your mouth hole.

What is Burrata?

Burrata is a type of mozzarella cheese. But it’s so much more than that. It’s cream-filled. It’s not exactly a liquid cream, but it is a super creamy, really thin version of the mozzarella that surrounds this delicious center.

When you cut into it, the center slowly oozes out. And the flavor pairs so well with all kinds of bright, fresh produce flavors, especially cherry tomatoes. 

I can usually find burrata at most grocery stores but I know that Trader Joe’s keeps it stocked pretty much all the time (Trader Joe’s package comes with 2 balls in one package. Use 1 or both depending on how many guests you have or how much you like cheese). Most higher-end grocery stores, with a nice upgraded cheese department, should have it.

Traditional mozzarella will work as well and be only minor-ly less delicious. Or you can skip the cheese altogether and just eat the roasted tomatoes.

But that’d be crazy. To skip the cheese, I mean. Cheese is life. And then I found a version of burrata with BLACK TRUFFLE!!!!!! Get that! Totally get that one.

Burrata is also a great salad topping which you should try out on an Arugula Salad topped with Peaches and Balsamic.

How to Make a Roasted Cherry Tomato Appetizer with Burrata

The prep is super simple. But you won’t believe how rich and flavorful this Burrata Appetizer is.

To Make the Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

1. Slice cherry tomatoes in half.
2. Cover a cookie sheet with tin foil and spray with cooking oil (the tomatoes have natural sugars that will burn on the cookie sheet and make cleaning a real pain!).
3. Put cut tomatoes on the cookie sheet.
4. Add 2-3 minced garlic cloves.
5. Stir to combine and toss with 1 TBSP olive oil.
6. Roast in a 325 oven for about 20 minutes.
7. When done, sprinkle generously with Maldon sea salt.
8. Let cool for a minute.

Yes, cutting cherry tomatoes sounds a little tedious. But it goes quickly and I find I like the end result better this way than if I don’t cut them. A small serrated knife keeps things quick and easy.

You can skip that part in a pinch though. Some of the cherry tomatoes will burst in cooking, but you get a much more decadent flavor if the tomatoes are cut before roasting.

To Make the Crostini

1. Slice the french baguette in pieces of even thickness.
2. Drizzle a little bit of olive oil on one side and toast on a cookie sheet in a 325 degree oven for approximately 8 minutes.

Do not over toast the bread! You could even skip that part if you had to. Toasting the bread gives a great base for creamy cheese and moist tomatoes. But if it’s too hard it breaks all over and you’ll end up wearing your new favorite burrata appetizer.

How to Serve

Plop your burrata into a rimmed dish or bowl. Yes, that’s a highly technical kitchen term. Make sure it’s in the center and then spoon roasted cherry tomatoes with garlic right over it.

This tomato and burrata appetizer can be eaten hot or at room temperature which makes it great for entertaining.

And top it off with a little bit more sea salt. Because you just have to. Sea salt makes EVERYTHING better.

And if you want, you can drizzle a little extra olive oil over the top as well. Whatever floats your boat.

I love that I can make this roasted cherry tomato appetizer with burrata ahead of when guests arrive and can then hang out with them instead of getting stuck in the kitchen.

Also, your guests will for sure ask you for the recipe and won’t believe you when you tell them it is just cherry tomatoes and garlic. It couldn’t be easier or more delicious! 

I also use these exact same roasted tomatoes recipe in scrambled egg whites with a little arugula (amazing!) and in my favorite farro salad. I always try to make an extra-large batch so I can eat these a bunch of different ways.

And I’m not saying YOU should eat this for dinner but it makes a great dinner when you want something tart and creamy and salty and crunchy. 

This recipe is inspired by Simply Happenstance. Those gals are awesome and make delicious food!

Tips and Tricks

• You can easily give this tomato appetizer caprese vibes by adding chopped, fresh basil to it.
• If you want an extra cozy recipe, go ahead and bake the burrata right along with the tomatoes and garlic, just put everything in a baking dish instead of a baking sheet.
• Burrata can be served without tomatoes and just drizzled in a good quality EVOO and topped with fresh cracked pepper or some herbs.
• For a lighter appetizer idea, skip roasted the cherry tomatoes and slice up some ripe heirloom tomatoes to pair with the burrata. Olive oil and sea salt are all the finishing touch you need.
• To make this Burrata Appetizer more visually appealing for a party, you can compose these ingredients on a plate. Take the sliced crostini, slather on some of the creamy burrata then top with a spoonful of the roasted tomatoes. Finish with sea salt and a sprig of micro-herbs. Yeah, I said micro-herbs.

More Easy Appetizer Recipes

• These crispy Baked Salami Chips are a perfect party food appetizer! It’s a unique snack that your guests will love.
• Feeling nostalgic? Serve the Best Cheese Ball EVER! It’s easy to make ahead and full of flavor that your guests won’t stop eating.
• Truffle Buttered Cheerios are an unexpected treat that you can and should share with friends.
• This Rose and Sumac Goat Cheese Log Appetizer is out of this world. This is a show-stopping recipe, for sure, and still SO easy!

This yummy Burrata Appetizer with roasted cherry tomatoes will have your guests thinking you spent all day on this delicious dish when it’s really the easiest recipe ever! 

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