This meal prep caprese arugula salad is an easy make-ahead lunch for the week. Marinated mozzarella cheese balls, vibrant and peppery arugula, ripened red grape tomatoes and a basil balsamic come together to make this simple but flavorful meal.
I could eat Caprese salads every day but sometimes I find myself craving some greens beyond the basil…which brings me to this meal prep Caprese arugula salad which adds a large bed of arugula and uses fresh basil in the balsamic dressing. These meal prep salads can be made ahead of time like on Sunday night to have as lunches during the week. They are convenient, delicious and so simple!
Beyond the ingredients you will need four meal prep containers and salad dressing jars – I can usually find some at Homegoods, but you can also order some from Amazon. For the dressing containers I sometimes even use little recycled jam jars.
Ingredients for Meal Prep Caprese Arugula Salad
I bought most of the ingredients for this salad at my local Trader Joe’s, but these ingredients are basic and should be available at most grocers.
Arugula is the perfect peppery and fresh base for this salad.
Marinated Fresh Mozzarella makes this Caprese extra flavorful! If you can’t find marinated mozarella balls you can definitely just use plain mozzarella balls and it will still be fine.
Sugar Plum Tomatoes or any cherry/grape sized tomatoes will do. Make sure they are firm and not too ripe because you want them to last for a few days!
Fresh Basil is chopped up and used in the simple balsamic dressing, if fresh basil is out of season you could use a little bit of dried basil instead.
Aged Balsamic is used in the dressing. You want a nice aged balsamic because the aging process makes it a bit sweeter which balances out the arugula.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the base for the dressing- basic, but important!
Avocado is an optional ingredient which should be added immediately before enjoying.
Instructions for Meal Prep Caprese Arugula Salad
First, divide the arugula between the four glass containers.
Then, divide the tomatoes and mozzarella between the four containers. I keep the arugula and mozzarella separated by placing the tomatoes between them… this way the marinade on the mozzarella doesn’t wilt the arugula.
In each salad dressing container add 2 teaspoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of aged balsamic vinegar, a pinch of minced fresh basil and salt and pepper to taste.
Place lid on the salad dressings, and then on the glass containers and refrigerate until use. This salad should last for 3-4 days.
*Feel free to add avocado to this salad. Add fresh avocado chunks right before you eat the salad.
Meal Prep Caprese Arugula Salad Recipe
Meal Prep Caprese Arugula Salad Recipe
This meal prep caprese arugula salad is an easy make-ahead lunch for the week. Marinated mozzarella cheese balls, vibrant and peppery arugula, ripened red grape tomatoes and a basil balsamic come together to make this simple but flavorful meal.
Ingredients
- 7 oz arugula greens
- 12 oz marinated mozzarella small ovals
- 16 oz sugar plum tomatoes
- 8 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 teaspoons aged balsamic vinegar
- handful fresh basil leaves
- salt and pepper
Instructions
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For this recipe you will need four meal prep salad containers and four small jars for the salad dressings.
-
First, divide the arugula between the four glass containers.
-
Then, divide the tomatoes and mozzarella between the four containers. I keep the arugula and mozzarella separated by placing the tomatoes between them… this way the marinade on the mozzarella doesn’t wilt the arugula.
-
In each salad dressing container add 2 teaspoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of aged balsamic vinegar, a pinch of minced fresh basil and salt and pepper to taste.
-
Place lid on the salad dressings, and then on the glass containers and refrigerate until use. This salad should last for 3-4 days.
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*Feel free to add avocado to this salad. Add fresh avocado chunks right before you eat the salad.
Recipe Video
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If you make this Meal Prep Caprese Arugula Salad please share on instagram using hashtag #rainbowdelicious & and tag me at @rainbowdelicious , I’d love to see what you are up to in your kitchen!
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Great idea for this salad, so simple and totally yummy for lunch.
Thanks Jere!
Love the bright ingredients used to making this colorful and healthy salad. I love the dressing option too. Simple, quick and easy to make too.
Thanks Veena!
What a simple and delicious meal prep idea!
Thanks Sapana!
I love love love these salads. How perfect for taking to the office. Yum and the flavors of the balsamic vinegar is so perfect… and the cheese!!
Thanks for the kind words, Patty! Enjoy the salads!
So simple and so easy! I love marinated mozzarella and that basil balsamic sounds yummy.
Thanks Stine! Glad you liked it!
This is my idea of salad heaven! Love those little mozzarella balls, yum!
Thanks Elizabeth! You really can’t wrong with a salad when there’s cheese in it!
Yum! I love all things with that Caprese style. I like the idea of using arugula for some extra flavor.
Thanks David, I agree, I never tire of Caprese salads.
Mmm, you’ve reminded me of my love for Caprese salad! I’m going to have to try out your recipe sometime soon now.
Hope you love it Kacie, thanks!
Caprese is my favourite salad, and I don’t know why it never occurred to me to meal prep it! Such a good idea, and the colours are gorgeous!
Thanks Jacqui! It’s so easy to prepare!
This salad is amazing! I have trouble prepping enough for the week, my kids love this salad so much.
You’re lucky your kids love salads! Thanks Alexis!
I need this salad in my life. Very simple and easy to make. will add it to my meal plans.
Enjoy Mirlene!
This salad is so simple and fresh, it makes me want to dig right in. Great idea for meal prep.
Thanks Colleen!
Wow! I love caprese so much so I am totally in for this meal prepped salad. This is making my lunch dreams come true.
So happy to hear this, Thanks Jenni!
Absolutely wonderful idea – I am never organised enough to prepare for the week ahead but this is definitely a great idea to start doing this. Hubby would be well impressed 😉 Thank you so much for the idea and inspiration!
It feels good to meal prep even though it can be hard to get organized. Thanks Ramona!