The Best Burrata Cheese Substitute That Won't Skimp On Creaminess

Burrata is nothing short of a magical cheese. With its taught exterior and creamy, soft center, it's a feast of textures as well as that unparalleled creamy flavor (per Taste of Home). It is a cheese truly unlike any other. And that can be a problem. While it may look like a ball of ordinary fresh mozzarella from the outside, when broken, this cheese cracks like an egg to reveal an ooze-y interior of creamy, dreamy, almost semi-liquid cheese. 

According to All Recipes, the chunks in that semi-solid interior are cheese curds, which are mixed with cream to create that winning filling. The unique texture of this fine Italian cheese is part of what's so fabulous about the cheese, but it can make it hard to think of a substitute. And the time will almost certainly come when you need a substitute, as burrata isn't available just everywhere.

So where do you turn when you want a substitute for something so special? While there's no perfect substitute for this unique cow's milk cheese, there are some swaps you can make. Which swap you'll want to make depends on how you're planning to use the cheese.

One burrata substitute that's easy to find is fresh mozzarella. Burrata is so easily mistaken for fresh mozzarella partly because burrata's taught outer layer is made of mozzarella (per All Recipes). Well, that and the shape and color, of course.

Flavorwise, fresh mozzarella is going to be the closest swap you can make (per Taste of Home). For the best flavor, go for the mini mozzarella balls packed in water or whey, called bocconcini (per Eataly). Fresh mozzarella is best for recipes that melt the cheese, as that creamy, dreamy semi-solid center you find in a burrata disappears when it melts anyway, making this swap barely noticeable.

If you need a swap for a burrata in a fresh recipe, it may be a little harder to find, but there's still an option out there. Stracciatella is another Italian cheese that you may not have heard of but is no less delicious. This creamy, soft cheese takes its name from the Italian for "rag" or "shred." You may recognize it as the filling in burrata. This ultra-creamy cheese is perfect for swapping in recipes that call for burrata, like this five-ingredient summer pasta recipe, or serving drizzled with olive oil and sea salt. While it can be a bit hard to find, check the deli section at your local supermarket. Bel Gioioso even makes a version packaged in small plastic tubs. Both burrata and stracciatella are considered types of mozzarella, so you really can't go wrong as long as you stick in the family.