Caprese Pasta Salad is basically summer in a bowl—fresh cherry tomatoes, creamy mozzarella balls, and fragrant basil all tossed with pasta and a balsamic dressing. It’s light, zesty, and ridiculously easy to throw together, making it the perfect side dish for picnics or BBQs.
Caprese pasta salad has become my go-to when I want something that looks fancy but takes zero effort—my kind of magic. I make it anytime I need a quick win. Toss in some pasta, drizzle with balsamic dressing, and boom—instant crowd-pleaser that makes me look way more put-together than I actually am.
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Try some of our other favorite salad recipes: Hot Girl Summer Salad, Italian Grinder Pasta Salad, Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad, or Creamy Dill Pickle Pasta Salad.
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Ingredients for Caprese Pasta Salad
- pasta
- tomatoes
- mozzarella pearls
- fresh basil
- olive oil
- red wine vinegar
- balsamic vinegar
- lemon juice
- fresh garlic
- Italian seasoning
- salt
- black pepper
FAQs
Short pasta like rotini, penne, or farfalle is ideal. Anything that holds the dressing and bits of basil gets bonus points.
Absolutely! It actually tastes better after a few hours in the fridge. Just add a little extra olive oil or balsamic before serving if it looks dry.
Totally. Try grilled chicken, avocado, or even a handful of arugula if you’re feeling wild.
Fresh basil really makes this dish pop, but in a pinch, a little dried basil can work—just use it sparingly.
You can cube a block of mozzarella or even tear up fresh mozzarella slices. Feta or burrata could also be fun twists if you're feeling adventurous.
Top Tips
- Cook your pasta al dente – Slightly firm pasta holds up better in the salad and won’t turn mushy after chilling.
- Halve your tomatoes – This keeps them from rolling off your fork and lets their juices mingle better with the pasta.
- Chill before serving (but not too long) – A quick chill helps flavors blend, but if you refrigerate overnight, freshen it up with more basil and a drizzle of olive oil or balsamic.
- Cool your pasta completely before mixing it with the other ingredients—warm pasta can melt the mozzarella and wilt the basil in a sad way.
How to make Caprese Pasta Salad
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta.
- In a small bowl, whisk all of the dressing ingredients until smooth.
- In a large bowl, combine pasta, tomatoes, half of the basil, and mozzarella pearls.
- Stir gently until combined.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss gently until evenly coated. If you are not serving right away, reserve some of the dressing.
- When ready to serve, add extra basil and dressing, Enjoy!
Caprese Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta
- 2 cups tomatoes
- 8 oz mozzarella pearls
- ¼ cup fresh basil
Balsamic Dressing
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ⅛ cup red wine vinegar
- ⅛ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon fresh garlic
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta.
- In a small bowl, whisk all of the dressing ingredients until smooth.
- In a large bowl, combine pasta, tomatoes, half of the basil, and mozzarella pearls.
- Stir gently until combined.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss gently until evenly coated. If you are not serving right away, reserve some of the dressing.
- When ready to serve, add extra basil and dressing, Enjoy!
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