This Caprese Pasta Salad is full of al dente pasta, sweet tomatoes, and creamy mozzarella cheese. This refreshing and flavorful salad is the perfect side dish this season.
If you love caprese, then you should try this Caprese Sandwich and Chicken Caprese.
Table Of Contents
Recipe Details
I absolutely loved this bright and refreshing Caprese Pasta Salad for its amazing flavor. The fresh ingredients, combination of textures, and super easy assembly make this salad one of my favorites.
- TASTE: Tangy, rich, and herbaceous, this Caprese Pasta Salad is beyond tasty. The fresh garlic and basil with the sweet and acidic vinegar is so good.
- TEXTURE: The mozzarella is creamy with juicy tomatoes and al dente pasta that adds some chew.
- TIME: It only takes about 15 minutes to make.
- EASE: This is such a simple salad to prepare. You can easily whip it up, especially if you have the pasta made ahead of time.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Pasta- Use a small pasta type like gemelli, rotini, or cavatelli.
- Tomatoes- Cherry tomatoes offer the perfect burst of sweetness to this salad.
- Mozzarella- Fresh pearl mozzarella are the perfect size for this salad.
- Balsamic vinegar- This adds sweet, tangy acidity.
- Basil- Fresh is best for the most herbaceous flavor.
- Balsamic glaze- This glaze is optional and is sweet, syrupy, and tangy.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Make it gluten-free- Substitute a small gluten-free pasta, like penne, for the pasta in this salad.
- Substitute other tomatoes- Chop up beefsteak or plum tomatoes, or use grape tomatoes for this dish.
- Use different mozzarella- The pearls are the best for this salad, but you can also cube up a block of fresh mozzarella for this pasta salad.
How to Make Caprese Pasta Salad
- Combine the dressing ingredients. In a bowl add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and pressed garlic.
- Whisk them together. Use a whisk to combine the dressing ingredients thoroughly, then set aside.
- Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and add in the dry pasta. Cook al dente.
- Rinse the cooked pasta. Once the pasta is done, pour it into a colander and rinse with cold water.
- Add salad ingredients together. Add the cooked pasta to a large bowl along with the mozzarella pearls, sliced tomatoes, and chopped basil.
- Mix. Mix everything together well, then drizzle a little bit of balsamic glaze for a sweet finish.
Pro Tip: Rinse the pasta with cold water to stop the cooking process so it doesn’t become mushy.
Recipe Tips
- Use fresh ingredients- For a salad like this one, using fresh garlic and fresh basil makes a world of difference in flavor.
- Salt the pasta water- This is so the pasta absorbs the salted water and takes on the flavor better than if you salted the pasta afterward.
- Cook the pasta al dente- To avoid mushy pasta, rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process and to cool the pasta before you add it to the cheese and tomatoes.
- Add the balsamic glaze- Don’t skip this ingredient if you can because it adds a wonderfully sweet and tangy flavor to the dish.
FAQs
Like most pasta salads, the base of caprese pasta salad is short pasta. What makes it caprese is the addition of fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, and tomatoes. Balsamic vinegar acts as a dressing.
Serving Suggestions
This Caprese Pasta Salad recipe is full of creamy, rich, and tangy flavors. It tastes delicious with breads, salads, meats, and pizza.
- Meats: Serve this salad with Smoked Pork Chops, Ribeye Steak, Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs, or Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Breast.
- Salads: Pair this pasta salad with a Strawberry Feta Spinach Salad, Pesto Pasta Salad (VIDEO), Broccoli Cranberry Salad, or Tri Color Pasta Salad (VIDEO).
- Breads: Enjoy it with Focaccia Bread, Sourdough Bread, Rustic Bread (overnight), or Brioche Buns (VIDEO).
- Pizza: Serve it with a slice of Margherita Pizza, Chicken Pesto Pizza, Mushroom Arugula Flatbread Pizza, or Chicken Bacon Ranch Flatbread Pizza.
Make This Recipe in Advance
Make ahead: Make the pasta ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for a day or two before putting the salad together.
Storing: Store this Caprese Pasta Salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freeze: You can freeze the pasta and the mozzarella, but the tomatoes will not thaw well. It’s best to enjoy this salad fresh.
More Tasty Pasta Salads!
Full Recipe Instructions
Caprese Pasta Salad
This Caprese Pasta Salad is rich, refreshing, and tangy. It’s full of fresh mozzarella, basil, and balsamic vinegar for a bright and delicious dish.
Servings: 8
Calories: 474kcal
Instructions
-
In a bowl add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and pressed garlic.
-
Use a whisk to combine the dressing ingredients thoroughly, then set aside.
-
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and add in the dry pasta. Cook al dente.
-
Once the pasta is done, pour it into a colander and rinse with cold water to cool it down and stop it from cooking any further.
-
Add the cooked pasta to a large bowl along with the mozzarella pearls, sliced tomatoes, and chopped basil.
-
Mix everything together well, then drizzle a little bit of balsamic glaze for a sweet finish. (The glaze is optional).
Nutrition
Calories: 474kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 657mg | Potassium: 300mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 709IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 308mg | Iron: 1mg