This is the Best Caprese Pasta Salad, combining all the classic flavors of a Caprese Salad with pasta! Perfect as a simple family side dish or when feeding a crowd, this make-ahead recipe delivers a burst of flavor everyone will love.
Looking for more pasta salads? I love Mediterranean Pasta Salad, Creamy Tomato Cucumber Salad, and Spaghetti Salad!
Everyone loves pasta salad! Whether you serve it as a side dish, take it with you on a picnic, or share it at a potluck or covered dish supper, it’s always one of the first foods to disappear. Recently, I decided to give one of my most popular recipes on A Southern Soul twist. I’ve turned my Simple Caprese Salad recipe into a pasta salad. The result? Outstanding!
What Is A Caprese Salad?
A classic Caprese Salad, or Insalata Caprese, is an Italian salad most often served in the summer. It’s made with ripe tomatoes layered between slices of fresh mozzarella basil leaves, then drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It’s light, refreshing, and delicious.
Ingredients For This Recipe
- Grape Tomatoes – sliced in half or quartered
- Mozzarella Pearls – tiny balls of cheese found at the deli counter
- Fresh Basil – sliced into ribbons
- Pasta – you can use any shape you like
- Homemade Vinaigrette – olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper
Additions And Substitutions
- Add avocado, sliced peppers, or onions.
- Toss in leftover chicken for a salad main dish.
- Tuna makes a great add-in, along with some black or green olives.
How To Make Caprese Pasta Salad
- Make the balsamic dressing – Add olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to a small bowl or jar with a lid. Whisk or shake until all ingredients are incorporated. Set aside.
- Cook the pasta – Make it according to the package directions in a large pot of salted water. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Prep The Salad – To a large bowl, add cooked pasta, tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and basil.
- Toss everything together – Drizzle with vinaigrette dressing and toss. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately.
Donya’s Success Tip
Caprese Pasta Salad is best served at room temperature. If you’ve stored it in the fridge, place it on the counter for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Often Asked Questions
You bet. I like to make the salad the night before serving it. I drizzle on about ¾ of the dressing, toss all the ingredients together, and store the pasta salad and remaining dressing in an airtight container in the fridge. Before serving, I drizzle on the remaining dressing, toss, and serve.
If you’re lucky enough to have some of this salad left over, you can store it in covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
What To Serve With Fresh Caprese Pasta Salad
- I serve it with Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Balsamic Chicken Thighs, or Marinated London Broil for a family dinner or Sunday supper.
- For game day with Air Fryer Chicken Wings, or Hot Dogs
- At a summer cookout with Grilled Sausages, BBQ Chicken Legs, Or Grilled Flank Steak.
More Great Pasta Salad Recipes You’ll Love!
If you tried this Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
Equipment
Ingredients
Vinaigrette Dressing
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 -3 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 clove minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Caprese Pasta Salad
- ½ pound dried pasta (farfalle or other small pasta works best)
- 8 ounces mozzarella pearls (or cubed fresh mozzarella)
- 2 cups grape tomatoes sliced in half
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves thinly sliced
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- To a small bowl or jar with a lid, add olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Whisk or shake until all ingredients are incorporated. Set aside.
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- To a large bowl add cooked pasta, tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and basil. Drizzle with vinaigrette dressing and toss. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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We can’t stop eating this salad. Your recipe is so good. I never thought we would like fresh, raw Basil but mercy this salad is delicious. TY so much for sharing this recipe. I’ll keep making it till the frost kills my cherry tomatoes.
Thank you so much, Barbara! I’m thrilled you like this recipe so much and honored that you are cooking with me.
~Donya
This salad has become my all time favorite! I am tired of salads that have lettuce or spinach, so when I saw that this one had 3 of my favorite things in it; pasta, cheese and basil, I had to try it. It is delicious!!!! I’ve made it a lot since I discovered the recipe, even made a batch to go camping. Everyone loved it. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
Thank you so much, Bonnie, you have made my day! I’m thrilled you like this recipe so much and honored that you are cooking with me. I so appreciate the great rating as well.
~donya
I actually purchased 2 boxes of suddenly pasta salad, fresh mozzarella and cherry tomatoes to make something like this. I have the classic and Greek and I’m wondering which one would work best for this recipe? I also thought about adding black olives and fresh cucumber🤷🏻♀️
Great question! 🙌 Between the two, I’d go with the classic Suddenly Salad — the flavors are more neutral, so they’ll let the mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and any extras you add really shine. The Greek version has its own seasoning packet with a stronger flavor profile, which could still work, but it might compete a little with the fresh add-ins.
And yes — black olives and fresh cucumber would be perfect additions! They’ll make it even more refreshing and colorful. I think you’re on the right track to creating a delicious, crowd-pleasing salad!
~Donya
So delicious!! I have made this several times and just love it. Sometimes I add orange bell pepper, avocado, black olives …
Yum — those sound like such tasty additions! I love how you’ve made the recipe your own, and I’m so glad it’s one you come back to again and again. Thank you for sharing your delicious twists!
~Donya
Going to add a little spice in the dressing. Finely chopped hot pepper .
Ooooh, I love that idea! A little finely chopped hot pepper in the dressing will give it the perfect kick. Can’t wait for you to try it that way — sounds delicious!
~Donya
I added baby spinach to my second serving. It’s so good.
That sounds like the perfect addition! Love how you made it your own — I bet the spinach added such a fresh pop. So glad you’re enjoying it!
~Donya