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!
In This Post
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
Donya's Top Ten Summer Recipes!
Steal my favorites for a done-for-you menu that packs in the flavor
Absolutely delicious. Everyone loved it and the homemade dressing with lemon was a nice touch!
Thanks so much, Cathy!
~Donya
I have lost count of how many times I’ve made this delicious Caprese pasta salad. It’s absolutely amazing, light and refreshing in the summer but wonderful all year long. My family and friends LOVE it. Thank you for sharing all your great recipes Donya!!
Thank you, Mari-Ann! I’m so happy you are a part of the Southern Soul family.
~Donya
I’ve made this recipe probably 5 times now! It’s always a hit! I like making it the night before so the dressing soaks in and gets really flavorful
You are my favorite, Katie! Thank you so much and I appreciate your sweet words and the terrific rating.
~Donya
Made this the other day and it was delicious 10 out of 10. Saving the receipt and making it again.
Making this, this weekend. What brand balsamic vinegar is best? I never used that before and there’s so many brands I’m not sure what is best. Thank you
I use one that’s kind of in the middle of the road with price, that is true balsamic vinegar, not processed in mass. Thank you for the outstanding rating.
~Donya
I just made this as a side for at bridal shower. Doubled the recipe, and ran out! One I will make again!!!
Thank you, Michelle. I am so glad everyone loved the recipe. I so appreciate the outstanding rating!
~Donya
OMG EXCELLENT!!! I made this for a group of women at a retreat & it was a hit! I made the pasta and added the cheese, tomatoes, onions to get cold. When time to serve I added the dressing! I used white wine vinegar.
Hey there Marilyn!
Wow! I am thrilled to hear that everyone enjoyed this recipe, it sounds like you made an absolutely delicious dish! If you enjoyed this pasta salad, you should check out my Strawberry Caprese Pasta Salad, it’s a twist on the classic recipe and it’s super tasty. Let me know if you ever have any questions about a recipe, I’d be more than happy to help!
~Donya
If I am using store bought dressing, how much do you think I will need?
Hey the Ashley!
Thank you so much for your interest in this pasta salad recipe, I think you’re really going to love it! If you’re using a store-bought dressing, you’ll probably need about 1/2 cup to properly coat all the ingredients in the salad. My recommendation would be to measure out 1/2 cup, pour it in slowly continuing to mix, and then add more dressing until you have the amount you desire. I hope this is helpful, let me know how everything turns out if you give it a try, I’d love to hear what you think!
~Donya
I just made this salad but it tastes a little tart. Home can i sweeten?
Can you substitute white wine vinegar for the balsalmic vinegar?
If so, how much should I use?
Thank you
Hey there Mary!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe, that’s a great question! I would actually recommend using red wine vinegar instead of white vinegar, I think the red wine vinegar would have a more subtle flavor that would compliment the other ingredients well. You can use the same amount of red wine vinegar that is stated in the recipe, about 1/4 cup. I hope this is helpful, let me know how everything turns out if you give it a try!
~Donya
I just made your Caprese Pasta Salad for tomorrow night’s grilled chicken dinner. Two of my local grocery stores didn’t have the mozzarella pearls so I bought an 8 ounce ball and sliced it into about the same size cubes as the pearls. Another thing I did was to put the dressing ingredients in my small food processor and whip it up. Seemed to work. And I am totally going to try another commenter’s idea about the toasted pine nuts. Thanks for sharing this yummy pasta salad recipe, Donya!
Hey there Peggy!
My goodness, thank you so much for your kind words of support, I am thrilled to hear that you gave this recipe a try! It sounds like you made an absolutely delicious salad, you were spot on using sliced mozzarella instead of pearls, if you can’t find the pearls that is the next best thing. If you liked this recipe, you should check out my new Strawberry Caprese Pasta Salad recipe, it’s just as easy to make and the flavors have a delicious sweet and savory contrast. Thank you so much for your support, if you ever have any questions about a dish, feel free to reach out!
~Donya