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
Loved this recipe. Perfect for a lake party. Will definitely make again. I made it in the morning for dinner and needed to add some more balsamic because it was a bit dry.
Truly the best caprese pasta salad! Easy to make and a great crowd pleaser!
I added a 1/4 top red pepper flakes for extra zing. Perfection!
Delicious
Great summer dish. It is fantastic to make with kids; my 9 year old did most of the work using tomatoes and basil from our garden.
I love this! Thanks for sharing, Laura.
~Donya
I made the pasta salad absolutely delicious for sure a 5 star. I bought it to a neighbor neighborhood gathering everyone loved it.
Thank you, Margaret!
So glad you are cooking with me.
~Donya
I tried this recipe last night. I used Penne pasta (1-1b), cherry tomatoes ( I prefer the cherry tomatoes)and added the suggested black olives. We loved it. Thank you for a delicious
recipe, will make again.
Linda, you are the best!
Thank you and I’m thrilled you are cooking with me.
~Donya
Making this tomorrow. Why grape tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes? White or brown balsamic vinegar? I saw dark being used in the video but a viewer commented on using white.
I’m going to try small bow tie pasta.
Everything sounds great so I don’t think I can go wrong with this.
Make it per the recipe and you won’t be disappointed.
~Donya
Delicious salad!! We made our own version of the dish by not adding the pasta, adding more salt, and zesting 1/4 of a lemon. We will definitely be making this salad again!
Did you use red or white balsamic vinegar?
I’m guessing you used white balsamic? I didn’t think about it until I added the dressing and it looks nothing like the picture. Tastes good but definitely brown.🥴