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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I made this today with cherry tomatoes from my tiny front yard garden. I ate 2 servings and my son loved it. TY so much. We will be having it again. Love ya.
Oh, I just love this! There’s nothing better than enjoying a recipe with fresh tomatoes straight from your own garden — and I’m so happy to hear both you and your son loved it (two servings is a big compliment!). Thank you for sharing your sweet note — it made my day.
~Donya
Making this delicious salad for the second time this summer reminded me how many times I made it last summer with my homegrown cherry tomatoes. A fantastic recipe indeed. Thank you!
Oh, I just love that! Knowing this salad has been part of your summers two years in a row — and with your own homegrown cherry tomatoes — makes me so happy. Fresh from the garden really does take it to another level. Thank you for sharing that little slice of summer with me! ~Donya
This sounds like the perfect recipe to go with my sliders for Bridge Night. I usually don’t comment before making a recipe, but if it’s Donya’s….it’s a sure thing!
This comment just made my day! I’m so glad you are here along with me! Let me know if you make this recipe, i know it’s always a hit at my gatherings! Enjoy! ~Donya
I just made this. It is a welcome relief from potato salad!
It’s very light for a super hot day like today, we are having a heat wave here in Pennsylvania! The balsamic dressing was as good if not better than any restaurants! I used bow toes! My sister and I have seconds! It went well with the rotisserie chicken we picked up at our local Giant. I’ll be looking for more pasta salad recipes in the future, yours are the best!
This comment made my day! I am a lover of pasta salads for sure. It has been hot here in NC too, this is the perfect dish for the weather! ~Donya
I made this salad for my husband tonight. It was absolutely delicious!!! Thanks so much for your wonderful recipes.
Thank you for your review! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe. ~Donya
This is great! I made it last summer and will do it again. We loved the dressing ,too! And get baby mozzarella balls. Makes salad special for summer!
I love this salad in the summer. It tastes like warm weather! Thanks for leaving a review! ~Donya
I love this recipe! My sister made it for a family dinner party and I had to have the recipe after! She told me she also added some black olives and Parmesan cheese. Delicious! 😋
That sounds like a great addition! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe! ~Donya
I made this for a ladies Bible study. It was great and everyone loved it. I had a little bit left and ate it after they left. So very good! Can’t wait to make it with my home grown tomatoes.
I’m so glad the pasta salad was a hit! I love this one for leftovers. Thank you for your review! ~Donya
I absolutely love the recipe! One of the family favorites. I recently added kalamata olives and english cucumber to change it up a bit.
That sounds like a great idea! Thanks for your review! ~Donya
Perfect!!