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Caprese Pasta Salad is a bright, tangy summer salad that is perfect to take to a potluck or picnic.
Fresh juicy tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and tender pasta are tossed in a simple dressing and topped with fresh basil.
This Caprese pasta salad is a great meatless meal or top it with grilled chicken breasts or shrimp.
A Summer Favorite Salad
- This pasta salad has all of the flavors of our favorite Caprese salad turned into a meal.
- It’s light and fresh while still making for a hearty meal or side dish.
- This dish is best made ahead of time making it potluck perfect.
Ingredients for Caprese Pasta Salad
- Tomatoes – Cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes are flavorful and hold up well but any ripe fresh tomatoes will be great in this recipe. Sundried tomatoes (oil packed is best) add a bit of tang and lots of flavor.
- Mozzarella – Bocconcini, fresh mozzarella cheese, or mozzarella balls are a great addition to this caprese pasta salad recipe. It’s a soft and mild cheese (and available at almost any store).
We cut them in half but you can find the smaller mozzarella pearls, no cutting is required. If you don’t have bocconcini, cut your favorite mozzarella into cubes.
- Basil – Fresh basil really adds the best flavor to this pasta salad.
- Pasta – Any medium or short pasta shape works, choose one with crevices, curves, or tubes so it can hold the dressing! Try penne, rotini pasta, or even elbow macaroni.
How to Make Caprese Pasta Salad
This recipe is easy Caprese!
- Cook the pasta al dente in a large pot of salted water. Drain well and rinse under cold water (to stop it from cooking).
- Whisk the dressing ingredients together and add tomatoes to the dressing. Let marinate for about 30 minutes at room temperature for maximum flavor!
- Combine the pasta with the remaining ingredients and toss with the dressing.
Season with salt and pepper and refrigerate at least two hours before serving. Garnish with fresh basil and cracked black pepper before serving.
Fresh basil leaves are best added just before serving!
Caprese Salad Dressing
A simple combo of extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar is the base of the dressing.
Dressing Options:
- Use the simple dressing in the recipe below but add a bit of oil from oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes for a boost of flavor!
- Use balsamic vinaigrette or a bit of homemade Italian dressing in place of the red wine dressing in the recipe.
- If adding balsamic vinegar use just a splash, it’s more powerful than red wine vinegar and can overpower.
- Try adding a squeeze of lemon juice or a spoonful of basil pesto.
- Drizzle balsamic glaze before serving if you’d like.
Make Ahead & Storage
Caprese Pasta Salad can be made in advance but is best served within a day so the cut tomates are fresh. Toss well and add more dressing if needed.
Leftovers can be kept in the fridge 2-3 days.
Pass the Pasta Salad!
Caprese Pasta Salad
Caprese Pasta Salad is a bright, tangy summer salad filled with juicy tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil.
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Place dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Add tomatoes to the dressing mix and allow to marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
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Combine pasta, mozzarella, red onion and sun dried tomatoes in a large bowl. Toss with tomato/dressing mixture and season with salt & pepper to taste.
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Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
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Chop fresh basil. Drizzle salad with balsamic glaze and sprinkle basil on top just before serving.
- Add a bit of oil from oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes for a boost of flavor!
- Use balsamic vinaigrette or a bit of homemade Italian dressing in place of the red wine dressing in the recipe.
- If adding balsamic vinegar use just a splash, it’s more powerful than red wine vinegar and can overpower.
- Try adding a spoonful of basil pesto.
- Drizzle balsamic glaze before serving if you’d like.
Calories: 386 | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 172mg | Potassium: 365mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 480IU | Vitamin C: 7.2mg | Calcium: 226mg | Iron: 1.3mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Pasta, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American, Italian© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
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