Caprese Pasta Salad

Why you’ll love this recipe:

This caprese pasta salad takes your traditional pasta salad to a whole new level of delicious! 

If you think pasta salad dishes have to be bland and coated in mayonnaise, this recipe will rock your world. It’s customizable, great for feeding a crowd, and easy to prep in advance. 

• Customizable – Mix and match different ingredients to make this recipe your own! Not a fan of rotini? Swap it out! Want more veggies? Go ahead and add them! I provide even more options below.  
• Big batch – This pasta salad makes 6 servings and can easily be doubled or tripled to feed a large crowd. 
• Meal prep-friendly – Prepare the salad, transfer it to an airtight container, and keep it in the fridge. It’ll taste just as good the next day. 

Whether you’re hosting a summer party, need a snack by the pool, or are looking for an easy side dish for weeknight dinners, this caprese pasta salad recipe always hits the spot! 

Key Ingredient Notes:

• Pasta – I use rotini for this recipe, but any small-sized pasta like orecchiette, farfalle, penne, or fusilli can be used. Just be sure to cook them according to their package instructions! 
• Grape tomatoes – These contribute a sweet flavor. I don’t recommend replacing them with other tomato varieties like heirloom or beefsteak as they’re likely to become soggy. 
• Mozzarella – Fresh Mozzarella pearls or balls can typically be found in the refrigerated section of your local grocery store. 
• Extra virgin olive oil – This forms the base of the dressing adding a rich, savory flavor. 
• Balsamic vinegar – Adds a sweet, tart taste that balances out the fats and enhances the natural sugar in the tomatoes. 

How to make this recipe:

1. Cook the pasta: Prepare the pasta to al dente according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain it immediately, and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process. 
2. Combine: In a large mixing bowl, add all of the ingredients except for the basil and pasta, and gently mix to combine. Add the cooled pasta, and toss again. Finally, fold in the basil, saving a few leaves for garnish to make your salad truly picture-worthy. 
3. Chill: Cover the caprese pasta salad with plastic wrap, and transfer it to the fridge to chill for at least an hour. This step is important to help the flavors meld together! 
4. Serve: Give the ingredients a good stir, and add your basil leaves if you saved them. Finish with a drizzle of as little or as much balsamic glaze as you’d like, and enjoy! 

Recipe Tips: 

• Let the pasta cool. It’s okay for your pasta to still be a little warm when adding it to the bowl. In fact, this can help the dressing stick. However, you don’t want it to still be piping hot. Otherwise, your caprese pasta salad will turn soggy, and we don’t want that! 
• Prepare in advance. For a quick meal, this recipe can be prepared a day ahead of time and stored covered in the fridge. Just give it a good toss when you’re ready to serve. 
• Make it a meal! Try adding protein like grilled chicken, tuna, or shrimp to transform this side dish into a complete meal. 
• Add extra ingredients. You can customize the caprese pasta salad by adding other ingredients such as sliced black olives, diced red onion, bell pepper, or diced avocado.

FAQs: 

More Salad Recipes: 

• Tuna Macaroni Salad
• Amish Potato Salad
• Summer Israeli Couscous Salad
• Jalapeño Popper Pasta Salad