Caprese Pasta Salad is the pasta salad recipe your summer menu needs! Bursting with grape tomatoes and creamy mozzarella and dressed with tangy balsamic vinaigrette, this light and fresh pasta salad is perfect as a make-ahead side dish or light entree.
![Caprese Pasta Salad](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Caprese-Pasta-Salad.jpg)
If you enjoy a classic Caprese Salad made with juicy tomatoes, fresh basil, and creamy mozzarella, you will love this recipe for Caprese Pasta Salad.
From the fresh, sweet tomatoes, to the creamy mozzarella, to the tangy balsamic vinaigrette, this simple pasta salad recipe captures the flavors you know and love of a caprese salad and is simply stunning!
Whether served at a cookout, alongside burgers and baked beans, or as a side for grilled shrimp, or as a light entree all on its own, I can't get enough of this Caprese Pasta Salad. It is light and fresh, yet substantial. Truly perfect!
Ingredients for Caprese Pasta Salad
![Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe Ingredients for caprese pasta salad labeled.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Pasta-Salad-Caprese.jpg)
It only takes a handful of ingredients to make Caprese Pasta Salad. The secret to imparting huge flavor is using seasonal tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, vibrant basil, and a simple homemade balsamic dressing.
- Pasta: When making a pasta salad, you want to think about choosing a type of noodle that is easy to grab with a fork and has a large enough surface area to grab and hold onto the dressing. I recommend using bow tie, rotini, cavatelli, or corkscrew pasta.
- Tomatoes: Cherry or grape tomatoes are best for this pasta salad as they are delicious year-round, bite-sized, and don't contain a lot of seeds that can water down the pasta salad. If using Roma or vine-ripened tomatoes, remove the seeds before chopping up the tomatoes, so they don't water down the pasta salad.
- Mozzarella: Fresh mozzarella, rather than shredded or a block of mozzarella, is best. Use mozzarella balls or pearls for presentation, but you can dice up a large ball of fresh mozzarella as well.
- Balsamic Dressing: While you can certainly use a bottle of prepared salad dressing, it is incredibly easy to make a balsamic dressing yourself and you likely have all the ingredients on hand to whip it up.
How To Make Caprese Pasta Salad
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Prepare Dressing While Pasta Cooks
It is best to toss the warm pasta with a bit of the dressing after it has finished cooking, so that it can absorb some of the dressing. Therefore, while the pasta is cooking use that time to whisk the ingredients for the dressing together.
![Easy Caprese Pasta Salad with Mozzarella Balsamic Dressing in small bowl for pasta salad.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Balsamic-Pasta-Salad-1.jpg)
Drain, But Don't Rinse Pasta
Once the pasta is fully cooked, drain the pasta in a colander, but do NOT rinse the cooked pasta. This removes all the starch that helps the dressing stick to the pasta, not to mention the flavor of the pasta.
Cool the Pasta
Toss the warm noodles with half the dressing, so that they can absorb the balsamic vinaigrette and become super flavorful. However, it is crucial to cool the pasta to room temperature prior to adding the fresh basil, mozzarella, and tomatoes. To speed up the process, I recommend spreading the pasta out onto a sheet pan. This will allow the heat to dissipate faster and the pasta to cool quickly.
![Pasta Salad with tomatoes and mozzarella Dressed pasta spread out on a sheet pan.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Summer-Pasta-Salad.jpg)
Finish Dressing Caprese Pasta Salad
Once the pasta is at room temperature or just slightly warm to the touch, return the noodles to the large mixing bowl. Add in the remaining dressing, tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil.
![Tomato and Basil Pasta Salad Mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and pasta tossed together.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Tomato-and-Basil-Pasta-Salad.jpg)
Chill Before Serving
I find that it is best to refrigerate the Caprese pasta salad for at least 30 minutes prior to serving, as this will allow the flavors to marry together.
![Recipe for Caprese Pasta Salad Bowl of Caprese Pasta Salad next to fresh basil.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Caprese-Salad.jpg)
Recipe Modifications
- Make it Gluten-Free: Use your favorite gluten-free pasta to enjoy this Caprese Pasta Salad without added gluten.
- Keep Your Pasta Salad Egg-Free: A lot of pastas are made with eggs. Check to be sure you use egg-free pasta/noodles if you are preparing this for anyone with an egg allergy.
- Add Chicken: I love adding grilled Greek chicken or Italian-flavored chicken sausage to this Caprese pasta salad.
More Easy Summer Salad Recipes
- Asian Noodle Salad
- Antipasto Pasta Salad
- BLT Pasta Salad
- Italian Potato Salad
- Easy Homemade Coleslaw
- Instant Pot Potato Salad
- Old-Fashioned Potato Salad
If you give this Caprese Pasta Salad a try, I would love for you to leave a review and comment below.
![Close up of bowl of pasta salad with tomatoes and basil.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Caprese-Pasta-Salad-Recipe-360x360.jpg)
Caprese Pasta Salad
Ingredients
For the Caprese Pasta Salad
- 16 ounces pasta bow-tie, rotini, corkscrew, etc.
- 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella balls
- 8 basil leaves sliced into ribbons
For the Balsamic Dressing
- ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon molasses
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil. Salt the water with 1-2 tablespoons of kosher salt, add pasta, and cook the pasta according to package directions, or until just al dente.
- While the pasta is cooking, prepare the Balsamic Vinaigrette by whisking together the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Dijon, molasses, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic together until well combined.
- Once the noodles are cooked, drain but do not rinse the pasta, Toss the warm noodles with half of the prepared dressing in a large mixing bowl. Allow the noodles to cool at room temperature for 10-20 minutes, until they are just slightly warm or at room temperature. Speed up the process, by spreading the pasta out onto a sheet pan.
- Once the pasta is at room temperature or just slightly warm to the touch, return the noodles to the large mixing bowl. Add in the remaining dressing, tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, and toss to combine.
- Cover and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes before serving. Once chilled, toss the pasta salad again and serve.
Abby
So delicious! Loved how quick and easy this was to make.
Natasha
I made this recipe for Caprese Pasta Salad last weekend and it was a huge hit! My family devoured and enjoyed it so much. I’m so glad that I tried your recipe.
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you tried this as well, Natasha! Thank you for sharing.
Allyson Zea
I make this all the time and it's such an easy delicious recipe!
Barbara T
The best summer salad! I added sliced grilled chicken and it came out perfect.
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks for sharing Barbara! I love adding chicken myself!
April
This is one of my favorite summer salads! So easy and tastes great!
DB
What is a serving size for this based on the nutritional facts you provided? 1/2 cup? 1 cup? etc.? Just want to make sure I am portioning the servings out correctly to make sure that I am accounting for the appropriate calorie count for those in my household who are counting calories, carbs, and sodium intake. Thank you in advance. 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
The serving is approximately 2/3 cup. I hope that helps.
Sally Shelton
I ended up halving the recipe for me and my husband, but I ended up using all the dressing, and I’m glad I did. I don’t think it would have been enough with half. But other than that, it was an absolutely delicious recipe! My husband grilled the chicken sausage, and I think it added just a little extra oomf.
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you enjoyed Sally. This recipe does call for you to use all the dressing, so I am sorry that was not clear to you. It states to add 1/4 cup after noodles cook and then toss with remaining dressing after noodles have cooled. Let me know if there is a way I can rephrase that so it is more clear 🙂
Lisalia
The perfect summer time meal. Can't wait to have it again!
Beth
I love everything about this salad: flavor, color and freshness! I especially like the meat option for my family members that must have meat at every meal!
Holly
What a yummy summer meal! al fresco chicken sausage is hands down my favorite of all time!
Kristen Chidsey
Holly, I couldn't agree more! Al fresco is delicious!
Megan @ MegUnprocessed
I love a pasta salad! They're so simple to make and so delicious!
Kristen Chidsey
They are so simple and this one is especially tasty. I hope you enjoy!
chellie
This is Summer dinner HEAVEN! I'm all about the fresh garden grown tomatoes. And I MUST try those sausages! They look so good, I love that they are all natural. Thanks for this fab recipe.
Kristen Chidsey
I just know you will love this meal Chellie-and al fresco sausages are our most favorite--so tasty and so healthy! Enjoy my friend!
Erin @ Suburban Simplicity
I love all these flavors! What an easy dinner idea my whole family would enjoy! Thanks!
Kristen Chidsey
Erin, if you love Caprese, you will LOVE this pasta salad. And yes, SUPER easy for the win!