This easy Caprese Pasta Salad is a great addition to your meal rotation. It's an easy weeknight recipe that's ready in less than 20 minutes.
Recipe Inspiration
This Caprese Pasta Salad will be your new favorite pasta salad recipe!
With juicy tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, mozzarella, and al dente pasta are delicious in this simple salad. It's like a traditional caprese salad, just in salad form!
I love this for a light lunch, backyard BBQ, or for meal prep. It's a great side dish, and could even be made into a main course with the addition of a protein.
This pasta salad is versatile, too. It's great warm, cold, or at room temperature!
If you're looking for more pasta recipes, check out our Mushroom Pasta, Orecchiette Pasta Salad, Lemon Butter Pasta, Caesar Pasta Salad, and Kale Gnocchi.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Delicious - This Caprese Pasta Salad recipe is so delicious. Each bite is packed with flavor that your family will truly love! It's a perfect dish for the whole family. Great for entertaining too!
- Approachable - This recipe is approachable and is easy to make. You only need a few kitchen tools to make this great recipe. It's great for an easy weeknight dinner!
- Kid Friendly - This is a great recipe for adults and children!
Ingredients
Here are the fresh ingredients you will need for this simple caprese pasta salad recipe:
- Pasta - Short pasta is best in this recipe
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil - Always use good quality!
- Cherry Tomatoes - halved or quartered. You can also use grape tomatoes
- Fresh Mozzarella Balls
- Fresh Basil - Plus more for serving
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Balsamic Glaze - This is optional
Directions
Let's make this simple recipe together!
Step 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
Step 2
Combine cooked pasta, extra virgin olive oil, cherry tomatoes, spinach, mozzarella, fresh basil, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl. Toss well.
Step 3
Serve with additional fresh basil or balsamic glaze.
Expert Tips and Tricks
Here are some expert tips to make this delicious pasta salad recipe perfect.
- Complete the Meal - Complete the meal with an arugula salad with homemade balsamic dressing and a glass of red wine!
- Utilize Leftovers - Use leftovers for meal prep. Add grilled chicken breast or Italian sausage for a delicious prepared lunch for the entire family!
- Tomato Tips - Use fresh tomatoes for the best flavor in this pasta salad. I love making this dish in the summer and picking sweet cherry tomatoes straight from my garden.
Kitchen Equipment
Here is some kitchen equipment you will need for this recipe. You can find all of these products on Amazon.
- Fusilli Noodles - These are the noodles shown in the recipe - they are SO good! They might be hard to find in store, so I recommend buying online.
- Tomato Knife - I have this tomato knife and absolutely love it! I highly recommend for cutting any type of tomato.
- Pasta Bowl - These pasta bowls are the perfect bowl for this pasta recipe!
Recipe Substitutions/Variations
Here are some common recipe substitutions and variations for this easy recipe.
- Cheese Variation - Creamy mozzarella balls, fresh mozzarella pearls, or even a large ball of fresh mozzarella would be delicious in this recipe. Burrata would be great too!
- Pasta Option - A shorter pasta is best in this recipe because all of the ingredients easily fit on your fork. I recommend bowtie pasta, shellbows, or rotini pasta.
- Add a Dressing - Instead of balsamic glaze, you could add a tangy balsamic vinaigrette or a splash of white balsamic vinegar.
What To Serve With
Here are some suggestions on what to serve this pasta dish with:
Frequently Asked Questions
A dry white wine or a light red wine would both pair great with a caprese salad.
A caprese salad is an Italian salad with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, basil, and olive oil.
Heirloom tomatoes are best for a classic caprese salad. For this caprese pasta salad, I recommend using ripe cherry tomatoes.
Recipe Storage and Reheating
Here are storage and reheating instructions for this recipe.
- Refrigerator Storage: Store in an airtight continuer and eat leftovers within 4-5 days.
- Freezer Storage: Freeze in a freezer-safe, airtight container and keep for up to 3 months. When you're ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator and reheat as instructed below.
- Reheating Instructions: The best way to reheat this recipe is to heat in a skillet with a little olive oil over low heat until warm.
Other Recipes to Try
Caprese Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb short pasta
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 10 oz cherry tomatoes quartered or halved
- 2 cups spinach
- 16 oz fresh mozzarella balls
- 1 cup fresh basil plus more for serving
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Balsamic Glaze optional
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Combine cooked pasta, extra virgin olive oil, cherry tomatoes, spinach, mozzarella, fresh basil, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl. Toss well.
- Serve with additional fresh basil or balsamic glaze.
Did You Make This Recipe?
Leave a comment below or tag us @tasting.with.tina on Instagram!
Joe Conner says
My two favorite foods, caprese and pasta! A great, easy side dish.
Christina Musgrave says
It doesn't get any better!!!
Kennedy says
SO GOOD! The drizzle of balsamic was perfect. Very fresh and flavorful. This will definitely be my go to dish for visitors or parties!
Christina Musgrave says
We love this recipe for entertaining too! So glad you enjoyed!