Summer is in full swing, and that means it’s cookout season. Being the great guest that you are, you’ve offered to bring a side, but are blanking on what to make. Sound familiar? This caprese pasta salad is ready in under 20 minutes and it’s a winner side dish for cookouts. I’ve found that this even wins over picky eaters.
This is also a great dish for a quick dinner and can easily be topped with some grilled chicken for added protein. Or use it for your weekly meal prep!
You’ll Need:
- 1 lb penne
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pack cherry tomatoes, quartered or halved
- 2 big handfuls raw spinach
- 1 package of fresh mozzarella, torn apart
- fresh basil
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- optional: balsamic glaze
Caprese Pasta Salad Directions:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook al dente, about 8 minutes.
Drain and then Toss penne with the remaining ingredients and mix well. If the pasta salad seems dry, add more olive oil.
At this point, you have your base caprese pasta salad. Add grilled chicken for protein, balsamic glaze for sweetness, or red pepper flakes for a kick.
Caprese Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb penne
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pack cherry tomatoes, quartered or halved
- 2 big handfuls raw spinach
- 1 package of fresh mozzarella, torn apart
- fresh basil
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- optional: balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook al dente, about 8 minutes.
- Drain and then Toss penne with the remaining ingredients and mix well. If the pasta salad seems dry, add more olive oil.
- At this point, you have your base caprese pasta salad. Add grilled chicken for protein, balsamic glaze for sweetness, or red pepper flakes for a kick.
Nutrition Facts
Caprese Pasta Salad
Serves: 6 people
| Amount Per Serving: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 418.68 kcal | |
| % Daily Value* | ||
| Total Fat 14.39 g | 22.1% | |
| Saturated Fat 3.95 g | 19.8% | |
| Trans Fat 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol 14.93 mg | 5% | |
| Sodium 250.53 mg | 10.4% | |
| Total Carbohydrate 57.32 g | 19.1% | |
| Dietary Fiber 2.6 g | 10.4% | |
| Sugars 2.29 g | ||
| Protein 14.16 g | ||
| Vitamin A 4.54 % | Vitamin C 0.77 % | |
| Calcium 11.51 % | Iron 6.69 % | |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Tasting With Tina
