Caprese Pasta Salad

This gorgeous Caprese pasta salad brings all those amazing Italian flavors together in one bowl! Anyone who loves fresh tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fragrant basil will absolutely fall in love with this dish. The best part is you can make it ahead of time, so it’s perfect for busy weeknights or potluck gatherings.

Recipe Details

Timing & Servings: Active Time: 15 minutes, Total Time: 20 minutes, Serves: 4 people.

Nutrition Profile: Nut-Free, Soy-Free, Vegetarian, Egg-Free.

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 289 Calories, 10g Fat, 44g Carbs, 15g Protein.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Whole-wheat or brown rice pasta: You’ll need 8 ounces of rotini or fusilli. I love using whole-wheat because it adds a nice nutty flavor and holds the dressing beautifully!

Lemon juice: Fresh is always best, but bottled works too – you’ll need ¼ cup. This adds that bright, zesty kick that makes everything taste so fresh.

Extra-virgin olive oil: ¼ cup of good quality olive oil makes all the difference in the dressing. Don’t skimp on this one!

Red-wine vinegar: Just 2 tablespoons adds the perfect tangy balance to the lemon and oil.

Garlic: 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic gives the dressing its amazing flavor. Fresh garlic is so much better than the jarred stuff.

Honey: 1 teaspoon of honey balances out all the acidic flavors and adds a subtle sweetness.

Salt and pepper: ¾ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon ground pepper season everything perfectly.

Cherry tomatoes: 1¼ cups halved cherry tomatoes bring beautiful color and juicy sweetness. Pick the ripest ones you can find!

Mozzarella pearls: 4 ounces of these little cheese balls are so fun and creamy. They’re the perfect size to get in every bite.

Fresh basil: 3 tablespoons thinly sliced, plus small leaves for garnish. Fresh basil is absolutely essential here – it’s what makes this dish sing!

How to Make Caprese Pasta Salad

Step 1: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add your pasta and cook it exactly according to the package directions. Drain the pasta completely and rinse it with cool water to stop the cooking process.

Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, red-wine vinegar, chopped garlic, honey, salt, and pepper. Make sure everything is well combined and smooth.

Step 3: Gently stir in the halved cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and the cooled pasta. Toss everything together so the dressing coats all the ingredients evenly.

Step 4: You can serve this right away at room temperature, or cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Just before serving, stir in the sliced basil and garnish with small basil leaves if you want it to look extra pretty!

Easy and Quick Caprese Pasta Salad Version

Want to make this even faster? You can use pre-cooked pasta from the deli section of your grocery store! Just rinse it with cool water and skip the whole cooking step. You can also buy pre-made Italian dressing instead of making your own – just add a tablespoon of honey to store-bought dressing to get that perfect balance. This shortcut version takes only 5 minutes to throw together!

Serving Ideas

This pasta salad is practically a complete meal on its own with all that protein from the mozzarella. It pairs beautifully with grilled chicken, steak, or fish for a heartier dinner. For lighter sides, try some crusty garlic bread or a simple green salad with vinaigrette.

Storage

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors actually get better as they sit together! Just remember to add the fresh basil right before serving to keep it bright and green. No need to reheat – this salad is meant to be enjoyed cold or at room temperature.

Substitutions

No mozzarella pearls? You can cube up a regular ball of fresh mozzarella instead. Can’t find cherry tomatoes? Regular tomatoes chopped into bite-sized pieces work great too. If you’re not a fan of whole-wheat pasta, regular pasta is perfectly fine. You can even swap the honey for a teaspoon of sugar if that’s what you have on hand.

Pro Tips

• Don’t skip rinsing the pasta: This stops the cooking process and prevents your salad from getting mushy.

• Add basil at the end: Fresh basil turns dark and wilted if you add it too early, so save it for the final step.

• Let it come to room temp: If you’ve stored this in the fridge, let it sit out for 15-20 minutes before serving for the best flavor.

• Taste and adjust: Give it a final taste before serving and add a pinch more salt or a squeeze of lemon if needed.

FAQs

Why is the salad called a Caprese salad?

It’s widely believed that this salad is named after the beautiful island of Capri! The translation of Caprese is “from Capri,” and the red tomatoes and green basil represent the colors of the Italian flag. Pretty cool, right?

What are mozzarella pearls, and are they more expensive than a mozzarella ball?

The pearls are small balls, roughly the size of cherry tomatoes, made from fresh mozzarella. They may be slightly more expensive than regular-sized mozzarella balls because of the extra work to cut the cheese into smaller pieces. But it’s not always the case, so check different brands and look for sales at your local supermarket!

How long can a pasta salad be left at room temperature?

To keep everyone safe, if the temperature is below 90°F, pasta salad can be left out for about 2 hours. But if it’s hotter than 90°F outside, you should refrigerate it after just 1 hour. I always recommend putting it back in the fridge as soon as you’re done serving to keep it fresh longer!

How should I store leftovers?

Sure! If the salad is freshly made, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3 days. The flavors actually get even better as they meld together!

What should I serve with Caprese Pasta Salad?

This pasta salad goes with nearly everything! It’s perfect served with steak, chicken, pork, fish, and shellfish. Some of my favorite pairings are grilled chicken, garlic steak with green beans, roast pork loin, or even crispy baked shrimp. You really can’t go wrong!

I’d love to hear how this Caprese pasta salad turns out for you! Did you try any fun variations or serve it with something delicious? Drop a comment and let me know – I always enjoy hearing about your kitchen adventures!