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Home » Ingredient » Pasta » Italian Caprese Pasta Salad

Italian Caprese Pasta Salad

By: Rosemary Published: May 30, 2022 Updated on: July 25, 2022

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Caprese Pasta Salad with juicy tomatoes, creamy fresh mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil is a great salad for the summer. It’s light and cool, loaded with fresh flavors Italian cold pasta recipe, and goes great with grilled meats or all on its own for an easy meal.

Caprese pasta in a glass bowl.

I look forward to a lot of things during the summer and one of them is pasta salads. They’re easy to make and satisfy a pasta craving without a lot of work. This caprese pasta salad has everything I love about caprese salad but served as a delicious cool pasta salad instead.

Table of Contents

  • What is caprese pasta salad?
  • Ingredients
  • Recipe Steps
  • Should you rinse pasta for pasta salad?
  • Can you make this salad ahead?
      • Never Miss a Recipe!
  • ​Other Mix-Ins to Add
  • More Pasta Salad Recipes
  • Italian Caprese Pasta Salad
    • Ingredients US CustomaryMetric 1x2x3x
      • *You can use Homemade Pesto or store bought.
    • Instructions 
    • Video
    • Notes
    • Nutrition

What is caprese pasta salad?

It has the same ingredients as a traditional caprese salad – fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, and basil but with pasta added in. It’s served cold or at room temperature and is perfect for a warm summer day.

I also love to make my hot caprese pasta but not when it’s very warm. During the summer, it’s all about cold pasta for me!

This is a great recipe to make for potlucks, a picnic, or cookouts. I love it as a side dish for grilled chicken and steak or just serve it on its own with some delicious homemade Italian bread on the side.

Pasta salad in a glass bowl and on a plate.

Ingredients

  • Pasta – Most short pasta shapes are good. I like to use spiral pasta, bowties, or gemelli for this recipe. Penne would also work well.
  • Basil pesto – This is optional, but adds a nice flavor. You can use Homemade Pesto or store bought.
  • Cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes – halve them first before you add them to the salad.
  • Fresh mozzarella – cut it into bite-sized pieces. Or you can use mozzarella pearls which are small balls.
  • Olive oil
  • Chopped fresh basil leaves
  • Dried oregano
  • Salt

Recipe Steps

Mix the tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, oregano, oil and salt in a large bowl. Let the mixture sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. This will allow the juices from the tomatoes to mix with the seasonings for the best flavor.

The tomatoes mixed with basil, oregano and oil in a bowl.

Boil the pasta in a large pot until al dente. Drain it and let it cool. Add the cooled pasta and pesto to the tomato mixture. Toss to combine.

The cooked pasta mixed with pesto.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the pasta salad for at least one hour before serving it.

Should you rinse pasta for pasta salad?

No, you should never rinse pasta. Instead, you should drain it and then let it cool. To keep the pasta from sticking, toss it with pesto or olive oil.

Can you make this salad ahead?

You can make it up to a day in advance and keep it in the refrigerator. If the salad is a little dry before you serve it, toss it with a little extra pesto or olive oil.

Pasta salad in a glass bowl and on a plate.
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    ​Other Mix-Ins to Add

    This caprese pasta salad is delicious as is, but you can add other mix-ins if you like. These aren’t things you’ll find in a traditional caprese, but they are good! Here are some ideas:

    • Add some chopped toasted pine nuts.
    • Sprinkle in some freshly ground black pepper.
    • You might like some chopped roasted garlic.
    • Mix in some grated Parmesan cheese.
    • Add a little balsamic vinegar or drizzle in some balsamic glaze.
    • If you want to make it a filling main dish, add a protein like grilled chicken.

    It’s not summer until you make a pasta salad, so give this caprese pasta salad recipe a try soon. It’s so light and the flavor combination is so good. Buon Appetito!

    Pasta salad in a white plate.

    More Pasta Salad Recipes

    • Easy Italian Pasta Salad
    • Summer Pasta Salad
    • Butterfly Salad
    • Creamy Pasta Salad
    Caprese pasta in a glass bowl.

    Italian Caprese Pasta Salad

    Rosemary Molloy
    Caprese Pasta Salad with juicy tomatoes, creamy fresh mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil is a great salad for the summer. It's light and cool, loaded with fresh flavors, and goes great with grilled meats or all on its own for an easy meal.
    5 from 7 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Chilling Time 2 hrs
    Total Time 2 hrs 30 mins
    Course Lunch, Main Dish, Side Dish
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 488 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 25 cherry or grape tomatoes (halved)
    • 9-10 ounces fresh mozzarella (large chopped or small balls halved) 300
    • 5-6 leaves fresh basil chopped (or more if desired)
    • ¼-½ teaspoon oregano
    • ¼-½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
    • 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
    • 4 cups cooked al dente pasta (butterfly, spiral or gemelli pasta)
    • 2-3 tablespoons pesto (optional)*

    *You can use Homemade Pesto or store bought.

      Instructions
       

      • In a medium bowl mix together the tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, oregano, salt and oil. Let sit 30 minutes.
      • In a large bowl combine the slightly cooled al dente pasta and pesto. Add the tomato mixture and gently combine well. Cover well and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Enjoy!

      Video

      Notes

      Never rinse pasta, if you do not use pesto, then to keep the pasta from sticking while it cools, add a tablespoon or so of olive oil and stir to mix thoroughly.
      Store the leftover pasta salad in the fridge in an air tight container. I t will last up to 3 -5 days in the fridge.  If the salad develops an off odor, flavor or appearance, or if mold appears, it should be discarded.

      Nutrition

      Calories: 488kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 22gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 628mgPotassium: 335mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1137IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 357mgIron: 3mg
      Keyword an easy summer pasta salad, caprese pasta salad, easy pasta salad, pasta salad
      Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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        Lunch, Main Dish, Pasta, Side Dishes, Summer

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        1. Betty Burrows says

          August 6, 2022 at 11:33 pm

          5 stars
          I love this pasta salad and I made it for a large group that went crazy for it!
          Thank you, Rosemary!

          Reply
          • Rosemary says

            August 7, 2022 at 7:29 pm

            Hi Betty thanks so much, glad everyone enjoyed it. Take care. Have a great week.

            Reply
        2. Licia McClary Trifoglio says

          May 30, 2022 at 6:30 pm

          5 stars
          Summer in New Jersey is all about finding ways to use the best of the best Jersey tomatoes and pasta salad is king around here. I always hold my fresh mozzarella out til just before serving to keep the moss nice and creamy and soft. The milky texture adds extra “sauce” to the pasta. Love your site so much, enjoy the summer!

          Reply
          • Rosemary says

            June 1, 2022 at 7:08 pm

            Hi Licia, yes I agree nothing like pasta salad. Good idea with the mozzarella. Thanks so much, so glad you enjoy the site. Take care and have a wonderful Summer you too.

            Reply

        Hi, I'm Rosemary.

        Living in Italy I learned to cook authentic Italian dishes using whole ingredients, fresh veggies and delicious spices. So take a seat and have a taste! Read More

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