Easy Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe with Vinaigrette Dressing
This easy Caprese pasta salad with a simple vinaigrette dressing is the perfect summer dish. Tender pasta is tossed with peppery fresh basil, juicy tomatoes, and creamy mozzarella for a classic combination that’s always a crowd-pleaser. The homemade vinaigrette comes together in minutes and brings all the fresh flavors together with minimal effort.
Save This For Later!
We’ll email this post to you so it doesn’t get lost in your open tabs!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Lockrem Homestead
Serve this Caprese pasta salad as an easy weeknight dinner and enjoy the leftovers for lunch the next day, or bring it along to your next summer cookout, picnic, or potluck. No matter how you serve it, it’s always a crowd-pleaser.
If you love the classic flavors of Caprese, this fresh, vibrant pasta salad is the perfect way to enjoy them all summer long.
With just a handful of simple ingredients, quality makes all the difference. Choose the freshest, highest-quality ingredients you can find for the best flavor.
More Pasta Recipes
Why You’ll Love Caprese Pasta Salad
- Seasonal Eating – Cold pasta salads make it easy to enjoy seasonal produce during their peak season. Fresh ingredients like juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella balls, and fresh basil leaves elevate this flavorful caprese pasta salad.
- Easy – Beat the heat on a hot summer day and enjoy this classic caprese salad with pasta. Cook the pasta and toss with the rest of the ingredients. This salad is ready in just minutes.
- Crowd Favorite – This salad is a great side dish and disappears whenever I serve it.
Caprese Pasta Salad Ingredients
- Pasta – Have fun and use your favorite short pasta shape. The nooks and crannies of the rotini pasta shape hold the salad dressing so each bite is full of flavor.
- Basil – The peppery flavor of basil adds the best flavor. Look for intact, tender leaves without blemishes.
- Tomatoes – Sweet cherry tomatoes and grape tomatoes are the perfect size for this pasta dish.
- Fresh mozzarella cheese – Fresh mozzarella comes in many forms, but they all have that same creamy flavor. Use fresh mozzarella pearls to make prep quick and easy. However, it also comes in logs and balls.
Vinaigrette Dressing
- Balsamic vinegar – Use your favorite balsamic vinegar. If you like its flavor, it will make a nice vinaigrette. The longer a balsamic vinegar ages, the sweeter it becomes.
- Olive oil – Use a high-quality olive oil for the best flavor. You can also substitute a neutral-tasting oil like avocado oil. Avoid seed oils like corn, soybean, or canola oil.
- Mustard – Use a Dijon or stone-ground mustard.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic flavors the dressing. Use 1 tsp of garlic powder in place of fresh.
- Honey – Sweetens the dressing and helps balance the sharpness of the vinegar. Leave it out if you like the sharp flavor.
- Salt & pepper – season to taste.
Tools You’ll Need
- Large salad bowl
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Large pot
- Strainer
- Measuring cups and spoons
How to Make Easy Caprese Pasta Salad
Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
Add olive oil, balsamic vinegar, mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper to a quart-size mason jar. Add the top and shake until fully combined.
Cook Pasta
Add 3 quarts of water and 2 tsp to a large pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, add the pasta. Cook according to the package directions, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente, about 7-8 minutes,
Drain the pasta in a strainer and run cold water over the tender pasta to bring the temperature down and remove the excess starch.
Add cooled pasta to a large bowl.
Prep Ingredients
Next, wash the cherry tomatoes and slice in half, or into quarters if the tomatoes are large.
Cut basil into ribbons.
Dice the fresh mozzarella cheese into small pieces.
Dress and Toss
Add the cheese, diced tomatoes, and basil to the bowl with the pasta. Pour the dressing over the top of the salad and toss to mix the salad ingredients and coat with the dressing.
Serving Suggestions
- Add your favorite fresh vegetables. Dice green peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, or red onion are excellent options.
- This salad makes for a great light lunch on its own. Adding a protein makes this into a complete meal. Try grilled chicken breast, shrimp, beef, or salmon.
- Add a flavorful kick to the dressing with a few pinches of red pepper flakes.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate up to 3 days. Over time, the basil softens and oxidizes.
Helpful Tips for Easy Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe
- Use your favorite short pasta, such as rotini, penne, bow tie, or even cheese tortellini.
- No fresh basil? Toss the pasta salad with pesto instead of the balsamic vinaigrette for a delicious twist.
- The best pasta salads have a little bit of everything in each bite. Cut the mozzarella and tomatoes into pieces about the same size as the pasta so every forkful is perfectly balanced with cheese, tomatoes, basil, and pasta.
FAQs
What is the Best Way to Cut Basil?
Learning how to cut fresh basil leaves is pretty simple. Wash the leaves to remove any dirt and debris, and pat dry. Remove the leaves from the stem. Stack 4 – 5 leaves on top of another, and roll from the side. Using a sharp knife, cut the rolled basil into thin strips. Toss to unravel.
Be sure to handle the basil gently to avoid bruising. Over time, the cut basil will begin to oxidize and turn dark. This is normal. Coating the salad with the dressing helps, and cutting the basil right before adding to the salad helps delay the oxidation and preserve the basil’s bright green color.
Can you make caprese pasta salad ahead of time?
Yes! Making the salad 4-8 hours ahead of serving lets the dressing flavor the salad. For longer storage, make the salad without the dressing, cover, and refrigerate. Add the vinaigrette before serving.
I’d love to hear from you! If you made Easy Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe with Vinaigrette Dressing and loved it, I would love it if you gave it 5 stars! Enjoy!
Easy Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe with Vinaigrette Dressing
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Lockrem Homestead
Equipment
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- large pot
- strainer
- salad serving bowl
- measuring spoons and cups
Ingredients
Caprese Pasta Salad
- 16 oz rotini pasta
- 10 oz cherry tomatoes 2 cups
- 1 oz basil leaves 1 cup, cut into strips
- 13 oz mozzarella cheese 2 cups
Balsamic Vinaigrette
- 110 g olive oil ½ cup
- 65 g balsamic vinegar ¼ cup
- 1 tbsp mustard
- 2 T honey
- 1 clove garlic
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
​Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
- Add olive oil, balsamic vinegar, mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper to a quart-size mason jar. Add the top and shake until fully combined.
Cook Pasta
- Add 3 quarts of water and 2 tsp to a large pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, add the pasta. Cook according to the package directions, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente, about 7-8 minutes,
- Drain the pasta in a strainer and run cold water over the tender pasta to bring the temperature down and remove the excess starch.
- Add cooled pasta to a large bowl.
Prep Ingredients
- Next, wash the cherry tomatoes and slice in half, or into quarters if the tomatoes are large.
- Cut basil into ribbons.
- Dice the fresh mozzarella cheese into small pieces.
​Dress and Toss
- Add the cheese, diced tomatoes, and basil to the bowl with the pasta. Pour the dressing over the top of the salad and toss to mix the salad ingredients and coat with the dressing.
Storage
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate up to 3 days. Over time, the basil softens and oxidizes.
Notes
Tips
- Use your favorite short pasta, such as rotini, penne, bow tie, or even cheese tortellini.
- No fresh basil? Toss the pasta salad with pesto instead of the balsamic vinaigrette for a delicious twist.
- The best pasta salads have a little bit of everything in each bite. Cut the mozzarella and tomatoes into pieces about the same size as the pasta so every forkful is perfectly balanced with cheese, tomatoes, basil, and pasta.
What is the Best Way to Cut Basil?
Learning how to cut fresh basil leaves is pretty simple. Wash the leaves to remove any dirt and debris, and pat dry. Remove the leaves from the stem. Stack 4 – 5 leaves on top of another, and roll from the side. Using a sharp knife, cut the rolled basil into thin strips. Toss to unravel. Be sure to handle the basil gently to avoid bruising. Over time, the cut basil will begin to oxidize and turn dark. This is normal. Coating the salad with the dressing helps, and cutting the basil right before adding to the salad helps delay the oxidation and preserve the basil’s bright green color.
Between our four kids we see many a road trip, and this pasta salad makes an excellent picnic lunch, at a rest stop or on the go. As it sits it only gets more delicious! Try it and send any questions and comments my way!