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Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad

Whether you call this Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad or Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad, this salad is sure to be a hit! This pasta salad is loaded with your favorite pasta noodles, fresh tomatoes and mozzarella and tossed in the best tasty pesto! It’s such an easy dish and perfect for anytime of the year!

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Why I love this recipe for Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad

This Caprese pasta salad is filled with ripe grape tomatoes, fresh basil, and cool mozzarella tossed in a pesto vinaigrette. It can be drizzled with a tangy balsamic glaze. It combines your favorite flavors of a fresh, summertime Caprese salad for a familiar backyard BBQ pasta salad. This is the ultimate summer potluck salad.

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RELATED: Feta Bruschetta Pasta Salad

What you’ll need to make this easy summer pasta salad

This salad is so simple and has only 8 ingredients that are easy to find at any grocery store!

  • Pasta (I like rotini, but you can use any kind you prefer)
  • Basil pesto(either homemade or prepared)
  • Olive oil
  • Garlic
  • Mozzarella pearls
  • Cherry tomatoes (or grape tomatoes)
  • Fresh basil
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

For the full list of ingredients, and the printable recipe, be sure to check out the recipe card below.

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How to make pesto caprese pasta salad

A salad

Step 1: Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Rinse under cold water and drain well.

Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together the pesto, olive oil, and garlic.

Step 3: To the large bowl, add the pasta and toss to coat in the pesto dressing.

Step 4: Into the pasta, fold in the mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. Season with salt and black pepper as desired.

Serve immediately or chill in fridge until ready to serve.

Make this Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad, then check out my Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad, Roasted Asparagus Caesar Salad, and Vegetarian Mexican Inspired Pasta Salad and more of my summer salad recipes.  

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Tips and Substitutions

  • Pesto: You can either make a homemade basil pesto or you can use a store-bought pesto for a simplified version.
  • Tomatoes: I suggest using cherry tomatoes for this cold pasta salad, but grape tomatoes also work. Fresh tomatoes or heirloom tomatoes will also work, as long as you chop them up.
  • Mozzarella: I make this pasta salad with mozzarella balls (aka mozzarella pearls). However, you could also buy a package of fresh mozzarella cheese and cut it into small pieces. No matter what kind of mozzarella you use, make sure it’s fresh.
  • Pasta: I use rotini pasta for this recipe, but virtually any pasta will work—including spaghetti, orzo, bow tie pasta, and gluten-free pasta options such as quinoa pasta and brown rice pasta.
  • Black olives: If desired, you can add a layer of saltiness to your caprese pesto pasta salad recipe by adding black olives or chopped kalamata olives. The Mediterranean feel of this variation is delectable.
  • Balsamic glaze: It is optional but if you want to continue with the Italian flavors, follow the traditional Caprese salad recipe and finish it off with a drizzle of balsamic reduction.

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How to store this salad

Storage: Pesto pasta will stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Freezing: Though possible, I don’t recommend freezing this pasta salad recipe. The pasta will lose its texture and not taste as great when thawed.

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Other pasta salad recipes to try

  • Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad – delicious and easy, this Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad is packed with fresh summer vegetables like fresh seasonal corn, radishes, zucchini, heirloom tomatoes straight from the Farmer’s Market or even from your garden – it’s coated with a simple dressing, making a tasty side dish.
  • Vegetarian Mexican Inspired Pasta Salad – ender pasta is combined with Mexican-inspired flavors that’s loaded with corn, black beans, tomatoes, jalapeño, cilantro, and a creamy lime dressing for a perfect summer time salad, great for barbecues, picnics, grilled meats or fish and more!
  • Greek Pasta Salad – out of all the pasta salads to have in your recipe box, this is one of the best to wow a crowd! Cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, onion and feta cheese are mixed with pasta and drizzled with a homemade Greek salad dressing to create this colorful and appetizing pasta salad! 
  • Creamy Ranch BLT Pasta Salad – The perfect fresh side dish for any potluck, this Creamy Ranch BLT Pasta Salad not only has juicy cherry tomatoes, chopped bacon, and —you guessed it—crisp romaine, but is made even better by a lightened up greek yogurt ranch dressing.

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☀️ Celebrate Summer with this easy salad!

Summer Chipotle Chicken Cobb Salad

This delightful Summer Chipotle Chicken Cobb Salad boasts a combination of bold flavors and fresh ingredients. Imagine a harmonious blend of succulent chicken infused with the smoky allure of chipotle seasoning. Picture a vibrant medley of strawberries and blueberries dancing with creamy avocado on a bed of crisp mixed greens. It’s the ultimate summer salad that will leave you craving for more!

MAKE THIS RECIPE → Summer Chipotle Chicken Cobb Salad

Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe

Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe

Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Whether you call this Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad or Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad, this salad is sure to be a hit! This pasta salad is loaded with your favorite pasta noodles, fresh tomatoes and mozzarella and tossed in the best tasty pesto! It’s such an easy dish and perfect for anytime of the year!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups raw rotini pasta
  • ¼ cup prepared basil pesto
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup mozzarella pearls
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 tablespoons snipped fresh basil
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Rinse under cold water and drain well.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the pesto, olive oil, and garlic.
  3. To the large bowl, add the pasta and toss to coat in the pesto dressing.
  4. Into the pasta, fold in the mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. Season with salt and black pepper as desired.

If you loved this salad be sure to check out my Feta Bruschetta Pasta Salad!

Notes

For tips, substitutions, storage and serving info be sure to read the full Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad post.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 201Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 269mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 8g

The provided nutrition information is an estimate and it does not take brands into account. I use an automatic API to calculate this information.

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