Cool and refreshing, this easy Caprese pasta salad takes a classic summer dish and adds a delicious Italian twist. It takes under 20 minutes to prepare and uses only a few, simple ingredients. At that point, you can either serve it immediately or give it a chill in the fridge.
It's not a coincidence that this salad contains all of the colors of the Italian flag. This recipe was inspired by the classic Italian Caprese salad, which consists of simply tomatoes, mozzarella and basil (similar to a burrata salad). I’ve added some basil pesto and sun-dried tomatoes for an extra flavor burst.
Anyone who enjoys Italian cooking knows that there's nothing more delicious than a savory pesto or a fresh tomato just picked off the vine.
If you are a fan of pasta salads, I think you'll also enjoy my dill pickle pasta salad and creamy tuna pasta salad.
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Caprese Pasta Salad Ingredients
- Orecchiette pasta - Orecchiette is a small ear-shaped pasta. I love the way it holds the pesto due to its shallow bowl shape. It may be a little more difficult to find in the grocery store. If this is the case, you can substitute with medium shell pasta or another short-cut pasta.
- prepared basil pesto - This serves as the dressing for this pasta salad.
- Roma tomatoes - Cherry tomatoes would also work.
- sun-dried tomatoes - The oil-packed, sliced kind in a jar, which you can usually find in the pasta aisle.
- bocconcini cheese balls - Bocconcini are small balls of mozzarella that you should be able to find easily in the deli cheese section in small containers.
- fresh basil leaves - To garnish.
*Check recipe card for ingredient amounts.
How to Make it
Step #1. Cook the Pasta. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta according to package directions, until al dente. Drain the pasta, rinse with cool water and transfer to a large bowl.
Step #2. Add the Pesto. Add the pesto sauce to the pasta. Mix well. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Step #3. Combine with Other Ingredients. Add the chopped tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes and bocconcini balls. Mix again.
Step #4. Serve. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve. You can also chill it for an hour or two before serving.
Serving Suggestions
This dish makes a great starter salad for a multi-course Italian meal. With sun-dried tomatoes and a flavorful basil pesto, this pasta salad will put your guests in the mood for the best Italian food they've ever had. You can also serve it as a side dish or offer small servings as an appetizer.
- Temperature. Serve it warm or cold, it's up to you.
- Mains. Stick to the Italian theme and try this Italian sausage sandwich. Or, adding a lean meat like diced blackened chicken breast makes this dish heartier and more suitable for a main course. It also tastes amazing next to a grilled burger or steak like carne asada; you can check out how to grill juicy carne asada here.
- Drinks. If you are looking for a wine to serve it with, a rosé pairs wonderfully with fresh tomatoes. An Italian wine such as Vermentino would also work. For a cocktail idea, try this easy peach Bellini recipe.
3 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Pasta Salad
- Over-cooking your pasta. You want to cook the pasta 'al dente' which means tender but still firm to the bite. Rinsing the pasta with cool water will stop the cooking process. This is the best texture for pasta salad.
- Letting the pasta cool completely before dressing. Dressing the pasta when it's still slightly warm will allow it to really absorb those flavors.
- Not seasoning enough. Even though pasta salad contains ingredients like cheese and pesto, you are still going to need to season that pasta to get the flavors on point.
Recipe FAQs
It combines classic ingredients like mozzarella, tomatoes and fresh basil with short-cut pasta. It's great for potlucks, picnics and barbecues.
Store this salad for up to 4 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
More Delicious Salad Recipes to Try
If you tried this Italian Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. And please share the recipe!
📋Recipe
Easy Caprese Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups Orecchiette pasta - or medium shells
- ¼ cup basil pesto
- 2 cups Roma tomatoes - chopped
- ½ cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes - drained of the oil and sliced
- 2 cups bocconcini cheese - sliced in half
- fresh basil leaves - to garnish
- salt and pepper - to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta according to package directions, until al dente (tender but still a bit firm).3 cups Orecchiette pasta
- Drain the pasta, rinse with cool water and transfer to a large bowl.
- Add the pesto sauce to the pasta. Mix well. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.¼ cup basil pesto
- Add the chopped tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes and bocconcini balls. Mix again.2 cups Roma tomatoes, ½ cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, 2 cups bocconcini cheese
- Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve. You can also chill it for an hour or two before serving if desired.
Equipment
Notes
- You can serve this salad as a side dish or offer small servings as an appetizer.
- Adding a lean meat like shredded chicken makes this dish heartier and more suitable for a main course.
- Store this salad for up to 4 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.
Marcellina says
All my fav ingredients! Love this recipe.
Joss D says
Thanks Marcellina!