Easy Fresh Caprese Pasta Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Make this bright and fresh Caprese Pasta Salad quickly. It combines classic Italian flavors—tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil—with pasta in a simple balsamic dressing, perfect for weeknight meals or potlucks.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 25 min
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No Cook (after boiling pasta)
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound rotini or farfalle pasta
- 2 pints cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 16 ounces fresh mozzarella pearls (bocconcini), drained
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse immediately with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool completely.
- While the pasta cools, prepare the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, halved tomatoes, and mozzarella pearls.
- Add the chopped fresh basil to the pasta mixture.
- Pour the balsamic vinaigrette over the salad ingredients.
- Gently toss everything together until the pasta and ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Cover the salad and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, you can substitute the balsamic vinaigrette with your favorite prepared pesto sauce.
- If you do not have fresh mozzarella pearls, cut a fresh mozzarella ball into bite-sized cubes.
- You can prepare this salad up to one day ahead of time; store it covered in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Unsaturated Fat: 16
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 15
- Cholesterol: 35