Thursday, June 18, 2026
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Caprese Pasta Salad


Caprese Pasta Salad is a contemporary, simple summer time recipe loaded with juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, contemporary basil, and a easy dressing, making it the good facet dish or mild meal.

top view of Caprese Pasta Salad in a bowl

Holly’s Recipe Highlights: Caprese Pasta Salad

  • Taste: Vivid and contemporary with candy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, aromatic basil, and a purple wine French dressing that ties all the things collectively.
  • Why Make It: It’s good to make forward. Chilling provides the pasta time to take in the dressing, making it much more flavorful because it rests.
  • Serving Solutions: This pasta salad is ideal served alongside grilled hen, air fryer burgers, or grilled sirloin steak.

Whole Time: 3 hours (Simply 30 minutes prep!) Servings: 8

Ingredient Notes for Caprese Pasta Salad

oil , tomatoes , balsamic , onion , sun dried tomatoes , basil , mozzarella , garlic , red wine vinegar , rotini , salt and pepper with labels to make Caprese Pasta Salad
  • Rotini: Rotini is my favourite for this salad as a result of the spirals maintain the dressing effectively, however penne, bow ties, fusilli, or shells are all nice choices.
  • Tomatoes: Grape tomatoes are candy, agency, and simple to halve; cherry tomatoes work effectively, too. It’s additionally a good way to make use of up ripe backyard tomatoes.
  • Cheese: Contemporary mozzarella pearls are bite-sized and simple to toss all through, however cocktail bocconcini will be quartered and used as an alternative.
  • Onion: Crimson onion provides somewhat chunk and shiny colour to the salad. Soaking the diced onion in chilly water for 10 minutes helps mellow the flavour.
  • Solar-Dried Tomatoes: Solar-dried tomatoes add concentrated tomato taste and a chewy texture. If utilizing oil-packed tomatoes, attempt including somewhat oil to the dressing for extra taste.
  • Basil: Contemporary basil is greatest added simply earlier than serving for the freshest taste and colour. Slice thinly or gently tear earlier than including.

Favourite Variations

  • Add Pesto: Stir in a spoonful of basil pesto for further herb taste.
  • Use Italian Dressing: Swap the dressing for bottled or selfmade Italian dressing.
  • Add Greens: Cucumbers, roasted purple peppers, child spinach, or arugula work effectively.
adding ingredients together in bowl to make Caprese Pasta Salad

Easy methods to Make Caprese Pasta Salad

  1. Prepare dinner the pasta and mix the dressing components (full recipe under).
  2. Toss the pasta with the remaining components and dressing.
  3. Chill the salad. Add contemporary basil and balsamic glaze simply earlier than serving.
  • Prepare dinner Al Dente: Prepare dinner the pasta al dente so it stays agency after chilling and soaking within the dressing.
  • Rinse the Pasta: Rinsing the pasta after cooking permits it to chill rapidly and stops the cooking.
  • Gown the Salad: Gown it generously since pasta absorbs dressing because it sits.
  • Style Earlier than Serving: Add a splash of vinegar, a drizzle of olive oil, or a pinch of salt if the flavour tastes muted after chilling.
Caprese Pasta Salad in a bowl with spoons

Storing Leftovers

Maintain leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days. Don’t freeze.

Stir earlier than serving, and add a small drizzle of olive oil or a splash of purple wine vinegar to refresh the feel and taste. Add further basil and balsamic glaze simply earlier than serving.

Contemporary Summer time Pasta Salads

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image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

Prep Time 20 minutes

Prepare dinner Time 10 minutes

Marinating Time 2 hours 30 minutes

Whole Time 3 hours

  • In a big pot, boil pasta in salted water till al dente (agency) based on package deal instructions. Drain and rinse below chilly water to chill.

  • In a jar with a lid, mix olive oil, purple wine vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper. Shut the lid tightly and shake to mix.

  • Mix pasta, grape tomatoes, mozzarella, purple onion, and sun-dried tomatoes in a big bowl. Pour dressing over prime and toss to coat.

  • Refrigerate not less than 2 hours earlier than serving.

  • Chop contemporary basil. Drizzle salad with balsamic glaze (if utilizing) and sprinkle basil on prime simply earlier than serving.

  • Gown generously, because the pasta will absorb the dressing. 
  • For a lift of taste, substitute a number of tablespoons of the olive oil within the dressing with oil from oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes.
  • Use balsamic French dressing or a little bit of selfmade Italian dressing rather than the purple wine dressing within the recipe.
  • If including balsamic vinegar, use only a splash; it’s extra highly effective than purple wine vinegar and might overpower.

Energy: 449 | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 15g | Fats: 21g | Saturated Fats: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 12g | Ldl cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 408mg | Potassium: 460mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 737IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 171mg | Iron: 2mg

Diet info offered is an estimate and can fluctuate primarily based on cooking strategies and types of components used.

Course Pasta, Salad, Aspect Dish
Delicacies American, Italian
plated Caprese Pasta Salad with writing
Caprese Pasta Salad in a bowl and close up photo with a title
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