Caprese Pasta Salad

There’s something about the combination of juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella and fresh basil that just works every single time. Turning those classic caprese salad flavours into a pasta salad recipe makes it even better, especially when you want something light but still filling enough to count as a proper meal.

This Caprese Pasta Salad recipe keeps things simple but intentional. Everything gets lightly marinated, the pasta stays tender but not soggy, and the flavours actually improve as it sits. It’s the kind of salad you make once and suddenly it’s your go to for lunches, BBQs, and last minute dinners.

Caprese pasta salad made with juicy tomatoes, marinated fresh mozzarella cheese, fragrant fresh basil, and a mouthwatering homemade Italian herb vinaigrette - 1

What Makes This Caprese Pasta Salad Work
What Goes Into This Caprese Pasta Salad
Add Ins And Substitutions (If You’re Feeling Extra)
How To Make This Caprese Pasta Salad
Pro Tips You’ll Be Glad You Read
Recipe FAQ’s
Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe

What Makes This Caprese Pasta Salad Work

This version focuses on balance, texture, and letting each ingredient pull its weight instead of drowning everything in dressing.

Marinated Mozzarella And Tomatoes: Letting these soak briefly in the dressing before mixing with the pasta means the flavour goes all the way through, not just on the surface.
Herb Forward Dressing: Fresh basil, parsley, and chives bring brightness without overpowering the salad, keeping it clean and fresh instead of oily.
Pasta That Holds Its Shape: Short pasta shapes catch the dressing and herbs properly, so every bite tastes the same from start to finish.
Room Temperature Friendly: This caprese pasta salad recipe tastes just as good slightly chilled or at room temperature, making it perfect for entertaining.

What Goes Into This Caprese Pasta Salad

Flay lay photo of ingredient shot of olive oil, capers, red wine vinegar, pine nuts, basil, garlic, chives, bocconcini, parsley, orecchiette pasta, cherry tomatoes, salt and pepper - 2

This Caprese Pasta Salad uses fresh, simple ingredients that come together for big flavor.

Bocconcini: Creamy, bite-sized fresh mozzarella balls that soak up the herb marinade and add rich, milky toast
Cherry Tomatoes: Sweet juicy, and vibrant—perfect for capturing that classic caprese salad flavor.
Fresh Basil: Fragrant and peppery, basil brings a bold, unmistakable freshness that ties everything together.
Orecchiette Pasta: This small, scoop-shaped pasta holds the dressing beautifully and adds heartiness to every bite.

Note: Please see recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients with measurements.

Add Ins And Substitutions (If You’re Feeling Extra)

These options work beautifully without changing the heart of the recipe.

Sun Dried Tomatoes: Add a deeper, more concentrated tomato flavour if you want something bolder.
Toasted Pine Nuts Or Almonds: Great for adding crunch and a slightly nutty contrast.
Baby Spinach Or Rocket: A handful stirred through adds colour and freshness without overpowering.
Grilled Chicken Or Shrimp: Turns this pasta salad recipe into a light but satisfying main.

How To Make This Caprese Pasta Salad

In a large bowl, whisk all the dressings. - 3

Make the Dressing In a large bowl, whisk together all the dressing in a separate airtight container and refrigerate for later.

Add the halved cherry tomatoes and bocconcini to the bowl with the dressings. - 4

Marinate Add the halved the tomatoes and bocconcini to the dressing. Toss gently to coat and let them marinate for 30 minutes.

Cook the pasta in a pot with boiling water - 5

Cook Pasta Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to package. Drain, toss with a light drizzle of olive oil, and let it cool slightly.

Once the pasta is cooled, add it to the bowl with the marinated tomatoes and mozzarella. - 6

Combine the Salad Once the pasta has cooled, add it to the bowl with the marinated tomatoes and mozzarella. Toss everything together until evenly coated.

Transfer the pasta salad to a storage container - 7

Chill the Salad Transfer the pasta salad to a serving dish or storage container. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days to allow the flavors to meld.

Drizzle the reserved dressings over the salad and toss. Garnish with extra basil and pine nuts. - 8

Toss and serve Just before serving, drizzle the reserved dressing over the salad and give it one final toss. Garnish with extra basil or pine nuts if desired, and serve.

This Caprese Pasta Salad pairs well with dishes that echo its fresh, vibrant flavors. Try it with Caprese Stuffed Balsamic Chicken for a savory, saucy main, or serve it alongside Zuppa Toscana to add warmth and richness to your meal. For a lighter option, Caprese Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms make a beautiful, low-carb pairing that keeps the Italian theme going strong.

Pro Tips You’ll Be Glad You Read

Salt your pasta water well so the pasta is seasoned from the inside, not just coated later.
Let the mozzarella come to room temperature before mixing so it absorbs more flavour.
If making ahead, save a little extra dressing to refresh the salad before serving.
Add basil last to keep it bright and fresh instead of bruised.

Yes! This caprese pasta salad recipe is perfect for making 1–2 days in advance. Just keep it chilled and toss with the reserved dressing right before serving.

Orecchiette is great because it catches the dressing and herbs in every bite, but any short-cut pasta like penne, fusilli, or farfalle will work well in this pasta salad recipe.

You can, but the homemade herb vinaigrette makes a big difference in flavor. It also doubles as a marinade for the cheese, which elevates the entire Caprese Pasta Salad.

Perfect Caprese pasta salad in a bowl - 9

Karina in a white and black dress with her hair blowing back, standing in front of her cooktop, cooking salmon in a pan - 10

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IngredientsUSMetric1x2x3x

Dressing/Marinade

▢ 2/3 cup olive oil
▢ 4-5 Tbsp red wine vinegar
▢ 2 Tbsp capers drained and roughly chopped
▢ 3 cloves garlic minced
▢ 1/3 cup fresh basil chopped
▢ 1/4 cup fresh chives chopped
▢ 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
▢ 1/4 tsp kosher salt
▢ 1/4 tsp black pepper

Pasta Salad

▢ 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
▢ 8 oz bocconcini fresh mozzarella balls or fresh mozzarella cut into 1/2" cubes
▢ 12 oz dried orecchiette pasta or other shortcut pasta
▢ 3 Tbsp pine nuts lightly toasted, optional

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, add dressing ingredients and whisk until well combined. Reserve 2 Tbsp of dressing and place in an airtight container and set aside.
Add cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella to mixing bowl with the dressing and toss to combine. Let sit and marinate approximately 30 minutes.
While the cheese and tomatoes are marinating, boil pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta and toss with a drizzle of olive oil. Let cool slightly.
Add pasta to mixing bowl and toss to combine. Transfer to serving container, cover and refrigerate 1-2 days. Before serving, toss pasta salad with reserved dressing and serve.

Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.