4 Ingredient Caprese Pasta Salad

Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad is a healthy and easy 4 ingredient pasta salad.  Made with tender pasta, juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella cheese, and your favorite basil pesto, this easy vegetarian meal or side dish comes together in a snap for everything from a summer meal to a potluck.

Love easy pasta salads? Also, try my Bruschetta Pasta Salad, Zesty Italian Pasta Salad, Healthy Macaroni Salad, and Deviled Egg Pasta Salad.

Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad

Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad with pesto is one of my all-time favorite recipes.  This 4 Ingredient Pasta Salad recipe comes together in only 20 minutes, is easy to make, and is an ideal no-fuss, simple summer vegetarian meal or side dish.  Serve this at dinner, a picnic, a summer bbqs, or a potluck.  It's a perfect variation on a classic caprese salad.

This Caprese Pasta Salad recipe comes together in a flash.  All you have to do is boil your favorite tender pasta noodles... I like bow ties.  Toss the pasta with the freshest vine-ripened tomatoes you can find, creamy fresh mozzarella cheese, and your favorite pesto sauce (homemade or store-bought). I like to use my classic pesto recipe, but you can use any of the 7 other Healthy Pesto Recipes on my site.  If I have fresh basil, I use that too.  This pasta salad takes the fuss out of it and makes it a hearty meal ANYONE will love.  Who can go wrong with a 4-ingredient recipe?

This EASY pasta salad recipe is my personal go-to for most summer potlucks, and it also shows up at our dinner table a few times a season.  This is the kind of recipe that's plant-based but still super heart-y, pleasing to vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.  It disappears everywhere I take it.  It's great for a summer salad, but I have even served it around the holidays as a fun red-and-green dish.  This is one of the twins' favorite dishes, and they always ask for seconds when I make it.  It's great to make ahead on busy nights with sports and activities.

This recipe is an ode to all things simple and summer... and you really can't go wrong.

More Easy Pasta Salad Recipes: Cucumber Pasta Salad, Bruschetta Pasta Salad & Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad

Why You'll Love this Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad...

• My Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad with Pesto is a 4 Ingredient Pasta Salad.  It doesn't get easier than that!
• This entire recipe takes only 20 minutes to make.
• It's a great way to use a bunch of fresh cherry tomatoes.
• You can keep it simple and use pre-made pesto or mix your own, depending on how much time you have.  You can also add fresh basil if you have it!
• It's a great dish to feed a crowd.  It's a perfect side dish or can be served as a main course.
• It's basically the best of summer in a delicious bowl.  The texture and flavor are perfect.

Ingredients:

Here's an overview of what you'll need to make my Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad.  Keep scrolling for the complete recipe ingredients and directions.

• Pasta: The best kind of pasta for this recipe is a short pasta like bowtie or farfalle.  But cavatappi, spiral, rigatoni, shell, elbow macaroni, penne, fusilli, or rotini pasta will all work.  I love the bowtie pasta for this.  You can be as healthy or unhealthy as you'd like, using standard white pasta, whole grain, or even gluten-free pasta to make the recipe gluten-free.  I like this protein pasta or this chickpea pasta.   But your favorite works well, too.  I've even made it before with frozen cheese tortellini... which you can imagine was kind of a dream.  This recipe works with lots of pasta shapes.
• Tomatoes: The juicy cherry tomatoes add flavor to this dish, so use the freshest you can find.  You can use grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes.  Tomatoes are nutritional powerhouses, rich in antioxidants and vitamin C.
• Mozzarella Ball: Fresh mozzarella is a necessity for this 4 Ingredient Pasta Salad.  Use either the small fresh mozzarella balls or pearl-sized ones.  If you can't find that, you can cube a larger ball of cheese.  If you have mid-sized mozzerella balls (Ciliegine) you can cut them into smaller bites.
• Pesto: Use your favorite store-bought pesto if you are in a hurry, OR make my Basil Almond Pesto, Spinach Pesto, Walnut Pesto, Cashew Pesto, or any of my 8 Homemade Pesto Recipes, which include a classic pine-nut pesto if you prefer.  Use extra virgin olive oil to make your pesto.
• Fresh Basil: If you have fresh basil leaves, it's a wonderful addition to this dish! It is optional, though.  The extra basil is even optional if you happen to be making this when basil is not in season.  Fresh herbs bring this to life.
• Salt and Black Pepper: Most pestos are salty already, so just add what you need to taste.

Instructions:

Here's an overview of how to make Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad.  The complete directions are in the recipe card below.

1. First, if you are making your own pesto, prepare it following my instructions for the perfect pesto.  Use your favorite food processor to blend it, but do not overprocess it.  You can do this while the pasta cooks.
2. Boil your pasta according to package instructions in a large pot of salted water.  Cook pasta al dente. Drain the pasta, rinse it under cold water, and set it aside to cool.  Rinsing the pasta helps prevent it from sticking together.
3. As the pasta cools, cut your tomatoes in half and slice your fresh basil.
4. In a large serving bowl, stir together the pasta, pesto, fresh basil, and tomatoes.
5. Serve at room temperature or chilled.  This Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad is one of my favorite dishes.

Variations

I love this Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad recipe as written, but here are some fun variations.

• Make it Gluten-Free: Use your favorite gluten-free pasta.
• Make it Richer: You can make this whole dish a bit richer by drizzling balsamic glaze or adding a splash of balsamic vinegar before serving.
• Make it Healthier: To make this Caprese Pasta Salad a bit healthier, serve it on a big pile of your favorite greens, such as baby spinach, arugula, or baby kale.
• Make it Without Pesto: Don't like pesto?  Make the 4 Ingredient Pasta Salad with your favorite salad dressing, like my Zesty Italian Dressing, Balsamic Dressing, or Red Wine Vinaigrette.  You can also add some fresh homemade Italian Seasoning to it.
• Mix Up the Veggies: Classic Caprese just has tomatoes, but you can add so many different vegetables to bring different flavors to this easy pasta salad, including kalamata olives, black olives, avocado, red peppers, peas, zucchini, green onion, cucumber, red onion, garlic, or even bell pepper.
• Add Citrus: Brighten it up by adding some fresh lemon juice.
• Make it Cheesy: Add some extra Parmesan or even feta cheese on top.
• Make it Meaty: Add your favorite Italian meats like salami, bacon, or pepperoni.  You can even add chicken or steak.

FAQ

How do I store leftovers?

Store any leftovers from this Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad recipe in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes! This is a fabulous recipe to make for a crowd.  I've doubled and even tripled this before.  You'll just need a very large bowl. Make it once and eat it for a few days, or bring it to a potluck.  From experience, I know it's a hit!  And even though the flavors are more summery, I've even brought this to a Christmas party before because of the red, white, and green.  It's SO easy to make if you need a dish in a pinch.

Can you make pasta salad the day before?

Yes! You can make this 4-ingredient pasta salad ahead of time, but you might need to add a bit of olive oil or more pesto to bring it back to life.  You can alternatively just toss the pasta in half of the pesto and add the rest right before serving.  This trick isn't really necessary if you are making this ahead a few hours, but overnight I'd do it.

Why is my pasta salad dry?

When you make pasta salad ahead of time and store it in the fridge, the pasta tends to absorb whatever dressing (or, in this case, pesto) is coating it.  It then appears to be dried out.  My trick to overcome this is to toss the pasta salad with only half the dressing or pesto ahead of time.  When it's time to serve the dish, toss it with the rest of the pasta.

What is pesto made of?

Pesto is made from a combination of fresh herbs, nuts, and olive oil.  It's traditionally made with fresh basil, Parmesan cheese, extra-virgin olive oil, and pine nuts.  Sometimes people add lemon.  Pine nuts can be expensive, though, so other nuts like walnuts, cashews, or almonds can be substitutes.  Learn all about pesto in my Homemade Pesto Guide.

Can pesto pasta be served cold?

Yes! This Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad can be served at room temperature, cold, or chilled.  I like it best at room temperature, freshly made, but you can chill it if making it ahead.

What is in Caprese Pasta?  

This Caprese Pasta Salad features a base of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil.  Those are the key ingredients and flavors to make something "caprese."

Can I add pesto to caprese salad?

Yes!  The flavors in pesto pair perfectly with caprese anything.

Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad is Perfect for Summer!

Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad is the perfect taste of summer, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  You really can't go wrong with this crazy-easy 4 Ingredient Pasta Salad that's vegetarian but hearty enough for meat-eaters, too.  Serve this as a complete meal or a side dish with any of the dishes below.  This is one of the best pasta salads you will ever try.

As always, I'd love to hear what you think in the comments.

Make it a Meal:

• BBQ Shrimp Skewers
• Portobello Mushroom Burger
• Air Fryer Flounder
• Air Fryer Shrimp
• Air Fryer Salmon
• Lemon Pesto Salmon
• Blackened Mahi Mahi
• Cajun Shrimp Burgers
• Portobello Mushroom Steaks
• Grilled Cauliflower Steaks

More Easy Pasta Salad Recipes to Try:

• Bruschetta Pasta Salad
• Healthy Macaroni Salad
• Crab Pasta Salad
• Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
• Cucumber Pasta Salad
• Kale Caesar Pasta Salad
• Tex Mex Pasta Salad
• Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad
• Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
• Deviled Egg Pasta Salad

More Caprese Recipes to Try:

• Caprese Wheat Berry Salad
• Caprese Stuffed Portobello Mushroom
• Blueberry Caprese Salad
• Grilled Peach Caprese Salad
• Caprese Crustless Quiche
• Avocado Caprese Salad

If you make this 4 Ingredient Caprese Pasta Salad recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and a star rating ★ below. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, too!

Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad

Julie Wunder

Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad is a healthy and easy 4 Ingredient Pasta Salad.  Made with tender pasta, juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella cheese, and your favorite basil pesto this easy vegetarian meal or side dish comes together in a snap for everything from a summer meal to a potluck.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine American, Italian

Servings 8 people

Calories 384 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 12 ounces bowtie pasta
• 2 pints cherry tomatoes
• 8 ounces fresh mozzarella pearls
• 1 cup fresh pesto ***
• optional: chopped fresh basil
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Cook the pasta according to the package instructions and set aside to cool.
• Once the pasta is cool toss the cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and fresh pesto together. 
• Adjust the salt and pepper to taste.  If in season toss and garnish with additional fresh chopped basil.

Notes

Use my recipe for fresh Almond Basil Pesto, any of my 8 Perfect Homemade Pestos, or your favorite packaged kind.

Serve this at room temperature or chilled.

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

Nutrition

Serving: 8gCalories: 384kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 14gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 483mgPotassium: 374mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1395IUVitamin C: 27mgCalcium: 215mgIron: 2mg

Keyword 4 Ingredient Pasta Salad, Caprese Pasta Salad, Pesto Caprese Salad

Tried this recipe?Mention @Julie_Wunder or tag #RunninginaSkirt!

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