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–+ servings
Caprese Pasta Salad in a glass bowl on a green and white check napkin

Caprese Pasta Salad

Liz @ Up North Nosh
Caprese Pasta Salad is a simple, flavor packed twist on a classic caprese salad. Juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and bright, fresh Italian flavors turned into a hearty, satisfying summer side dish with tender pasta.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course lunch, Pasta, Side Dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4
Calories 315 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz small shaped pasta (rotini or gemelli work well)
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 cup mozzarella balls
  • ½ packet Italian dressing seasoning mix (I use this one)
  • ¼ cup Italian dressing
  • ¼ tsp coarse salt

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook about 8 ounces short shaped pasta (rotini or gemelli work well). Cook until al dente (tender but still with a slight bite). Drain and set aside.
  • While the pasta cools, slice 1 cup grape tomatoes and 1 cup of mozzarella balls in half. Note: If using mozzarella pearls, you can leave them as-is.
  • Add the cooled pasta to a large bowl, then toss in the tomatoes and mozzarella cheese.
  • Pour in about 1/4 cup Italian dressing, sprinkle in 1/2 packet Italian seasoning mix, and 1/4 t salt. Toss everything together until well coated.
  • Chop a handful of fresh basil and fold it into the salad. Tip: If serving the pasta salad at a later time, hold off adding the basil until you are ready to serve it so that basil stays fresh and does not wilt.
  • You can serve this right away, but it’s even better after chilling for 30 minutes so the flavors can soak into the pasta.

Notes

Store in refrigerator for up to 4 days, in an airtight container to keep fresh.
For more pasta salad recipes, try Bow Tie Pasta Salad, Italian Pasta Salad or Spaghetti Noodle Pasta Salad.
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Nutrition

Calories: 315kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 12gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 316mgPotassium: 222mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 190IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 109mgIron: 1mg
Keyword caprese pasta salad, caprese salad, Italian Pasta Salad, meal prep, pasta salad, side dish
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