Fresh Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe Easy Homemade with Balsamic Glaze
A light and refreshing pasta salad featuring cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella pearls, basil, and a tangy-sweet balsamic glaze. Perfect for summer meals, potlucks, or quick lunches.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings as main or 6 servings as side 1x
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces (225 g) short pasta (rotini, penne, or fusilli)
- Salt, for boiling water
- 1 ½ cups (250 g) cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 8 ounces (225 g) fresh mozzarella pearls (bocconcini)
- 1 cup (about 25 g) fresh basil leaves, torn or roughly chopped
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze
- 1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Sea salt, to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces (225 g) of your chosen pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 9-11 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down.
- While pasta cooks, halve 1 ½ cups (250 g) cherry tomatoes and roughly tear or chop 1 cup (25 g) fresh basil leaves. Drain 8 ounces (225 g) mozzarella pearls and pat dry gently.
- In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic (optional), salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. Pour the olive oil dressing over and toss gently to combine without breaking the cheese or bruising the basil.
- Just before serving, drizzle 2 tablespoons of balsamic glaze evenly over the salad.
- Taste and add more salt, pepper, or olive oil if needed.
Notes
Use al dente pasta and rinse with cold water to keep pasta firm. Add balsamic glaze just before serving to avoid sogginess. For gluten-free, substitute pasta with spiralized zucchini or gluten-free pasta. Mozzarella pearls are preferred for texture; use burrata or vegan cheese as alternatives. Toss salad gently to avoid bruising basil and breaking cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup
- Calories: 300
- Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Protein: 12
Keywords: Caprese pasta salad, fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, basil, balsamic glaze, easy pasta salad, summer salad, Italian salad