This light and lovely Caprese Pasta Salad with balsamic dressing is a real taste of Italy. It may only take 15 minutes to throw together but it is filled with wholesome ingredients, beautiful colors, and fresh summer flavors.
5 Star Review
“I just made this and it’s a keeper! I love how light and clean it feels to eat even though it’s a pasta dish. Perfect for a summer lunch”
— Siobhan —
Pasta doesn’t have to mean dry, packaged noodles that you smother with jarred sauce (which had been my concept of pasta since childhood).
After a trip to Italy, my eyes were opened and I learned that pasta can also mean light, fresh, simple, and healthy (like this Pasta Primavera).
Looking to recreate some of the magic I experienced abroad, I took it upon myself to add extra veggies to a package of store-bought tortellini to make a healthy and colorful Caprese pasta salad.
This simple recipe takes just minutes to make and would fit in as a side dish as part of a summer cookout spread or served for a cozy date night at home with an Arugula Salad and glass of wine for a complete meal.
It’s light, wholesome, and feels more healthy than heavy.
Ingredients and Substitutions
You’ll find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below, but here are some notes to keep in mind.
- Cheese Tortellini. A package of my favorite store-bought cheese tortellini makes this recipe fast and fresh.
- Tomatoes. Like my favorite Chicken Pasta Salad, stud this easy Caprese pasta recipe with bright red jewels of sweetness loaded with antioxidants such as lycopene. (For more Caprese-style, try this Burrata Pizza or Burrata Salad.)
- Mozzarella Pearls. For creaminess and cheesy goodness.
- Basil. Lends the pasta salad that classic Italian flavor. (Also a necessity for this Caprese Chicken Pasta and Caprese Sandwich.)
- Spinach. My addition that adds vitamin K, fiber, phosphorus, and thiamine to this simple Caprese pasta salad.
- Balsamic Dressing. Instead of a heavy sauce, I tossed the ingredients with a simple homemade tangy balsamic vinaigrette. (If you love balsamic, you’ll also love this easy Crockpot Italian Chicken.)
Step-By-Step Instructions
Cook the Pasta (photo 1). Follow the package directions, then drain, rinse with cool water, and transfer to a bowl.
Combine (photo 2). Add the baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil.
Make the Dressing (photo 3). Whisk together the dressing ingredients.
Finish (photo 4). Toss the dressing with the pasta and serve. ENJOY!
What to Serve With Caprese Pasta Salad
- Another Style of Salad. Serve caprese pasta salad with Fruit Salad or Pea Salad if you’re making it for a party spread.
- Bread. It would be fantastic with Homemade Garlic Bread!
- Soup. For a soup and salad combo, pair this pasta salad with Instant Pot Tomato Soup.
Caprese Pasta Salad
Email Me the Recipe!
From time to time, we’ll send you Well Plated emails. You can unsubscribe anytime. Have an account? Log In.
Ingredients
PASTA SALAD:
- 1 bag fresh cheese tortellini (10 ounces)
- 2 cups lightly packed baby spinach
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 4 ounces part-skim mozzarella pearls
- ¼ cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves cut into thin strips
BALSAMIC DRESSING:
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- ½ teaspoon honey
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the pasta for 3 minutes, until just al dente. Drain and rinse with cool water. Shake off as much excess water as possible, then transfer the pasta to a large serving bowl.
- Add the baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil.
- To make the dressing, in a small bowl or measuring cup, stir together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper.
- Toss the dressing with the pasta and serve.
Notes
- TO STORE: Place leftovers in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.
This was so good and healthy! I was not sure about the spinach but it does add to the flavor. I used my homemade balsamic vinegarette dressing, leaving out the honey. The Rana tortellini was perfect. It didn’t fall apart when cooking and did not get “mushy” like so many do.
Cindy, I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the salad! I could probably eat it once a week too. Thank you so much for giving it a try and reporting back!
I loved this recipe! I unfortunately made the mistake of adding all the dressing to my salad and it made it too wet! People don’t be shy of the spinach it goes so well with this dish! I doubled my serving!
Thanks so much for leaving this awesome review, Allie! I’m so glad you enjoyed the salad.
I just made this and it’s a keeper! I love how light and clean it feels to eat even though it’s a pasta dish. Perfect for a summer lunch when tomatoes are abundant, but like another commented, I could eat it on a regular basis all year long! I was heavy-handed on the spinach and basil and used white balsamic vinegar to keep the veggie colors bright.
I do also see how this would make a great potluck dish – if I decide to share any of it! ;)
Siobhan, I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed this dish. Thank you for sharing your tweaks—they sound absolutely delicious! :)
I just made the salad, and it is quite tasty! Mine looks darker than yours, so I think next time I might try the white balsamic vinegar.
You’re not kidding, it is simple and quick! I made it amidst trying to check in for a flight, answering a call from my husband, and a few more things! Thanks, Erin!
I’m happy this recipe worked well for you, Peggy! Thank you so much for sharing this kind review!
Love this recipe! Such a taste of spring!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Danielle! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
This was sooo good. I used the costco sized Tortellini bag which was 2 and a half times the recipe. It made a large bowl full which you would think would be too much but noo it wasn’t . I made it for a crew who were fence building and their was hardly any leftovers. I am now thinking of when I will make this again.
Hi Helene! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I really like the idea of this recipe.
I am concerned about the salt content as a am on a salt restricted diet and I could not find sodium mentioned in the nutritional listing.
Hi Molly, stopped including sodium info because it can vary so much depending upon what products you used, and I found a lot of conflicting info online, so ultimately I didn’t feel comfortable publishing it because sometimes it wasn’t even in the ballpark. If you’d like to calculate it yourself, there are lots of free tools online (myfitnesspal.com is popular). I hope that helps!
This was a nice change from our usual pasta dishes, and even my picky 7-year-old tried it. I wasn’t sure she’d like the basil, but she ended up just eating around it and still enjoying the rest. I added a little extra cheese because, well, kids. It came together quickly too, which helped on a busy weeknight with homework chaos. Happy with the results. Thanks
Yay! So glad to hear, Nadia! Thank you!
This recipe is super beginner-friendly, which I appreciate since I’m not very confident in the kitchen. Everything came together quickly and nothing felt complicated. I did accidentally overcook the tortellini a bit, but it still tasted fine once everything was mixed. I will surely make this again.
So glad you enjoyed it, Jacquelyn! Thank you!
Honestly, I wasn’t sure how filling this would be, but the tortellini made it surprisingly satisfying. I used cherry tomatoes from our backyard, which probably made a difference in flavor. The balsamic dressing is light and slightly sweet, which I liked, but I added a little more extra olive oil to mellow it out. Pretty happy with how it turned out. Thanks!
So glad you enjoyed it, Winona! Thank you!
We absolutely loved it!
Great to hear, Emily!
I have made your Caprese salad many times. It is always a success! The dressing is so light and delicious! Thank you!
So glad to hear, Rosemary! Thank you!
I made this over Memorial Day weekend. A fantastic salad on a warm day that works as a main dish along with bread.
Great to hear, Jennifer!
Excellent. It was gone before I was done
Love to hear that, Tracey!
Absolutely delicious and so easy to make.
Thank you Sharon!
Deeeelicous! Wonderful flavor with the balsamic dressing. It’s a keeper. Salad and pasta rolled into one dish. I’d add the spinach to hot pasta next time to wilt the leaves.
So glad you enjoyed the salad, Bill! Thank you!
This is a Fast & Fresh meal!
Great recipe!
Thank you!
This Caprese Pasta Salad is fresh, easy, and really tasty. The combination of pasta, tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and balsamic dressing makes it feel light but still satisfying. I also like that it comes together quickly and works well for warm-weather meals, lunches, or a side dish at a cookout. The flavors are simple, classic, and balanced, and the recipe is easy to follow.
Thank you KA!
This is my favorite “go to” recipe for the summer. Super easy and packed full of flavor. It’s perfect for summer evenings
So glad to hear, Virginia! Thank you!
Loved that this came up today because it’s finally beautiful in WI so perfect timing for a refreshing new salad. I’m gluten free and found a gf protein 4 cheese tortellini in the freezer section! This will be on repeat for the summer!!
Looks great, Heidi! Thank you for sharing!
This was a great recipe! It was flavorful, light and so quick to make. We will definitely be making this one again!
So glad to hear, Kristine! Thank you!
This was perfect! Delicious, healthy and easy to make. I will definitely be making this again!
Kris
Thank you Kris!
Love this recipe!! So simple with the perfect mix of textures and the zippiness of the balsamic is the best meal creation!
Thank you Jo!
Perfect side dish for a summer night! This was so simple to put together and so delicious!
Looks perfect, Melanie! Thank you for sharing!
Delicious. I have never liked the taste of basil however, I knew that the combination of all the ingredients in this salad would make it taste good. Just the smell of it as I was putting it together was so wonderful. I will definitely make this recipe again.
DEB.
So happy to hear, Deb! Thank you!
This Caprese Pasta Salad was absolutely delicious! The combination of tender pasta, juicy tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and fragrant basil created the perfect balance of flavors. The dressing tied everything together beautifully without overpowering the fresh ingredients. It was light, refreshing, and incredibly easy to make. I served it at a family gathering, and everyone went back for seconds. This recipe is perfect for summer cookouts, potlucks, or a quick weeknight meal. I’ll definitely be making it again!
So glad to hear, Tori! Thank you!
Easy. Quick. Most importantly, delicious! I will be making this all summer long to beat the heat!
So glad to hear, Amy! Looks great!
This salad was so easy to make and was delicious! It would be a great meal prep lunch for the week!
Looks fabulous, Silvia! Thank you for sharing!
This pasta salad is delicious and easy to make. I added grilled chicken and called it dinner!
So glad to hear, Toby! Thank you and great call on the chicken!
So incredibly yummy and fulfilling. Made good use of my basil plant so fresh and delicious will be making this again. Might add some crumbled goat cheese or feta next time for a bit of tanginess and because I love cheese.
So glad to hear, Michelle! Thank you!
A great pasta salad! I swapped out the spinach for arugula and it turned out great.
Great idea! Thank you Sarah!
Delicious and so simple to make! A perfect summer side! Photo is of my daughter’s dinner plate ha
So glad to hear, Alison! Thank you!
This is such a quick and delicious recipe. Perfect for summer. I liked the addition of spinach. We enjoyed it for dinner last night and I was very happy to have the leftovers for lunch today. The dressing was delicious on a salad with strawberries and slicer perched as well. This will no doubt be on repeat all summer long.
Looks so good, Annika! Thank you for sharing!
Who says fast food can’t be healthy? Not only is this recipe healthy, it’s so fresh, flavorful and a breeze to prepare. A nourishing stand alone summer meal or serve with salmon or grilled chicken. Thank you, definitely a keeper!
Looks great, Julie! So glad you enjoyed it!
I made this for a potluck and essentially quadrulped it. It still turned out to be really delicious, and as I was preparing I realized that this takes the delicious combination of a favorite appetizer: tomato, basil and mozzarella with balsamic vinegar to a whole new level. I love the flavors, the use of fresh veggies and the refreshing summer flavor you get, and I also love that it doesn’t take too much work or time to pull it together.
So glad to hear, Rolsen!
I was looking for a “not your typical” pasta salad and this was it! It was very tasty and I made it a few hours before I had the family over for dinner which I loved.
So glad you enjoyed it, Darlene! Thank you!
Absolutely loved this salad! We made it in the morning and took out of the fridge 2 hours before we ate so it wasn’t cold and it was just delightful. The combo of mozzarella, sweet tomatoes, and basil is such a classic that it just can’t be beat, and the spinach was straight from the garden and it added a wonderful mouth feel to the finished salad. Will be made over and over.
So glad to hear it was a hit, Christina!
Feast for the eyes and delicious too.
Looks fabulous, Agnes! Thank you!
The perfect summer pasta salad! I made this to bring to book club this month and it was a huge hit! I had a 20oz pack of cheese tortellini and probably used a little over half of it. It comes together so quickly and with minimal prep work. Fresh flavors and not overly heavy.
Yay! So happy to hear, Melody! Looks great!
We enjoyed this recipe! Was quick and easy. My baby spinach was still a bit on the big side; I should’ve cut it, but didn’t. If I were to make this again, I’d try to cut some of the spinach so that everything mixes a bit easier. Served this for dinner with balsamic chicken.
Thank you Julie!
This salad is so easy and delicious and the dressing puts it over the top! I will definitely be making this often and is the perfect side for so many mains. Thank you for sharing!
Looks perfect, Rebecca! Thank you for sharing!
My favourite sandwich is a caprese sandwich, so I was delighted to see this recipe!
I made it last evening to bring to work and I devoured it! Absolutely delicious!
Yay! So glad to hear, Andrea! Thank you!
Love that this can be served as a light meal. I used a different vinaigrette as I don’t like balsamic vinegar.
Glad it worked well for you, G! Thank you!
Made this yesterday and as I’m not a proficient cook in the kitchen I was pleased by how easy it was to make. The flavors were amazing and my husband and kids devoured it!
So glad to hear, April! Thank you!
I made this delicious salad for a friend who was recovering from lung cancer surgery(meal train). She got back to me to tell me how much she and her husband enjoyed it and said she would be making it many times this coming summer as is is so simple and scrumptious. So I sent her your recipe!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share this with me, Marnie! I appreciate it so much and am so happy the recipe helped a friend in need.
The Caprese Pasta Salad was absolutely delicious and full of fresh flavor. The cheese tortellini was tender and satisfying, pairing perfectly with the fresh tomatoes and basil. The balsamic dressing added a tangy sweetness that brought all the ingredients together beautifully. Every bite was well-balanced, refreshing, and packed with flavor. It made for a light yet filling meal, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys fresh, Italian-inspired dishes.
Thank you so much, Tori!
the tortellini gave this salad the body and texture while the spinach, tomatoes and mozzarella gave it the chew. Beautiful colors and and fresh flavors from everything combined. Basil from my garden and balsamic dressing made this salad perfect for dinner with crust bread as a tasty extra
Thank you Barbara!
Tried this recipe just last week for a family barbecue. It was a big hit! Company was very surprised to see tortellini in a salad but they gave it a try and by the end of the day the salad was all gone. I had been hoping to take the leftovers home but I’ll just have to make it again.
I really have been enjoying the well-plated recipe selections. Thank you Erin!
Yay! Thank you!
Simple, iight and it came together extremely quickly. I made it just as Erin outlined and I’m not sure I’d change anything. Well, maybe I’d add fresh cracked pepper, but I absolutely LOVE pepper. My wife would not agree.
This one is a keeper for the reasons noted above–simple, light and quick. And as someone trying to watch their weight, I appreciate that it’s under 400 calories. Enjoy!
Great to hear! Thank you!
Very tasty, easy and fast. I add a side of grilled salmon to complete a main course. The flavors were fantastic. Will put into our meal rotation.
Glad you enjoyed it, Glenn! Thank you!
Excellent! Perfect way to use my abundance of basil from my garden! This was such a great summer side dish, perfect for adults and kids. We all loved it.
Looks great, Nicole! Thank you for sharing!
it is the first time I have cooked this and found it to be one of the best pasta I have had in years thank you
Thank you David!
Made the Caprese Pasta Salad for my husband and myself. We both loved it and plan to make it again.
So glad to hear, Caroll! Thank you!
I made this for Father’s Day and the compliments did not stop. Everyone enjoyed the colorful, refreshing salad. The dressing was light and complimented the various vegetables in this salad.
So glad to hear, Carol! Thank you!
This is an easy weeknight meal and super delicious! I added chicken for protein. Love the balsamic dressing, and I got to use my fresh basil!
Looks so good, Laurie! Thank you for sharing!
I love caprese salad in the summer, and this tortellini spinach variation was a fun new twist! I served alongside grilled venison steaks which paired very nicely.
#wellplatedcookingchallenge
Sounds like the perfect pairing! Thank you Emiley!
Light and refreshing dinner and took no time to make. Leftovers were.awesome too!
Thank you Renae!
So delicious and easy! The perfect light dish for a hot summer day!
Looks incredibly good, Rebecca! Thank you for sharing!
We absolutely loved it!
Thank you Martha!
We loved it. The only suggestion is keep the tortellinis hot. It helps blend everything. The cheese melts, the spinach softens and the tomatoes blend better. GREAT recipe
Thanks Martha!
This is such a fun combo that I have made in many different ways, but never a pasta salad! I was missing out because this is so good and summery and perfect with all the goodies from my garden. It has been a staple lunch for us and we love it!
Glad you enjoyed it, Adrienne! Thank you!
Absolutely delicious, fresh, and light. Perfect for simmer.
Thank you Rogue!