We know how much you love our Caprese Avocado Salad so we turned it into a pasta salad with a mix of colorful tomatoes, those delicious little mozzarella bites, and basil, all lightly dressed with a sweet and tangy honey balsamic dressing. This caprese pasta salad is ideal for summer gatherings, potlucks, picnics, and barbecues.

You should also check out our red, white, and blue caprese salad which adds fresh berries into the traditional mix. And it’s outrageously good!

Why Our Recipe

  • It’s all about that honey balsamic dressing. People can’t get enough!
  • Simple and easy to throw together and always a crowd pleaser.
Caprese pasta salad in a wooden spoon.

Ingredient Notes

  • Pasta: we use that corkscrew macaroni known as cavatappi, but you could also use elbow, rotini, shells, or penne. Pasta salads need pasta that is bite-sized.
  • Grape Tomatoes: we use a combination of red and yellow for fun, but you can also use cherry tomatoes, or diced Roma tomatoes.
  • Mini Mozzarella Balls: the item you are looking for may be called mini mozzarella balls, bocconcini, or mozzarella pearls.
  • Fresh Basil: fresh is best, but the dried substitute would be 1 to 2 tablespoons dried basil which you’d whisk in with your dressing.
  • Honey: a little bit of sweet.
  • White Balsamic Vinegar: a little bit of sour.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil: the fat that conducts the flavor.
  • Salt & Pepper: and the natural enhancer of flavors that brings it all together.

White Balsamic Vinegar

We recommend white balsamic vinegar specifically for its clear color. Regular balsamic vinegar also tastes delicious but will give the salad a brown tint. Other clear or lightly colored options include white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Add a little extra honey if you use these less-sweet kinds of vinegar to balance the flavors.

Mini Mozzarella

You can find mini mozzarella balls in the fresh cheese section in most grocery stores in the United States. Look for them near the other fresh mozzarella in round plastic containers or vacuum-sealed bags. Fresh cheeses are generally found in a different section than bricks of mozzarella cheese and shredded cheese, often a deli-type section. Names you will find for these cute cheese balls may be mini mozzarella balls, bocconcini, or mozzarella pearls.

Overhead view of caprese pasta salad in a serving bowl.

Storage Instructions

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days.

More delicious pasta salads…