• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
She's Not Cookin'
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Salad

    Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad

    Aug 12, 2021 · Modified: Sep 26, 2021 by Sandra Flegg

    • Facebook
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    Close up image of caprese pesto pasta salad.

    Enjoy this quick and easy Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad as a side salad or main dish! Pesto is mixed into tortellini pasta with traditional tomatoes, basil and bocconcini cheese. A great salad for your next family get together!

    Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad in blue bowl with balsamic glaze drizzled on top. this recipe!

    We are in the middle of a heat wave as I write this post and I can say that I was so grateful to have this salad in the fridge and not have to turn the oven on again.

    You do have to boil the tortellini, but that is a quick five minutes!

    We are a family of pesto lovers and this salad is so tasty with the pesto used as a dressing! A bit of white balsamic is added to the mix for flavour and that is it for the dressing! So simple and after it sits in the fridge for awhile, the flavours mellow and the pesto sets into the cracks and crevices of the tortellini. YUM-MY!

    This salad is our top three favourite along with Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad and BLT Pasta Salad with Chicken. If you're looking for quick and easy summer salads, we've got you covered!

    WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

    • this recipe is so quick and easy! Just what we love right?
    • your favourite Caprese flavours with added pasta for a delicious, satisfying salad.
    • no fancy equipment needed!

    INGREDIENTS & SUBSTITUTIONS

    Ingredients for caprese pesto Pasta Salad in glass bowls with text overlay.
    • tortellini pasta- I like to use cheese tortellini but you can use your favourite in this recipe. You could also substitute any of your favourite pasta shapes such as rotini or penne.
    • grape tomatoes - substitute any type of tomatoes with the same great results.
    • bocconcini mozzarella pearls - you can find these in different sizes. The small pearl ones are what you see in the photos for this recipe.
    • pesto - you can use bottled pesto or make it fresh with basil using this delicious pesto recipe.
    • white balsamic vinegar
    • fresh garlic
    • balsamic glaze is option to drizzle on top and highly recommended! You can buy it pre-made in the grocery store or find the instructions for how to make it in the notes at the bottom of the recipe card.
    • fresh basil - a few fresh basil leaves chopped into this salad combines beautifully with the other ingredients.

    STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

    All ingredients for recipe in mixing bowl ready to be mixed.

    Cook pasta as per package directions. Rinse, drain and set aside.

    Chop tomatoes and fresh basil.

    In a large mixing bowl, combine pasta, pesto, tomatoes, cheese, garlic and white balsamic vinegar.

    Stir well to combine all of the flavours together.

    Chill for at least 30 minutes in refrigerator before enjoying this salad.

    The balsamic glaze is optional and can be drizzled over the entire salad, or set out at the table and each person can drizzle their own over individual salad portions.

    Close up image of Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad.

    STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS

    Cover salad with plastic wrap or place in a sealed refrigerator container for 2-3 days.

    YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY THESE RECIPES

    • Close up image of Pesto Chicken Pasta Salad.
      Pesto Chicken Pasta Salad
    • Close up image of tuna and pasta salad in bowl with spoon.
      Tuna Pasta Salad
    • BLT Pasta Salad with Chicken
    • spinach and strawberry salad with honey mustard chicken on white plate
      Spinach & Strawberry Salad with Honey-Mustard Chicken

    I would love it if you left a comment about this recipe below! Subscribe to join the community and receive regular updates straight to your inbox! Let's connect via Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest!

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

    Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad


    ★★★★★

    5 from 1 review

    • Author: Sandra Flegg
    • Total Time: 15 minutes
    • Yield: 8 servings
    Print Recipe
    Save Recipe Recipe Saved

    Description

    Enjoy this quick and easy Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad as a side salad or main dish! Pesto is mixed into tortellini pasta with traditional tomatoes, basil and bocconcini cheese. A great salad for your next family get together!


    Ingredients

    8 cups (700g) tortellini pasta

    1 pint grape tomatoes, sliced in half

    1 cup (200g) bocconcini cheese pearls

    1 cup pesto (store-bought or you can make fresh basil pesto)

    1 tbsp. white balsamic vinegar

    2 cloves garlic, minced

    5 fresh basil leaves

    Salt & pepper to taste.

    Balsamic glaze to drizzle on top (store bought or see notes below to make it from scratch)


    Instructions

    1. Cook pasta as per package directions. Rinse, drain and set aside.
    2. Chop tomatoes and fresh basil.
    3. In a large mixing bowl, combine pasta, pesto, tomatoes, cheese, garlic and white balsamic vinegar.
    4. Stir gently until all ingredients are mixed together. Taste, then add salt and pepper to taste.
    5. Chill for 30 minutes in refrigerator before serving.
    6. Drizzle with balsamic glaze.  You can either drizzle the glaze on the entire salad or each individual serving. (see notes for how to make balsamic glaze, or buy in the grocery store)

    Notes

    1. How to make balsamic glaze reduction: In a small saucepan, combine 2 cups of balsamic vinegar with ½ cup brown sugar. Bring to a gentle boil, then simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes.  Mixture should be reduced by half and coat the back of a metal spoon.
    2. Store salad covered in refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Category: Salad
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: Italian

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 helping
    • Calories: 322
    • Sugar: 4.2 g
    • Sodium: 683.4 mg
    • Fat: 19.6 g
    • Saturated Fat: 5 g
    • Trans Fat: 0.1 g
    • Carbohydrates: 14.7 g
    • Fiber: 1.5 g
    • Protein: 20.5 g
    • Cholesterol: 46.9 mg

    Keywords: Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad

    If you've made this recipe, please come back and leave us a star rating and comment below. Or, tag us on social media @shesnotcookin or #shesnotcookin for a chance to be featured!

    « Best Peach Mango Salsa
    Baked Tortellini Alfredo »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating ★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆

    1. Tim

      January 22, 2023 at 12:17 pm

      We enjoyed this as a main dish we love your pesto dishes!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Sandra! Welcome to my kitchen. A self-taught cook, I love being in the kitchen. My inspiration is the people who I love the most - my family. Here you will find our family's favorite recipes! More about me

    Popular Recipes

    • Pumpkin dump cake with pecans on white plate with a fork.
      Pumpkin Pecan Dump Cake
    • Pineapple dup cake on white plate.
      Pineapple Dump Cake (Cobbler)
    • No bake pumpkin delight on a white plate, drizzled with. caramel topping and crumbled pecans.
      BEST Pumpkin Delight Recipe (Easy No-Bake Dessert)
    • Peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream on a white plate with a fork.
      How to Make Old-Fashioned Fresh Peach Cobbler Recipe
    • Chicken noodle casserole on a white plate.
      BEST Chicken Noodle Casserole Recipe (Without Canned Soup)
    • Chicken and stuffing casserole on a white plate with a fork.
      Easy Chicken and Stuffing Casserole Bake Recipe
    Photo collage of holiday recipes.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Follow

    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Instagram

    Contact

    • Contact

    COPYRIGHT © 2023 SHE'S NOT COOKIN'