Best Caprese Pasta Salad Recipes

PESTO PASTA CAPRESE SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook the rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; drain.
• Mix pesto, olive oil, salt, granulated garlic, and black pepper in a bowl; add rotini. Toss to coat. Fold in tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil.

LEMON, GARLIC, AND ASPARAGUS WARM CAPRESE PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a boil. Stir in penne and return to a boil. Cook pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but still firm to the bite, about 11 minutes; drain.
• Place asparagus into a saucepan, add a little water, and place over medium heat; cover pan and let asparagus steam until bright green and tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain.
• Heat olive oil with butter and lemon juice in a large saucepan over medium-low heat until butter melts; cook and stir shallot in hot oil and butter mixture until it just begins to soften, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir garlic into shallot mixture and cook until shallot and garlic are opaque, 3 more minutes. Stir asparagus and chicken into mixture; cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.
• Toss pasta with chicken and vegetables to combine; mix tomato and basil into salad and serve warm.

CAPRESE PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the fusilli, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain.
• Place basil, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and garlic into a blender or food processor; cover and chop to a coarse paste. Add the olive oil in a slow, steady stream. Continue processing until a soft paste has formed. Set pesto aside.
• Combine the cooked pasta, tomatoes, 3 tablespoons Parmesan, mozzarella, and pesto in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Cover bowl, refrigerate to chill for 45 minutes, and serve.

BACON AVOCADO CAPRESE PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook pasta as directed on box. Meanwhile, in large bowl, stir together seasoning mix (from salad box), oil, water and balsamic vinegar.
• Drain pasta; rinse with cold water. Shake to drain well.
• Add drained pasta, basil, tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, arugula, bacon and avocado to balsamic vinegar mixture; toss to coat. Serve immediately.

CAPRESE PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Toss the mozzarella and cherry tomatoes with the Italian dressing. Cover and refrigerate. If I'm making this for dinner, I usually get the cheese and tomatoes in the fridge to marinate a few hours before I plan to assemble the salad.
• In a skillet on low heat, heat the olive oil, garlic and crushed red pepper. Cook on low for 5-10 minutes allowing the garlic to soften (but not brown) and infuse the oil.
• Meanwhile, boil the pasta. Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat. Set the pasta mixture aside to cool.
• Once the pasta is cooled, add the cheese and tomatoes along with the dressing marinade. Season the salad with salt and pepper and top with 3 tablespoons fresh basil.

LAYERED PASTA CAPRESE SALAD

Steps:

• In large stockpot, heat 3 quarts water to boiling. Add 3 tablespoons salt; return to boiling. Add pasta; cook as directed on package. Drain and cool slightly, then toss with 1 cup of the reserved marinating liquid from the bocconcini (if there is less than 1 cup marinating liquid, add enough olive oil to liquid to make 1 cup). Refrigerate to cool completely.
• Place tomatoes on ungreased baking pan with sides, divided by color; sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Set aside 15 minutes, then pat dry with paper towels.
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat balsamic vinegar to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer 10 to 15 minutes or until reduced by half. Set aside to cool.
• In 3 1/2-quart trifle dish or large glass bowl, layer as follows: Gently layer half of the pasta, then one-third of the basil leaves, then one layer of all the red tomatoes. Top the tomatoes with the bocconcini, then the rest of the pasta, another one-third of the basil, then the yellow tomatoes. Drizzle with the cooled balsamic vinegar.
• Shred remaining basil, and sprinkle on top.

CAPRESE SAUSAGE PASTA SALAD RECIPE - (4.6/5)

Steps:

• Fill 3-quart saucepan 2/3 full of water; heat to boiling. Add Pasta. Gently boil, uncovered 12 minutes, stirring occasionally; drain. Rinse with cold water to cool; drain well. Meanwhile, to toast pine nuts, place in ungreased heavy skillet. Cook over medium heat 3 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly until nuts are light brown. In large bowl, combine Seasoning mix from packet, cold water and oil. Stir in tomatoes, cheese and sausage. Stir in cooked pasta until well mixed. Cover; refrigerate about 1 hour or until chilled. Garnish with pine nuts and basil.

CAPRESE SPINACH PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• 1. Cook 1 cup of pasta per box directions. Once cooked, cool completely.
• 2. Dice tomatoes in bowl add spinach, mozzarella, black olives. Chop the basil and add to ingredients.
• 3. When cooled add the pasta. Toss, drizzle olive oil over the top and toss again.

PESTO CAPRESE PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rigatoni until just tender. Drain and rinse with cold water. Pat dry with paper towels and transfer to a large bowl.
• Add the tomatoes, mozzarella, pesto and Parmesan cheese to the pasta. Toss gently. Taste for seasoning, adding salt and pepper if necessary.
• If making ahead and storing in the refrigerator, remove the salad from the fridge at least 30 minutes before serving, if possible.

CAPRESE SAUSAGE PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Fill 3-quart saucepan 2/3 full of water; heat to boiling. Add Pasta. Gently boil, uncovered 12 minutes, stirring occasionally; drain. Rinse with cold water to cool; drain well.
• Meanwhile, to toast pine nuts, place in ungreased heavy skillet. Cook over medium heat 3 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly until nuts are light brown.
• In large bowl, combine Seasoning mix from packet, cold water and oil. Stir in tomatoes, cheese and sausage. Stir in cooked pasta until well mixed.
• Cover; refrigerate about 1 hour or until chilled. Garnish with pine nuts and basil.