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Home / Recipes / Side Dishes / Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad

Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad

25 minutes mins
| Leave a Comment | Jump to Recipe 06/17/19 | Updated: 05/16/20 | by Nora

A fun twist on an old potluck favorite, this Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad will become your new go-to recipe this summer! Made with an easy homemade pesto dressing and perfect to make ahead!

Pesto Pasta Salad Pin 1

Pasta salad is my go-to during the hot summer months – for easy backyard picnic lunches just as much as to bring to all the BBQ parties and potlucks.

This one is dedicated to my pesto-loving brother, adding a special twist to my mom’s caprese pasta salad.

It’s easy to make ahead and always disappears quickly!

How to Make Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad:

ingredients for pesto pasta salad in a bowl

Should you rinse pasta for pasta salad?

Opinions differ on this one, but I’m impatient and always rinse the pasta under cold water for pasta salad.

I cook the pasta just until it’s barely done (it will soften some in the dressing, and cooking it just until al dente keeps the pasta from turning into a soggy mess), drain it and then rinse it until it’s cold.

Can you make pasta salad the night before?

Yes, that’s the beauty of pasta salads!

The flavors get to mingle and melt together in the fridge overnight, and you’ll end up with a salad that’s even more flavorful.

You might need to add a little more dressing before serving, because the pasta will soak it up.

pouring pesto dressing over caprese pasta salad

What main dish goes with pasta salad?

When we have pasta salad for dinner, we love to keep it simple with some grilled or roasted meat on the side.

Some of our favorites:

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

Lemon Garlic Grilled Chicken

large bowl with pesto pasta salad

More Pasta Salads You’ll Love:

Easy Italian Pasta Salad

BLT Pasta Salad

Creamy Pizza Pasta Salad


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large bowl with pesto pasta salad
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Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad

This Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad is the perfect side dish to bring to your next summer potluck or backyard bbq party!
Recipe by Nora from Savory Nothings
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Recipe details

Prep 15 minutes mins
Cook 10 minutes mins
Total 25 minutes mins
Servings 12 as a potluck side

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound rotini pasta cooked, drained and rinsed under cold water
  • 1 cup balsamic vinaigrette see note
  • ½ cup pesto or to taste
  • 1 pound halved cherry tomatoes
  • 1 pound mini mozzarella balls
  • 1 cup sliced black olives
  • ¼ cup finely shredded basil

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients in a large salad bowl. Cover and refrigerate up to overnight, or serve immediately.

Notes

Homemade or store-bought balsamic vinaigrette both work! Click here for my homemade recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 391kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 13gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 305mgPotassium: 171mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 465IUVitamin C: 8.7mgCalcium: 170mgIron: 0.9mg
Nutrition is an estimate.

More recipe information

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Traditional

Nora Rusev from Savory Nothings
About Nora 
When I got married to my professional chef husband, I realized I had to step up my game in the kitchen. Now I share my favorite foolproof family recipes here on Savory Nothings: Chef-approved, kid-vetted and easy enough for everyday home cooks like you and me!   Learn more.

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Nora Rusev from Savory Nothings

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Hi, I'm Nora! I wasn't always a good cook, but then I fell in love with a professional chef and learned my way around the kitchen. Now I share all my secrets to effortlessly great food here on my blog, bite-sized for home cooks just like me and you.

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