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๐Ÿฅ˜Recipes by Nani
Lunch

Fresh Caprese Pasta Salad

A refreshing pasta salad featuring cheese tortellini and sweet tomatoes tossed in a bright balsamic dressing.

By Recipes By Naniยท ๐ŸŒ Italianยท July 18, 2026
Fresh Caprese Pasta Salad
recipesbynani.com
Prep
15 minutes
Cook
10 minutes
Total
25 minutes
Serves
6

This Caprese pasta salad is one of my favorite things to bring to a summer cookout. The combination of tender cheese filled tortellini with juicy tomatoes and creamy mozzarella pearls is just hard to beat.

I love that this comes together so quickly. My best tip is to toss the pasta in a little bit of olive oil right after draining it so the noodles stay soft and dont stick together while you prep the other ingredients.

๐Ÿงบ Ingredients

  • 1 package refrigerated cheese tortellini
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 8 ounces mozzarella pearls
  • 1 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Balsamic glaze for drizzling

๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐ŸณInstructions

  1. 1

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the tortellini according to the package directions.

  2. 2

    Drain the pasta and rinse it briefly with cool water to stop the cooking process.

  3. 3

    In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.

  4. 4

    In a large serving bowl, combine the cooked tortellini, halved cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and torn basil.

  5. 5

    Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently until everything is well coated.

  6. 6

    Finish by drizzling a little balsamic glaze over the top just before serving.

๐Ÿ’ก Tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. If the pasta seems a bit dry after being chilled, add a small splash of olive oil or a little extra balsamic glaze to freshen it up before serving.

Made this recipe? Let us know how it went.

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