Fresh Caprese Pasta Salad

Name: Fresh Caprese Pasta Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Italian
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

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

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 Italian· July 18, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

15 minutes

Cook

10 minutes

Total

25 minutes

Serves

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.

🧺 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

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the tortellini according to the package directions.
2
Drain the pasta and rinse it briefly with cool water to stop the cooking process.
3
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
4
In a large serving bowl, combine the cooked tortellini, halved cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and torn basil.
5
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently until everything is well coated.
6
Finish by drizzling a little balsamic glaze over the top just before serving.

💡 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.

#pasta salad #vegetarian #summer salad #easy dinner #side dish

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