Pesto Pasta Caprese Salad

Yum, Yum, Yum – we thoroughly enjoyed this pasta salad made with tomatoes and basil from our garden. I mixed this up in the morning to give the flavors time to marry, with the exception of the basil. I added the basil about 30 minutes before serving so that it would be fresh. This is an outstanding salad with lots of flavor. It will be repeated in our house. Thank you, blondeprincess, for sharing your recipe!

Decent general recipe. For those saying it was missing something - I'd say that something is balsamic. Either mix some vinegar into the dressing, or drizzle some balsamic glaze on after the fact.

Really good. I made the pesto with basil from my garden, and I used Formaggio marinated mozzarella cheese balls from Sam's Club. They are cherry size, so I cut them in half. I added a teaspoon or so of Aleppo pepper for a little kick. Let the pasta cool a bit before adding in the cheese balls! I served this with poached salmon topped with scallion ginger sauce, a green salad, and naan. For the pasta, I used pipettes which have openings large enough for the pesto to get inside, so good! This would be a good salad to have with bbq ribs or chicken.

4/15 awesome i loved this. made and cooled pasta, added the pesto mixed with the oil and garlic like recipe said. i followed the recipe except added grilled chicken breast cubed and some black olives. alot of tomato and alot of mozz cubes. this was really good. make for a bbq as a side, yum! used trader joes pesto.

It doesn't have the caprese taste without the sweet-ish tang of good balsamic vinegar, so I added balsamic and also more garlic. And I added toasted pine nuts atop each plate right before serving.

This was pretty good. Due to a tomato allergy, I subbed steamed broccoli florets for the grape tomatoes, and I added some sliced black olives to add another dimension. Instead of the mozzarella pearls, I subbed a block of fresh marinated mozzarella instead, and I sliced it into 1/4" chunks. Since other reviewers said it was bland or lacking something, I added some fresh mushrooms I'd cooked in EVOO and balsamic vinegar, and they had a little tang which greatly improved the salad as a side dish.

We love basil pesto so I know this pasta salad is going to be delicious and it was. I used homemade pesto sauce and little more than called for, bow tie shaped pasta and went ahead and cut also the Mozzarella balls in half to have more of them though out the salad. Everything was perfect until I realized that this salad is in no way going to make 6 servings. I had to boil another 1/2 cup of pasta and add little more of the rest of the ingredients to come up to a 6 serving amount. So be mindful of that when making this recipe. Otherwise, this is a great tasting pasta salad.

This was good but was missing something. I think I would use fresh minced garlic if I make it again. It's good but tasted like store bought. And yes, it's very salty once you make the mixture. I made a day ahead of my bbq and when I served it, the salt was not an issue. It needs to meld for awhile.

Made this salad to take to a potluck. Doubled the recipe cutting down on the salt,& added lots of extra pesto, basil, and then sprinkled pine nuts over the top. It was delicious & I came home with an empty dish!

Very good pasta salad. Easy to make and I like the fact that the dressing is made fresh and not from a bottle.

Super simple, yet hugely popular at my house. During a season of hot weather, I make a huge batch of this in the morning and it lasted for days, and still tastes wonderful. I add cold grilled chicken strips and it's a perfect all-inclusive summertime meal.

This is pretty good! I think it could have used a bit more flavor, or maybe another element, but overall, nice easy and goes together quick!

Super fast and just as wonderful, this pasta salad will help you get good food on the table in no time. This was a perfect light meal for Christmas prep days when you’re knee deep in cooking other stuff. I whipped it up early in the morning and set it on the table at lunch where people could just serve themsleves. This would be an excellent dish for a pot luck. Thank you for the recipe.

Easy and pretty fast to prepare. 100% student proof. However the downside is that the required ingredients are often found in larger quantities.

This is super easy to make & easily devoured I'm getting teady to make it again but am doubling the recipe! Thank you! Lisa

I liked it, but I did add more pesto, and garlic.

This was my first time making any kind of pasta salad. I made it for a high family dinner. It was a hit!! My husband especially loved it. I couldn't find the pearlini mozzarella, so I used fresh mozzarella diced from a cube. It probably wasn't the same as intended in the original recipe, but it was still fantastic.

Simple and delicious! Use fresh garlic and basil- just 2 cloves of garlic though-the flavor can easily overwhelm the delicate taste.

It was very tasting. I will make again but this time about half the garlic and salt it ask for.

Great cold pasta salad. Just make sure you cool everything else down BEFORE you add the mozzarella. I neglected to do that and it melted the mozza balls and looked really strange.

Great! Made this for guests with mini penne and we all loved it.

I followed the instructions.it was very good . I will try it again but will tweak it to my tastes.

One of my favorite dishes. I love the taste of tomatoes and fresh mozzarella.

Delicious!

Great salad. I love Caprese salad and this is a nice change of pace. I added marinated artichoke hearts as I had a huge jar from Costco. Also a little lemon juice as I add lemon to almost everything I cook.

Delicious! We made a double batch and had this as an entre.

Very good! I followed the recipe exactly except I didn't have fresh basil so I used dried. I'm sure it would be even yummier with fresh! Will be making this again.

This is one of my favorite salads. I have made it several times. When I scoop out a bowl for a serving, I do drizzle it with balsamic vinegar which gives it that caprese salad zip!

Delicious and made completely as written!

Qucik and easy just used healthier noodels the husband loved it.

Perfect summer dish... Loved it!

I've made this recipe exactly as written and my family loved it!!

Amazing!

Yum!! We made this for dinner exactly as recipe says and turned out great!! Will be making this again.

This salad was so quick to get together and had great flavor! The pesto was wonderful will all of the other ingredients and the basil gave it a fresh flavor. I used a fresh mozzarella ball and cut it in cubes instead of using the small pearlini. Thanks for the fantastic recipe!

This was good and easy but nothing exceptional.

Delicious !!! I also added green onions, chopped celery, chopped carrots and green peppers to mine.

Loved it!! I added about a cup of cut up spinach! Will probably add even more next time! Yummo!!! Thanks for a great recipe!

I rarely make a recipe exactly as written and this was no exception. I was trying to use up leftovers from my holiday feast so I added some things. I added Black olives halved, pepper nibs, 1 hard boiled egg, juice of 1/2 lemon and my pesto was homemade spinach pesto. The whole thing was delicious! Thanks for the basic recipe.

Really good!

This is amazing! I use large shells as the pasta. I also use a little more evoo than they suggest. I let the pasta cool before I add anything. I ball fresh mozzarella with a melon baller. I also let it all marinate in the fridge together most of the day and add the basil before serving. Everyone in the house really really loves this. They were asking me to make double the amount to have left overs etc. huge hit.

Thought this recipe was yummy, but i did add a little 18 yr old balsamic to finish it!

I made this for a potluck, and it was a big hit. I used twice as much pesto (I used the Costco/Kirkland brand), and skipped the olive oil. Will definitely make again.

I made it the first time for a staff luncheon, and everyone loved it. Then I made it again this week and we added more pesto and balsamic vinaigrette!!!! It was awesome

Just tripled this for a high school football potluck picnic. ALL GONE! It was really great - I added balsamic vinegar which made it more like the caprese salad I'm accustomed to. YUM!

Make this all the time and it goes quick!

My friends beg me to make this pasta salad- we eat it hot or cold, I have made it 10x in a couple months- big hit, highly suggest

Delicious as is.

Don't change a thing! It's excellent!!!

Great recipe! I doubled it and added a diced red pepper, diced zucchini, roasted broccoli and pepperoni. Didn't have fresh basil, but it would have been a great addition.

Excellent! And SO easy! I added extra mozzarella because cheese makes everything better!

Oh definately a keeper

Made it for a bbq this summer. Was yummy and got lots of positive comments.

Needed something so I added two more basil leaves, balsamic vinegar and substituted salt for garlic salt.

It was delicious but only enough for two portions. I'd double it next time. Also the suggestion to add some balsamic vinegar was a great one it cuts the oil perfectly.

I made this for a gathering of very picky eaters. They loved it! I had made a double batch and all but about 1 cup was gone when it was time to go home. For best results I recommend using homemade pesto rather than pesto from a jar.

I made this as written. 3 stars because it's a rather bland and safe pasta salad, no caprese flavor. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

yummy

I also added some crushed hot peppers. delicious

Loved this with the addition of balsamic vinegar and one clove of garlic, as others suggested. The fresh garlic isn't very "caprese," but does make it tastier!

Made this for mothers day picnic. Incredibly easy, tasty, and was very popular. (only empty serving dish)

I made it with the finest ingredients and it was much too subtle. I would rate it ok

I doubled the recipe and still added more pesto. When I serve the salad, I will drizzle the top with a balsamic vinegar glaze. The vinegar adds a nice added flavor. I will make this again.

It was ok, but needs some acidic component (balsamic or red wine vinegar) to complement the oil.

Easy,fast, and delicious! It is definitely a keeper.

Delicious!! Quadrupled the recipe and added feta cheese to it as well

So easy and so tasty! I'm a sucker for Caprese Salad in general...so to include pasta as well...WOW! It's perfect for a tailgate, cookout or a hot summer night!

more pesto for me took it to the next level!

I took it to a party and it was liked by everyone.

I made this and doubled the recipe. I am keeping this simple, yummy recipe in regular rotation!

I added yellow and red bed peppers chopped, sun dried tomatoes, and shallots! Really good!!!

I followed the recipe exactly, but it did seem a little bland, so I added more pesto, olive oil, salt, and garlic. That helped a lot, and it was a big hit. Easy to make, and a great compliment to our dinner of grilled chicken and sautéed zucchini & onions.

This was delicious! I also added a drizzle of EVOO right before serving ??

I added chopped pepperoni and sliced olives to the leftovers, I will be making this again

I forgot to mention in my first review that this is delicious, but flavor does not improve overnight. The sauce dries up. I would not recommend making too far in advance.

I loved this. I did add cooked chicken to add some protein and a tablespoon of basalmic vinegar. All in all, it was great.

Delicious! A real hit! Made using Kirkland jarred pesto and added garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste. Addition of balsamic vinegar to taste was key imho. Cut up fresh mozzarella log purchased at Lidl. Economical, easy (no chopping veggies !) and delicious pasta salad.

Really good! I added leftover grilled chicken from the night before, more tomatoes, cheese, and this store bought pesto sauce - it was great! Definitly making it again!

Absolutely! It makes a large portion so one might want to cut the measurements by half for a small family.

Made it for my celiac boyfriend using store bought gluten free rotini. HUGE hit! Super tasty, and very healthy. I also recommend putting a ton more tomato and mozzarella. I dunno how much...just eyeballed it until I was happy. I also doubled the amount of pesto. Amazing!

Needed to double it. Put in 7 tablespoons of pesto, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar to brighten it up. Did not double salt, used psrmesan cheese instead, one quarter cup. Added sliced black olives and freshly ground basil. Everyone loved it! Kept going back for more.

Probably my own fault as I did not have any buffalo mozzarella and used cubed feta cheese instead - it was desperately rich and I felt sick all evening! However I would try it again with the mozzarella!

I added cucumbers, yellow bell peppers. It was good. 3.5 stars from me. My friend liked it too. Felt like it was missing something....maybe some fresh garlic. I also added a little balsamic vinegar like other people suggested and that was nice.

Delicious. Used homemade pesto to taste.

EVERYONE LOVED THIS! So easy peasy too. I did add balsamic vinegar and put way more tomatoes in then called for. I will make this again for certain!

Excellent pasta salad for potlucks and groups. I made it for a small block party and my wife's tennis party. Double and triple batches. I made the pesto from the garden and added a teaspoon of balsamic vinegar per batch to the "dressing" before coating the pasta. Otherwise, followed the recipe as is. Never any left to bring home.

I made my own homemade pesto sauce (Lidia Bastianich's recipe from the PBS cooking show--I have her cook book), but the dish is a lovely presentation and quite tasty. Thanks!

We are not huge fans of pesto, so I only used about 1 tablespoon, which was plenty for our tastes. I used farfalle in place of the rotini as well, as that's what was in the pantry, screaming to be used up! This was a nice, fresh, summer pasta salad, that we enjoyed. My son added a bit of balsamic vinegar to his (which he prefers), and that was a really nice addition too!

First time I made this I used penne, second time I used farfalle. Think the penne was ever so slightly better, but both were excellent. Use a really good quality pesto for best results.

I made this exactly as written and it was a huge hit with my husband and 1yr old son! Easy to make and very tasty as leftovers, we'll definitely be having it again!

We love this salad! I put extra garlic, tomatoes from my garden and even extra basil! Took advice from other reviews and added a splash of balsamic over the top and worked it through! Will make it again!!!

Tried this last night and found it quite bland. I used pesto bought from an Italian specialty deli but even doubling the amount didn't give as much flavor as I was expecting. Added extra garlic powder, some onion powder, salt and pepper but still bland. I also ignored the amounts listed for the tomatoes and added a whole container. If I make this again I'm going to have to jazz it up a bit to suit our tastes.

Very good summer pasta salad. I made my own pesto to use up basil from my garden. I used fresh cherry tomatoes from our garden too. Delicious!

Decent side dish or just to pick at alone.

Loved it. Husband who hates pesto and tomatoes even ate and LIKED! Great flavor- best eaten fresh but will hold for a day or so. The flavors will be a fit flatter

This one is a keeper. Easy to make tastes so fresh. I added fresh garlic, more basil and sliced cherry tomatoes. Yum.

It was delicious, I did add 3 hand fulls of Romano graded cheese and tossed

Delicious. Added homemade basil pesto instead of original and tastes delicious.

Great recipe Followed the recipe as directed with the addition of 2 TBL. of balsamic, 1 cup of frozen & thawed green peas & small can of drained & sliced black olives. Omitted the fresh mozzarella as didn't have it on hand. As another reviewer have mentioned, this is a great pasta salad without using bottled salad dressing. Thank you for posting it.