Quick Easy Pasta Caprese Salad

Tuesday, July 5, 2016
If you want an easy pasta salad packed with flavor, this tomato, pasta fresh mozzarella, with a simple homemade dressing is the quick perfect side dish!

This pasta salad recipe is so easy to make and flexible since you can turn it into a hot or cold salad with many addin suggestions below.

Whether you are a pasta lover, meat-lover or vegetable lover, this easy homemade dressing can be adapted to the easiest most flavor pasta salad side dish on the planet, it's the best ever!

Just check out all your options below and build your own salad bar for a fun outdoor barbecue for those picky folks, this is always a big hit at every gathering.








Other Additions to Add:


  • canned artichokes hearts
  • snap peas
  • English peas
  • Freshly chopped zucchini
  • Steamed cauliflower
  • Steamed Italian cut green beans or canned
  • canned corn
  • black or green olives
  • freshly chopped jalapeno peppers
  • any kinds of cubed cheese
  • fresh spinach leaves
  • diced avocado
  • sliced mushrooms raw or sauteed
  • toasted bread crumb topping
  • for meat lovers, add cooked meats, pork, chicken, bacon, steak






Tips


  • Set up an ingredient bar so the family could add whatever they like
  • Make this pasta ahead of time with just the dressing and keep it in the refrigerator for anytime
  • Add Steamed vegetables to toss with your pasta
  • You can add cooked leftover meats to this dish from a previous meal
  • Shredded cheeses can be used instead of cubed
  • add chickpeas or other beans to the salad
  • add chopped deli meat like pepperoni, salami, capicola, crumbled cooked bacon or diced grilled chicken for a meat salad



fresh garden tomatoes


More Recipes We Love:


Avocado Chickpeas Salad
Italian Potato Salad

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Best Pasta Side Dish



Hopefully, you found how you want to build your pasta salad with all our suggestions above.


A basic Italian style dressing can turn from a simple pasta salad to a gourmet all-in-one bowl meal adding meats and other vegetables.


Your versatile pasta salad can be different every time you make it and goes great with any meal you prepare and is perfect for that backyard picnic.




Quick Easy Pasta Caprese Salad

Quick Easy Pasta Caprese Salad

Yield: 8
Author: Claudia Lamascolo
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 15 MinTotal time: 25 Min
Here is an easy pasta salad with tomatoes and cubed mozzarella that can be served hot or cold, a quick and easy side dish.

Ingredients

  • Vinaigrette Dressing
  •  1/4 cup olive oil 
  •  1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  •  1 clove minced garlic 
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
  •  1/4 teaspoon salt 
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 
  • Caprese Pasta Salad 
  • 1/2 pound cooked pasta (bow ties or use your favorite dried pasta)
  •  8 ounces mozzarella cubed 
  •  2 cups plum tomatoes chopped or grape tomatoes sliced 
  •  salt and pepper to taste
  • cayenne pepper for heat optional
  • Optional Additions: diced grilled chicken, crumbled bacon, fresh spinach leaves torn

Instructions

  1. Add olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper in a mason jar cover and shake it or you can add to a bowl and whisk together.
  2.  Cook pasta according to package directions. 
  3. Drain the pasta, do not rinse the pasta ( everything sticks better to it unrinsed)
  4. Using a large bowl add your drained pasta, tomatoes, cubed mozzarella, and basil. 
  5. Mix the pasta with vinaigrette dressing and toss. 
  6. Stir in the freshly torn basil leaves.
  7. We prefer this refrigerate for a few hours to infuse flavors or this can be served immediately. cold or hot.

Notes:

Other Additions to Add:


  • canned artichokes hearts
  • snap peas
  • English peas
  • Freshly chopped zucchini
  • Steamed cauliflower
  • Steamed Italian cut green beans or canned
  • canned corn
  • black or green olives
  • freshly chopped jalapeno peppers
  • any kinds of cubed cheese
  • fresh spinach leaves
  • diced avocado
  • sliced mushrooms raw or sauteed
  • toasted bread crumb topping
  • for meat lovers, add cooked or leftover meats


Nutrition Facts

Calories

316.90

Fat (grams)

18.44

Sat. Fat (grams)

6.18

Carbs (grams)

18.96

Fiber (grams)

2.11

Net carbs

16.85

Sugar (grams)

3.62

Protein (grams)

19.26

Sodium (milligrams)

495.68

Cholesterol (grams)

54.53
pasta salad, Caprese salad, bow tie pasta salad, best pasta salad, easy pasta salad
pasta recipes, salad recipes, summer recipes
Italian, American


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Other Great Salad Recipes to Try:


Watermelon Salad

Beet Salad

Butternut Squash Salad

Caprese Portabello

Italian Potato Salad

Insalata Caprese Salad

Tuscan Panzanella Salad



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