This is caprese pesto pasta salad.

I cannot think of a better combo for a spring or summer dish than spinach basil pesto, bright, juicy cherry tomatoes and squeaky fresh mozzarella. All tossed with al dente pasta.

Overhead shot of Caprese Pasta Salad in a white bowl.

The BEST summer caprese pasta salad...

Whatever the weather may be like, this recipe will have you feeling like summertime. I'm ready to be hanging out on my back deck sipping a Summer Shandy while I grill some salmon to go with my Caprese Pesto Pasta salad.

These activities just have to be right around the corner.

Fresh cherry tomatoes on a white marble counter

Making pesto is so easy!

The best part about this salad? You can eat the leftovers for days and not come even close to being tired of it.

Of course you know I'm a huge pasta fan, especially orecchiette (ear-shaped pasta). I'm also a huge fan of pesto, and my secret to making a bigger batch without shelling out oodles of cash for more fresh basil is to add a few cups of spinach to the mix.

Not only does this it provide loads of nutrition to the dish, but it adds bulk to the pesto without overpowering the flavor of the basil. I promise you the basil still totally shines through.

Also, I am a sucker for tiny little tomatoes that burst in my mouth when I bite down, so I load this pasta salad up with them, along with fresh mozzarella to make it officially a caprese salad.

This recipe seriously screams warmer weather, and I can't wait.

Caprese Pasta Salad

Print Recipe

A refreshing pasta salad with spinach basil pesto, cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella.

Author: Julie Andrews
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 10 min
Total Time: 25 min + 30 min refrigeration time
Yield: Serves 8 1x
Category: Pasta
Method: Stove-Top, No-Cook
Cuisine: Italian, American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

12-ounces orecchiette (or other shaped pasta)
2 cups fresh baby spinach
1 cup fresh basil leaves
¼ cup pine nuts or pepitas
¼ cup freshly shaved or shredded Parmesan
2-3 cloves garlic, peeled
¾ cup olive oil + more for garnish
½ teaspoon coarse salt, divided
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup fresh mozzarella balls
¼ cup microgreens, for garnish

Instructions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the orecchiette according to package directions. Drain and transfer to a large glass bowl.
Place spinach, basil, nuts, Parmesan, garlic, olive oil, ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until mixture is finely chopped. Add the pesto to the pasta and season with remaining ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper and stir to combine. Add tomatoes and mozzarella balls and toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
Before serving, drizzle lightly with olive oil and garnish with microgreens.

Notes

Serving Tip: Serve with a sautéed filet of salmon for a complete meal.

Nutrition

Serving Size: ⅛ of recipe
Calories: 218
Sugar: 2g
Sodium: 235mg
Fat: 8g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 27g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 10g
Cholesterol: 16mg

Keywords: easy, healthy, summer, fresh, homemade, from scratch, best, cold