Pasta Caprese Salad with Fusilli

This Pasta Caprese Salad with Fusilli is like a burst of summer on your plate! It's got chewy pasta, sweet cherry tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil all mixed up in a tangy dressing. Perfect for a quick lunch or side dish at your next BBQ. Give it a try and taste the flavors of summer!

5 from 8 votes

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Course: Salad

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Caprese Pasta Salad, Easy Salad Recipe, Fusilli Recipe

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 12

Total Time: 22

Servings:

Calories: 336kcal

Ingredients

Vinaigrette Dressing:

½ cup olive oil
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
2-3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 clove minced garlic
1 tsp Italian seasoning
¼ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp black pepper

Caprese Pasta Salad:

12 oz. fusilli pasta
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
8 oz. mozzarella cheese, cubed
¼ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

In a small bowl or jar, combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Whisk or shake until well mixed. Set aside.
Cook the fusilli pasta according to package instructions. Once cooked, drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, halved cherry tomatoes, cubed mozzarella, and chopped basil leaves.
Drizzle the prepared vinaigrette dressing over the salad ingredients.
Gently toss the salad until everything is well coated in the dressing.
Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, if needed.
Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

Pro Tip: For an extra burst of flavor, try roasting the cherry tomatoes before adding them to the salad. Simply toss the halved cherry tomatoes with a bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper, then roast in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for about 15-20 minutes until they start to caramelize. Let them cool slightly before adding to the salad for a delicious roasted tomato twist!

Variation: Feeling adventurous? Switch out the fusilli pasta for another short pasta shape like penne or rotini. You can also add some grilled chicken or shrimp for a protein boost, or even toss in some olives or roasted red peppers for an extra flavor dimension. Get creative and make this Caprese Pasta Salad your own!

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