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This Caprese Tortellini Pasta Salad is light, flavorful, and perfect all Summer long with fresh ingredients! Soft cheese filled tortellini, sweet cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil makes this a dish perfect for Summer gatherings or a light meal.

Tortellini Caprese Pasta Salad in glass bowl with cherry tomatoes scattered around

This caprese tortellini salad is great as a side dish for the beach, the pool, the boat, to take camping, Summer BBQ’s and more! I seriously love it! A little bit of balsamic glaze gives every bite a little zesty burst of flavor.

Why I love this Caprese Tortellini Pasta Salad

  • Just 8 ingredients
  • Great for Summer gatherings or a light meal
  • Great way to use fresh tomatoes and basil from the garden
  • Very fresh tasting
caprese pasta salad close up with olive oil in background

One of my cousins had made some tortellini skewers when we went to visit them for a beach day and I have loved the idea since then. I have made them for pool parties, a night out of town with my sister, and more. Well I wanted to make them for Mother’s Day this year but didn’t have any skewers and really was feeling too lazy to assemble a bunch of individual ones so I figured why don’t I just toss all of the ingredients in a bowl with some olive oil. So that is how this tortellini Summer salad was born. It was a hit at the party and then I made it again for myself for lunch for a few days.

Ingredients Needed for the Caprese Tortellini Salad

caprese tortellini pasta salad ingredients on table
🍅Cheese Tortellini – I grabbed a tri-color cheese filled tortellini from Aldi but all one color works, or of course you can change up the flavor if you want.

🍅Cherry Tomatoes – Grab a small container, or if you have some growing in the garden, this is the perfect recipe to help use them!

🍅Mozzarella Cheese Balls– They sell little pearl sized balls, snack sized ones, or in the log form. Whatever your store has available, it will work. If there is only a log, just cut the cheese up into smaller pieces.

🍅 Fresh Basil– Do not skimp on using fresh basil here. It shines, smells and tastes wonderful, and really adds the extra little yumminess to this dish. Fresh basil is easily available at most stores in some form. I have been planting some in the garden every year for ideas like this!

🍅Olive Oil– This olive oil is needed to toss everything around to help prevent sticking and create a true caprese taste.

🍅Salt, pepper, & red pepper flakes– I just used a dash of each for some extra flavor.

🍅Balsamic Glaze– I have a bottle from Aldi that has lasted me a long time. Most grocery stores sell it now. Amazon has a bottle here for under $6.

Watch the video below!

Looking for other garden fresh recipes? Check out my Simple Garden Fresh Zucchini Noodles or my Cooking with Fresh Herbs post!

How to make this easy Caprese Tortellini Salad

Step 1: Cook the tortellini. Just follow the package instructions (most cook within 2-3 minutes). Drain and rinse with cool water.

tortellini, tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil in glass bowl.

Step 2: Add ingredients to a bowl. Add the cooled tortellini, cherry tomatoes, cheese balls, chopped or sliced basil, and seasonings. Drizzle the olive oil on top and give everything a stir to combine.

Note: My sister bought me a pair of these herb scissors which is great for slicing the basil!

olive oil tossed in caprese tortellini salad

Step 3: Refrigerate. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Step 4: Add balsamic glaze. When ready to serve drizzle with some balsamic glaze and leave some more on the side for individuals to add to their serving. Enjoy!

Additions & Substitutions:

  1. You can swap any flavor of tortellini.
  2. Want to add more veggies? Go for it! Some diced bell peppers or red onions would be great!
  3. Want to add some protein? How about some chopped salami or even prosciutto?
Tortellini pasta salad in bowl on white linen with balsamic glaze.

Storage

This caprese pasta salad is best enjoyed within 3 days for the best taste and texture. Just keep covered and refrigerated.

Like this easy pasta salad recipe? Make sure to check out my:

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caprese pasta salad collage

Caprese Tortellini Pasta Salad

This Caprese Tortellini Pasta Salad comes together quickly for a light meal or tasty side dish that is perfect all Summer long or anytime.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Appetizer, Lunch, Salad, Side Dish
Ingredients Method Video

Ingredients
  

  • 9 oz. package of Cheese Tortellini
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes
  • 6-8 oz. package of mozzarella cheese balls snack size or pearls
  • 2 tbsp sliced basil more or less to your liking
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • Dash of Salt, Pepper & red pepper flakes
  • Balsamic Glaze

Method
 

  1. Cook the tortellini according to the package instructions (most cook within 2-3 minutes). Drain and rinse with cool water.
  2. Add the cooled tortellini, cherry tomatoes, cheese balls, chopped or sliced basil, and seasonings. Drizzle the olive oil on top and give everything a stir to combine.
  3. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  4. When ready to serve drizzle with some balsamic glaze and leave some more on the side for individuals to add to their serving. Enjoy!

Video