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This easy tortellini caprese salad combines cheesy tortellini, juicy tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella for the ultimate summer side dish. Drizzled with a sweet balsamic glaze, it’s a simple crowd pleaser recipe that’s perfect for picnics, potlucks, or weeknight dinners.
Looking for more pasta salad recipes? Try my Creamy Italian Pasta Salad, my Zesty Italian Pasta Salad, or my Deli Style Macaroni Salad!
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This is a super easy and quick pasta salad variation on a traditional caprese salad recipe. I like to throw this together when I need something delicious, but don't have time to spend in the kitchen. The best part is you would never know it takes mere minutes to make!
🩷 What you'll love about this recipe
▪️It is very simple and easy - no measuring anything!
▪️This recipe only has FIVE ingredients!
▪️You can make this ahead of time. It's actually better when you make it ahead, as the flavors have time to soak into the pasta.
🥘 Recipe Ingredients
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this amazing Italian caprese pasta salad.
📝 Ingredient Notes
- cheese tortellini - the filled pasta gives this dish and extra heartiness over regular pasta
- marinated mozzarella balls - I highly recommend you search these out. The flavor is amazing and it just makes this recipes so very simple. If you absolutely cannot find this (I get mine at Trader Joe's) you can use plain mozzarella balls and marinate in your favorite Italian dressing, or just marinated in olive oil and Italian seasonings.
- fresh basil - this is a must. It's just not the same with dried basil.
- balsamic glaze - make sure you get the glaze, and not just balsamic vinegar or balsamic dressing. The glaze is heavily reduced and thick like a syrup. If you want to make your own, check out this recipe for homemade balsamic glaze.
- fresh tomatoes - use any small tomato you can find. Grape tomatoes or sweet cherry tomatoes work. If you can't find those, diced Roma tomatoes can work.
📋 How to Make Tortellini Caprese Salad Step-By-Step
Here are some visual instructions. Full instructions with exact ingredients can be found in the Recipe Card below.
Cook tortellini according to the package instructions just until al dente, in salted water. Cooking in salted water will season the pasta. Make sure to not overcook. Immediately rinse the pasta in cold water in a colander to stop the cooking process. Add the cooled tortellini to a large bowl.
Julienne the fresh basil (thinly slice). I lay out a stack of basil leaves, roll them up tightly and thinly slice with a sharp knife until you have thin little strips.
If the mozzarella balls and tomatoes are not bite sized, cut them into smaller pieces. Add all ingredients (except the balsamic glaze) into the bowl with the tortellini. Add all of the marinade from the mozzarella. Mix thoroughly until all is blended and tortellini is coated well. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Let the caprese tortellini pasta salad sit in the fridge for at least an hour, so all of the flavors can blend together.
Add to a serving dish or bowl. To serve, add a drizzle of balsamic glaze over the whole pasta salad, or you can leave the glaze on the side for everyone to drizzle on their individual servings.
💡 Recipe Tips
Any variations or flavors of tortellini will work. I like to only use the white tortellini so the colors of all of the fresh ingredients can show.
If you can't find fresh mozzarella balls or mozzarella pearls, you can use any fresh mozzarella cheese - just cut it up into bite-sized cubes. Don't use the rectangular blocks of cheese - it doesn't have the same flavor and texture as a fresh, creamy mozzarella.
If I'm having a hard time finding fresh basil, I go looking for a basil plant at either the grocery store or the home store. A lot of times the plant is cheaper than a package of basil, and I can use it for many more meals to come!
Time Saving Tip
Make this caprese tortellini salad up to one to two days in advance and store in an airtight container in the fridge. Leave out the basil until ready to serve to maintain the freshness and color. Leave off the balsamic glaze until ready to serve.
🫙 Storage & Freezing
Storage: Store this in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Freezing: I don't recommend freezing this salad. The tomatoes and basil do not hold up well to freezing and thawing and will turn mushy and discolored.
🧂Additions & Substitutions
Additions:
- Any other fresh veggies you like - good options would be cucumber, red onion and colorful bell peppers.
- If you like things spicy, add some crushed red pepper flakes or chili oil.
- If you like a little crunch or texture, add some crushed French fried onions or crushed croutons to the top of the salad.
Substitutions:
- Any other flavor of tortellini will work. If you are dairy-free, just use regular pasta.
- Try gnocchi instead of tortellini.
- Try hot honey instead of the balsamic glaze.
❓Your questions answered
For an easy dinner or a summer-time, no-cook meal, serve this with sandwiches - BLTs or Italian sandwiches on focaccia bread.
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🍽️ More potluck recipes that you'll love
💛The Best Buttered Sweet Corn with Cream Cheese
I hope you love this Tortellini Caprese Salad Recipe! If you make it, be sure to
leave a rating so I know how you liked it! Happy eating!
📋 Recipe
Easy Tortellini Caprese Salad with Balsamic Glaze
Equipment
Ingredients
- 10 ounces fresh cheese tortellini
- 12 ounces marinated mozzarella balls cut into small pieces
- 10 ounces cherry or grape tomatoes
- ¼-1/2 cup fresh basil julienned
- Salt & pepper
- balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Cook tortellini according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse thoroughly with cold water to stop the cooking process. Add to a large bowl.
- If the mozzarella balls are not bite sized, cut into smaller pieces. Add to the tortellini. If the tomatoes are not bite sized, also cut these into smaller pieces. Add to the bowl. Add basil. Add enough of the marinate from the mozzarella balls to coat everything, (about ½ cup). Mix thoroughly. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- You can drizzle the balsamic glaze over the top of the salad, or serve it on the side so everyone can drizzle it on themselves.
- Let sit in fridge for full flavors to incorporate into the tortellini.
Notes
- Any other fresh veggies you like - good options would be cucumber, red onion and colorful bell peppers.
- If you like things spicy, add some crushed red pepper flakes or chili oil.
- If you like a little crunch or texture, add some crushed French fried onions or crushed croutons to the top of the salad.
- Any other flavor of tortellini will work. If you are dairy-free, just use regular pasta.
- Try gnocchi instead of tortellini.
- Try hot honey instead of the balsamic glaze.
Teri
I love how simple and easy this recipe is to make! This is my go to when I need something delicious, impressive and I'm short on time!