Name: Quick Easy Pasta Caprese Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Italian, American
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

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

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.