My favorite thing about this pasta salad is that it’s lighter, healthier, and filled with veggies. It has a lot of similarities to our Greek Orzo Salad, and our Caprese Pasta Salad recipe which are both some of our favorite pasta salad recipes!
LIGHT + DELICIOUS
Spring and summer time means it is time to break out the salads. I love salads all year long, but something about the warm weather makes me crave them ALL. THE. TIME! Are you with me? It was a few years ago that I fell in love with the flavor combination of fresh mozzarella pearls, fresh basil leaves, and cherry tomatoes (anyone else a Caprese fan?). Add all of these together with some orzo pasta and you have today’s recipe—mozzarella pasta salad. With just a small handful of fresh ingredients and a light olive oil dressing, this simple pasta salad recipe is both refreshing and delicious. The salad is perfect for BBQs or potlucks and can be made pretty quickly, making it a keeper.
Making pasta salad with fresh mozzarella
Pasta salad with fresh mozzarella is so simple and takes just a few steps. PASTA. Cook pasta according to the directions on the box. Drain and let cool. COMBINE. Add the pasta tomatoes, basil, and cheese to a large bowl. Mix. DRESS + SERVE. Season with garlic salt. Add olive oil and gently mix until evenly coated. Right before serving, add the fresh-cut basil to the top and serve.
Variations
I like the simple Caprese-like ingredients we used for this salad, but you can add in other ingredients to create your favorite combination of flavors and textures. Some add-in ideas include:
baby spinach, sliced olives, cubed avocado, red onion grilled chicken or salami a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette or balsamic glaze salt and black pepper basil pesto
Recipe Tips
Serving size. The ingredient amounts make a hearty meal for a single person or a lighter meal for two. Double (or even triple) the tomato mozzarella pasta salad recipe so that it can be used as a side dish perfect for a backyard BBQ or picnic. Serve this pasta with pretty much anything! Serve it with grilled meat, sandwiches, or wraps. Some of our favorites include:
Grilled Steak Baked Pesto Chicken Fried Chicken Breast Italian Pork Chops
Storage Info
Make ahead of time. Make Pasta Salad with Mozzarella Balls ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. STORE leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Add a bit of olive oil to freshen it up if needed.
For More tasty pasta salads, try:
Greek Orzo Salad Chicken Pasta Salad Chinese Pasta Salad Taco Pasta Salad Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
Recipe adapted from allrecipes.
