Indulge in the ultimate summer delight with this mouthwatering Caprese Pasta Salad recipe. Fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and bacon combine for perfection!

Nothings screams summer to me like fresh tomatoes in a delicious caprese salad. What is it about sweet tomatoes, tangy balsamic vinegar, creamy mozzarella and spicy basil that is so dang good? I love this combo in anything from a salad, over chicken and now in pasta salad form. This Caprese Pasta Salad is all of your caprese dreams come true. Throw in some bacon and it's even more than you could dream of.

Ingredients in Caprese Pasta Salad:

• Pasta- Use whatever pasta you prefer. I used whole wheat penne but any will work, even gluten free.

• Cherry tomatoes - I used a combination of red and yellow cherry tomatoes.

• Bacon- Bacon gives this pasta salad a salty twist that takes it to the next level. You can never go wrong with bacon, am I right?

• Mozzarella Cheese- I used mozzarella pearls because I love how you can get the perfect bite with them. Plus, they're easy to dump right into the bowl. You could also use diced up fresh mozzarella if you can't find the pearls.

• Fresh Basil- This is the key ingredient to this dish. Fresh basil gives it so much extra flavor you just can't get from dried herbs.

• Green onions- I like green onions in this dish for a little extra flavor but you can omit if you're not an onion lover.

• Balsamic vinegar and olive oil- Make your own dressing by combining balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If you prefer your dressing sweeter you can add 1 tsp honey. If you like it spicy, add a pinch of red pepper flakes.

This pasta salad is also great with grilled chicken added to it to make it a meal. Great for lunches on the go, picnics or a quick one bowl meal.

If you try this Caprese Pasta Salad recipe please leave a comment below and let me know how you liked it! Be sure to follow me on Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook for more mouthwatering recipes.

Caprese Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

• 12 oz pasta, cooked, drained and cooled

• 6 slices bacon, cooked and chopped

• 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

• 8 oz mozarella pearls

• 2 green onions, sliced

• 1/2-3/4 cup fresh basil, chiffonade cut

• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

• 1/2 cup olive oil

• 1 Tbsp garlic, minced

• 1 tsp black pepper

Directions:

• In a large bowl combine cooked pasta, bacon, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, green onions and fresh basil.

• In a small bowl combine balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic and pepper.

• Add dressing to pasta and toss to coat.

• Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 6 hours.

• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Notes:

If making ahead, I suggest adding half the dressing initially and the other half right before serving to prevent pasta from drying out.