This Caprese Tortellini Salad is bursting with fresh summer flavor. With only five ingredients, it’s a quick and easy crowd-pleaser for every barbeque or summer gathering!

multi-colored tortellini with cherry tomato and fresh mozzarella balls on a white plate with a wooden spoon

Nothing says summer quite like a caprese salad. With sweet juicy tomatoes, bites of creamy mozzarella and fresh basil, it is simply the best!

But in this recipe we are turning a traditional caprese into a pasta salad, and we won’t use just any pasta either… I love using tortellini because I find it a bit more filling and that it holds up really well to dressing. Plus with only 5 ingredients, this caprese tortellini is super easy and quick, meaning less time in the kitchen and more time spent enjoying every precious hour of summer you can get!

ingredients for caprese tortellini salad in small wooden and glass bowls on a marble counter top

Caprese Tortellini Salad Ingredients

Only five main ingredients are needed to make this recipe:

Cheese tortellini. Feel free to use another flavor, spinach or meat-filled tortellini will also work. You could use fresh (found in the refrigerator section of the grocery store) or frozen tortellini, just following the cooking directions on the package
Grape or cherry tomatoes. Any small, sweet tomato is best but you could chop up a larger tomato in a pinch. Sundried tomatoes could also be a tasty alternative to fresh.
Cocktail bocconcini. These are small balls of mild fresh mozzarella. Substitute cubed mozzarella if needed.
Basil pesto.
Balsamic vinegar.
Salt & black pepper.

multi-colored tortellini, fresh cherry tomatoes and mozzarella balls in a glass bowl

How To Make Caprese Pasta Salad

There are only three key steps to making this recipe:

Cook the tortellini until al dente, then set aside to cool.
Slice the tomatoes and bocconcini in half.
Combine the tortellini with the rest of the ingredients and enjoy!

Can You Make This Recipe Ahead of Time?

Yes! Pasta salads like this one keep super well when prepared ahead of time, making them great for potlucks, barbeques or meal prepping.

Caprese tortellini salad will stay fresh for 3-5 days in the fridge. Overtime the pasta will soak up some liquid from the tomatoes and the dressing, so be sure not to overcook the tortellini to avoid soggy pasta. You may also need to add another splash of olive oil or balsamic vinegar if you find it becomes too dry after a day or two.

Caprese Tortellini Salad dressed in pesto in a glass bowl with a wooden spoon

What To Serve With Caprese Tortellini Salad

This summery pasta dish is the perfect accompaniment to your favorite barbeque mains. Serve it alongside grilled chicken, steak or burgers and a spinach or arugula salad. Alternatively, make a one-bowl meal by adding your favorite protein and a handful of greens directly to the dish!

However you serve it, this caprese tortellini salad is sure to be a crowd pleaser (and how easy it was to pull off can be our little secret)!

caprese tortellini salad with pesto on a white plate with a wooden spoon, being drizzled with balsamic vinegar

If You Like Pasta, You’ll Love These Recipes…