This Pesto Caprese Macaroni summer pasta salad is jam-packed with the bold flavors of fresh, cheesy pesto. It can be made ahead for your next potluck dish, BBQ side, or meal side dish.
Everyone will be coming back for seconds. It’s summer which means it is time to head outdoors and enjoy the sunshine. This Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad is perfect for a picnic or barbecue. It has all your favorite flavors of pesto, tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil. You will love this recipe because it takes less than 15 minutes to make but tastes like you’ve been slaving over the stove all day long!
When the heat is on, salads are my go to meals. I love the versatility, and ease a pasta or leafy green salad encompasses. With minimal time, you can easily prepare one of my go to pasta salads that eats like a meal.
My kids, and husband love my pesto caprese macaroni salad because it is bold, and it contains cheese and garlic which provides delicious flavor for otherwise bland pasta.
You can use either regular elbow macaroni pasta or gluten-free pasta for this salad.
I don’t know about your family, but anything loaded with cheesy goodness, and flavored with garlic is a must around here! Even my newly turned 2-year-old can agree that mommy’s pesto caprese macaroni salad gets two messy thumbs up.
Use fresh basil & garlic
Garden-fresh garlic, and basil have such vibrant flavors that really make this dish POP. My husband is an avid gardener who takes his hobby seriously, but I don’t mind because it produces an abundance of herbs, and vegetables that allow me to be creative in the kitchen.
Storage
When I make my pesto sauce, I like to store it in a mason jar because it keeps it fresh for up to a week. Just make sure the jar is sealed properly and stored in the refrigerator.
Pesto is such a go to for us in the summer. I find myself smearing it on french bread, putting it on grilled pizza, in leafy green salads, and on chicken. I usually make a double batch so that I have plenty to use throughout the week.
Ingredients
Pesto
- Basil – 2 cups (fresh is best)
- Parmesan or Pecorino cheese – 3/4 cup
- Garlic – 2 cloves
- Lemon juice – 1 teaspoon
- Extra virgin olive oil – 2/3 cup
- Fresh kosher salt & pepper – to taste
Pasta & Add-ins
- Elbow macaroni – 1 pound
- Cherry tomatoes – 1 pint, halved or whole
- Mozzarella Pearls – one cup
Tips
This dish tastes best chilled in the refrigerator for a few hours. By chilling the pesto caprese macaroni salad, you allow the pasta and cheese to soak up all the bold flavors of the garlic, Parmesan, and fresh basil leaves.
More Summer salads
Pesto Caprese Macaroni Salad
Equipment
- 6-quart stock pot
- food processor
- cutting board
- knife
Ingredients
Pesto
- 2 cups Basil fresh, leaves only
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese Can use pecorino too
- 2 cloves Garlic fresh
- 1 teaspoon Lemon Juice fresh
- ⅔ cup Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt & pepper to taste
Pasta Add-ins
- 1 pound box Elbow Macaroni cooked al dente, and rinsed
- 1 pint Cherry Tomatoes
- 1 cup mozzarella pearls or 8 ounces of ball-style chopped up
Instructions
- Boil macaroni elbows until al dente in a pot of salted water. I use one teaspoon of salt per pound. Once done, strain liquid in a collander over the sink. Rinse pasta with cold water, and strain again until all liquid is removed. Transfer pasta into a large micing bowl.
- In a food processor, blend cheese, salt, pepper, oil, garlic, and basil until pureed; place in the fridge until ready to mix.
- Add your cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls, and pesto mixture into the strained pasta. Mix well to combine.
- Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and allow it to chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. This dish tastes best chilled in the refrigerator for a few hours. By chilling the pesto caprese macaroni salad, you allow the pasta and cheese to soak up all the bold flavors of the garlic, parmesan, and fresh basil leaves.
I like them, but did not have any on hand
Yes, sorry!
I’m assuming it’s basil leaves???
You love it doesn’t have pine nuts…and I was thinking I just need to add some pine nuts to make this perfect,LOL
You for got to add small mozzarella balls to your ingredient list. ☺
I love making different pasta dishes. Your recipe sounds right up my alley!
This looks amazing. The colors are gorgeous and I bet the flavor is out of this world.
So many of my friends enjoy pasta salad during the summer. I think they will enjoy this recipe with adding the pesto. Adds something different.
I have recently gone gluten free and am loving this recipe! Can’t wait to try it!
We have a lot of pasta salads during the summer too. It is a perfect for the hot weather
This looks delicious and refreshing. Yummy combination.
Oh my; you combined two of my favorite things, caprise and pesto! Love this and pinning it
That looks amazing!!! I love pesto.
This is the epitome of summertime. Looks delectable.
It looks delicious! I love that this doesn’t have pine nuts. I need to try this!
Love pesto, this recipe sounds amazing. I have never had caprese before.
That really looks so delicious. I had to pin it and I’m planning on making it!
Yum! I love pesto, I love pasta and I love caprese salads. Thanks for sharing!
Wow, this looks absolutely mouthwatering! I have some gluten free pasta on hand too! Thanks for a tasty recipe!
Looks awesome! I love that it’s able to be made gluten free, so my whole family can enjoy it.
This looks delicious… I love pasta salad and sooo have to try this…. all my favorite ingredients in one dish… YUMMM… thanks for sharing
I haven’t had pesto in far too long! This pesto Caprese macaroni salad looks absolutely amazing! I want some!
Wow that looks so good! Simple, fresh and flavorful my favorite!
How awesomely yummy does this look? So fresh and tasty!
Yum! I have a ton of basil and right now dehydrating so much of it. Pesto I love and seem to make so much I burn out on it. Thank you for the reminder this looks amazing. Kuddo’s
I grow my own basil and have a freezer full of pesto. I’ll have to make this. It looks delish!
Oh wow, this looks totally amazing, I need to make this soon! Thank you!
Oh man, that looks so good! I love pesto and macaroni salad!
i’m going to pin this and make it next time we cook out. my mouth is watering!
I have to try this. Looks delicious
Oh my that looks amazing. I love that it’s gluten free.
Man oh man does this look good! I love Pesto and gonna have to try your pasta salad recipe soon!!!
Great recipe. I love finding gluten free meals that I can serve at parties and events that are enjoyable for everyone.
This looks delicious. The fact that it’s gluten free is a plus. I finally have something I can serve at events that is safe for everyone to eat.
I am in love with this recipe! I love the combination of flavorful ingredients, especially the GF pasta noodles and pesto.
I have never had pesto in my macaroni salad before, but I love pesto so I bet it’s awesome!!