Name: Avocado Caprese Pasta Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 7 min
Ingredients: 5-6 cups arugula and spinach mix; 6 ounces mozzarella balls; 4 cups cooked and cooled cavatappi or rotini pasta (I used Banza); 1 large avocado diced; 1 cup cherry tomatoes; ¼ red onion (finely diced); ¼ cup balsamic glaze; ¼ cup olive oil; Salt and pepper (to taste); 5-6 large basil leaves (chopped)

This avocado caprese pasta salad is a light, refreshing, and healthy side dish or complete meal perfect for summer. It features arugula and spinach, mozzarella balls, red onion, avocado, cherry tomatoes, basil and cavatappi pasta. Finished with rich olive oil and a sweet and tangy balsamic glaze.

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The Perfect Pasta Salad for Summer

Caprese and pasta salads scream summer. So, I combined these two favs to create the ultimate summer salad. It’s light, refreshing, and delicious, plus so easy to make.

It combines fresh arugula and spinach, creamy avocado, juicy cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, sharp red onions, and herbaceous basil to create a flavor packed and beautiful salad. It’s simply dressed with a rich and tangy balsamic glaze (I used store bought but you could make it too) and rich olive oil. Finish it with fresh cracked pepper and sea salt to bring out all those wonderful flavors.

Best yet, it’s incredibly easy to make! I like to make the pasta the day before so it’s ready and chilled before I need it. Simply toss all of the ingredients together and you’re ready to go! This salad can be made in advance (I do recommend waiting to add the greens and avocado just before serving) so it’s great for meal prep or a summer party!

Ingredients in this Avocado Caprese Pasta Salad

This avocado caprese pasta salad features:

arugula and spinach, adds some greens for freshness and brightness.
mozzarella balls, adds a creamy cheesy element. It’s mild so still let’s the other flavors shine. I love the mozzarella balls because it makes it so easy to add to the salad andthey hold their shape in the salad.
red onion, adds a sharp little bite.
avocado, you all know I’m obsessed with avocado. I love the creaminess it adds and extra healthy fats.
cherry tomatoes, cut into halves, they add a pop of juicy, sweetness.
basil, for that fresh herbaceous bite that takes any salad to the next level. Plus, basil is a must for any good caprese salad.
cavatappi pasta, or whatever pasta you prefer. Adds a little more substance to this salad to make it more filling and interesting.
balsamic glaze + olive, so simple for the dressing and so good!

Why You’ll Love this Avocado Caprese Pasta Salad

It’s bright and healthy, this salad features tons of veggies, gluten-free pasta, and bright herbs to make it flavorful, light, and refreshing
It’s easy, this salad takes under 30 minutes to make. Even faster if you cook and cool the pasta the day before.
It’s meal prep friendly, combine all of the ingredients, besides the lettuce and avocado, and toss together. Store in fridge for 2-3 days. Just add lettuce and avo when ready to serve and eat.
It’s delicious, this simple salad is packed with so much flavor you will want to eat it on repeat!

Recipe Variations

Try a different pasta, you can use any fun shape you prefer, like macaroni, rotini, or bowtie!
Add a protein, grilled chicken would work great in this salad!
Add more veggies, throw in some cucumber or peppers, whatever sounds good to you!
Half the Recipe, if I am making this for dinner for just my hubby and I, I just make half the recipe. You could even make this just for one for an easy lunch!
Add as much or as little of the ingredients, The recipe is very flexible, so you can play around with the amount of ingredients to find your perfect balance. If you like more cheese, add more! If you like less onion, add less. You can really play around with it to find your perfect ratio!

Other flavorful summer salads

Enjoy!

This avocado caprese pasta salad is bright, delicious, colorful, healthy and easy. So perfect for summer!

If you make this avocado caprese pasta salad, please leave a comment below. I absolutely love to hear from you guys and your thoughts on my recipes. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or pin it on pinterest, cuz sharing is caring!