Caprese Orzo Pasta Salad (Printable)

Tender orzo tossed with juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil in a zesty balsamic dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 1 cup orzo pasta
02 - 1 tablespoon salt for boiling water

→ Vegetables & Cheese

03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 cup fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini), halved
05 - 1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, torn

→ Dressing

06 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 1½ tablespoons balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
09 - 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook orzo pasta according to package directions until al dente, approximately 8–10 minutes. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to halt the cooking process.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey (or maple syrup), minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until fully emulsified and smooth.
03 - Place the cooled orzo, halved cherry tomatoes, halved mozzarella balls, and torn basil leaves in a large salad bowl. Toss gently to distribute evenly.
04 - Pour the balsamic vinaigrette over the pasta mixture and toss carefully until all ingredients are thoroughly coated with the dressing.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Serve immediately for the freshest texture, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld together.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The orzo absorbs the vinaigrette like tiny flavor sponges so every bite tastes amazing
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but looks like you put way more effort in
  • You can make it ahead and it actually gets better after a few hours in the fridge
02 -
  • Rinse the orzo thoroughly with cold water or it will keep cooking and turn into a gummy mess
  • The salad tastes best at room temperature so take it out of the fridge about 20 minutes before serving
03 -
  • Use the ripest cherry tomatoes you can find because they are the star of the show
  • Buy mozzarella from the specialty cheese section rather than the pre packaged stuff for way better flavor

Go back