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The 35 Most Popular Easy Summer Recipes.
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This easy Caprese Chicken Pasta Salad with honey balsamic dressing is my go-to summer pasta salad. It’s almost no-cook and comes together quickly, and with very little effort. Grilled balsamic herb chicken tossed with balsamic dressing, pasta, marinated mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and creamy avocado. It’s colorful and so delicious. Enjoy this for dinner and save the leftovers for lunch. Or serve it up at your next summer party. It’s always good.
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always loved a summertime pasta salad. My dad would often make his super simple pasta salad on busy nights. It used to be one of my favorite dinners.
I’ve mentioned this before, but my dad’s pasta salad was the simplest. I believe it was literally just pasta, broccoli, bell peppers, and cubes of cheddar cheese tossed with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. He probably threw in a lot of fresh basil too.
Simple, I know, but still so good…or at least that’s how I remember it. Anyway, my point is, summertime is pasta salad season. The more recipes you have in your back pocket, the better.
Since the 4th of July is upon us, I figured that now is the perfect time to share one of my go-to summer pasta salads. I make this any chance I get. It’s simple, just like my dad’s, but done up with a little more color, flavor, and dressing.
Plus, I always have these ingredients on hand, so it’s really a staple kind of recipe over here. I make it for every summer gathering. It’s always one of the first dishes to disappear.
This pasta salad is easy, let’s start with the dressing
The honey balsamic dressing really is the key to this salad. It adds all the flavor.
It’s a simple mix-up of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, shallots, garlic, fresh oregano, and fresh basil. I love to mix balsamic and honey for a tangy-sweet dressing and then add herbs for additional flavor.
It’s so delicious and one of my go-to salad dressings all year long.
This makes a lot of dressing, which is what you need for this salad. Again the dressing is KEY.
Next, toss the chicken with a bit of the dressing. If time allows, let the chicken marinate for even more flavor, then just grill it up.
I love to use chicken tenders or strips instead of breasts. The dressing is able to coat more of the chicken then, adding even more flavor.
For the salad…
You need your favorite short-cut pasta, fresh mozzarella balls, and lots of cherry tomatoes. Oh, and avocado too.
For the mozzarella, use marinated mozzarella if you can find it. Trust me, it’s delish and yup, adds even more flavor.
When the chicken is done grilling, and the pasta is cooked, just toss everything up with dressing. And that’s it. Simple. Simple. But so delicious!
This is a great recipe for prepping ahead of time for parties or even work lunches. The pasta holds up really well in the fridge and would be great to make on a Sunday for the week ahead. It even takes on more flavor as the salad sits! Just be sure to add the avocado the day of so that it doesn’t get brown.
What I love most about this pasta recipe is that it really does use some of summer’s best ingredients. So if you have a surplus of fresh cherry tomatoes and basil lying around, this is the recipe to make.
Looking for other great pasta salad recipes? Here are some favorites:
Pesto Chicken, Corn, and Avocado Bacon Pasta Salad
Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Pasta Salad
Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken Avocado Orzo Salad with Honey Mustard Bacon Dressing
Lastly, if you make this Caprese Chicken Pasta Salad, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Caprese Chicken Pasta Salad
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 644 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Balsamic Dressing
- 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 shallot, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- kosher salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes
Salad
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken tenders
- 1 pound short cut pasta
- 2 cups mozzarella balls (use marinated, if you can find)
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- 1 avocado, diced
Instructions
- 1. To make the dressing. Combine all ingredients in a glass jar and whisk until smooth. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper.2. In a bowl, toss the chicken with 1/3 of the dressing. Let sit 10 minutes or marinate up to overnight. Set your grill, grill pan, or skillet to medium-high heat. Grill the chicken until lightly charred and cooked through, turning halfway through cooking, about 8-10 minutes. 3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil the pasta to al dente, according to package directions. Drain. Add the pasta, chicken, mozzarella, tomatoes, and avocado to a large salad bowl. Pour over the remaining dressing and toss well to combine. Serve warm or cold. The salad will develop more flavor as it sits.
One comment, the recipe for the salad calls for: ▢1 cup fresh basil leaves, torn but is not included in the directions. I am assuming you add it to the pasta, chicken etc. at the end.
It was a delicious salad!
Hi Julia,
Yes, you can go ahead and add the fresh basil to step 3:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
I’ve never used marinated mozzarella balls before, but I assume that I was supposed to drain them. I also had a thought. Could you put the leftover avocado in that marinade the oil from the mozzarella balls to help preserve it?
Hi Leanne,
Thanks for giving this recipe a try! Yes, I drained the mozzarella:) Sure, that might be a fun idea! Let me know if you have any other questions! xT
I made this for the first time last night and it’s so delicious! I have a ton of leftovers. I’m excited about it because it’s so hot here and this was light yet filling and fairly easy to make. I am going to have it for many meals this week and it will be delicious every time. I even have leftover chicken that can be used with rice and veggies for an alternate meal.
Hi Carolyn,
Happy Friday!!🫐🍓 I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for your comment and making it! xT
Served this cold to my neighbors on a hot, steamy evening. Everyone LOVED it! Thank you ❤️ for another fabulous recipe!
~ Jacki
Hi Jacki,
Amazing!! Love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for making it and Happy Monday! xT
So good!! I marinated chicken about 5 hours. My 19 yo son said that I have to make this again. This will be going into regular rotation!
Hey Kristin,
Happy Friday!!🍉🥭 I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks for making it and sharing your comment! xT
This looks delicious! If you cannot find marinated mozzarella balls, can you marinate them yourself? And if so, I’m what? The dressing from the recipe?
Hi Karen,
I would just look for a basic recipe online using some olive oil and herbs for marinating:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this pasta salad! xT
How far ahead can I make this and keep in the fridge?
Hi there,
This is good for a few days in the fridge, I would just keep the dressing on the side:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
This recipe is a summer staple around our house. We love it! It’s perfect for a hot summer day, a girls trip to the beach, lunch, dinner! Yum!!
Hi Holly,
Happy Friday!!🥑🍑 I love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for making it and sharing your review! xT
Question… if making ahead, should I make everything per recipe and then add avocados before serving so they don’t turn brown?
Hey Mariel,
Yes, that would work well for you! Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xx
I absolutely LOVE this recipe! One of my favorites for big gatherings! Is it possible to put the marinated chicken in the freezer? Or would thé dressing loose it’s flavor/consistency?
Hey Kim,
I really appreciate you giving this dish a try, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Sure, that would be okay for you to do. Hope you’re having a great Wednesday! xT
I found the shallot overpowering. Otherwise good flavors but missing something that I can’t put my finger on 😉
Hey Sharon,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try and sharing your feedback! Hope you’re off to a great day! xx
I saw this recipe on WOT on Instagram and was so happy when I saw it was yours! This is easy, flavorful and super delicious. I love the make-ahead ability of making the dressing the day before and marinating the chicken in the morning. After work, I easily grilled the chicken and put it all together. We dug into so fast I didn’t even have time to take a photo! It’s customizable to your family’s liking. We’ll be making this often!
Hey Julie!
Fantastic! Thanks for your comment and trying the recipe:) I am so glad it was enjoyed! xxT
This is sooooo awesome! Every bite is a different combo of the ingredients and so flavorful. It was delicious for lunch the next day too. Then we were sad because we ate it all. ? Making more this week!
Hi Susan!
Fantastic! Thanks for your comment and trying the recipe:) I am so glad it was enjoyed! xxT
This is one of my go-to recipes. The chicken is amazing and who doesn’t love caprese. I have to keep everything separate because of my picky family but I love it all together.
Hey Desiree,
Happy Wednesday! Thanks for sharing your review and making this recipe, I am so glad it was a winner! xxTieghan
BEST SALAD EVER!!!!!!! I have probably made this 20 times in the last 6 months and we never tire of it. The dressing is the BOMB!!! So fresh and perfect for summer. A must try.
Hi Elizabeth,
Perfect!! I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for trying it out! Have a great holiday weekend!?? xxT