Creamy Caprese Pasta Salad with Homemade Dressing

Creamy Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe

Whoever said pasta was off-limits clearly didn’t know about the 80/20 diet. Many of us have been brainwashed into thinking we must find substitutions for carbohydrates and that they are always a no-go. I believe there is a time and a place for everything, and if you play your cards right and learn how to consume your favorite foods in moderation, you can literally have your cake and eat it too.

Being that it is summer and my tomato plants are producing an abundance of juicy, ripe, vibrantly colored fruit (yes, tomatoes are actually a fruit), I have been coming up with creative ways to toss them into all of my dishes. I also have been lucky that my herbs really took off this year too, so I have basil up the wazoo (definitely not complaining about that!).

Typically, I enjoy a nice Caprese salad on a hot summer day and layer fresh mozzarella with my plump tomatoes and freshly cut basil, alongside a healthy-sized drizzle of balsamic reduction. However, when I am in the mood for something a little heartier, I will add these same ingredients to pasta and toss in some grilled chicken to up the protein.

I always enjoy making my own salad dressings, and there’s no exception when making pasta salad. I have found that a creamier dressing pairs well with this, and then I add a drizzle of balsamic reduction to really make this recipe pop.

Creamy Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe

Creamy Caprese Pasta Salad with Homemade Dressing

Who says you can’t enjoy a fresh summer pasta salad? (Especially when you toss in some fresh garden ingredients!)
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 505kcal

Ingredients

Pasta Salad Ingredients

  • cup bowtie pasta
  • 3-6 mozzarella cheese ball bites
  • 7 grape tomatoes
  • 1 grilled chicken breast without bones or skin
  • 2 tbsp fresh basil
  • balsamic reduction drizzle

Italian Dressing Recipe

  • 1 garlic clove peeled
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt
  • 3 tbsp buttermilk fat free
  • 2 tbsp mayo
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp agave
  • 1 Italian dressing seasoning packet

Instructions

Italian Dressing

  • Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl and whisk (or a jar andshake).
  • Add to salad (pasta salad).

Notes

Pasta Salad ingredients are simply bowtie pasta (1 1/4 cup), small pearl-sized mozzarella ball bites (3 – 6), grape tomatoes (7), grilled chicken (1 piece without bone or skin), and fresh basil (2 Tbsp). As mentioned, I drizzle balsamic (often reduced) to the top with around 2 Tbsp of the dressing above.

Nutrition

Calories: 505kcal | Fat: 19g | Protein: 30g | Carbohydrates: 55g
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