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Looking for an easy, fresh and delicious make-ahead meal? This mason jar Caprese pasta salad brings together everything you love about the classic Italian flavors—juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella and fragrant basil—all layered beautifully in a convenient, portable mason jar. With a simple homemade creamy balsamic vinaigrette, this pasta salad is perfect for meal prep, picnics, or quick lunches on the go. Once you try this tasty salad, you’ll want to stash a few jars in your refrigerator at all times. Enjoy it with your preferred protein or as a vegetarian dish.
This mason jar Caprese pasta salad is a fresh, simple and portable meal packed with juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and a zesty homemade balsamic dressing.
More delicious recipes to try include this Italian antipasto farro salad, pesto chicken sandwiches, sheet pan chicken Caprese, and tomato burrata salad.
Why You’ll Love It
Perfect for meal prep: These mason jars stay fresh in the refrigerator for days, making them ideal for grab-and-go lunches. The salad prep time is just a few minutes.
Fresh and flavorful: Juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella and fragrant basil make every bite a burst of classic Italian flavor.
Delicious ingredients: Classic Caprese salad ingredients pair with pasta and balsamic vinaigrette to ensure every bite is delicious. All the best salads feature fresh ingredients and this one tastes so good.
Easy to customize: You can swap in your favorite pasta shapes, add grilled chicken or toss in extra veggies.
Caprese Mason Jar Salads Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Pasta: A short pasta shape such as radiatore or fusilli work well to hold the dressing and mix easily.
Cherry tomatoes: Sweet and juicy, they add vibrant flavor and color.
Ciligiene mozzarella balls: Ciliegine mozzarella balls are cherry-sized balls of fresh mozzarella and are made from pasteurized cow’s milk, salt and rennet. Creamy and bite-sized, they’re perfect for layering.
Fresh basil: Chopped or sliced basil adds a fragrant, peppery freshness that ties everything together.
Olive oil: Forms the rich, smooth base of the homemade dressing.
Balsamic vinegar: Brings a tangy depth of flavor to the salad.
Honey: Adds a hint of sweetness to balance the vinegar.
Seasonings: Italian seasoning and garlic powder boost the savory flavors of the dressing, while salt and freshly ground black pepper add even more flavor.
How to Make Individual Caprese Pasta Salads
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Cook the pasta: Boil to al dente in salted water, and then drain and toss with olive oil to prevent sticking.
Make the dressing: Whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, and seasonings.
Layer the jars: Divide the prepared dressing and then the halved tomatoes between wide mouth pint jars or quart-sized mason jars. Divide mozzarella balls evenly on top and then finish with the pasta, and basil on top. (I used these jars!)
Keep refrigerated: Cover and chill. When ready to eat, pour the salad into a bowl and toss to coat.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, choose gluten-free pasta shapes.
Swap the pasta: Use farfalle, orecchiette, penne, macaroni, or rotini. Any short pasta shape would work here.
Tomatoes: Choose from cherry tomatoes or large fresh tomatoes.
Mozzarella: If you can’t find mozzarella balls, you can use one large fresh mozzarella ball and cut it into pieces instead. Sometime I like to add freshly shaved or shredded parmesan too.
Add protein: Toss in grilled chicken, chickpeas or cooked shrimp for extra heartiness.
Change the dressing: Try a lemon vinaigrette or pesto dressing instead of the balsamic vinaigrette.
Add fruit: Include sweet peaches for a fruity twist.
Add crunch: Include crunchy pine nuts.
Serving Suggestions
With bread: Pair your mason jar salad with homemade soda bread or focaccia for a delicious and filling lunch or light evening meal.
As a side dish: Enjoy it with anything from Italian steak to pistachio salmon or cheddar stuffed burgers. It would also be good with a watermelon feta salad.
How to Store Caprese Pasta Salad in a Jar
Store: Keep these salads in their mason jars in the refrigerator. Eat within 4 days.
Freeze: I don’t recommend freezing these. The tomato and basil would thaw out mushy.
Top Tips
Don’t overcook the pasta: Al dente pasta holds up better in the refrigerator and keeps the salad from getting soggy.
Layer smartly: Put the dressing on the bottom so the pasta stays fresh until you’re ready to eat these individual salads. You can add basil just before serving if stored for several days, to keep it fresh.
Use high-quality mozzarella and tomatoes: Fresh, flavorful ingredients make a big difference in this classic salad.
Meal Prep Caprese Pasta Salad FAQs
Yes, you can prepare and refrigerate the jars for up to 4 days.
You can cut regular mozzarella into small cubes if you don’t have Ciliegine mozzarella.
It’s best to pour the salad into a bowl to mix everything thoroughly before serving.
Mason Jar Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe
Mason Jar Caprese Pasta Salad
Equipment
- 4 Mason Jars 1-Quart
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 4 Cups radiatore, dried, or fusilli
- 1 ½ Cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 8 Ounces mozzarella balls, fresh, Ciligiene
- ½ Cup basil, freshly chopped
For the Dressing
- ¼ Cup olive oil, extra virgin
- ¼ Cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 1 Teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ Teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Teaspoon salt
- ½ Teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions to al dente texture.
- Drain and drizzle with olive oil to prevent sticking, and set aside.
- Whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small mixing bowl.
- Evenly divide the dressing, tomatoes, mozzarella balls, pasta, and basil between 4 mason jars.
- Cover with lids and store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When you’re ready to serve, remove the lid and pour the caprese pasta salad into a bowl.
Notes
Layer smartly: Put the dressing on the bottom so the pasta stays fresh until you’re ready to eat these individual salads. You can add basil just before serving if stored for several days, to keep it fresh.
Use high-quality mozzarella and tomatoes: Fresh, flavorful ingredients make a big difference in this classic salad.
Nutrition
This mason jar Caprese pasta salad is an easy, colorful way to enjoy fresh Italian flavors any day of the week. Perfect for meal prepping, picnics on a sunny summer day or quick lunches, it’s packed with juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fragrant basil, all tossed in a tangy balsamic dressing. Plus, it’s so simple to customize with your favorite pasta shapes or proteins. Light, flavorful, and made for convenience, this pasta salad is sure to become a new go-to favorite.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
