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    Home » Main Dishes » Pasta Recipes

    Caprese Chicken Pasta Salad

    LAST UPDATED: September 15, 2019 PUBLISHED: September 15, 2019 By Pam Greer 41 Comments As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    All the flavors of a Caprese Salad in this Chicken Pasta Salad!  So easy to make and so delicious!  Using a rotisserie chicken means you can have this tasty dinner on the table in minutes!   Make it in the summer with fresh basil and use pesto in the winter for a year round easy meal! 

    Red bowl filled with pasta, tomatoes, cheese and fresh basil.

    Caprese Salad

    A Caprese salad is one of the simplest salads you can make and one of the most delicious.  It is simply tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil, usually artfully arranged on a plate and drizzled with olive oil, and seasoned with salt and pepper.   It's an Italian salad and contains the colors of the Italian flag! 

    Give me a Caprese salad, a chunk of bread and I can call it breakfast, lunch or dinner.  But sometimes I want all the flavors of the Italian salad with a little more substantial ingredients.  

    That's where this easy pasta recipe comes in.  By adding rotisserie chicken and your favorite pasta, you have an easy dinner recipe that everyone will love! 

    Chicken, pasta, tomatoes, garlic, lemon, mozzarella cheese, basil, olive oil and red wine vinegar.

    Ingredients to Make this Caprese Chicken Pasta Salad

    • Chicken - I used the shredded breast meat from a rotisserie chicken.  Save the legs and thighs for other rotisserie chicken recipes. 
    • Pasta - this works best with shaped pasta instead of strands.  I used rigatoni because I had some in the pantry, shells or bow tie pasta would also work.
    • Tomatoes - cherry tomatoes keep it a little drier, if you want more sauce use whole tomatoes and chop them.
    • Garlic.
    • Lemon - grated rind for a little extra pop.
    • Mozzarella - try to find fresh mozzarella if you can, do not use shredded mozzarella.   It usually comes shaped in small balls. 
    • Basil - fresh if you can find it, otherwise use basil pesto.  It will be a little saucier with basil pesto.  Taste after adding the pesto before adding the dressing, you might not need s much.   
    • Red wine vinegar - or white. 
    • Olive Oil - use a good quality extra virgin olive oil, it will impart a lot of flavor on this simple dish. 

    Bowl with tomatoes, chicken, basil, garlic, cheese and lemon zest on top of pasta.

    How to Make This Pasta Salad with Chicken

    • Step One - cook pasta according to directions. 
    • Step Two - while pasta is cooking prep the rest of the ingredients:  shred the chicken, mince the garlic, halve the tomatoes, tear the basil leaves, tear the mozzarella cheese into bite sized pieces, zest the lemon, and gather the olive olive oil, salt, pepper and vinegar. 
    • Step Three - drain the pasta and rinse under cold water.  Add to a bowl and add the chicken, garlic, tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese to a bowl. 
    • Step Four - whisk the olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper in a small bowl (or shake in a mason jar) and pour over the salad.  Toss to combine and taste and adjust seasonings. 

    Red bowl filled with a caprese chicken pasta salad.

    Easy Caprese Salad with Pasta and Chicken 

    We have this all summer long, it's that good and that easy.   It is a drier pasta salad, especially if you use cherry tomatoes.  Using ripe large tomatoes will give you more of a sauce. 

    I also love this salad in the winter using basil pesto!  I find that roma tomatoes and cherry tomatoes are pretty good all year round.  Having a big bowl of this in the middle of winter, is like a soft summer breeze. 

    More Easy Pasta Recipes

    Tomato and Basil Orzo with Ricotta - cooks all in one pan and ready in about 30 minutes! 

    Pasta Puttanesca - no cook pasta sauce means you can have this on the table in the time it takes to boil the pasta! 

    Lobster Fra Diavolo - elegant and fancy, only you will know how easy it is!  A great way to stretch a small amount of lobster! 

    Sweet Potato and Chorizo Pasta - roast the sweet potatoes and the chorizo and toss with the pasta for a delicious pasta dinner! 

    Follow my Pasta Recipes Board on Pinterest for even more pasta recipes! 

    I would love it if you would follow me on Pinterest | Instagram | Facebook

    Bowl of caprese chicken pasta salad.
    Print Pin Save Saved!
    5 from 5 votes

    Caprese Chicken Pasta Salad

    Combine a caprese salad and a chicken pasta salad for an easy and delicious weeknight meal!
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes
    Servings 4
    Calories 730kcal

    Ingredients

    • 14 ounces Rigatoni or your favorite shaped pasta
    • 2 chicken breasts cooked, shredded
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 9 ounces cherry tomatoes halved, or whole tomatoes diced
    • 1 cup basil leaves torn
    • 4 ½ ounces fresh mozzarella cheese torn
    • 1 teaspoon lemon zest finely grated
    • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
    • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • Cook pasta according to directions. Drain. Rinse under cold water.
    • Add the pasta to the bowl with the chicken, garlic, tomatoes, cheese, basil and lemon grass.
    • In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and vinegar and salt and pepper. Pour over the salad.
    • Toss the salad, taste and adjust the seasonings if necessary.

    Notes

    Use whatever shaped pasta you like.  
    In the winter, you can use basil pesto instead of fresh basil.  You won't need as much vinaigrette.  Half the vinaigrette, and stir in the pesto, it makes a basil pesto d 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 730kcal | Carbohydrates: 78g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 346mg | Potassium: 820mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 878IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 208mg | Iron: 3mg

    This was originally published in February 2010 and has been updated for 2019. 

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Freya says

      March 04, 2022 at 1:43 pm

      5 stars
      I used vegan chicken pieces instead of real and it was so yummy and full of flavour!

      Reply
    2. Liz says

      March 02, 2022 at 12:10 pm

      5 stars
      This pasta salad sounds and looks so refreshing! A great salad to make for the spring and summer seasons! Thanks for the share!

      Reply
    3. Tawnie Kroll says

      September 15, 2019 at 7:51 pm

      5 stars
      My new favorite pasta!! Thank you!!

      Reply
    4. Sapana says

      September 15, 2019 at 7:17 pm

      I love quick and easy meals like - perfect for the cooler months ahead!

      Reply
    5. Raia Todd says

      September 15, 2019 at 7:13 pm

      5 stars
      What a delightful pasta salad! Pretty easy and with classically delicious flavors. 🙂

      Reply
    6. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says

      September 15, 2019 at 5:09 pm

      5 stars
      This looks like such a delicious lunch option for midweek! Definitely need to make it for myself!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        September 15, 2019 at 5:17 pm

        You'll have to let me know what you think!

        Reply
    7. Andrea Metlika says

      September 15, 2019 at 3:46 pm

      5 stars
      I love quick, easy, flavorful meals like. I'm making this for Sunday Brunch.

      Reply
    8. The Food Hunter says

      February 23, 2010 at 9:57 pm

      Sounds perfect and looks even more so!

      Reply
    9. Chef Fresco says

      February 20, 2010 at 2:41 am

      I agree about winter- I am also so over it! This dish looks amazing!

      Reply
    10. corinnea says

      February 17, 2010 at 7:52 pm

      If I weren't so tired, I would have made this. I just sat here and imagined I did instead of the waffles I cooked.....

      Reply
    11. Ruth Daniels says

      February 17, 2010 at 12:50 pm

      Great post, thanks for sharing a bit of summer with those of us in the middle of a snow storm here in Halifax.

      And I couldn't agree more...we must be good to ourselves! So we can be good to everyone else.

      Thanks for sharing with Presto Pasta Nights.

      Reply
    12. grace says

      February 16, 2010 at 1:28 pm

      i'm glad you pamper yourself, pam. we all should, and if it means feasting on summer foods in the dead of winter, so be it. 🙂

      Reply
    13. Tangled Noodle says

      February 16, 2010 at 3:45 am

      What a gorgeous plate! Winters here are so long so such tasty reminders that summer will come someday help to make it more pleasant. It's still mid-February, though, so I'll need several servings!

      Reply
    14. Michelle says

      February 16, 2010 at 7:33 am

      OH MY! Does this ever look good! I've not been cooking too many pasta dishes lately and we're having pasta tomorrow night for sure!

      Reply
    15. My Carolina Kitchen says

      February 15, 2010 at 10:56 pm

      I would love to subscribe to the Donna Hay magazine. My husband saw the price on the cover and just about died. When I told him about the price to subscribe, I got a resounding no.

      Lovely pasta salad Pam.
      Sam

      Reply
    16. Cinnamon-Girl♥ says

      February 16, 2010 at 3:02 am

      Right about now is when I start craving dishes like this! I know what you mean about being over it. This looks excellent!

      Reply
    17. All Our Fingers in the Pie says

      February 16, 2010 at 2:56 am

      This looks so good. I am looking for a Texas chili recipe and can't remember who has it? Is it you?

      Reply
    18. Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) says

      February 16, 2010 at 2:34 am

      These are just the flavors I love in summer, especially when I can walk out the front door and pick basil from my garden. It's hard for me to buy herbs in winter; they never quite compare to the summer garden herbs. But for a taste of this salad, I just might have to!

      Reply
    19. Peter M says

      February 16, 2010 at 12:59 am

      Pam, this would also make for a fab pasta salad for a picnic..it has summer written all over it.

      Reply
    20. noble pig says

      February 15, 2010 at 11:51 pm

      Pam...this is money!

      Reply
    21. Mags says

      February 15, 2010 at 11:13 pm

      What a gorgeous looking and summery sounding salad. It's snowing here right now but because of your pasta salad post, I'm going to go put on my bikini and make snow angels.

      (I sometimes tell lies when I suffer from winter depression.)

      Reply
    22. tale of many cities says

      February 15, 2010 at 4:22 pm

      another yummy dish for the recipe file! thanks!! 🙂

      Reply
    23. Chris says

      February 15, 2010 at 2:49 pm

      That does scream spring and summer, doesn't it? Looks great.

      Reply
    24. Tatersmama says

      February 15, 2010 at 7:26 pm

      This sounds delicious! Here in this area of Oz, we're 'supposedly' in summer, but the temps have been pretty darn low lately, and we've been getting lots of rain off and on. This meal would be perfect for those days that it's "just in between' being hot or cold!

      Reply
    25. Kim says

      February 15, 2010 at 2:19 pm

      I make myself happy too! I've been known to hide purchases from my husband :O
      The Donna Hay recipes always look terrific.

      Reply
    26. Marjie says

      February 15, 2010 at 7:14 pm

      It's a fine looking pasta salad, and a great way to use one of those cute little jars of basil!

      Reply
    27. buffalodick says

      February 15, 2010 at 7:10 pm

      That looks refreshing and tasty right now! I make a Pasta salad for a guy that's in a local cook book I contributed to.. It's got everything but Kryptonite in it!

      Reply
    28. Amy says

      February 15, 2010 at 1:31 pm

      So so so over winter. Although, I'm one of the few that could do without it all together. I use my outdoor grill even in sub-zero temps, just to remind me of summer.

      I usually have leftover rotisserie chicken in the frig, so this would be a snap to whip up - anything with cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella has to be good.

      You're certainly making a pretty strong case for purchasing a subscription to Donna Hay.

      Reply
    29. Joanne says

      February 15, 2010 at 1:30 pm

      The tomato mozzarella basil combination brings me back to summer as well. Can we be over this whole winter thing together? It's driving me slightly insane.

      Reply
    30. A Year on the Grill says

      February 15, 2010 at 6:24 pm

      I am so tired of it.. And we all should be warm

      Great salad, great reminder

      Reply
    31. La Table De Nana says

      February 15, 2010 at 12:54 pm

      We enjoy different chicken salads..I now have a new one up my sleeve..Yes..make yourself happy:) It helps in making others happy~Which comes first? Like the chicken and the egg!

      Reply
    32. Mimi says

      February 15, 2010 at 5:32 pm

      Food really allows you to visit other seasons when you have had enough of the current one. Some how, it doesn't work as well for me to visit winter in the summer. Great salad, I just picked up cherry tomatoes at the farmers market.
      Mimi

      Reply
    33. elledee says

      February 15, 2010 at 4:54 pm

      so much yum!

      Reply
    34. shabby girl says

      February 15, 2010 at 3:50 pm

      I'm with you. I want warm, and sun, and cool pasta dishes out on the deck!
      This looks really good! It may just be my next Saturday lunch!

      Reply
    35. Barbara says

      February 15, 2010 at 3:37 pm

      Yummy, Pam. I made something similar the other day but added Parmesan and some black olives. Going to add mozzarella the next time!
      I love doing these pasta salads- you can use up whatever you have left in the fridge. I even had some whole wheat pasta, just to make me feel I was being a good girl!

      Reply
    36. Kat says

      February 15, 2010 at 2:24 pm

      Funny, I had to have a tomato and onion salad yesterday! And beer can chicken..........guess we are ready for Spring, huh?

      Reply
    37. Joy says

      February 15, 2010 at 1:49 pm

      This looks delicious. I will be trying this. I will be growing some basil this summer too. What I tried to root, didn't do very well.

      Reply
    38. George Gaston says

      February 15, 2010 at 1:38 pm

      Pam, this is a perfect pasta dish after all my 'heavy' Valentine's dining! I think while eating it, I can dream of warmer days to come.

      Great recipe, thanks

      Reply
    39. Lea Ann says

      February 15, 2010 at 1:37 pm

      I've had something like this years ago and it was delicious. I don't think I've ever had a recipe so thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    40. hip chick says

      February 15, 2010 at 12:12 pm

      It sounds and looks divine. I'm not sure I can eat it in the winter though. I think it will have to be just a bit warmer for me to really enjoy this. Otherwise, it's just a tease.

      Reply

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