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    Home > American Recipes

    Published: Jun 19, 2018 · Modified: Feb 13, 2020 by Denise Browning · "This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission." · 3 Comments

    6-Ingredient Rainbow Bacon Caprese Pasta Salad


    Jump to Recipe ↓

    6-Ingredient Rainbow Bacon Caprese Pasta Salad is a quick, complete dish that can be served by itself or as a side for bbq and grilled meats. It can be conveniently transported anywhere you go. 

    Summer is driving me crazy. The soaring temps have driven me to adopt a daily "cold menu":  frozen yogurt, chilled beverages, fruits, veggies, cold cuts of meats, and refreshing chilled dishes such as this Bacon Caprese Pasta Salad.

    a bowl of Caprese pasta salad

    The advantage of this pasta salad is its versatility. It's a complete dish that can be served either by itself or a side for bbq and grilled meats, either chilled or warm. It can also be transported in cups or mason jars wherever you go.

    It's colorful, hearty, and quite simple to make... requiring only 6 ingredients. If you are on a gluten-free diet, this is also for you -- just use any GF pasta of your choice.

    I made this dish with a colorful/rainbow pasta that I had the pleasure of finding in one of my favorite stores. I thought it would be fun for the kids, and also would encourage them to give it a try, despite the fact that there are tomatoes in it. 🙂

    If you aren't opposed to tomatoes like my kids are, you will have no excuse for not trying this dish. Hehe!

    Two bowls of bacon caprese pasta salad on a table

     

    How to Make Bacon Caprese Pasta Salad

    Cook the pasta of your choice in salted boiling water according to the instructions in the package. Drain!

    Place pasta in a large bowl and mix with chopped cooked turkey bacon, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella pearls, basil leaves, and balsamic dressing. If you are vegetarian, just omit the bacon.

    Two combined images showing how to make bacon caprese pasta salad

    Cover and refrigerate. Easy peasy! If you would like to make the dressing from scratch, simply whisk olive oil with fresh lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper until homogeneous and thickened.

    I am telling you, it is one of the simplest yet most satisfying meals ever. It is like a casserole without the work usually required for making one. Well, enjoy our chilled Rainbow Pasta Salad and stay cool!

    Other Salad Recipes to Try:

    Kale pasta salad

    Eggplant salad 

    Vegan raw salad 

    Brazilian potato salad

    Keto deviled egg cauliflower salad

    Spring potato salad

    Sausage potato salad jars

    Feijoada salad

    Heart of palm salad skewers

    Brazilian chicken salad (salpicao de frango)

    Shrimp couscous salad

     

    PIN & ENJOY!

    Close up image of bacon caprese pasta salad to save to Pinterest

    a bowl of Caprese pasta salad
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    5 from 1 vote

    Bacon Caprese Pasta Salad

    6-Ingredient Rainbow Bacon Caprese Pasta Salad is a quick complete dish that can be served by itself or as a side for bbq and grilled meats. It can be conveniently transported anywhere you go. 
    Course:Salad
    Cuisine:American
    Keywords:bacon, Caprese, pasta, salad
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes
    Servings 8 people
    Calories507 kcal
    Author Denise Browning

    Ingredients

    • 500 grams bow tie pasta I used Livera Pasta Italiana (Farfalle 6 Colors)
    • 10 cooked turkey bacon strips, chopped
    • 15 cherry tomatoes, halved
    • 500 grams fresh mozzarella pearls
    • 12 fresh basil leaves, chopped
    • ⅓-1/2 cup balsamic dressing

    Instructions

    • Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to the instructions in the package. Drain!
    • Place pasta in a large bowl and mix with turkey bacon, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella pearls, basil leaves, and balsamic dressing. If you are vegetarian, just omit the bacon.
    • Cover and refrigerate. 
    • Serves 4 (main dish) up to 8 (side dish).   

    Recipe Notes

    If you would like to make the balsamic dressing from scratch, simply whisk ⅓ cup olive oil with the juice of 2 juicy lemons  and 3 tablespoon balsamic vinegar plus a pinch of salt and pepper until mixture is homogeneous and thickened.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 507kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 451mg | Potassium: 277mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 190IU | Vitamin C: 7.3mg | Calcium: 241mg | Iron: 1.4mg

    ** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.

    Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.

    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Comment and rate the recipe. Also follow us on Pinterest at @easyanddelish for more delish recipes.

    « 5-Ingredient Smoked Salmon Bites
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    Filed Under: American Recipes, Easy Dinner Recipes, Easy Side Dishes, Quick & Easy Recipes Tagged With: (Bacon), Caprese, pasta salad, Rainbow

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. John / Kitchen Riffs says

      June 20, 2018 at 9:18 am

      Love dishes like this! So summery. And with bacon? Yes, please. 🙂

      Reply
    2. Deb|EastofEdenCooking says

      June 21, 2018 at 3:28 pm

      Oh my! Fast, fresh and flavorful, just the summer recipe we crave!

      Reply
    3. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

      July 09, 2018 at 9:04 am

      You are right, it is a meal unto itself. Tell me, did the kids pick out the tomatoes?

      Reply

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