Caprese Orzo Salad is a light and fresh pasta salad made with mozzarella pearls, cherry tomatoes, and balsamic vinegar. An easy and delicious side dish for any barbecue or party!

We love caprese. Caprese salad is an Italian salad made with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. The flavors are so fresh! This version is made with orzo, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a few simple spices. And if you love all things Caprese, make sure to try these Caprese pops at your next party!

What is Orzo?

Orzo is a small, rice-shaped pasta that goes perfectly in cold salads, soups, and other side dishes. Orzo is higher in protein and fiber than rice, making it more filling as well! You can find Orzo in the pasta aisle near all of the other types of pasta.

Pasta salad made with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS COLD PASTA SALAD RECIPE!

Full and delicious meal. This recipe is packed with ingredients that are healthy, and delicious and will not leave you hungry. Each ingredient provides flavor and health benefits, this makes for a fantastic meal plan for your busy week. I often add shredded Rotisserie chicken to the salad to make it more of a main dish than a side salad. It’s delicious!
Low-cost recipe. If you want to not only save time but also money, this dish is a great option. The simple ingredients are inexpensive but satisfying, you will save a ton of money and feed a lot of people.
So easy to prepare. It is an inexpensive and easy dish to make during a busy weeknight or on the weekend to enjoy at a backyard BBQ.

Ingredients in Caprese Orzo Salad

Orzo pasta – If you’ve never used Orzo pasta before, you’re going to love it! It looks like rice, but it’s actually pasta and cooks just like all other types of pasta. Cook according to package directions and rinse with cold water before adding to the other ingredients.

Mozzarella pearls – I love using mozzarella pearls in the recipe – the balls of mozzarella are wonderful and so easy to use! You can also use shredded mozzarella if you prefer. In a pinch, I’ve used sliced string cheese and it works great too!

Cherry tomatoes – You can chop up regular tomatoes if that’s what you have on hand, but cherry tomatoes work best. I like to slice them in half, but you can place them in whole or cut them into smaller pieces if you’d like.

Basil – You will need to finely chop about ¼ cup of basil. You can use dried basil in a pinch, but fresh basil is so much better in this recipe!

Olive oil – The base for the salad “dressing” is olive oil. There really isn’t a great swap for this, so don’t try to use something else!

Balsamic vinegar – A little bit of balsamic vinegar adds the perfect flavor to the salad dressing.

Salt, pepper, and garlic powder – These three seasonings add a great amount of flavor. Feel free to add a little more of any of these according to taste. A little extra garlic is always a good idea!

How to make Caprese Orzo Salad

Cook the orzo pasta according to package instructions (approximately 7-10 minutes).

Drain the pasta and run under cold water. Set aside and allow to cool.

Salad dressing made with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

In a small mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

Caprese salad made with orzo and balsamic vinegar dressing.

In a large mixing bowl, add the orzo, mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and dressing mixture.

Using a large spoon, mix until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve. The salad is fantastic when served at room temperature or chilled. Leftovers can be stored for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.