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Easy & Fresh Mozzarella Pasta Salad is light, delicious, and flavorful. This simply dressed salad is a favorite!

My favorite thing about this pasta salad is that it’s lighter, healthier, and filled with veggies. It has a lot of similarities to our Greek Orzo Salad, and our Caprese Pasta Salad recipe which are both some of our favorite pasta salad recipes!

Fresh mozzarella pasta salad served in a white bowl.

LIGHT + DELICIOUS

Spring and summer time means it is time to break out the salads. I love salads all year long, but something about the warm weather makes me crave them ALL. THE. TIME! Are you with me?

It was a few years ago that I fell in love with the flavor combination of fresh mozzarella pearls, fresh basil leaves, and cherry tomatoes (anyone else a Caprese fan?).

Add all of these together with some orzo pasta and you have today’s recipeโ€”mozzarella pasta salad. With just a small handful of fresh ingredients and a light olive oil dressing, this simple pasta salad recipe is both refreshing and delicious.

The salad is perfect for BBQs or potlucks and can be made pretty quickly, making it a keeper.

Cooked Orzo pasta in a white bowl for making mozzarella pasta salad.

Making pasta salad with fresh mozzarella

Pasta salad with fresh mozzarella is so simple and takes just a few steps.

PASTA. Cook pasta according to the directions on the box. Drain and let cool.

COMBINE. Add the pasta tomatoes, basil, and cheese to a large bowl. Mix.

DRESS + SERVE. Season with garlic salt. Add olive oil and gently mix until evenly coated. Right before serving, add the fresh-cut basil to the top and serve.

Variations

I like the simple Caprese-like ingredients we used for this salad, but you can add in other ingredients to create your favorite combination of flavors and textures. Some add-in ideas include:

  • baby spinach, sliced olives, cubed avocado, red onion
  • grilled chicken or salami
  • a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette or balsamic glaze
  • salt and black pepper
  • basil pesto
White bowl filled with orzo pasta, fresh mozzarella, tomoatoes and basil for fresh mozzarella pasta salad.

Recipe Tips

Serving size. The ingredient amounts make a hearty meal for a single person or a lighter meal for two. Double (or even triple) the tomato mozzarella pasta salad recipe so that it can be used as a side dish perfect for a backyard BBQ or picnic. 

Serve this pasta with pretty much anything! Serve it with grilled meat, sandwiches, or wraps. Some of our favorites include:

Storage Info

Make ahead of time. Make Pasta Salad with Mozzarella Balls ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the fridge.

STORE leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Add a bit of olive oil to freshen it up if needed.

Fresh mozzarella pasta salad served in a white bowl.

Recipe FAQ

Is orzo a pasta or a rice?

Orzo pasta looks like rice, but it is pasta and will need to be cooked like any other type of pasta. Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the pasta. Boil for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally (see the package for precise instructions). Drain, rinse, and let it cool before tossing it with the other salad ingredients.

What can I substitute for mozzarella balls?

It is a little more expensive, but fresh mozzarella balls (or pearls) really are the best for this recipe! If you can’t find those, I recommend cubing a block of fresh mozzarella. If that’s not an option either, you can cut up mozzarella cheese sticks.

For More tasty pasta salads, try:

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5 from 11 votes

Mozzarella Pasta Salad Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
Easy & Fresh Mozzarella Pasta Salad is light, delicious, and flavorful. This simply dressed salad is a favorite!!
Servings: 1 person
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup orzo pasta uncooked
  • 6 oz fresh mozzarella cheese balls
  • 1/2 cup cherry/grape tomatoes halved
  • garlic salt (with parsley flakes) to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 cup basil fresh, chopped

Instructions 

  • Cook pasta according to the directions on the box. Drain and let cool.
  • Add the pasta tomatoes, basil, and cheese to a large bowl. Mix
  • Season with garlic salt. Add olive oil and gently mix until evenly coated.
  • Right before serving, add the fresh cut basil to the top and serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g, Calories: 1270kcal, Carbohydrates: 116g, Protein: 61g, Fat: 65g, Saturated Fat: 18g, Cholesterol: 81mg, Sodium: 176mg, Potassium: 628mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 1350IU, Vitamin C: 18.1mg, Calcium: 864mg, Iron: 2.5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Recipe adapted from allrecipes.

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and Iโ€™m the mom of SIX stinkinโ€™ cute kids and the wife to my smokinโ€™ hot hubby, Lo. My momโ€™s maiden name is Luna, and Iโ€™m one of the many crafty โ€œLilโ€™ Lunasโ€ in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

So Easy & So Yummy

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5 from 11 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Recipe Rating




18 Comments

  1. Larry says:

    Hi…Can I cut mozzarella string cheese into small pieces in place of cheese balls?

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      I’m sure you could. The texture of the two are different, but I imagine that would work still. You’ll have to let us know how it turns out if you do!

  2. Kristina says:

    5 stars
    Ive never used orzo pasta until this recipe. It worked well. The salad was light and bright. Ill defitly keep this recipe to make again.

  3. Olivia says:

    5 stars
    A light delicious salad for any occasion!

  4. Katie says:

    5 stars
    I love bringing this to potlucks; it’s always a hit! We also love it as a light lunch!