Name: Peach Caprese Pasta Salad
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 12 oz dry pasta ((I used fusilli corti bucati)*); 8 oz mozzarella pearls; 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes (halved); 1 cup chopped basil leaves; 2 ears of corn (shucked & kernels cut off); 2 peaches (pitted & cubed); ¼ cup olive oil; 2 tbsp hot honey; 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar; 1 tsp dijon mustard; 1 garlic clove (grated or finely minced); juice from 1 lemon ((about 2 tbsp)); kosher salt (to taste); red pepper flakes (to taste)

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The next time you’re tasked with bringing a side dish, try this Peach Caprese Pasta Salad! It’s everything you love about caprese salad, but with a summer twist. Each bite features sweet peaches, fresh corn, juicy tomatoes, mozzarella pearls & basil and it all gets tossed in a hot honey vinaigrette. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and spicy, and couldn’t be simpler to make in under 20 minutes!

peach caprese pasta salad in blue patterned bowl with serving spoons

There’s nothing more classic than caprese, but I wanted to give this tried-and-true flavor combo a little twist this summer. Combine that idea with my love for pasta salad and you get this delicious peach caprese pasta salad with hot honey vinaigrette! It’s the perfect summer side dish that you’ll want to bring to every BBQ, cookout or special occasion…but don’t be fooled, this is easy enough to whip up on a weeknight too.

Besides the usual caprese suspects (tomatoes, mozzarella & basil), this pasta salad also incorporates some crisp corn and sweet peaches to really highlight the seasonal goodness. It’s tossed all together with a sweet & slightly spicy hot honey vinaigrette, which balances everything out. Pair this peach caprese pasta salad with some protein on the side and you have an absolutely dreamy summer dinner!

The best part is that you can modify this recipe to fit your dietary needs. Need it to be gluten free? Just use your favorite gluten free pasta! Want to up the protein & fiber a bit more? Use a protein pasta made from chickpeas, or lupini beans. You can also use whatever pasta shape you prefer here — I’ve tried this with both farfalle & fusilli bucati, and both work great. Either way, I can’t wait for you to try this peach caprese pasta salad!

Why You’ll Love this Easy Peach Caprese Pasta Salad

It’s easy to make, with 3 simple steps and under 20 minutes of effort!
This levels up the classic caprese flavors with extra summer produce and a sweet & spicy dressing.
It’s easy to make gluten free by swapping in your favorite gluten free pasta.
This is the perfect summer side dish to feed a crowd!

What You Need to Make this Peach Caprese Pasta Salad

For the Peach Caprese Pasta Salad:

Pasta: You can make this peach caprese pasta salad with normal pasta, protein pasta, gluten free pasta…whatever your heart desires! I prefer the fusilli corti bucati shape (this is the one I used, but they also sell it at Trader Joe’s).
Mozzarella Pearls: The smallest mozzarella balls you can find! If you’re using the larger ciliegine, I definitely recommend slicing them in half.
Cherry Tomatoes: Or grape tomatoes, halved or quartered depending upon how large they are.
Basil: It’s not caprese without it! You’ll need 1 cup of fresh chopped basil leaves.
Corn: Not a traditional caprese ingredient, but adds a fun summer flare to this pasta salad! No need to cook the corn, just cut the kernels right off the cob for a refreshing crunch.
Peaches: The sweetness of the peaches pairs so well with the hot honey vinaigrette! Try to pick peaches that aren’t too ripe that they become mushy when you dice them.

For the Hot Honey Vinaigrette:

Olive Oil: This is the base of the hot honey vinaigrette. Feel free to substitute avocado oil if you prefer.
Hot Honey: And by this I mean spicy honey, not honey that’s been heated up (lol).
Lemon Juice: To add brightness to this vinaigrette.
Apple Cider Vinegar: I find that the lemon juice alone doesn’t add enough acidity, so for some more tang we’re adding in apple cider vinegar.
Garlic: 1 garlic clove, grated or finely minced, brings the flavor of this dressing to the next level.
Kosher Salt & Red Pepper Flakes: Season to taste, depending on your spice tolerance.

ingredients for peach caprese pasta salad — Note: this photo was taken during an earlier test round of the recipe, in which I used a different pasta shape

How To Make This Peach Caprese Pasta Salad with Hot Honey Vinaigrette

Cook Pasta According to Package Instructions:

First, cook pasta in heavily salted water according to package instructions. Once done, drain & rinse with cold water to stop the cooking and cool it down. If your pasta will be sitting for a while before assembling the salad, it’s best to toss it in a light amount of oil to prevent sticking.

Prepare Hot Honey Vinaigrette:

Meanwhile, add all of the hot honey vinaigrette ingredients to a small jar or bowl and shake or stir until combined & emulsified.

Toss Pasta Salad with Vinaigrette & Enjoy:

Finally, add cooked & cooled pasta along with the remaining ingredients to a large salad bowl. Pour hot honey vinaigrette over top & toss to combine. Taste and adjust the amount of kosher salt, black pepper & red pepper flakes to taste. Enjoy!

chopped ingredients on cutting board for peach caprese pasta salad

What Should I Serve With This?

This Peach Caprese Pasta Salad is a fabulous summer side dish, and can be elevated into a full meal by serving it alongside your favorite protein. The flavors in this dish pair really well with some balsamic chicken (either pan-seared or grilled) and you can steal the marinade from this recipe! Another idea is to pair this pasta salad with some crispy chicken cutlets…see this recipe for inspo.

Substitution FAQs:

Can I make this gluten free? This peach caprese pasta salad can very easily be made gluten free by substituting your favorite gluten free pasta (I like Banza or Jovial).
Can I use canned corn or frozen corn instead of fresh? For sure! It won’t have that same fresh snap that raw corn kernels have, but it will still work. For canned, be sure to drain & rinse first, and for frozen, be sure it’s been thawed & then cooled down.
How spicy is this? What if I don’t have hot honey? Hot honey is pretty mild, and this pasta salad is only as spicy as you want to make it — therefore adjust the red pepper flakes to your taste. You can also substitute normal honey if you don’t have or like hot honey.
Can I use nectarines instead of peaches? Absolutely! Nectarines have a slightly firmer texture and smooth skin compared to peaches, but they work just as well in this recipe.

peach caprese pasta salad in blue patterned bowl before tossing

How Should I Store Leftovers?

This Peach Caprese Pasta Salad stores great as leftovers! Just transfer it to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The pasta may absorb some of the dressing as it sits, so feel free to hit it with some extra oil & ACV when you’re ready to eat the leftovers!

Find the full recipe below. As always, please let me know if you tried it by commenting below or tagging me on Instagram, @munchinwithmaddie_.

Looking for More Pasta Salad Recipes?

Peach Caprese Pasta Salad

The next time you're tasked with bringing a side dish, try this Peach Caprese Pasta Salad! It's everything you love about caprese salad, but with a summer twist. Each bite features sweet peaches, fresh corn, juicy tomatoes, mozzarella pearls & basil and it all gets tossed in a hot honey vinaigrette. It's the perfect balance of sweet and spicy, and couldn't be simpler to make in under 20 minutes!

Servings side servings

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Total Time 20

Equipment

large pot
colander
large salad bowl + tongs
small bowl or jar
cutting board
knife