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Home » Pasta » Pesto Pasta Salad

Published: July 28, 2018 Last Modified: March 14, 2019 By Sara 27 Comments

Pesto Pasta Salad

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Pesto Pasta Salad | Italian Pasta Salad | Easy Pasta Salad #pasta #salad #pesto #olives #tomatoes #dinneratthezoo

This pesto pasta salad is pasta with mozzarella cheese, olives, tomatoes and pine nuts, all tossed with fresh basil pesto. An easy side dish that’s perfect for a potluck or picnic.

Pesto pasta salad is a must have for all of your summer gatherings. It’s fresh, flavorful, and the whole thing can be put together in 20 minutes.

Pesto Pasta Salad | Italian Pasta Salad | Easy Pasta Salad #pasta #salad #pesto #olives #tomatoes #dinneratthezoo Pesto Pasta Salad | Italian Pasta Salad | Easy Pasta Salad #pasta #salad #pesto #olives #tomatoes #dinneratthezoo

Pesto pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, olives, mozzarella balls, pine nuts and red onion.

This pesto pasta salad is literally one of the best pasta salads I’ve ever had. That combination of fresh pesto, tender pasta, creamy mozzarella and juicy tomatoes just can’t be beat! This is definitely one of my go-to recipes for summer entertaining.

HOW DO YOU MAKE PESTO PASTA SALAD?

If you’re having a potluck or picnic, this pasta salad is a must-make. Al dente pasta is tossed with fresh mozzarella cheese, kalamata olives, tomatoes, and pine nuts, all tossed with a fresh basil pesto to create the perfect side dish. Your friends and family will be both impressed and satisfied with this delicious salad.

Pasta with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, kalamata olives, parsley and red onion.

For this pesto pasta salad, any short pasta will work. I used cavatappi pasta, but other great choices are penne or rotini. Go for the fresh pesto in the refrigerated section, it has much better and bolder flavor than the shelf stabled jarred pesto. Some of the brands I like are Kirkland (Costco), Rana and Three Bridges. Also, I’ve learned that pine nuts can get expensive quickly, so it’s best to buy just what you need from the bulk bins at the store instead a whole big bag.

Vegetables and corkscrew pasta topped with fresh pesto.

Pesto pasta salad can be made up to 6 hours before you plan on serving it. Like most foods, it’s best if served immediately but will still taste great if it needs to be served later on. If you feel like adding more veggies to your salad, some great additions are artichoke hearts, roasted peppers, or peas. You can also add a boost of protein by including grilled chicken, shrimp or cubed salami.

Pesto pasta salad with tomatoes, olive and fresh mozzarella.

WHAT IS CONSIDERED A SHORT PASTA?

Pasta comes in all shapes and sizes. However, not just any pasta will work for every pasta recipe. Often times, you have to narrow it down to a specific category of pasta. For this recipe, we need short pasta which includes elbow macaroni, farfalle, fusilli, rotini, penne, rigatoni and any other shorter shapes.

WHAT EXACTLY IS PESTO?

Pesto is a mixture of crushed basil, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, garlic, and olive oil. It’s got a strong, bold flavor that works as a great addition to many recipes. Pesto is typically used in Italian dishes such as pasta, pizza or on bruschetta.

A bowl of pesto pasta salad topped with pine nuts and chopped parsley.

I love that this pesto pasta salad is full of tons of great flavors and textures, yet is easy enough to be whipped up at a moment’s notice. My kids love it too, I just omit the red onion when I’m serving this dish to the little ones. The fact that it can be a side or a full meal is a plus for this mama’s busy schedule and I’m sure it will be for yours as well!

MORE PASTA SALAD RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

  • Greek Pasta Salad
  • 60 Pasta Salad Recipes
  • Greek Orzo Salad
  • BLT Pasta Salad
Pesto pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, olives, mozzarella balls, pine nuts and red onion.
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5 from 19 votes

Pesto Pasta Salad

This pesto pasta salad is pasta with mozzarella cheese, olives, tomatoes and pine nuts, all tossed with fresh basil pesto. An easy side dish that's perfect for a potluck or picnic.
Course Salad
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 423kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces corkscrew pasta or any short pasta type
  • 1 cup refrigerated basil pesto
  • 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh mozzarella balls halved
  • 1/2 cup kalamata olives pitted and halved
  • 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts plus more for garnish
  • 1/4 cup diced red onion
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley plus more for garnish

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta in salted water according to package directions.
  • Drain the pasta and run cold water over the pasta to cool it down.
  • Place the pasta in a large bowl along with the cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, olives, pine nuts, red onion and parsley.
  • Pour the pesto over the top and toss to coat evenly.
  • Serve, topped with additional pine nuts and parsley for garnish.

Notes

Pasta salad can be prepared up to 6 hours in advance and stored in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 423kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 586mg | Potassium: 241mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1060IU | Vitamin C: 8.5mg | Calcium: 178mg | Iron: 1.6mg
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Filed Under: Pasta, Salads

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    Comments

    1. Bea says

      May 18, 2019 at 3:32 pm

      5 stars
      I just love this recipe! Flavors were so good! I like all the goodies in the pasta too!

      Reply
    2. Isabel says

      May 18, 2019 at 11:48 am

      But how do you toast the pine nuts?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        May 19, 2019 at 7:51 am

        Cook in a dry pan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or until lightly browned.

        Reply
    3. Debbie says

      August 5, 2018 at 8:16 pm

      5 stars
      I would make this a main course! I love all pesto pastas!

      Reply
      • Leigh says

        April 15, 2020 at 5:11 pm

        5 stars
        SAME HERE!!

        Reply
    4. Glenda Cates says

      August 1, 2018 at 4:42 pm

      5 stars
      We will b putting together a dinner for the teachers in my sons school and I believe this would make a wonderful addition and something no, one else would make.

      Reply
    5. Terri Beavers says

      August 1, 2018 at 3:54 pm

      5 stars
      This looks so tasty! My husband would love this, I’ll have to surprise him with it one day, thanks for sharing the recipe.

      Reply
    6. Jeanine says

      July 31, 2018 at 2:57 pm

      Wow this looks so good. I am loving the colours. Haven’t had a salad like this before would love to try it out for the fam!

      Reply
    7. Jenn @ EngineerMommy says

      July 31, 2018 at 11:04 am

      This salad has everything I love most: mozzarella, tomatoes, pasta, pesto. I totally need to recreate your recipe at my party this weekend. I bet everyone will love it.

      Reply
    8. Vyjay Rao says

      July 31, 2018 at 10:31 am

      5 stars
      The Pesto Pasta Salad looks really so refreshing. A perfect recipe for the summer months.. A great blend of taste and health too.

      Reply
    9. Chubskulit Rose says

      July 31, 2018 at 4:28 am

      I love pesto pasta but for some reason my family aren’t so crazy about it. This looks absolutely delicious!

      Reply
    10. Lisa Favre says

      July 31, 2018 at 3:53 am

      5 stars
      I have been seeing so much pesto everywhere lately that I am craving it… immediately! I would love to try your Pesto Pasta Salad out so I’ll definitely have to give it a try.

      Reply
    11. Heather says

      July 30, 2018 at 10:00 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my gosh, I love pesto and I love salad so this seems like a win win. I want to try this! It looks and sounds delish!

      Reply
    12. Ricci says

      July 30, 2018 at 9:21 pm

      I love a good pasta salad and this one both sounds and looks amazing! Great post!

      Reply
    13. Lisa Martin says

      July 30, 2018 at 9:11 pm

      With it being so hot I need a fun, easy meal that the kids will eat. Thank you!

      Reply
    14. Carol Cassara says

      July 30, 2018 at 6:28 pm

      5 stars
      I love pesto, it’s one of my favorite sauces and I love the fact that it goes so well with pretty much any recipe! This pasta salad’s perfect for parties during the summer. I think people will really enjoy it. I love the flavors as well. I’m keeping the recipe!

      Reply
    15. wendy says

      July 30, 2018 at 5:27 pm

      5 stars
      I bet this tastes amazing. I could totally make a great GF/DF version of this and my family would enjoy.

      Reply
    16. Amber Myers says

      July 30, 2018 at 12:47 pm

      5 stars
      I need this in my life! This is the perfect pasta salad! I need to make this the next time we grill out.

      Reply
    17. Terri Steffes says

      July 30, 2018 at 9:14 am

      5 stars
      Yum. I would love to serve this to my family and take it to a party. It’s colorful and I know it is flavorful!

      Reply
    18. robin rue says

      July 30, 2018 at 8:26 am

      This sounds so good. I am super excited to make this for the cookout I am hosting this weekend. I think everyone will love it.

      Reply
    19. Jeanette says

      July 30, 2018 at 7:44 am

      What a great mix of flavors. I have never thought about putting pesto in a pasta salad but boy does that is got to taste delicious! I am totally going to try this.

      Reply
    20. Alli Smith says

      July 30, 2018 at 6:51 am

      5 stars
      I absolutely love pesto pasta salad and can’t wait to try your version. It looks so colorful and tasty. Pine nuts always add texture and a nice crunch. It looks so delicious.

      Reply
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