This easy Pesto Pasta Salad requires 6 simple ingredients and just a few minutes to prepare, made with pesto, tomatoes, mozzarella and any bite-size noodles.
Pasta salads can be served as a main dish with a side of grilled corn on the cob and fresh fruit, or as side dish served with something off the grill, like my favorite Marinated Chicken.
If you’re looking for a super fast and easy summer side dish that’s packed with flavor, this one is for you! I love adding homemade basil pesto to this recipe but it’s delicious with a high quality store-bought pesto too, and you can add the pesto straight from the jar.
Ingredients needed:
- Pasta: I use farfalle but any bite-size noodles will work.
- Tomatoes: any chopped fresh tomatoes, or cherry tomatoes.
- Cucumber: I prefer English cucumbers or mini cucumbers.
- Fresh Mozzarella, cut into chunks.
- Pesto: Homemade or store-bought.
- Parmesan cheese: freshly grated.
How to Make Pesto Pasta Salad:
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Add pasta to a large bowl and stir in pesto.
- Add tomatoes, cucumber and fresh mozzarella cubes and toss to combine. Top with parmesan cheese.
Serve Pasta Salad with:
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Recipe
Pesto Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 ounces farfalle pasta , whole wheat or white
- ¾ - 1 cup basil pesto , homemade or store bought
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes , halved (I use half red and half yellow)
- 2 mini cucumbers , sliced
- 3 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese , cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Add pasta to a large bowl and stir in pesto.
- Add tomatoes, cucumber and fresh mozzarella cubes and toss to combine. Top with parmesan cheese. Garnish with fresh cracked pepper, if desired.
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe May 2016. Updated May 2020 with new photos and improved instructions.
Hi, can I use feta or goat cheese ? Thanks
Yes, that will work great!
some kinda delicious !!!
Everything in this recipe is delicious so I don’t know how it could possibly be anything but delicious! I’d probably add extra tomatoes simply because I love them.
Do you make the pesto or was it store bought? If store bought, what brand?
I typically buy it. I like barilla 🙂
Hey Lauren! Would you change anything if you were making it a day ahead? Planning on making this for Father’s Day, so excited!
I would wait to add the pesto until just before eating. Enjoy!
Grandchildren loved them. A big hit!
Haven’t made this yet, but was attracted by the photo which seems to show small cucumber or zucchini slices, though neither was mentioned among the ingredients. Are there other ingredients that may have been deleted, as well?
Hi Laurie, thanks for catching that! I’ve fixed the recipe.
It lists 2 small cucumbers in the ingredients
Love this!