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
- 3/4 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.
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We made this for lunch today. Good decision as it was delicious!!! We added Kalamata olives to it and it added a bunch of extra flavor. Will definitely be making this again!! Thanks for the awesome and simple recipe!
Made this along with brats for dinner. Still not sure how I feel about the cucumbers, they seem kind of out of place, but it was tasty and I will make again.
Made this for a BBQ, and it was a big hit. Used store bought pesto sauce that was highly rated and fresh mozzarella cheese. Used multicolored tomatoes.
Looked great and tasted great!
Just to clarify, is it 3/4 cup of pesto?
How long will this basil pesto salad last in the fridge?