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Easy Pesto Pasta Salad

4.29
/5
25 minutes mins
33 Comments
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By: Lalaine ManaloPosted: 02/26/2017Updated: 06/29/2019
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Pesto Pasta Salad with al dente pasta, bocconcini, and juicy cherry tomatoes tossed in a rich pesto sauce. It’s a light yet satisfying delicious lunch meal that’s sure to please the crowd!

Pesto Pasta Salad with al dente pasta, bocconcini, and juicy cherry tomatoes tossed in a rich pesto sauce--a perfect summer lunch for one or a crowd!

Have I told you I love pesto? I love that it is so quick and easy to make, just a handful of ingredients, a few whirls in the food processor and you have a batch that stores well for days in the refrigerator and complements most dishes. I love it drizzled over baked fish, on rice and of course, this pesto pasta salad.

Dinner can’t get any easier than this, you guys! I made my own pesto sauce because, you know, I like punishing myself with more work, but you can very well pick up a jar of your trusted brand and have this pasta dish ready in a pinch.

Pesto pasta salad with al dente pasta, bocconcini, and juicy cherry tomatoes is delicious with this special pesto recipe.

This pesto pasta is pretty flexible, feel free to add more or less of the pesto sauce, fresh mozzarella, or cherry tomatoes according to your taste. I love how the sauce gets into every crook and cranny of the fusilli but you can swap your favorite noodle. The recipe can be easily doubled and leftovers keep well in the fridge and are just as awesome next day for packed lunches to work. Enjoy!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @OnionRingsAndThings on Facebook and Instagram!

4.29 from 14 votes

Pesto Pasta Salad

Pesto Pasta Salad with al dente pasta, bocconcini, and juicy cherry tomatoes tossed in a rich pesto sauce. This pasta salad is a satisfying delicious lunch that's sure to please the crowd!
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 15 minutes mins
Total Time: 25 minutes mins
Author: Lalaine Manalo
Course: Pasta
Print Pin It Email Recipe
8 Servings

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces uncooked rotini pasta
  • 1 cup mini boconccini (fresh mozzarella balls)
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes
  • Parmesan cheese

For the Pesto Sauce (about 1 cup)

  • 1/4 cup pine nuts
  • 1 bunch fresh basil leaves
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly-ground pepper

Instructions

  • In a pot over medium heat, bring about  4 quarts salted water to a rolling boil. Add penne and cook according to package directions for about 11 to 13 minutes or until firm to bite. 
  • Remove from heat. Rinse with cold water and drain well.
  • In a food processor, combine pine nuts, basil, parmesan cheese, olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, and pepper until smooth.
  • In a serving bowl, combine cooked pasta, boconccini, cherry tomatoes, and pesto sauce. Stir well to combine. Garnish with more Parmesan cheese, if desired.
  • Refrigerate to chill and allow flavors to meld. Serve cold.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 214g, Calories: 257kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 13mg, Sodium: 140mg, Potassium: 153mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 200IU, Vitamin C: 6.6mg, Calcium: 120mg, Iron: 0.9mg

“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”

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Pesto Pasta Salad with al dente pasta, bocconcini, and juicy cherry tomatoes tossed in a rich pesto sauce. It's a light yet satisfying delicious lunch meal that's sure to please the crowd!
Pesto Pasta Salad with al dente pasta, bocconcini, and juicy cherry tomatoes tossed in a rich pesto sauce. It's a light yet satisfying delicious lunch meal that's sure to please the crowd!

First Published on January, 14, 2013.

 

About Lalaine Manalo

Welcome to Onion Rings and Things where you’ll find hundreds of comfort food recipes, crafts, and printables. Browse around and make something fun or tasty today! Read More

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Bread Pudding with Citrus Caramel Sauce is the perfect use for your day-old french bread loaf. It's crunchy on top yet luscious underneath and slathered with a delicately sweet citrus caramel sauce, it's a quick and simple dessert everyone will love!
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4.29 from 14 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




  1. Peepers says

    Posted on 8/10/17 at 4:16 pm

    Do you actually mean an entire HEAD of garlic??? Other recipes call for just a few cloves of garlic. Even if it serves 8, that’s still a boatload of garlic.

    Reply
  2. Bri says

    Posted on 6/15/17 at 10:27 am

    Is my assumption that you serve this cold correct? Most pasta salads are but I didn’t see anything about making it ahead and or chilling it. Just wondering

    Reply
    • Lalaine says

      Posted on 6/16/17 at 11:57 pm

      Hello Bir,

      Yes, I corrected the recipe to specify that it needs to be chilled 🙂 Thank you.

      Reply
  3. Ashlea says

    Posted on 3/4/17 at 10:20 pm

    This looks yummy. I will have to make this minus the tomatoes.

    Reply
    • Lalaine says

      Posted on 4/10/17 at 3:54 pm

      It would still be yummy with the tomatoes 🙂

      Reply
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