Pesto pasta salad is a classic summer dish that's perfect for picnics, potlucks, or backyard barbecues. It's made with fresh ingredients like basil pesto, bowtie pasta, tomatoes, and cheese, and can be served warm or cold.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Combining bowtie pasta tossed with creamy pesto sauce and crisp vegetables, this vibrant salad results in an irresistible flavor sensation. This pasta pesto salad is perfect for outdoor entertaining.
- Easy. Boil and cooling pasta is the hardest part!
- Fresh. Great for summer as the dressing isn't a mayonnaise based dressing you have to worry about sitting out in the heat.
- Versatile. You're not limited to tomatoes. You can add diced zucchini and other fresh summer garden vegetables! You can serve this cold pasta pesto salad warm also, just simply toss right after draining the hot pasta.
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Pesto Pasta Salad Ingredients
- How to Make Pesto Pasta Salad
- Serving Suggestions
- Related Recipes
- Substitution and Variations
- Equipment
- Storage and Reheating
- Tips for Success
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Food Safety
- Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
- 📖 Recipe
- Connect with Smells Like Delish!
Pesto Pasta Salad Ingredients
Use our Thai Basil Pesto recipe or if you're in a hurry, you can use any store bought pesto sauce. Thai Basil Pesto is available at most Asian grocery store, and it's just a little spicier than regular garden variety basil. It's amazing in this salad!
PRO TIP: This salad is summer proof, in the sense that there's no mayonnaise in it, and it's a perfect picnic food! For more recipes for a picnic, see our 21 Fuss Free Picnic Finger Foods.
- Farfalle (Bowtie) pasta - Or your favorite pasta shape.
- Pesto Sauce - Homemade or store bought.
- Cherry tomatoes
- Parmesan cheese - Grated.
- Black pepper - Fresh grated.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Pesto Pasta Salad
- Prepare the pasta following the package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water when the pasta is al dente in firmness.
Prepare Pasta Salad
- After the pasta has cooled, add the pesto sauce, grated Parmesan cheese, tomatoes, and black pepper all to a large bowl.
Combine and Serve
- For cold pasta pesto salad mix all the ingredients until the bowtie pasta is coated with pesto sauce.
- Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
PRO TIP: If you want to serve this as a warm pesto pasta salad, toss the pesto and tomatoes until well blended. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese very last, so that it doesn't get melted.
Serving Suggestions
Looking for a new pasta salad recipe to spice up your at-home lunch or outdoor grilling routine? Look no further than this delicious Bowtie Pesto Pasta Salad!
This easy and flavorful salad requires just a few simple ingredients, 20 minutes, and can be served warm or cold. You can switch it up all with all kinds of summer vegetables, different types of pesto sauce, and it's perfect at a summer barbecue.
Some other side dishes that would go well with this cold pasta pesto salad include:.
- Broiled Chicken Thighs
- Lamb Kofta Wraps
- Broiled Swordfish Kabobs
- Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
- Grilled Chicken Legs
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Related Recipes
Substitution and Variations
Here are a few delicious variations using this pesto pasta salad recipe as a base:
- You can substitute other types of pasta for the bowtie pasta, such as penne, rotini, or spaghetti.
- Try different types of pesto, such as sun-dried tomato pesto or roasted red pepper pesto.
- Feta crumbles are a delicious alternative to the Parmesan also!
- Add leftover grilled chicken or shrimp to the salad for a heartier meal.
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite pieces of equipment that I use when making this pesto pasta salad recipe.
Storage and Reheating
This pesto pasta salad recipe can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. With the tomatoes, it's not really suited to freezing.
Tips for Success
- Use fresh basil pesto for the best flavor if making our Thai Basil Pesto recipe (you can use ANY variety of fresh basil too!).
- Don't overcook the pasta. It should be al dente.
- Add the tomatoes and cheese just before serving so they don't get soggy.
- Serve the salad warm or cold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes absolutely, and I do sometimes also! You can use store-bought pesto, but it is best to use fresh pesto for the best flavor.
Yes, you can make this salad ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Food Safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
- Wash hands after touching raw meat.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
📖 Recipe
Bowtie Pesto Pasta Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 oz Farfalle (bowtie pasta) cooked according to package instructions
- 1½ cup pesto sauce homemade or store bought
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon black pepper fresh cracked
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta following the package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water when the pasta is al dente in firmness.16 oz Farfalle (bowtie pasta)
- After the pasta has cooled, add the pesto sauce, grated Parmesan cheese, tomatoes, and black pepper all to a large bowl.1½ cup pesto sauce, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, ½ cup Parmesan cheese, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- For cold pasta pesto salad mix all the ingredients until the bowtie pasta is coated with pesto sauce.
- Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- PRO TIP: If you want to serve this as a warm pasta pesto salad, toss the pesto and tomatoes until well blended. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese very last, so that it doesn't get melted.
Notes
- Use fresh basil pesto for the best flavor if making our Thai Basil Pesto recipe (you can use ANY variety of fresh basil too!).
- Don't overcook the pasta. It should be al dente.
- Add the tomatoes and cheese just before serving so they don't get soggy.
- Serve the salad warm or cold.
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