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5.0 from 9 votes

Pesto Pasta Salad

This pesto pasta recipe is an easy and delicious recipe. Packed with basil flavor, it's tasty cold or warm and perfect as the main dish or as a side dish. Bring a bowl to your next BBQ or pack it in a lunchbox for a fast lunch.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
14 mins
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 422 kcal
Course: Side Dish , Dinner
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces pasta I used fuseilli but any short shape works
  • 3/4 cup basil pesto sauce 6.7 ounces is about 3/4 cup
  • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese balls can also cube block mozzarella cheese, or cut up string cheese
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes
  • Parmesan Cheese optional
  • fresh basil optional, I add when I have

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Cook the pasta in boiling water according to the package, this should be about 9-11 minutes depending on the shape of pasta you choose I save about 1/2 cup of the pasta water to the side in case I need a little to thin the pesto sauce before draining the pasta, especially when trying a new brand of pesto for the first time.
  2. Drain the pasta well, then place in a large mixing bowl.
  3. Slice the cherry tomatoes into halves and add to the pasta. Drain mozzarella well and add to the bowl also. Mix well!
  4. Add the pesto to the pasta while the pasta is still warm and mix well so it coats the pasta, mozzarella and tomatoes evenly. If your sauce feels too thick (depending on the brand) see the notes for how to adjust.
  5. Serve warm or cold, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and fresh basil if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

  • A squeeze of lemon juice can brighten up pesto and make it extra delicious.
  • Cook pasta until al dente which means it's cooked through but is still firm.
  • Feel free to swap other veggies in and out. I"ve used raw chopped red bell pepper, raw zucchini, and grilled asparagus and it is all equally delicious.
  • If you prefer a thinner sauce, reserve a 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. After you add the pesto to the pasta, add the starchy water a little at a time to the pasta until it is your desired smoothness. The starchy water works much better than regular water, but the amount of pasta water can vary from 1/4- 1/2 cup depending on the brand of pesto.
  • Substitute cubes of mozzarella or string cheese cut into pieces easily for the fresh mozzarella cheese. I swap out different cheeses all the time.
  • Depending on the pesto sauce, you may also want to add a little salt and pepper to taste.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1g Calories 422kcal (21%) Carbohydrates 46g (15%) Protein 16g (32%) Fat 20g (31%) Saturated Fat 6g (30%) Polyunsaturated Fat 12g Cholesterol 25mg (8%) Sodium 292mg (12%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 2g (4%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8Servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 422

% Daily Value*

Serving 1g
Calories 422kcal 21%
Carbohydrates 46g 15%
Protein 16g 32%
Fat 20g 31%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Polyunsaturated Fat 12g 71%
Cholesterol 25mg 8%
Sodium 292mg 12%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 2g 4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.