Pesto Pasta Salad
User Reviews
5
Pesto Pasta Salad
Description
Pesto Pasta Salad incorporates cooked and cooled short pasta such as penne or rotini with canned white kidney beans (or great northern beans), halved grape or cherry tomatoes, sliced kalamata olives, and shredded Parmesan cheese. The dressing blends pesto sauce with Italian salad dressing, coating the ingredients evenly for a flavorful, herbaceous profile.
Toasted pine nuts sprinkled just before serving provide a contrasting crunch and nutty notes. The salad is best chilled after assembling to allow flavors to meld and can be prepared up to 24 hours ahead. It offers a mixture of textures from tender pasta, creamy beans, juicy tomatoes, and salty olives.
This versatile salad works well as a side dish or light meal and can be customized with additions like grilled chicken, different beans, or fresh mozzarella as noted. Making homemade pesto is recommended when possible to enhance freshness and depth in the dressing.
Ingredients
- 8 oz dried pasta use a short pasta such as penne, rotini, macaroni or something similar
- 15 oz white kidney beans drained and rinsed, or great northern beans, canned
- ½ cup pesto sauce homemade or store bought
- 1 cup grape tomato halved, or cherry tomato
- ¼ cup Italian salad dressing
- ¼ cup kalamata olives sliced
- ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese shredded
- ¼ cup pine nuts toasted
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water.
- Meanwhile in a large bowl combine the pesto, Italian dressing, beans, tomatoes, olives, and cheese. Stir in pasta.
- Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Top with toasted pine nuts just before serving.
Notes
- Fresh homemade pesto enhances the flavor more than store-bought alternatives.
- This salad can be made up to 24 hours ahead and chilled, allowing flavors to develop.
- Ingredients are flexible: add grilled chicken, switch beans, use cheese tortellini, or add fresh mozzarella, cucumber, or spinach to customize.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 554 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 554kcal | 28% |
| Carbohydrates | 66g | 22% |
| Protein | 18g | 36% |
| Fat | 25g | 38% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 8mg | 3% |
| Sodium | 942mg | 39% |
| Potassium | 558mg | 12% |
| Fiber | 9g | 36% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 902IU | 18% |
| Vitamin C | 9mg | 10% |
| Calcium | 174mg | 17% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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