A flavor packed Pesto Pasta Salad with tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, mozzarella and toasted pine nuts. This delectable salad is the perfect summer salad for grilled chicken, fish, or steak. I love to make this with my homemade pesto sauce but for speed and ease store bought will work as well.
We are always up for a good pasta salad especially during the hot summer months when a nice cool pasta salad is always appreciated. This pasta salad. Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad, Tuna Pasta Salad, and Taco Pasta Salad are just a few of our favorites.
How to make Pesto Pasta Salad
Start by cooking your pasta slightly al dente and drain well. Then in a large bowl combine the pasta, tomatoes, red onions, mozzarella balls, cucumbers, and pesto sauce. Stir gently to combine. Toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for a few minutes stirring frequently. Finally sprinkle the toasted pine nuts on the top of the pasta salad.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- Cook the pasta slightly al dente. All dente is where the pasta is a little chewy and a little firm. This is always the best way to cook pasta for pasta salad.
- Fresh homemade pesto sauce is so flavorful. If you have the time and energy it is well worth the effort.
- Mozzarella balls are available in the fresh cheese case at most grocery stores. You can substitute cubes or even shredded mozzarella if that is all that is available.
- I like to use English cucumbers in this salad but garden cucumbers will work too.
- Use any kind of sun-ripened tomatoes including grape, cherry, or any kind of garden or hot house tomato. Just chop in bite size pieces to complement the salad.
What pasta is best for Pesto Pasta Salad
I like to use fusilli pasta but other good choices are farfalle, penne, rotini, and corkscrew. Just make sure to cook it slightly al dente and to drain it very well.
Other salad recipes you will love!
Pesto Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fusilli pasta
- 1 1/2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes sliced in half
- 1 1/2 cups sliced English cucumber
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella balls
- 1/3 cup chopped red onion
- 1 cup fresh pesto sauce or store bought
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions (slightly al dente) and drain well.
- In a large bowl combine the pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, mozzarella balls, red onion, and pesto sauce. Stir gently to combine.
- Add the pine nuts to a dry skillet over medium heat. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown stirring very frequently. Sprinkle the toasted pine nuts on the top of the pasta salad.
Notes
- Cook the pasta slightly al dente. All dente is where the pasta is a little chewy and a little firm. This is always the best way to cook pasta for pasta salad.
- Fresh homemade pesto sauce is so flavorful. If you have the time and energy it is well worth the effort.
- Mozzarella balls are available in the fresh cheese case at most grocery stores. You can substitute cubes or even shredded mozzarella if that is all that is available.
- I like to use English cucumbers in this salad but garden cucumbers will work too.
- Use any kind of sun-ripened tomatoes including grape, cherry, or any kind of garden or hot house tomato. Just chop in bite size pieces to complement the salad.
Nutrition
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Caroline
This for me can be more than just a salad. 15 minutes for preparation is so good for something quick when you have no time to cook.
Ntensibe Edgar
Nnnnniiiiiiccccceeeeeeee….with the way I am over-looking at the feature photo, this could turn out to be more than a salad to me. It could become a whole meal itself. I love it all. Thanks for sharing your recipe on it.
Cinny
I actually have all of the ingredients at home. So I think that’s a great option for supper tonight!
Thena Franssen
What a fun twist on pasta salad! This is going on my holiday table this year and I think it’ll be a hit!
Rosey
Oh man, that looks good. I actually love a good pesto but have never used it in a salad type of situation. How clever!
Samantha
Yum, this looks so good. I used to love pesto pasta but have’t had it in awhile, perfect timing to come across this recipe!
Heather Castillo
Pesto and pasta are two of my favorite flavors together. I can’t wait to try this!
Joyce Myers
Looking for the recipe for the pesto this salad looks very good would rather make the pesto instead of purchasing it at the store
Beth Pierce
Here you go! Fresh Pesto Sauce
Claire
I love pesto! I can’t wait to give this a try!
Krystle
I used your homemade pesto in this and it was amazing. Love the mozzarella balls!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
This Pesto Pasta Salad is such a delicious looking meal! Love it!
Catalina
This pesto pasta salad has all the ingredients that I love. It’s so fresh!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate
Oooo! This is such a great idea! I love pesto — why haven’t I thought of this before?! Yum!
Natasha
Wow, what a delicious and tasty peso pasta salad recipe! Tried it and everyone loved how it tasted. Thank you for sharing another epic recipe!
Melissa
Great dish – my family really enjoyed it as well!
Kara
Oh my goodness, this was so delicious! I don’t know why I haven’t thought to add fresh mozzarella balls to pasta salad before. The combination of the cheese, fresh tomatoes, and peso is out of this world!