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Nothing says summer like a cold pesto pasta salad! This delicious dish is the perfect side for any outdoor gathering or cookout. It’s made with rotini pasta, a medley of squash, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella balls tossed in a homemade pesto dressing. Not only is it packed with flavor, but it also looks beautiful when served – making it an ideal option for entertaining guests.
A cool, basil pesto pasta salad with homemade pesto dressing
Whether it’s a casual girl’s night or a big party, this pesto pasta salad is sure to be a hit. Made from simple pantry ingredients, it’s easy to throw together and can be prepped ahead of time.
All you have to do is boil some noodles, add the vegetables and cheese, then top it off with the homemade pesto dressing. The result is a colorful plate filled with fresh vegetables and creamy cheese, all tossed in a delicious pesto sauce.
In just under an hour, you’ll have a delicious side salad that will be enjoyed by everyone. Serve it up with your favorite summer dishes, and you’ll have a meal everyone will love!
Ingredients needed
This pesto pasta salad recipe is made in two parts: the salad and the dressing. We’ll start with a veggie-rich salad and will top it off with a delicious combo featuring basil, pine nuts, lemon, and more!
Here’s a bit more about what I used:
- Pasta: For the main base of the salad, grab 12 oz of your favorite dried pasta. I used brown rice fusilli to keep this recipe gluten-free.
- Zucchini: Add one small zucchini for some crunchy texture. This green vegetable is known to have anti-inflammatory properties and is rich in vitamin C.
- Yellow Squash: For a bit of color, add 1 small yellow squash along with the zucchini.
- Cherry Tomatoes: For a burst of sweetness, quarter one pint of cherry tomatoes.
- Mozzarella Balls: One of the best cheeses for pasta salad is mozzarella balls. It’s a great addition to this recipe and will give it some melt-in-your-mouth texture. You’ll need 1.5 cups cut in half.
- Pine Nuts: 1/4 cup of pine nuts add a yummy crunch and texture! You can also use cashews or almonds or a combo of the three. Not only will you need pine nuts for the salad, but you’ll also need 1/4 cup to make the pesto dressing.
- Italian Seasoning: Add 1 tsp of Italian seasoning to the salad. Usually, a medley of Italian seasoning has oregano, parsley, basil, garlic, and pepper. You can also easily make your own!
- Basil: To make the pesto dressing, you’ll need a handful of fresh basil leaves.
- Parmesan Cheese: To add some nutty flavor, you’ll need 1/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese.
- Olive Oil and Vinegar: Add in 1/2 cup of olive oil and two teaspoons of red or white wine vinegar. The oil helps to emulsify the dressing, while the vinegar cuts through any richness and adds a nice zing.
- Lemon: For a tangy flavor, include the juice from 1 lemon.
- Garlic: Add 1 garlic clove. You can throw in extra if preferred!
- Salt and Pepper: A must! Add salt and pepper to taste.
Kitchen tools required
Here’s a bit more information about what I used to make this cold pesto pasta salad.
- Large pot
- Collander
- Cutting board
- Saute pan
- Large bowl
- Immersion blender (you can also use a blender or food processor)
For measuring, you will need a cup, 1/2 cup, 1/4 cup, a teaspoon, and 1/4 teaspoon.
How to make a summer pesto pasta salad
Start put by preparing the pasta as per the instructions on the package. Once it’s done, rinse with cold water and drain. Pour the noodles into a large bowl.
Then, cut zucchini and yellow squash into bite-sized pieces and sauté them on the stove with a small amount of oil, salt, and pepper. Keep stirring occasionally for around 10 minutes or until they become soft.
Add the sauteed zucchini and squash, tomatoes, mozzarella balls, pine nuts, and Italian seasoning. Mix all the ingredients well and keep them aside.
Now it’s time to make the pesto dressing!
Blend all the ingredients using an immersion blender until it is smooth. Once it’s ready, pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables and toss well until everything is coated.
Finally, sprinkle extra pine nuts and parmesan cheese on top.
Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
Below are some common pesto pasta salad questions. Don’t see the answer you’re looking for? Leave a comment at the bottom of this post!
What type of noodle shape is best for pasta salad?
The most popular type of noodle shape for pasta salad is rotini or fusilli. The grooves and curves in each shape are perfect for the dressing to cling to. You can also use bowtie, penne, farfalle, and macaroni noodles–the choice is yours!
Can I use other vegetables in this pasta salad recipe?
Yes, feel free to add in your favorite veggies. Green beans, bell peppers, mushrooms, and more would all make great additions.
What type of protein can I add in?
You can add in cooked chicken, shrimp, smoked salmon, or canned tuna for some extra protein.
Do I have to use mozzarella cheese?
No, any cheese of your choice will work. Some favorites are feta, cheddar, and goat cheese.
Instead of making homemade pesto, can I use storebought?
Storebought pesto works just as well.
Can I make this salad ahead of time?
Yes! This pesto pasta salad is a great make-ahead dish. The flavors of the pesto dressing become more intense when it has time to marinate.
Storing leftovers
This pasta salad recipe is easy to store! If you want to keep it simple, cover the bowl with tin foil or plastic wrap, and put it in the fridge. If you’re meal prepping, divide the salad into separate Tupperware containers, with enough for each day.
Keep it refrigerated, and you can enjoy it for 3-4 days. Although, keep in mind that pasta should only be kept at room temperature for about two hours, so make sure to refrigerate it until it’s time to eat.
If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!
Here are some of my favorite salad recipes you should make next. Enjoy!
- Easy Italian Pasta Salad
- Buffalo Chickpea Pasta Salad
- Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad
- Gluten-Free Greek Pasta Salad
- Grilled Veggie and Shrimp Orzo Salad
Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa
Summer Pesto Pasta Salad
A perfect mixture of healthy, refreshing ingredients, this Summer Pesto Pasta Salad is a must-try for a meal or quick bite after visiting the beach or spending time in the sun!
Ingredients
- 12 oz dried pasta (I used brown rice fusilli)
- 1 small zucchini
- 1 small yellow squash
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- 1.5 cups mozzarella balls, cut in half
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
Pesto Dressing
- 1/2 cup fresh basil
- 1/4 cup pine nuts (or cashews/almonds)
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 tsp red or white wine vinegar
- juice of 1 lemon
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- optional: 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Cut zucchini and yellow squash into bite size pieces and then saute on stove top with a little oil, salt, and pepper for about 10 minutes, or until softened.
- Add your pasta to a large bowl, and add the zucchini, squash, tomatoes, mozzarella balls, pine nuts and Italian seasoning. Set aside.
- Using an immersion blender, regular blender, or food processor, combine all of your pesto ingredients and blend until completely smooth. I use an immersion blender.
- Pour dressing over top of pasta and veggies and toss until completely coated.
- Top with more pine nuts and parmesan cheese.
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Michelle says
I’m not usually big on pasta salad but I love pesto so I tried this out and I’m glad I did! It was so good, I’ll definitely be making it again soon!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Michelle, I am so glad you loved it!!
Dani says
I made this on Saturday night and it’s almost gone already. I had been craving a pasta salad and this hit every single mark. This will definitely be my go-to!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Dani, so happy you loved it!!
Marissa says
Omg this is AMAZING!! I want to eat the pesto with a spoon! Made it for the first time yesterday and we’re so excited to have it for the week! 😍😍
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Marissa, so happy you enjoyed it!!
Hannah says
Made this last night for some dinner for a group and everyone loved it! It was so simple to make and so tasty. Will definitely be on repeat
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Hannah, so glad you loved it!! 🙂
Lexi says
This pasta salad was a hit for our 4th of July BBQ! So delicious and easy! Thanks for your amazing recipes!
Erin says
Hi Lexi, so happy you loved it!! 🙂
Lauren says
Wow, Erin! This was fantastic! You’ve done it again. Somehow your recipes are so simple and sensible, but are so great and something I would’ve only gotten 75% of on my own. That extra 25% (like fresh pesto) is what makes all the difference. Loved how much this made! Definitely could’ve (and maybe should’ve) halved it and still been good to go. Catch me with this pasta salad & ginger seltzer all week!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Lauren, so happy you loved the salad!! 🙂
Marissa says
Really great pasta salad for a picnic or family gathering. It’s not your average pasta salad, but everyone loved the pesto dressing! This made plenty of leftovers, so I will be enjoying this all week!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Marissa, so happy you enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing!! 🙂
marissa says
such a good recipe!! my family is allergic to pine nuts so we subbed the pesto with a garlic basil vinaigrette, still sooo tasty!! thanks for the idea, will definitely be making again!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Marissa, so happy you loved it and made it your own!!
Casey says
This is such a fresh summer recipe, especially love the mozzarella cheese balls with the fresh tomatoes! Every time I make this people rave about it, so delicious!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Casey, so glad you loved it!!
Amber Q says
it’s good regular, it’s good modified, it’s good however u want!! lol my whole fam loved this
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Amber, so happy everyone loved it!!
Jen says
This is JUST what I was craving. It screams summer and is so light and refreshing and tasty. Love the squash and zucchini in it and the pesto dressing is so delicious. Also it’s a quick and easy recipe. Perfect for summer nights and/or bbq potlucks.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jen, so glad you enjoyed it!!
Kara says
Made this with Erin’s pineapple turkey burgers for a BBQ and both were a hit! Thank you!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kara, so glad you loved it!!
Jill says
Loved this! We have already made it twice this week. Loved adding some grilled chicken to make it a complete meal. So delicious!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jill, so happy you enjoyed it and great addition!!
Tessa says
I was excited to try this recipe and WOW! It did NOT disappoint!! Easy and packed with flavour. Doesn’t feel heavy. I will be following some of the advice from other readers and trying it with chicken for my husband. Very versatile. Definitely a new staple!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Tessa, so happy you loved it so much!!
Ceci says
Wow, this was a crowd-pleaser! I totally forgot to saute the veggies prior to mixing in with the pasta, but it made for an awesome crunch with each bite 😊 Thanks for sharing a simple, yet delicious recipe!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Ceci, so happy you loved it! 🙂
Nikole says
This recipe is so quick and easy to make I was so impressed by how yummy it is too. Lasts a few days and still tastes great! We’ve made it two weeks in a row!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Nikole, so happy you loved it!!
Bailey says
I made this for a quick and easy dinner and it was the best! Such a great option for a summer meal!
Erin says
Hi Bailey, so glad you enjoyed it!
Jul says
Hi Erin,
What do you sauté the squash and zucchini in?
Thanks!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jul, a little bit of olive oil! Let me know how your pasta salad comes out!
Jul says
It turned out great! Thank you for replying!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jul, so happy you loved it!! You’re welcome!!
Molly says
Made this for Father’s Day (my Father’s Day cookout had an “Erin Lives Whole” theme, I also made your bbq yogurt kabobs and avocado corn salad), and it was absolutely delicious! Love the addition of summer vegetables, it was the perfect pasta salad for summer and I will definitely be making this again this summer!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Molly, so happy you loved the salad and thank you for sharing!! 🙂
Sylvie says
Erin, this is a delicious pasta salad that looks great too. Thank you so much for the recipe!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Sylvie, so happy you loved it!