By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 19, 2019
This creamy Pesto Pasta Salad is easy to make and a delight to eat! Fresh and colorful, this salad can be made ahead of time and is the perfect side dish to serve at summer parties or to take to a pot luck.
Best Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe
Pesto and pasta is one of the most comforting and tastebud pleasing meals, so easy to make and full of herby deliciousness! Just because it’s summer, doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy those flavors – this cold pesto pasta salad is perfect to serve when the sun is shining!
How to make Pesto Pasta Salad
- Cook the pasta to al-dente, per package directions. Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water to stop the cooking; shake off excess liquid. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with paper towels. Pour the cooked pasta onto the paper towels to let the pasta dry about 15-20 minutes.
- While the pasta cooks, whisk together the pesto, mayonnaise and black pepper. Keep the sauce refrigerated until ready to use.
- After the pasta has cooled and dried, transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Add prosciutto, pepperoncini, radish slices, 3/4ths of the tomatoes, 2 tablespoons pine nuts, ¼ cup shaved Parmigiana and 1 tablespoon chopped basil. Toss to combine.
- Pour the Pesto/Mayonnaise sauce over the salad and gently mix until all ingredients are coated.
- To serve, place the salad on a serving platter and sprinkle with the remaining tomatoes, pine nuts, shaved Parmigiana and basil.
Creamy Dressing Recipe
The dressing for this cold pasta salad is to die for, but it’s so simple! Your favorite store bought pesto mixed with some mayo, makes for the perfect creamy dressing that is packed full of flavor and it really couldn’t get any simpler!
You can of course make a batch of homemade pesto – this recipe would work really well!
Pesto Pasta Salad is perfect for a main or a side dish
This cold pasta salad is a great make ahead dish, and will be at home at any cookout alongside barbecued meats and a fresh green salad.
It will keep well, covered in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, so it’s a great option for easy lunches throughout the week. Pine nuts, radishes and cured meats really help bulk up this pasta salad, so it’s perfect to serve as a meal on hot summer days.
More Recipes with Pesto
- Chicken Pesto Pasta
- Sheet Pan Party Meatballs
- Pesto Chicken Tortellini Soup
- Baked Pesto Rigatoni
- Pesto Salmon
- Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad
Can you eat pesto pasta cold?
This, for sure, this pesto pasta salad is a dish that is meant to be served cold, keep it stored in the fridge before serving. If you are craving a hot pasta dish, you could heat this up gently on the stove top or in the microwave. It may lose it’s texture slightly, but it will still be delicious!
Leftovers can be stored covered in the fridge, I would advise against freezing it.
What to serve with Pesto Pasta Salad
The possibilities are endless! Pasta Salad is such a perfect and versatile side dish. Here are some of our favorite ways to pair this easy pasta salad recipe for Summer!
- Grilled Burgers
- Grilled Pork Chops
- Baked Chili Dogs
- Butter Burger Recipe
- Crockpot Ribs
- Egg Salad
- Chicken Avocado Pitas
- BLT Sandwich
- Slow Cooker French Dip
Top tips for making Pesto Pasta Salad
- Cook the pasta al-dente.
- Let the pasta cool fully before dressing it.
- If you are making this ahead of time, you may need to add a little extra dressing before serving it, as the pasta will soak it up.
- Use the freshest and best quality ingredients you can for the best flavor.
Be sure to check out these other tasty pasta salad recipes!
- Strawberry Avocado Pasta Salad Recipe
- Green Goddess Pasta Salad Recipe
- Jalapeno Popper Pasta Salad
- Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
- BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
- Classic Italian Pasta Salad
- Easy Macaroni Salad
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 pound mini farfalle bowtie pasta 1 box
- ▢ ½ cup prepared basil pesto
- ▢ ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ▢ ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ▢ 2 oz. chopped prosciutto
- ▢ ½ cup chopped Peperoncini
- ▢ 6 thinly-sliced radishes trimmed of stems
- ▢ 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes quartered; divided
- ▢ ¼ cup toasted pine nuts divided
- ▢ ½ cup shaved Parmigiana or Parmesan cheese divided
- ▢ 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil leaves divided
Instructions
- Cook the pasta to al-dente, per package directions. Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water to stop the cooking; shake off excess liquid. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with paper towels. Pour the cooked pasta onto the paper towels to let the pasta dry about 15-20 minutes.
- While the pasta cooks, whisk together the pesto, mayonnaise and black pepper. Keep the sauce refrigerated until ready to use.
- After the pasta has cooled and dried, transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Add prosciutto, peperoncini, radish slices, 3/4ths of the tomatoes, 2 tablespoons pine nuts, ¼ cup shaved Parmigiana and 1 tablespoon chopped basil. Toss to combine.
- Pour the Pesto/Mayonnaise sauce over the salad and gently mix until all ingredients are coated.
- To serve, place the salad on a serving platter and sprinkle with the remaining tomatoes, pine nuts, shaved Parmigiano, and basil. Enjoy!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Pesto Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound mini farfalle bowtie pasta 1 box
- ½ cup prepared basil pesto
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 oz. chopped prosciutto
- ½ cup chopped Peperoncini
- 6 thinly-sliced radishes trimmed of stems
- 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes quartered; divided
- ¼ cup toasted pine nuts divided
- ½ cup shaved Parmigiana or Parmesan cheese divided
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil leaves divided
Instructions
- Cook the pasta to al-dente, per package directions. Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water to stop the cooking; shake off excess liquid. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with paper towels. Pour the cooked pasta onto the paper towels to let the pasta dry about 15-20 minutes.
- While the pasta cooks, whisk together the pesto, mayonnaise and black pepper. Keep the sauce refrigerated until ready to use.
- After the pasta has cooled and dried, transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Add prosciutto, peperoncini, radish slices, 3/4ths of the tomatoes, 2 tablespoons pine nuts, ¼ cup shaved Parmigiana and 1 tablespoon chopped basil. Toss to combine.
- Pour the Pesto/Mayonnaise sauce over the salad and gently mix until all ingredients are coated.
- To serve, place the salad on a serving platter and sprinkle with the remaining tomatoes, pine nuts, shaved Parmigiano, and basil. Enjoy!
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
