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Home » side dishes

Pesto Pasta Salad

Published: Jul 3, 2017 · Modified: Dec 11, 2024 by Kit · This post may contain affiliate links · 9 Comments

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I love pasta salad, but I am not a fan of pasta salad made with mayonnaise. It's just too heavy, and a food with a lot of mayonnaise is the last thing I want to be eating on a hot summer day. This Pesto Pasta Salad replaces the mayonnaise with pesto and it's a delicious substitution. Pesto Pasta Salad is made with roasted cherry tomatoes, garlic, red bell peppers, and goat cheese tossed in pesto with pasta. The fresh taste of basil is fitting for summer and the roasted tomatoes and bell peppers are the perfect flavor pairing.

If you want to add an extra burst of cheesiness to this salad you can add in some tortellini. I love the flavor combination of goat cheese and pesto, but you could use mozzarella instead. If you want to turn this side dish into a complete meal you can add some chicken.

The roasted tomatoes are so much more flavorful than raw tomatoes. Roasting the tomatoes only takes 15 minutes and the process gives the tomatoes a deeper richer flavor. If you are really short on time, you could skip roasting the tomatoes and just add sliced raw tomatoes to the pasta salad, but I think that the roasted tomatoes pair more successfully with the pesto.

The total preparation time is only about 20 minutes, and it doesn't involve any complicated cooking techniques. Absolutely anyone can prepare this salad with ease. It is just the thing to make to bring to a summer barbecue when you are short on time. It would be a nice addition to a Fourth of July party - if you are heading to one tomorrow. Pesto Pasta Salad would also be a wonderful make-ahead summer lunch to bring to the office.

If you would like some more recipes for summer salads you can check out this list of 10 Summer Salad Recipes.

Pesto Pasta Salad

Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 -6 servings

Ingredients

  • ½ pound of Pasta
  • about 1 cup of Pesto
  • 2 cups of Cherry or Grape Tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 2 cloves of Garlic
  • 1 cup chopped Red Bell Pepper
  • 4 ounces of Crumbled Goat Cheese

Instructions

  • Start by roasting the tomatoes. Slice them in half, and lay them out on a baking sheet. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast in a 350-degree oven for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven and let cool.
  • While the tomatoes are roasting, bring a pot of salted water to a boil, and cook the pasta according to the directions on the packaging. Drain the pasta and let cool.
  • Finely chop the garlic or run it through a garlic press. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, and add the garlic. Cook the garlic for one minute, then add the red bell pepper and saute for 3 minutes.
  • In a large bowl, mix the pasta (it should be a room temperature), tomatoes, bell pepper, and pesto together. Add the goat cheese and lightly toss to combine. Chill and serve.

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Comments

  1. Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says

    July 09, 2017 at 3:32 pm

    I love pesto! Thanks for sharing on the What's for Dinner link up!
    Reply
    • thekittchen says

      July 15, 2017 at 6:37 pm

      Glad you like pesto Helen!
      Reply
  2. Melissa Clifton says

    July 14, 2017 at 6:34 pm

    This looks amazing! Pasta, garlic, cheese, tomatoes! Some of my favorites. Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty !
    Reply
    • thekittchen says

      July 15, 2017 at 6:37 pm

      It's the best combo of ingredients!
      Reply
  3. Shirley Wood says

    July 14, 2017 at 8:09 pm

    We have been on a pasta salad kick at our house and yours looks quite yummy especially with goat cheese! So glad you shared with us at Merry Monday! Keep those yummy recipes coming!
    Reply
    • thekittchen says

      July 15, 2017 at 6:36 pm

      Goat cheese is the best, isn't it?
      Reply
  4. thenotsocreativecook says

    July 15, 2017 at 2:54 am

    I haven't tried a pasta salad with pesto, but this is a good one to start with! Looks so yum! Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday party!
    Reply
    • thekittchen says

      July 15, 2017 at 6:36 pm

      Thanks - glad you like the idea!
      Reply
  5. Miz Helen says

    July 18, 2017 at 6:01 pm

    Your Pesto Pasta Salad will be delicious! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and come back to see us real soon! Miz Helen
    Reply

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Welcome! I'm Kit and The Kittchen is all about my two biggest loves: Food and Travel! Here you can discover delicious and practical everyday recipes, plus travel destinations to feed your wanderlust. Thanks for stopping by!

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