Save This Recipe!
Enter your email and I'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll get new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Happy Healthy Mama.
Looking for a deliciously fresh and zesty dish? Try this mouthwatering pesto pasta salad recipe! It’s the perfect blend of comfort and summery goodness. Who doesn’t love a good pasta salad with fresh ingredients?
It’s the prime picnic and summer BBQ time. The time when we can all use light yet flavorful dishes that are easy to make and serve. This pesto pasta salad is just the ticket. It’s simple yet delicious, and you can whip up good eight servings in no time.
Can pasta salad actually be healthy? Sure!
Pasta might not be the healthiest ingredient you can consume, but it can absolutely be a part of a balanced diet.
Do you really want to live a life without pasta, anyway? I don’t. We can balance it out with spaghetti squash and zoodles, but a life without pasta? No, thanks.
Pasta salads don’t have the best reputation, but you can definitely make a healthy pasta salad. For this pesto pasta salad, I kept it simple. I used a whole grain pasta, and instead of a bottled salad dressing like you often see, I used my Spinach Basil Pesto. It’s full of flavor and the spinach component adds a powerful vegetable to the dish. You can also use this classic basil pesto recipe.
My favorite part about this pesto pasta salad recipe is its versatility. It’s a perfect side dish as it, but you can add whatever vegetables and proteins you prefer if you want to make it a main course. Experiment with your fave ingredients all you like. Add some shredded chicken (meal prep tip: make Shredded Chicken in the crockpot) pine nuts, kalamata olives, parmesan cheese, green peas, red onions – anything goes!
If you’re following mine to the letter, you’ll appreciate how basic the ingredients are. I like keeping my salad recipes simple and healthy.
Like all pasta salad recipes, this one also pairs well with main courses and side dishes. From mushroom risotto and grilled chicken to garlic bread and teriyaki salmon, all your favorite dishes will perfectly complement this pesto pasta salad.
Ready to stir up the flavor? Here’s what you’ll need.
Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe
You can’t go wrong with this easy recipe made with simple ingredients.
Whole Grain Fusilli Pasta
You can go for any pasta of your choice. I stick to whole-grain Fusilli pasta for this recipe because it adds a nutritious twist to the salad. There’s more fiber, vitamins, and minerals compared to regular pasta. Plus, the spiral shape holds the pesto sauce well, ensuring every bite is flavorful. Healthy and delicious in one!
We will need 13.25 ounces of it.
Spinach Basil Pesto
The star of the show! You can use 1/2 cup of store-bought or homemade basil pesto. Traditional pesto works, of course, but I love adding spinach to mine for extra nutrition. Do you have basil growing in your garden? Yes? Great. Whirl it in a food processor with olive oil to make fresh basil pesto. Trust me; it’s worth the extra effort–nothing beats fresh pesto in my book!
Homemade pesto sauce tastes terrific and brings some great health benefits to the table. Packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, it supports a strong immune system. The combination of spinach and basil provides a dose of greens.
You can use this Spinach Pesto Recipe.
Grape Tomatoes
We need ten ounces of halved grape tomatoes for this salad. Now, in terms of nutritional value, it doesn’t matter if you use fresh cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes. But grape tomatoes do it way better if you’re looking for a sweeter flavor.
Sun-dried tomatoes will work too. Although their moisture is all sucked out, they have a stronger flavor. So, it’s your choice whether you want to add more punch or mellow out the dish with juicy tomatoes.
Basil Leaves
This one’s an optional ingredient. But what is pesto pasta salad without fresh basil leaves? They’ll add to the flavor and make your dish look even better!
Five basil leaves cut into long ribbons will do the job. You might not realize it, but adding basil will enhance the health benefits of this dish. Rich in vitamins and minerals, it’s a powerful source of antioxidants.
Grape Tomatoes
Halved grape tomatoes finish the salad. It’s super easy to make and versatile as well. Need a dinner side? Check. Main course? It can do that, too. Potluck salad? Yep. Lunch for days? YES. (
For the record, the massage did help my neck immensely, but five days later it’s still sore. Lots and lots of anti-inflammatory foods are being consumed over here. Along with this Pesto Pasta Salad. #sorrynotsorry
How to Make Easy Pesto Pasta Salad
1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water according to the package directions and allow it to cool.
2. Transfer the cooked pasta to a large bowl. Stir the pesto into the pasta.
3. Add the grape tomatoes.
4. If desired, top with the basil strips for garnish.
Tips and Tricks and Recipe Variations 
The recipe won’t be any good if it turns out dry. So, make it moist and tasty with these tips.
- You can also use this Instant Pot Pasta recipe for the pasta of this dish!
- Add some extra olive oil to the pesto sauce if it seems dry. It makes all the difference!
- If you’re adding vegetables, blanch them first. It’ll help keep their texture and color intact.
- Don’t overcook the pasta. Aim for al dente pasta so it doesn’t become mushy.
- If the salad is dry, pour some reserved pasta water over the salad. It will add moisture and help keep it fresh for longer.
- Add plain Greek yogurt or sour cream to the pesto sauce for a creamier version.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Other Ingredients Can I Add?
The ingredients I mentioned above are all you need for a staple pesto pasta salad. But you can also add artichoke hearts, fresh mozzarella balls, garlic, black olives, crisp cucumbers, and peas. Feel free to squeeze in some lemon juice for a zesty finish.
Can I Use Any Other Shape of Pasta?
Sure! Penne, rotini, bow ties, farfalle – pick whichever shape you fancy. Just make sure you run your cooked pasta under cold water. It’ll stop the cooking process and help preserve your pasta’s shape.
How to Store Leftovers?
If you have leftovers, use an airtight container to store them. Keep the container in the fridge. Your salad will stay fresh for up to four days.
Can I Make This Ahead of Time?
Sure. You can make this pesto pasta salad a day in advance. Keep it refrigerated so it stays fresh. Just make sure to add the basil leaves right before serving, as their flavor and color will fade if left for too long.
Can I share another fabulous salad idea? Try my Greek Cucumber Salad!
If you try this recipe or any of my healthy recipes, please leave a star rating below. It helps me and my readers out so much to see how a recipe turned out for you! Share on Instagram, and I’ll feature you as well. Happy cooking!
Pesto Pasta Salad
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 8 1x
Description
This easy Pesto Pasta Salad is a healthy pasta salad that is FULL of flavor!
Ingredients
- 13.25 ounces whole grain fusilli pasta
- 1/2 cup spinach basil pesto, homemade (recipe link above) or store bought
- 10 ounces grape tomatoes, halved
- 5 basil leaves, chiffonade (cut into long strips)-optional
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions and allow it to cool.
- Stir the pesto into the pasta.
- Add the grape tomatoes.
- If desired, top with the basil strips for garnish.
- Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Category: side dish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 347
- Sugar: 2.5g
- Sodium: 333mg
- Fat: 17.8g
- Saturated Fat: 0.1g
- Carbohydrates: 38.3g
- Fiber: 2.7g
- Protein: 9.5g
- Cholesterol: 5.1mg
For a tasty twist, try to make this recipe with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto! You might also love this Bowtie Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing!
This recipe was originally published in 2016. Video was added June 2019 and text updated in 2023.
[…] Image and recipe by happyhealthymama […]