Pesto Pasta Salad

A vibrant and flavorful pesto pasta salad, perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a light lunch.

Prep : 10 Total : 25 minutes

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Ingredients

Pasta and Pesto

1 pound pasta such as rotini, penne, or farfalle
1 cup pesto store-bought or homemade

Vegetables

1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
0.5 cup cucumber diced
0.5 cup red bell pepper diced
0.25 cup red onion finely chopped

Optional Add-ins

0.5 cup mozzarella balls or crumbled feta
0.25 cup pine nuts toasted

Instructions

Preparation Steps

Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool.
In a large bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta with pesto, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, and red onion.
If using, add mozzarella balls and toasted pine nuts. Toss gently to combine.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. For best flavor, let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

This pasta salad can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Add a little extra pesto or a drizzle of olive oil before serving if it seems dry.