This pesto pasta salad is packed with tender pasta, vibrant grape tomatoes, creamy mozzarella balls, and crunchy red onions. Tossed in fresh, aromatic pesto, it’s the perfect dish for potlucks, BBQs, or a light lunch. Simple to make and bursting with Italian flavors, this pasta salad will quickly become a go-to favorite!

Prep 10

Cook time 12

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Pesto pasta salad is the perfect blend of fresh and bold flavors. With pasta as the base, it’s tossed with juicy grape tomatoes, creamy mozzarella balls, and zesty red onions, all coated in a rich pesto sauce. Whether you need a quick side for a summer BBQ or an easy dish to pack for lunch, this pasta salad fits the bill. Its simple ingredients come together beautifully, offering a satisfying bite every time.

This pasta is great for lunch, as a side, or add chicken and serve for dinner.

Table of Contents

Bowtie Pesto Pasta Salad

This cold pasta salad is always a crowd-pleaser. You can make your own pesto or use store-bought pesto for an effortless meal!

I recommend tasting the pesto before adding salt to the salad or to the pasta water. Pesto tends to be salty in my opinion.

Ingredients

The full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions is at the bottom of this post. You can save a tree and the recipe to your personal and private recipe box here on Call Me PMc. This way, you’ll never misplace it.

pasta
pesto
grape tomatoes
fresh mozzarella balls
red onion

Pesto Pasta Salad Tips

Another recommendation: don’t overcook the pasta. Cook to al dente per the package directions. Next, drain and cool. Some people recommend running the pasta under cold water to stop the cooking process, while experts don’t recommend doing this. So, rinse or not, whatever you prefer. Honestly, I can’t tell a difference in taste or texture of the pasta either way.

Bowtie Pesto Pasta Salad can be made ahead of time, making it great for entertaining. You can make this recipe a few hours before serving it or the night before. Just keep it refrigerated in an airtight container.

You can store this pasta in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If it gets dry, add a little olive oil to the pasta and toss it to coat.

Optional ingredients

asparagus
peas
orzo instead of pasta

What to serve with Pesto Pasta

Bourbon Marinated Grilled Chicken Kabobs

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More pasta salad recipes for you

are these delicious Italian Tortellini Salad, and Zesty Greek Pasta Salad.

Looking for a quick and flavorful side dish? Bowtie Pesto Pasta Salad has a mouthwatering combination of flavors. The pesto gives it a bright and fresh but earthy flavor. It’s one of my favorite flavors.

Please remember that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary based on the products used.

Pesto Pasta Salad

Author: Paula

4.86 from 21 votes

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Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 12

Servings: 10 servings

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Ingredients

12 ounces pasta any shape, cooked per package instructions
2 8.1-ounce jars pesto I used Classico brand
1 and 1/2 cup grape tomatoes halved
12 ounce jar marinated mozzarella balls
1/4 cup red onion diced

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Instructions

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Boil pasta according to package directions. Drain. Cool
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In a large bowl, add pasta, pesto, tomatoes, cheese, and onion. Toss well to coat.
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Serve warm or refrigerate and serve cold.
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Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 5 days.