• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
This Italian Kitchen
  • Breakfast & Brunch
  • Appetizers & Starters
  • Main Dishes
  • Salads & Sides
  • Desserts
  • Holiday Menus
  • Drinks
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Desserts
  • Breakfast & Brunch
  • Appetizers & Starters
  • Main Dishes
  • Salads & Sides
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Desserts
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Appetizers & Starters
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads & Sides
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Italian Recipes

    Pesto Pasta Salad

    August 19, 2021 by angelakallison 7 Comments

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    Pesto Pasta Salad made with just 5 ingredients.

    Pesto Pasta Salad using store bought pesto, is a simple and delicious Italian pasta salad made with only five ingredients. All you need is pesto, fresh mozzarella, and tomatoes, and you are going to love how flavorful and easy this pasta salad is.

    Pesto pasta Salad on a white serving platter.

    If you are looking for a simple and quick pasta salad that everyone will love, then you have to try this Pesto Pasta Salad using store bought pesto. Made with only five ingredients, this is sure to become a new favorite pasta salad that's great for any occasion.

    This recipe for Pesto Pasta Salad is great to serve for brunch, barbecues, or potlucks. I love to make a batch and have it on hand for the week. For another delicious tomato-based salad, be sure to try Italian Tomato Onion Salad or this tasty Bruschetta Salad. If you love farro, don't miss this Farro Salad Recipe! For a tasty vegetarian sandwich, be sure to try this Eggplant Parmesan Sandwich!

    And, if you have store-bought pesto on hand, then this salad a perfect way to use it up. While nothing beats fresh homemade pesto, there are some store-bought brands that come close. My personal favorite is the Kirkland brand pesto that you get at Costco.

    balsamic vinegar, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, dried pasta, and pesto on a wooden cutting board.

    However, you will probably have a lot of pesto leftover. Check out my other recipes linked below for more ideas on what to make with pesto sauce. And, if you don't use it all up now, pesto also freezes beautifully and is great for later uses.

    Recipe in a large white oval serving bowl with basil and drizzle overtop.

    Read on to see how easy it is to make this pasta salad.

    What to make with leftover pesto

    Store-bought pesto is one of my favorite kitchen short cuts. However, I always seem to have more than enough leftover. Check out these delicious and easy recipes using leftover store bought pesto sauce.

    Pesto Tortellini Skewers are a simple appetizer that's make-ahead friendly.

    Antipasto Sliders on King's Hawaiian Rolls are a tasty sandwich full of the antipasto flavors you love.

    Pesto has many delicious uses other than just tossing with pasta. It's a great sandwich spread, bruschetta topper, or mix with equal parts of red wine vinegar for a simple and tasty salad dressing.

    How to Make Pesto Pasta Salad

    Pesto Pasta Salad is quick to make and perfect for any occasion. The dish only requires five ingredients and can be assembled in minutes. For another quick pasta try this Sausage Kale Pasta.

    Firstly, you will need to cook the pasta according to package instructions or until it is al dente. After cooking, drain the pasta and rinse with cold water. Pour the drained cooled pasta into a large mixing bowl.

    Cooked Farfalle in a large mixing bowl.

    Then, add in the remaining ingredients, including halved cherry tomatoes, diced fresh mozzarella, store-bought pesto sauce, and balsamic vinegar.

    overhead photo of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

    Then, gently toss the salad together and that's it! You can serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

    Pesto Pasta Salad tossed together in a large mixing bowl with a wooden spoon.

    I like to serve pesto pasta salad in a large serving platter. Right before serving I drizzle on balsamic glaze and garnish with fresh basil.

    Pesto Pasta Salad in a large white oval platter garnished with basil and balsamic glaze.

    Recipe substitutions and additions

    The recipe for pesto pasta salad is a great basic recipe to have on hand. You can switch things up by adding or changing ingredients in the recipe.

    Here, the recipe calls for farfalle pasta, but you can use any smaller pasta you have on hand such as fusilli or macaroni. While I used tricolor farfalle, all one color is fine too.

    As for the pesto, feel free to use whatever variety you like. Traditional pesto is made from basil, but there are delicious varieties made from kale or spinach.

    Some delicious additions to the recipe would be sliced olives, diced red onion, sun dried tomatoes, toasted pine nuts, diced artichoke hearts, or diced salami. Whatever ingredients you would find on an antipasto platter would work great here.

    Overhead closeup photo of pesto pasta salad with balsamic drizzle overtop.

    Pasta Salad Recipes

    Be sure to check out these other delicious pasta salad recipes:

    Greek Pasta Salad with Whole Wheat Noodles

    Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Salad

    Asian Noodle Salad with Peanut Dressing

    Pasta Salad with Veggies and Corn

    Italian Pasta Salad | Antipasto Style

    Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad

    overhead photo of 5 ingredient pest pasta salad in a white oval platter.

    I hope you love this recipe for Pesto Pasta Salad! Please comment below if you try it. Enjoy!

    Pesto Pasta Salad in a large white oval platter garnished with basil and balsamic glaze.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 7 votes

    Pesto Pasta Salad using Store Bought Pesto

    Only five ingredients needed for this delicious pesto pasta salad recipe! Use whatever small pasta shape you like and top with homemade or store bought pesto sauce.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Total Time15 mins
    Course: Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: Italian side dish, pasta salad, pesto pasta salad
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 303kcal
    Author: Angela Allison
    Cost: 6-8

    Ingredients

    • 1 16 ounce package farfalle pasta (plain or tri colored)
    • 1 16 ounce package cherry tomatoes, halved
    • 1 16 ounce package fresh mozzarella, cut into bite sized pieces
    • ½ cup store-bought pesto
    • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • fresh basil and balsamic glaze for topping (optional)

    Instructions

    • Cook farfalle according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water. Pour the drained pasta into a large mixing bowl.
    • To the pasta, add the tomatoes, mozzarella, pesto, and balsamic vinegar. Toss well to combine. Taste for salt and pepper.
    • If desired, top with basil leaves and drizzle with balsamic glaze before serving.

    Video

    Notes

    This is a great basic pasta salad recipe to add additional toppings, such as garbanzo beans, sun dried tomatoes, diced olives, or toasted pine nuts. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 303kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 341mg | Potassium: 198mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 649IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 220mg | Iron: 1mg
    Pesto Pasta Salad in a white plate.
    « Eggplant Caponata Recipe
    Italian Apple Cake »
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Teodora Grujic

      August 19, 2021 at 12:31 pm

      5 stars
      Oh, I'm off to the kitchen. Perfect combo!

      Reply
    2. Beth

      August 19, 2021 at 1:50 pm

      5 stars
      Yummy! What a great salad and the family is going to love this recipe! Pesto is one of my favorites to add to pasta and it’s so easy to make too!

      Reply
    3. Pam

      August 19, 2021 at 1:51 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect timing as I have tons of pesto, tomatoes and a nice balsamic glaze to use up.

      Reply
      • angelakallison

        August 19, 2021 at 2:58 pm

        Yeah! So happy this works for you.

        Reply
    4. Heather

      August 19, 2021 at 1:56 pm

      5 stars
      I love pasta salad, and I love caprese salad, and this recipe sounds like the perfect combination of the two. So I know I'm going to love this pesto pasta salad! YUM!

      Reply
      • angelakallison

        August 19, 2021 at 2:58 pm

        It's so good, you're going to love it!

        Reply
    5. Sara Welch

      August 19, 2021 at 3:29 pm

      5 stars
      Enjoyed this for dinner last night and it did not disappoint! So easy and flavorful; was the perfect meal for a busy weeknight!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Angela, the recipe creator of This Italian Kitchen. Cooking alongside her Italian family, she grew up creating authentic meals and desserts.

    More about me →

    Authentic Pasta Dishes

    These classic Italian pasta recipes are guaranteed to please!

    • Sausage Kale Pasta
    • Italian Turkey Lasagna | Easy No Boil Recipe
    • Anchovy Breadcrumb Pasta
    • Cheese Beef Stuffed Shells | Homemade Meat Sauce

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    *Posts on this site may contain affiliate links which means I make a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you

    Copyright © 2022 This Italian Kitchen

    111 shares