Easy pesto pasta salad is the perfect way to bring bold flavors to your table without spending hours in the kitchen.
With its vibrant pesto sauce, tender pasta, and fresh ingredients, this dish is a total crowd-pleaser.
It’s ideal for potlucks, picnics, or a quick, satisfying meal at home.
You’ll love how effortlessly it comes together while delivering a burst of flavor in every bite!
Ingredients
1 pound Rotini Pasta
2 cups Fresh Basil Leaves loosely packed
3 Garlic Cloves
1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
1/3 cup Olive Oil
1/4 cup Pine Nuts
1 pint Cherry or Grape Tomatoes halved
1 Green Bell Pepper medium, diced
8 ounces Mini Mozzarella Balls
1/2 cup Olives sliced or halved
1/4 cup Red Onion diced
Instructions
Cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions. After it’s cooked, drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water. Once cooled, transfer it to a large mixing bowl.
For the pesto, combine the fresh basil leaves, garlic, parmesan cheese, olive oil, and pine nuts in a food processor or blender. Process until the mixture becomes fairly smooth.
Pour the pesto over the cooled pasta and toss it until well coated.
Add the halved tomatoes, diced bell pepper, mini mozzarella balls, sliced or halved olives, and diced red onion to the pasta. Toss until all ingredients are well combined.
Refrigerate the salad until it’s time to serve.
