Description
A quick and flavorful 5 Ingredient Pesto Pasta Salad that’s perfect for a refreshing lunch or a light side dish. Featuring pasta coated in vibrant pesto, sweet cherry tomatoes, nutty pine nuts, and topped with shredded Parmesan cheese, this salad is both easy to prepare and delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta (your favorite shape)
- 1 cup store-bought pesto
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup pine nuts (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse briefly with cold water to stop cooking and cool it down for the salad.
- Combine Pasta and Pesto: In a large mixing bowl, toss the cooled pasta with 1 cup of pesto sauce until all pasta pieces are evenly coated with the flavorful pesto.
- Add Cherry Tomatoes and Pine Nuts: Gently fold in the halved cherry tomatoes and pine nuts into the pasta mixture to distribute them evenly throughout the salad.
- Incorporate Parmesan Cheese: Sprinkle in the shredded Parmesan cheese and toss lightly to combine, allowing some cheese to melt into the salad while retaining some texture.
- Serve or Chill: Serve the pesto pasta salad immediately at room temperature or refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Optionally, garnish with extra Parmesan or pine nuts before serving.
Notes
- To toast pine nuts, place them in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until golden and fragrant.
- You can substitute pine nuts with walnuts or almonds for a different crunch.
- For a vegan version, replace Parmesan cheese with a plant-based cheese alternative.
- This salad tastes great served cold or at room temperature, making it perfect for picnics and meal prep.
- Add fresh basil leaves for an extra burst of herb flavor.
Keywords: pesto pasta salad, easy pasta salad, cherry tomato pasta, quick pesto recipe, Italian pasta salad