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Garden Pesto Pasta Salad

4 reviews
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time

Prep: 15 min. + chilling

Makes

10 servings

Updated: Jul. 28, 2023
My family and I live on a homestead in the Missouri Ozarks and produce much of our own food. In the summer, when the garden is bursting with fresh vegetables and it’s too hot to cook, I like to use the season's veggies for pesto pasta salad and other cool meals. —Sarah Mathews, Ava, Missouri
Garden Pesto Pasta Salad
Garden Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe photo by Taste of Home
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Ingredients

  • 3 cups uncooked spiral pasta (about 9 ounces)
  • 1 cup prepared pesto
  • 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 medium zucchini, halved and sliced
  • 1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
  • 1 medium tomato, seeded and chopped
  • 1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Rinse with cold water and drain well.
  2. Meanwhile, whisk together pesto, vinegar, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Gradually whisk in oil until blended.
  3. Combine vegetables and pasta. Drizzle with pesto dressing; toss to coat. Refrigerate, covered, until cold, about 1 hour. Serve with Parmesan cheese.
Pesto Pasta Salad Tips

Can you use homemade pesto in this pasta salad?

If you've got the extra time or some basil to put to use, feel free to use homemade pesto in place of store-bought pesto when making pasta salad. If you want to get creative, try using a different pesto such as spinach pesto, arugula pesto or even kale pesto. No matter what variation you make, our guide to how to make pesto provides all the tips and tricks you could need to make the vibrant green sauce at home.

What other mix-ins can you add to pesto pasta salad?

Other Mediterranean ingredients like finely chopped roasted red peppers, black olives, sliced cucumber and fresh mozzarella pearls would all be lovely and flavorful additions to pesto pasta salad. If you want to add a little meat, cubed salami should do the trick.

How long does pesto pasta salad last in the fridge?

Like many other cold pasta salad recipes, this pesto pasta salad will taste better if you prepare it a few hours before you plan to serve it. After that, it will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

—Lauren Pahmeier, Taste of Home Editor

Nutrition Facts

3/4 cup: 267 calories, 17g fat (3g saturated fat), 5mg cholesterol, 431mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 fat, 1-1/2 starch.