Pesto Pasta Salad
Pesto Pasta Salad is a quick & easy side dish, made with just a handful of ingredients that is great for backyard BBQs, potlucks, & parties.
Servings 8
Ingredients
- 16 ounces pasta
- ¾ cup pesto homemade or store-bought
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 8 ounces mini mozzarella pearls
- 1 cucumber peeled and sliced
- ¼ cup toasted pine nuts
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling water, cook the pasta according to the instructions on the box.
- Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before draining.
- Rinse the pasta under cool water to stop the cooking process.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the pesto with ¼ cup of pasta water.
- Add the pasta, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, cucumber, and pine nuts. Toss to combine.
- Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish with fresh basil, if desired.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Serve either chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
If you’re using an English cucumber, there’s no need to peel it first.
You can use your favorite dried pasta shape-- or whatever you have on hand.