Spiral pasta catches and hold the bits of basil pesto. You can dress up the pesto and pasta with any number of ingredients. Cherry tomatoes, nuts, peas, and olive tapenade are what I had on hand for this particular version, but you could also add goat cheese, slivered almonds, sun-dried tomatoes, or snow peas. What’s your favorite summer pasta salad? Let us know in the comments. Never made pesto? Try our Basil Pesto recipe, a favorite!
Store for Later
Pasta salad holds up well in the fridge. However, the pesto will darken and oxidize quickly. So, it’s best to add the pesto just before serving, if possible. Other than that, this recipe is great to keep on hand for weekday lunches or light dinners when it’s too hot out to cook. It’s also great camping or picnic food, since it’s designed to be served at room temperature. It should last 2 to 4 days in a well-sealed container in the fridge.
More Delicious Pasta Recipes to Try!
Pasta e Fagioli Bowtie Pasta with Peas, Prosciutto, and Arugula Caprese Pasta Salad Greek Pasta Salad Creamy Chicken and Asparagus Pasta
For pasta salads, it’s best to use a dry pasta rather than fresh pasta. They hold their shapes better when tossed with the other ingredients. When most of the nuts have a blush of golden brown on them, move them to a cool bowl or plate to rest. They will burn if you leave them in the pan. Serve at room temperature.
