Nothing quite says summer like this pesto pasta salad. It’s full of tender bow tie pasta, sweet peas, smoky grilled artichoke hearts and delightfully creamy pesto dressing! Make it to enjoy now or freeze it for later!
What Makes This Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe So Great
- Simple. If you’re looking for the perfect side to make for your next cookout or 4th of July get together, this is it! It’s incredibly easy to make that you’ll almost feel guilty for putting so little effort into such a tasty dish!
- Delicious. Who knew that something so simple could taste this good? This cold pesto pasta salad has so much flavor packed into a delightfully easy to make dish that your whole family is going to fall in love with.
- Make Ahead. Worried about not having enough time to make this side the day you plan on enjoying it? Make it in advance! You can make this delicious bow tie pasta salad and eat fresh or freeze it to enjoy at a later date.
- A Summertime Staple. Can you really call it a cookout without a healthy serving of pasta salad (<<<– we also love this California Club Pasta Salad recipe)? I think not! Don’t expect there to be any leftovers because your friends and family are going to savor every last bit of it!
What Goes Into This Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe?
Believe it or not, this yummy side dish is made from super basic ingredients you can easily find in your local grocery store! As a matter of fact, you very well might have many of the ingredients already.
You’ll only need:
- A box of mini bow tie pasta (mini farfalle).
- A jar of basil pesto (or you could use my homemade Avocado Pesto, too!)
- Caesar dressing.
- A bag of frozen peas.
- A jar of grilled artichoke hearts.
How Do You Make This Bow Tie Pasta Salad?
This recipe is as quick and easy as it is delicious! You just cook the pasta, rinse it and toss it with the other ingredients!
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions to al dente. Drain and rinse pasta with cold water. Allow it to cool.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the pesto and Caesar dressing. Add in the frozen peas, pasta, artichokes and fresh mozzarella pearls.
- Toss gently to combine all of the ingredients.
- Cover and refrigerate the pasta salad for 1 hour or longer before serving. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Make Ahead And Freeze For Later
If you’d rather make this recipe in advance, the process for freezing this pesto pasta salad for later is incredibly easy. Just follow these simple steps to freeze the recipe for use at a later date.
- Place pasta in two gallon sized freezer safe bags – click there to see my favorites.
- Seal bags, removing the air in the process and freeze flat.
Thaw And Serve
Ready to enjoy your frozen pasta salad? Just follow these simple steps to thaw the dish from frozen.
- Place the bag in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours (or up to 24 hours) to thaw.
- Transfer to a large bowl, gently toss to combine and sprinkle with fresh parmesan cheese if desired. Serve cold.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Pasta To Use?
While many recipes call for fusilli, rotini, or penne pasta, I personally prefer bow tie pasta. There is something about farfalle that just feels classic and homey to me. Not to mention the shape might make your kids more apt to try it!
How Do You Know When Bow Tie Pasta Is Done?
Your best bet is to follow the instructions on the box to a T. You can test the past by trying a piece to see if it is cooked properly, but make sure to blow it cool before trying it. It should be tender but still have a slight bite to it.
The pasta will continue to cook in the residual heat even when you’re straining it, so make sure to rise it with cool water immediately after straining it to cool it down and keep it from overcooking.
What is Pesto?
Pesto is crushed basil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and olive oil blended into a sauce. It’s got a strong, bold flavor that works well on pasta, pizza or as a sauce for meat, fish, chicken, and vegetables. You can make it homemade or buy it store-bought.
Tips And Tricks For Making Perfect Pesto Pasta Salad
- Pesto. The better the pesto, the better the dish. Using fresh basil pesto from the refrigerated section will result in the best taste.
- Dressing. Not all Caesar dressings taste the same. I suggest using Kraft brand Caesar dressing as that’s what I used and it turned out great!
- Mozzarella. Optionally, you can add a package of fresh mozzarella pearls to the mix to make this dish even more irresistible!
Want More Delicious Side Dishes Your Family Will Love?
- Oven Baked French Fries – These french fries come out perfectly crisp and are incredibly easy to make!
- Cheesy Potatoes Recipe – These potatoes come out delightfully crispy, cheesy and creamy! Plus they’re freezer friendly!
- Mac and Cheese – This is a great side dish adults and kids love plus it’s freezer friendly!
- Biscuit Bites – These delightful little bites are the perfect bread side for your next meal!
This pesto pasta salad is the perfect classic side for your next cookout, and your whole family is going to love it! If you want more delicious recipes like this, check out my Pinterest boards.
Pesto Salad Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz box of mini bowtie mini farfalle pasta
- 1 cup basil pesto fresh in the refrigerated section is best
- 1 cup Caesar dressing I used Kraft
- 12 oz bag of frozen peas
- 12 oz jar grilled artichoke hearts drained and chopped
- Optional: fresh mozzarella pearls pkg.
Instructions
Make it Now
- Cook pasta according to package instructions to al dente. Drain water and rinse pasta with cold water. Allow it to cool.
- In a large bowl whisk together pesto and Caesar dressing. Add in frozen peas, pasta, artichokes and fresh mozzarella pears. Toss gently to combine.
- Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or longer, before serving. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Make ahead and freeze
- Place pasta in two gallon sized freezer safe bags. Seal bags, removing air and freeze flat.
Thaw & Serve
- Place bag in refrigerator for at least 12 hours or up to 24 hours to thaw. Transfer to a large bowl, gently toss to combine and sprinkle with fresh parmesan cheese if desired. Serve cold.
Notes
- Pesto. The better the pesto, the better the dish. Using fresh basil pesto from the refrigerated section will result in the best taste.
- Dressing. Not all Caesar dressings taste the same. I suggest using Kraft brand Caesar dressing as that’s what I used and it turned out great!
- Mozzarella. Optionally, you can add a package of fresh mozzarella pearls to the mix to make this dish even more irresistible!
Nutrition
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About Karrie
Food is my love language. But so is saving money. So I like to combine the two a lot and make thrifty make ahead and freeze meals to save time. Because life is busy, and freezer meals can come to the rescue for all of us. And yes, they actually CAN taste good. Read more...
Comments & Reviews
Barrie says
This sounds and looks delish! I just made some pesto the other day so this is perfecT!