Pesto Salad Pasta Recipe

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5 from 1 vote

Pasta, sweet peas, and grilled artichoke hearts tossed with creamy pesto dressing.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time1 20

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Bowtie Pasta Salad, Pesto Pasta Salad

Servings:

Calories: 381kcal

Author: Karrie

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

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!

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.

Nutrition