Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe

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This sun-dried tomato pesto pasta salad is so easy to make. This easy side dish is a crowd pleaser that can be thrown together in under 20 minutes and makes a great addition to a summer party or family get-together. The best part is that it only needs 4 ingredients!

Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta Salad recipe

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What Goes in a Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta Salad?

This amazing dish only requires a few simple ingredients easily found at the local grocery store::

  • 8oz (228g) of your favorite pasta (measured dry)
  • 1/4 cup basil pesto
  • 1/3 cup sundried tomatoes (drained, and cut into pieces)
  • 1/2 cup artichoke hearts (drained, and cut into pieces)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional – freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil to garnish
what's goes in Sun-Dried Tomato and basil Pesto Pasta Salad

How to Make Pesto Pasta Salad 

First, cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water according to the instructions on the box.  When it comes to pasta for this easy pasta salad you can use any type of pasta that you like. We are using brown rice gluten-free pasta, you can find it here. This pasta requires 9 minutes to cook and you want to leave the pasta slightly al dente. Next, use a strainer to drain the cooked pasta and rinse with cold water. 

gluten free pasta salad recipe

Place the pasta into a large bowl and add the pesto. We make our own pesto but you can use store-bought pesto if you don’t have homemade. Or check out how to make fresh homemade pesto here: Homemade Pesto Recipe

Add the artichoke hearts and sundried tomatoes to the bowl. It’s okay if a little bit of the sun-dried tomato oil goes into the pasta salad. This little bit of extra oil from the sundried tomatoes adds a nice flavor. But make sure that too much oil doesn’t go in. The basil pesto is already made with extra virgin olive oil so a little goes a long way as it is. A little is okay, a lot is not.

easy pasta salad for summer

Add salt and pepper, or red pepper flakes to taste and stir to fully coat the pasta with the pesto sauce and combine the flavors. 

how to make basil pesto Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta Salad

Homemade Easy Artichoke Pesto Pasta Salad

Garnish with a little freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves.

creamy pesto pasta salad recipe

This sun-dried tomato and basil pesto pasta salad can be served at room temperature or as a cold pasta salad.  Store in an airtight container and serve it with your favorite summer meal.  Turn this pasta salad into a main dish with the addition of your favorite protein.

Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta Salad

FAQs and Variations

Can I add fresh mozzarella to this pesto pasta salad?

Absolutely, Sometimes we add mozzarella, other times we add a little red onion or grape tomatoes. This recipe is extremely flexible.

Is this similar to a Greek pasta salad recipe?

Yes, somewhat. To make this more of a Greek pasta salad you can add feta cheese, red bell peppers, and kalamata olives. 

Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe

Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 4 minutes
Cook Time: 9 minutes
Additional Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes

This sun-dried tomato pesto pasta salad is so easy to make. This easy side dish is a crowd pleaser and can be made with just 4 ingredients and in under 20 minutes.

Ingredients

  • 8oz (228g) of your favorite pasta (measured dry)
  • 1/4 cup basil pesto
  • 1/3 cup sundried tomatoes (drained, and cut into pieces)
  • 1/2 cup artichoke hearts (drained, and cut into pieces)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional - freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil to garnish

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to instructions. Leave it slightly al dente.
  2. Drain pasta and rinse with cold water.
  3. Combine cooked pasta, basil pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, and artichoke hearts in a large bowl.
  4. Stir to combine
  5. Garnish with freshly grated parmesan and enjoy.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 158Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 193mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 5g

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