Pesto Pasta Salad | Easy Fresh Pesto Pasta Salad with Tomatoes & Mozzarella

Pesto pasta salad
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Pesto pasta salad is one of those effortless dishes that always delivers big flavour with minimal fuss. Tossed with a vibrant, herby pesto and plenty of fresh, crunchy add‑ins, it’s the kind of recipe that works just as well for a quick lunch as it does for picnics, BBQs or easy weeknight dinners. Light, colourful and endlessly adaptable, this pasta salad is a guaranteed crowd‑pleaser — simple to make, full of flavour and perfect for using up whatever fresh bits you have in the fridge.

Serving Suggestions for Pesto Pasta Salad

  • Garlic bread or cheesy ciabatta
  • Grilled chicken, sliced and served warm or cold
  • Crispy bacon or pancetta crumbled over the top
  • Green salad with lemon vinaigrette
  • Prosciutto or salami for a deli‑style twist
  • Toasted pine nuts for crunch
  • Lemon wedges to brighten everything

Variations: Pesto Pasta Salad

  • Pesto Pasta Salad with Chicken — add cooked chicken for extra protein and a more filling meal.
  • Pesto Pasta Salad with Bacon — mix in crispy bacon for smoky savoury contrast.
  • Pesto Pasta Salad with Spinach — fold in fresh spinach for colour and a soft, leafy texture.
  • Pesto Pasta Salad with Rocket — add rocket for peppery sharpness that balances the pesto.
  • Pesto Pasta Salad with Peas — stir in peas for gentle sweetness and bright colour.
  • Pesto Pasta Salad with Sweetcorn — add sweetcorn for pops of sweetness that lighten the dish.
  • Pesto Pasta Salad with Broccoli — include small broccoli florets for freshness and extra veg.
  • Pesto Pasta Salad with Courgette — add sliced or grilled courgette for a summery twist.
  • Pesto Pasta Salad with Olives — mix in olives for salty, briny depth.
  • Pesto Pasta Salad with Sun‑Dried Tomatoes — add chopped sun‑dried tomatoes for tangy richness.
  • Pesto Pasta Salad with Feta — crumble feta for salty, creamy contrast to the pesto.
  • Pesto Pasta Salad with Mozzarella — use extra mozzarella for a softer, milky finish.
  • Pesto Pasta Salad with Lemon — add lemon zest or juice for a bright, citrusy lift.
  • Pesto Pasta Salad with Chilli — sprinkle chilli flakes for gentle heat that cuts through the richness.
  • Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad — stir in extra a spoon of mayo or yoghurt for a silkier, creamier dressing

Pesto Pasta Salad

Pesto pasta salad with colourful vegetables, mozzarella chunks and glossy pesto dressing, creating a bright, fresh bowl that looks herby, crunchy and perfect for lunches, BBQs or picnics
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Salad, Side
Cuisine British
Servings 4 people

Equipment

  • Saucepan
  • Colander

Ingredients
  

  • 400 g dried pasta
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp green pesto
  • 3 tbsp light mayonnaise
  • 1 red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 pepper, red or yellow, deseeded and finely sliced
  • cherry tomatoes, quartered
  • pitted olives, drained and halved
  • pickled gherkins, sliced
  • 1 mozzarella ball, cut into small chunks

Instructions
 

  • Cook your pasta according the packets instructions.  When cooked, drain in a colander, rinse under cold water and allow to drain completely
  • Transfer the pasta to a large bowl and add the olive oil, pesto, pinch of salt and pepper and mix together
  • Add the mayonnaise, onion, tomatoes, olives, peppers, gherkins and mozzarella.  Mix together to ensure all is covered and season to taste.