This easy Mediterranean pesto pasta salad recipe comes together in minutes and is perfect to go along with that summer BBQ! It’s loaded with lots of delicious ingredients, like basil pesto, black olives, sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes and feta. It’s sure to disappear fast!
Hi friends! Sharing a super simple pesto pasta salad recipe. Well, not just any pasta salad recipe. It’s a Mediterranean pasta salad with feta. So yummy!
What I love about this time of year is the casual cooking, especially being out on the deck grilling and taking in the lovely weather (when we can here in Newfoundland).
I don’t know about you, but I always, always, go for any side on my plate before I reach for the main. It’s not even a conscious thing, I just love them.
Whenever I think of summer eats, pasta salad always comes to mind. This one is surely gonna make your belly happy!
Fan of pasta salad recipes? Try this Greek pasta salad!
Why We Love This Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe
- Comes together in about 20 minutes!
- Great potluck recipe for summer get-togethers
- Jam-packed with flavour
- “Pesto pasta salad” is super fun to say, LOL.
Type of Pasta To Use
I used rotini, which is something I most often use for pasta salad recipes. However, a similarly sized pasta works great too. Penne, fusilli, cavatappi or even elbow macaroni are other great pasta options.
How Should I Cook Pasta?
Normally, when I cook pasta, I cook it until it’s “al dente” (according to the package instructions) so that it still has a little bite. However, when cooking pasta to be used in a pasta salad recipe, I always cook a little bit more, like a minute or two after al dente.
Why? Because pasta salad is meant to be enjoyed cooler. When pasta cools, it firms up a little. If you cook the pasta until al dente, then it will be extra toothsome or firm when eating.
Having said that, if you enjoy pasta being on the firmer side, by all means, do what you like best.
Should I Rinse The Pasta?
There’s no need to rinse cooked pasta under cold water. Instead, drain pasta, toss with a tiny bit of olive oil and spread on a baking tray to cool.
Now, if you’re in a pinch, it’s okay to rinse the pasta to cool down.
Can I Use Gluten Free Pasta?
Absolutely! Just sub in your favourite gluten-free pasta for the regular variety.
Can I Make Pasta Salad Ahead of Time?
I love to enjoy this pasta salad right away, but you can make up to a day ahead and properly store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Because pesto has oil in it, it may seize up a bit in the fridge. When ready to enjoy, remove the basil pasta salad from the refrigerator and allow to sit out 10 to 15 minutes before enjoying so the pesto may loosen.
What To Serve With Pasta Salad
What can’t ya serve with this pasta salad?! It goes delicious with so many things, like:
- Kabobs
- Grilled chicken
- BBQ steak
- Fish, like halibut or cod (or your favourite variety)
- Have with soup for a soup and salad lunch situation
- Nice, toasty grilled bread
- Sandwich, burger or wrap
- With a slice of your pizza or flatbread
Or you could simply enjoy this Mediterranean pesto pasta salad as is and call it a day!
Tips and Variations
- If you like more of a particular ingredient, say, sun-dried tomatoes, add more! If you like less, add a little less. There’s no right or wrong here.
- Don’t forget to season your pasta water with salt when cooking. It infuses the pasta with flavour!
- Want things looser (i.e., saucier), but don’t want to add more pesto? Try a tiny splash or two of water.
- I used about ¾ of a pound of pasta, or roughly 4 cups (uncooked). Brands of pasta could vary in package size, so just keep that in mind when preparing this recipe.
- Mix it up! Fresh basil, baby spinach or baby kale would also work instead of baby arugula.
- Trying to keep things dairy free? Use dairy-free pesto and omit the feta.
- I used store-bought basil pesto, but you could totally use homemade if you prefer.
- If you really enjoy arugula, try this arugula pesto instead of basil pesto.
More Yummy Summer Salads
- Apple and Gouda Mixed Green Salad
- Pearl Couscous Salad
- Cantaloupe Salad With Grilled Halloumi Cheese
If you make this easy pasta salad recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!
Mediterranean Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 ounces dried rotini pasta, about ¾ pound or 4 cups of dried pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ to 1 cup basil pesto, depending on how much sauce you want
- ⅓ cup red wine vinegar, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
- ⅓ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes in oil, tomatoes drained from oil
- ⅓ cup kalamata olives, pitted and sliced or roughly chopped
- ⅓ cup marinated artichoke hearts, drained and roughly chopped
- ¼ cup minced fresh chives
- 2 to 3 cups baby arugula, loosely packed (about 2 to 3 handfuls)
- ½ cup cubed feta cheese, or you can crumble if you prefer
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions (a little more than al dente as pasta will firm up as it cools). Drain well and toss with olive oil (to prevent noodles from sticking together) and spread out onto a baking sheet to cool while you're preparing remainder of ingredients. OR, in a pinch, drain, rinse with cold water and drain again.
- Place cooked pasta in a large bowl, stir in pesto (start with ¾ cup). Then stir in red wine vinegar, salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, marinated artichoke hearts and chives. Note: if you want things more saucy, stir in remaining ¼ cup of basil pesto.
- Stir in arugula.
- Finally, stir in feta. Serve and enjoy!
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Patty at Spoonabilities
What an amazing and quick meal idea! Love love love feta cheese, so I’m sold!!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you so much. 🙂 Love feta cheese too!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
Love everything about this salad! It would be a great side for anything off the grill, but I would also love it in the fridge for a tasty lunch all on its own 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Yes! Thank you Jennifer 🙂
Valentina
Dawn, this is my favorite type of meal to make for a big crowd — for at home, or to bring somewhere. And the flavor combination here is so delicious and summery! I love it. 🙂 ~Valentina
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Yay! Thank you very much, Valentina 🙂
David @ Spiced
This salad is totally calling my name right now, Dawn! I love pesto pasta, and I love Mediterranean flavors…so the combination here is perfection! I could see this one showing up next to all sorts of yummy grilled foods. I hear ya on the side dishes, too. I usually attack those first! Hope you have a great week ahead, my friend! 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Woo hoo! Thank you David! You too 🙂
Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes
I like to think of this dish as a collection of all of my favourite ingredients in one bowl.
GORGEOUS, Dawn! What a fantastic dish and combination of flavours.
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thanks so very much, Alexandra!!
Matt - Total Feasts
Pasta, pesto, olives, feta and artichokes! These are a few of my favourite things Dawn, and you put them all in one dish. Love it!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thanks Matt 🙂
Haylie / Our Balanced Bowl
Lol! So agree that Pesto Pasta Salad is fun to say…try saying it 3x fast! LOL! But really, this salad looks amazing! So packed full of fresh and delicious flavors! pair it with a glass of vino and I’m set! YUM! Have a wonderful weekend, friend!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Right? Thank you Haylie! Have a great week!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
I love this pasta salad. My favorite are the sun dried tomatoes and the feta! They both add such great flavors. This is a perfect BBQ potluck dish!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Totally! Thank you Kathy 🙂
Katherine | Love In My Oven
You may call it a side dish but I would absolutely eat this as a main!!! Pesto pasta salad is super fun to say, too 😉 I am growing some basil in my backyard so once it’s ready I can whip it up into a pesto sauce!! Yum!
Kevin
Perfect summer side dish, or for anytime of the year! All the flavors are amazing together in this too!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
I like the way you think 😉 Thank you Katherine!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
I love when one dish includes all of my favorites–feta, pasta, PESTO! I don’t even need to bother with a main because this would be dinner right here :). It looks amazing, Dawn!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Woo hoo! Thank you Kelsie 🙂
Ben|Havocinthekitchen
Perfect pasta salad with all my favourite ingredients (Sun-dried tomatoes and feta particularly)! Simple, light, yet super sattsfying and packed with flavour and texture. And this ‘Pesto pasta salad’ sounds super fan indeed, especially when repeated many times and fast 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Yay! Thanks Ben 🙂 So fun, right??
Leanne
I’m all about the side dishes too, and pasta salads are a must when having a crowd over, especially for backyard grilling! I’m loving the pesto and Mediterranean ingredients in this one! Pinning and can’t wait to try soon! And ps. I’m so happy summer finally arrived here! I’ve been glued to my back deck (when I’m not blowing away, of course!) Happy almost weekend Dawn!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Totally! Thanks Leanne! Hope you love it 🙂
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
I always go for the sides first too Dawn! And I know this one would disappear fast at all our backyard bbq’s. Love the entire list of ingredients. Pinned! Happy weekend!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you Mary Ann 🙂
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For some reason, we’ve had ,more pasta salad than ever this summer and now I can’t wait to add this to the list!! All my favorite flavors in one glorious bowl! Happy weekend, my friend! xoxo
Jo Thrasher • Jo Eats
I love a non mayo based pasta salad. This one looks fab!