Pesto Pasta Salad (bowtie)
Creamy Pasta Salad with Pesto Dressing is a quick and easy pasta salad side dish that is bursting with flavor and perfect as a summer side dish...and how can it not be? Just use store bought pesto as the base to this nearly homemade dressing, bowtie pasta shells and bits of fresh vegetables for a budget friendly summer salad. Super creamy, the dressing keeps the salad light with just olive oil, mayo and Parmesan and the bright flavors of pesto and crunchy pine nut make it the star of the entire BBQ or picnic.
Servings: 6
Calories: 303kcal
Ingredients
- 1 box 12 oz. farfalle pasta
- 1/2 cup prepared pesto
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 cup chopped fresh spinach
- 1 cup grape tomatoes quartered
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
Instructions
- Cook farfalle pasta according to package directions. Farfalle pasta is the same thing as bowtie or butterfly pasta and works great to hold heavy pesto dressing.
- Drain pasta completely of boiled water and rinse with cold water to cool before moving on. Make sure pasta has no excess water.
- In a separate bowl, add store bought jarred pesto, mayonnaise, grated Parmesan cheese, water, olive oil and mix dressing well.
- Pour pesto dressing over pasta and mix well to evenly coat all of the pasta sides.
- Add chopped spinach and grape tomatoes and toss again to combine all ingredients.
- Optionally add a little salt and cracked pepper prior to serving.
- Put in fridge for a few hours to get cold.
- Serve pasta salad topped with pine nuts or one of the other suggestions in the recipe.
Video
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 303kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 311mg | Potassium: 112mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 329IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 144mg | Iron: 1mg