Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe
Summer is all about pasta salad! This pesto pasta salad is a new favorite in our household. Al dente pasta is tossed with crispy bacon, tomatoes, mozzarella, and arugula in a creamy pesto dressing. Perfect for your next bbq or party!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Makes: 6 - 8 servings
Ingredients
Pesto Dressing
- 2/3 cup pesto sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1 shallot, finely minced
- 1/3 cup reserved pasta water
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- salt and pepper, to taste
Pasta Salad
- 16 oz cavatappi pasta
- 12 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
- 10 strips bacon, cooked until crispy and roughly chopped
- 2 cups arugula
- 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan
- 8 oz ciliegini mozzarella, drained
Instructions
- Boil the pasta. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta to al dente (usually 2 minutes shy of package instructions). Reserve 1/3 cup of pasta water and drain the pasta. Rinse with cold water until cool. Transfer pasta to a large bowl.
- Make the pesto sauce. Whisk together all the dressing ingredients until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Assemble. Toss the pasta with dressing and the remaining ingredients. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
