Cold Pesto Veggie Pasta
A refreshing and healthy Cold Pesto Veggie Pasta, perfect for summer meals. It’s loaded with crisp vegetables and tossed in a flavorful pesto sauce.
- Author: sarra
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
- 12 oz pasta (rotini or penne)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1 cup bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped (optional)
- 3/4 cup pesto sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, black olives, and shredded carrots.
- Add the pesto sauce and toss until everything is well coated.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving for best flavor.
- Garnish with fresh basil before serving, if desired.
Notes
- Use whole wheat or gluten-free pasta for dietary needs.
- Homemade pesto gives the freshest flavor, but store-bought works great too.
- This dish can be made a day in advance and stored in the fridge.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
Keywords: cold pesto pasta, veggie pasta salad, summer pasta, vegetarian pasta