Recipes Main Dishes Pasta Pesto Pasta Recipes 8 Pesto Pasta Salads to Kickstart Your Summer By Noel Christmas Noel Christmas Noel Christmas spent 12 years as a professional cook and another 10 years as a food writer for Allrecipes.com, turning professional techniques and recipes into approachable household standards. Allrecipes' editorial guidelines Published on April 19, 2021 Close Could anything start the sun-filled world of outdoor barbecues, cookouts, and picnics quite like a refreshing pesto pasta salad? Here are 6 tasty ways to kick off your summer dinners. Whether it's a cheesy-filled tortellini pasta, a walnut-based pesto, or a quinoa salad, all options are flavor-filled, simple to prepare, and taste better with time (just not too much time). Run, don't walk to try these convenient salads, because jarred pesto can taste just like homemade with the right ingredients. 01 of 08 Pesto Pasta Caprese Salad View Recipe Buckwheat Queen Rave Review: "Easy to make and I like the fact that the dressing is made fresh and not from a bottle."—Dana from Murrieta Similar: Caprese Farro Salad 02 of 08 Maya's Perfect Pesto Pasta Salad View Recipe "My 10-year-old daughter Maya and I created this easy but delicious pasta salad, featuring her favorite pesto flavors. This salad is great as the center of a light dinner, or as a side dish," says mpkneip Similar: Tri-Colored Pasta with Feta Cheese 03 of 08 Tortellini Pesto Salad View Recipe Rave Review: "This was a huge hit at a family gathering. It had a unique flavor that had everyone asking for the recipe."—Emily Related: 16 Ways to Turn Store-Bought Tortellini Into Dinner 04 of 08 Parsley Walnut Pesto Quinoa Salad View Recipe Photo by LilSnoo. Rave Review: "Seriously amazing. I love how healthy this is and can't wait to eat the leftovers for lunch tomorrow!"—LilSnoo You Might Like: 13 Fresh Takes on Basic Homemade Pesto 05 of 08 Scrumptious Salad! View Recipe Rave Review: "The flavors of unique ingredients such as mango and sun-dried tomatoes come together in this scrumptious salad for some excitement for your tastebuds! This can also be served as a light entree." — irumluvstocook Try This: Creamy Avocado Pesto 06 of 08 Pesto Surprise View Recipe "Need a quick salad for a picnic? Or potluck? This is perfect and fast!" — Renee Kralic 07 of 08 Roasted Veggie Pesto Pasta Salad View Recipe "Yep, it's a mouthful to say and a mouthful of flavor!" — Amanda 08 of 08 Fabulous Pesto Pasta Salad View Recipe Rave Review: "A wonderfully light, clean, refreshing, anytime salad. I totally agree with other reviewers, way better the next day!" — SEAHAGTOY Find more pesto sauce recipes here. Updated by Emily Boyette Emily Boyette Emily Boyette is a highly qualified editor within the food media industry with eight-plus years of experience. From galleries and listicles to recipe manuscripts and articles, her knowledge of cooking goes beyond text. Emily is a writer for Allrecipes. Learn about our editorial guidelines Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit