Creamy Caesar Pesto Pasta Salad
Creamy Caesar pesto pasta salad is an easy variation on the picnic side dish. Rotini pasta gets tossed with pesto sauce, Caesar dressing, tomatoes, olives, pine nuts, and cheese for a yummy Italian spin.
Pasta salad is a staple in the summer.
We love all sorts of varieties and variations on it.
One of my favorites has got to be this creamy Caesar pesto pasta salad.
It’s got so much flavor thanks to both the pesto and the Caesar dressing.
And it is the perfect side for picnics and barbecues or a delicious main when you want something a little lighter.
Ingredients
To make this you’ll need:
- Pasta– 12 ounces of rotini pasta. You could use another similarly sized pasta like farfelle or penne if that’s what you’ve got on hand.
- Caesar dressing– Make sure it’s the creamy kind.
- Pesto– Your favorite store bought basil pesto sauce.
- Garlic powder– Just a little
- Diced tomatoes– Roma tomatoes work well in this
- Black olives– A drained 3.8 ounce can of sliced black olives
- Parmesan cheese– Shredded
- Pine nuts– Can’t find them? Use chopped walnuts instead.
- Green onions– Thinly sliced
How to Make
This Caesar pesto pasta salad is so easy to make!
Just cook the pasta according to the package directions to al dented.
Once the pasta is done, drain it and rinse it in cold water until cool.
Set the pasta aside while you make the Caesar pesto dressing.
To make the dressing, stir the Caesar dressing, pesto, and garlic powder together until evenly combined in a large mixing bowl.
Add the pasta to the bowl and gently toss until evenly incorporated.
Stir in the remaining ingredients until everything’s evenly incorporated.
Serve immediately, or chill for 1-2 hours beforehand.
Storing Leftovers
You can store this in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Do I have to use roma tomatoes?
No, you can use other varities if you like.
Halved or quartered cherry or grape tomatoes would be a good substitute.
You could also substitute sun dried tomatoes for fresh tomatoes if you are making this when tomatoes aren’t in season.
However, I don’t recommend using regular beefsteak tomatoes because they have more pulp and seeds, which will add moisture to your salad and not yield as much tomato in each bite.
Can I use any kind of Caesar dressing?
You can use any brand but it needs to be a creamy version and NOT a vinaigrette since those are thinner.
Vinaigrette style Caesar dressing won’t give your pasta salad a creamy profile.
Tips and Tricks
- Make it a complete meal by tossing it with grilled or rotisserie chicken or grilled shrimp.
- Add fresh basil for garnish if you want.
- Not into tomatoes or olives? Skip them! Love them? Double the amount!
Other Pasta Salad Recipes
Creamy Caesar pesto pasta salad is a flavor packed summer side dish.
Make it and enjoy!
Looking for other pasta salad recipes?
Try these:
- Canned Salmon Pasta Salad
- Lemon Basil Pasta Salad
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
- Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
- Creamy Greek Pasta Salad
If you’ve tried this CAESAR PESTO PASTA SALAD, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Creamy Caesar Pesto Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 12 oz box rotini pasta
- 2/3 cup creamy caesar dressing
- 1/3 cup basil pesto sauce
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup diced roma tomatoes
- 1 3.8 oz can sliced black olives drained
- 3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup pine nuts
- 1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and rinse/toss in cold water until completely cooled. Set aside.1 12 oz box rotini pasta
- To a large mixing bowl add the dressing, pesto, and garlic then stir together until evenly combined. Add the pasta to the bowl and gently toss until evenly incorporated.2/3 cup creamy caesar dressing, 1/3 cup basil pesto sauce, 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl and gently stir until everything's evenly incorporated.1 cup diced roma tomatoes, 1 3.8 oz can sliced black olives, 3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup pine nuts, 1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions
- Serve immediately, or chill for 1-2 hours beforehand.
Notes
- Make it a complete meal by tossing it with grilled or rotisserie chicken or grilled shrimp.
- Add fresh basil for garnish if you want.
- Not into tomatoes or olives? Skip them! Love them? Double the amount!
Nutrition
recipe adapted from Together As Family
