Cold pasta salad with basil pesto and cherry tomatoes is popular in various regions around the world, especially in countries with a Mediterranean influence.
Pasta salad is one of those dishes that never goes out of style, and this basil pesto cherry tomato version is as bright and delicious as it is easy to make. With just a few ingredients, you can create a flavorful, colorful side or light main that tastes like summer in a bowl.
At the heart of this salad is a rich, garlicky basil pesto that coats every bite of pasta with herby goodness. Whether you use store-bought pesto or make your own, it pairs perfectly with the natural sweetness and juiciness of cherry tomatoes. The contrast between the creamy, savory pesto and the bursting freshness of tomatoes is simply irresistible.
Choose a short pasta like fusilli, penne, or farfalle – anything with nooks and crannies that can catch the pesto. Cook the pasta until al dente, rinse it under cool water, and toss it with olive oil to prevent sticking. Then comes the magic: mix in your pesto, halved cherry tomatoes, and a handful of grated Parmesan or crumbled feta for some creamy, salty depth.
If you want to bulk it up, you can add extras like grilled chicken, chickpeas, mozzarella pearls, or arugula. A drizzle of balsamic glaze on top also adds a tangy finish that balances the richness of the pesto beautifully.
This pasta salad travels well, making it a hit at barbecues, potlucks, or packed lunches. It’s just as good cold as it is at room temperature, and the flavors get even better as they sit. You can prepare it ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days – just give it a quick toss before serving.
Fresh, fast, and full of flavor, basil pesto cherry tomato pasta salad is one of those recipes you’ll come back to again and again. It’s proof that simple ingredients can make truly standout meals.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/4 cup Basil leaves chopped, fresh
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
- In a food processor, combine the basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. Pulse until finely chopped.
- With the motor running, slowly pour in the olive oil until the pesto is smooth and well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- In a large bowl, toss the cooked pasta with the cherry tomatoes and basil pesto until well coated.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for later. Enjoy!
I don’t like tomatoes much, could I leave them out? I ain’t good with cooking, so looking for advice!
Just made this and my kids loved it! I added some grilled chicken for protein!
Wow, this is like a party in my mouth! 10/10 recommend!
This turned out way better than I expected—bright, garlicky, and not heavy. Rinsing the pasta with cold water was key so it didn’t get mushy. Will definitely make again!
Pretty tasty, but mine came out a bit oily. I think I poured the olive oil a little too fast. Next time I’ll drizzle more slowly and taste for salt earlier.
Yum! This is my new go-to pasta salad! Can’t believe how easy it was to make. 🥳
I’m so glad you liked it! It’s such a refreshing dish, perfect for summer ☀️.
Easy recipe! I didn’t have pine nuts, so I used walnuts instead. Still turned out great!
Delicious but too many steps for just a pasta salad. I preferred my old recipe.
I totally get that! Some recipes just feel like too much work for a simple meal. But the flavors in this one are really worth it, I think!
Not my favorite. The pesto was way too garlicky for my taste. Next time I’ll use less garlic. 🤢
I actually love garlic, but I guess everyone has different taste buds! 😄 Maybe try adding some lemon juice next time for a refreshing twist.
I’m not sure about this. Seems a bit too basic for my taste. Can you add more spices? I give it a 3.
This pasta salad is a hit! So fresh and tasty. Definitely making it again for summer picnics!
I dunno, I thought it would be better. The flavors were kinda bland for me.
Too much cheese! I like parmesan but this was overwhelming. Next time, I’ll use less.
I followed the recipe but my pesto turned out kinda chunky. What did I do wrong? 😕
I’m skeptical about the food processor method—every time I do pesto it turns out like paste. But this one actually worked after pulsing longer. Weirdly good.
OMG, the flavors are out of this world! I added some grilled chicken for protein and it was perfect!
That sounds amazing! Grilled chicken is such a great addition. I’ll try it next time!
I don’t know, isn’t basil kinda strong? I prefer just a simple tomato sauce. But good for you!
Too much garlic for my taste. Next time I’ll only put one garlic clove.
Eh, pasta is pasta. Nothing special. Would rather eat plain noodles. 1 star.
I think you’re missing out! This salad packs so much flavor. The pesto makes all the difference! 5 stars from me!
Pasta is pasta? 🤨 I dunno, seems pretty bland to me. Have you tried it with the pesto? I like it!
I don’t know if I did something wrong, but mine came out kinda bland. Maybe I need more salt? 🤔
I think adding more salt could definitely help! Sometimes a little more seasoning makes all the difference. Don’t give up; you’ll nail it next time! 😊
Bland? Really? That’s surprising! Maybe your basil wasn’t fresh enough or you forgot the cheese? Just a thought!
Made this for my kids, they said it was ‘yum’! Nothing left after dinner.
That’s awesome! My kids loved it too. Thanks for sharing!
Pasta salad is supposed to be cold, right? I made it warm and it just didn’t work for me. 🙁
Love the fresh basil flavor! I added grilled chicken to make it a meal. So good!
This dish made my whole kitchen smell like heaven! Will definitely make again. 🥳
This pasta salad is sooo good! The pesto is full of flavor and the cherry tomatoes give it a nice fresh touch.
Pasta salad??? Looks like a hot mess, no offense. Me and my family will stick to regular pasta.
What kind of pasta is rotini? Is it like spaghetti? Not sure if I can find it in my store.
It was ok but kinda plain. Needs more flavor or something.
Very simple yet delicious! My kids loved it, even the picky eater!
Why do you put pine nuts? They are way too expensive! Any alternatives?
Yum! Simple and delicious. Even my kids liked it and they usually don’t eat anything green!
I’m glad your kids liked it! It’s always a win when you can sneak in some greens. I’m gonna try it with different nuts next time!
Pasta salad?? Sounds fancy but is it really that easy? I don’t believe my kids will eat it. They are picky eaters 🤔.
This recipe is fantastic! The pesto is so fresh and the cherry tomatoes add a burst of flavor. Definitely a 5-star dish!
I don’t know about that, I found it too oily for my taste. Maybe you used more oil than the recipe calls for?
2 words: absolutely yum.
Yum! Just made this for a picnic and everyone loved it! Will make again!
So glad to hear that! This salad is perfect for picnics! 🌞
This was okay, but I feel like it needed more seasoning. I added some Italian herbs and it helped a bit.
I used walnuts instead of pine nuts since that’s what I had. Still tasted great! 👍
The food processor step is clutch. I’m lazy so I used pre-chopped garlic and it still turned out flavorful. Would recommend.
This is so good and easy! I added chicken for protein and it became a full meal!
I’m so glad you liked it! Adding chicken is a great idea for extra protein. What kind of chicken did you use?
Sounds yummy! But I think pasta salad is better as a side. Chicken in it makes it like… a whole thing! 😅
This pasta salad is sooo good! The pesto is super fresh and the cherry tomatoes add a nice touch. Definitely a keeper!
This was easy to make! My cooking skills are very low but I managed to pull it off. Thanks for the recipe!
I dunno… Seems too complicated for what it is. Pasta is pasta and I’d rather just pour sauce on.
I get what you’re saying, but this pasta salad is really fresh and tasty! Once you try it, you’ll see it’s worth the effort. 😊
Honestly, I didn’t like it. I’m not a fan of basil and the nuts made it weird. Just my opinion!
Wait, I thought basil was just for decor! This recipe is a revelation. So simple yet so good.
Absolutely delicious! I made this for a picnic and everyone loved it. Will definitely make again!
So simple but sooo good! I might have added too much cheese, whoops! 😂
Why do you need pine nuts? They are too expensive. Can we use walnuts instead?
Not bad, but I forgot the salt and it was ehhh. Remember that folks!
I totally feel you! Salt makes such a difference. Gotta be careful with those little things.
Uhm I rinsed the pasta too much and it turned kinda slick 😅 Tastes okay but next time I’ll be more careful. Probably my fault. 6/10.
Easy and delicious! Perfect for a summer picnic. Will make again!
This is too much basil! I thought it would be milder. Maybe leave it out next time.
I actually love the basil! It gives it such a fresh taste. Maybe try a different recipe next time if you want it milder.
Not sure why you make a big deal out of making your own pesto. Store-bought is just fine! Plus, much easier.
Pasta is too mushy, I guess I cooked it too long or something.
It was alright, but I think it could use more garlic. I also prefer sun-dried tomatoes instead of fresh ones. Just my opinion.
This pasta salad is so fresh and tasty! Loved the basil pesto combo!
This pasta salad is amazing! The pesto is fresh and super flavorful. Will definitely make again!
I don’t know if I did something wrong, but mine turned out really dry. Maybe more olive oil next time?
I wish it had a bit of kick. Maybe some red pepper flakes next time!
Yum! I added some grilled chicken to it and it was perfect. Thanks for sharing!
I dunno, grilled chicken? Isn’t that a bit much for pasta salad? Just stick to the basics, right?
Grilled chicken sounds amazing! I never thought to add that. Might give it a try! 👍
Honestly… pretty bland for me. I followed it exactly, but I ended up adding extra salt and pepper and a dash of chili flakes. Maybe my parmesan wasn’t salty enough.
Bland?? mine was pretty punchy with enough salt. If your parm wasn’t salty, yeah that’ll do it. Did you measure the parmesan by weight or just scoop it? Also chili flakes are the move 😄
I feel you. This looks like a “let the ingredients shine” kind of salad, but if your tomatoes or parmesan are mild, it can taste flat. Next time I’d add more parmesan *and* salt to the pasta water, not just at the end.
This was so fresh and summery—love how the basil pesto clings to the rotini. I added a squeeze of lemon and it really popped.
How do you make pesto without a food processor? I don’t have one and really wanna try this!
Made this for lunch and it’s honestly so fresh—those cherry tomatoes pop and the pesto clings to the rotini perfectly. I used a little extra parmesan and it was great.
Sounds good but I’m confused—do you really need to rinse with cold water? I usually skip that step and it still turns out fine. Also I didn’t have pine nuts so I used walnuts… was it still supposed to be kinda “clumpy”?
Totally agree—my cherry tomatoes did the same thing. I love how the pesto actually coats the rotini instead of sliding off. Next time I’m doing your extra-parmesan move!
This is a fantastic recipe! The basil pesto adds that perfect zing to the pasta. My kids loved it!
Pasta salad? I thought it was a soup recipe. What an idiot I am!
No worries! We all make mistakes. This salad sounds delicious tho!
Yummy! I used a different pasta and it still worked. I could eat this every day!!
Looks easy, but I didn’t think it turned out as tasty as I hoped. Too much garlic for my taste.
Not too sure about the pine nuts. They are so expensive. Can I use almonds instead?
Not sure if I did something wrong, because the flavor felt a bit salty to me (maybe my parmesan was strong?). Still tasty though, especially the garlicky bite.
I didn’t understand why you need to rinse the pasta. Isn’t that for Asian noodles? 😕
Rinsing pasta helps cool it down and stops it from cooking. It’s not just for Asian noodles! It’s actually pretty common in salads. 😊
Made it for a potluck and it disappeared fast. Pine nuts can be pricey, but the flavor is worth it. Next time I’ll double the parmesan.
I made it but mine was a little greasy, I think my pesto oil ratio was off. Still pretty good though—maybe use less olive oil next time. Also, I subbed walnuts since pine nuts were $$$.
Totally get it—this tastes like it’s gone before you can even grab seconds. I also doubled the parmesan once and it made it richer (and the potluck crowd approved).
I made this but forgot the pine nuts 🤦🏻♀️. Still tasted pretty alright, but not sure I’d call it pesto without them. Oops.