This cold vegan pesto pasta salad is made with vegan pesto & pumpkin seeds for extra flavor & crunch. Tossed with tomatoes, cucumbers & crunchy veggies!
This cold vegan pesto pasta salad is the perfect thing for warm summer days or picnics! This refreshing chilled pesto pasta salad with a vegan pesto is a tasty make ahead meal and can be served as a side or main dish. Make this during the summer months or for National Macaroni Day which falls right in the middle of July!
Types of Pasta for Pasta Salad:
- Cavatappi
- Bow tie
- Fusilli
- Rigatoni
- Penne
- any other short cut pasta
Tips for Cold Vegan Pesto Pasta Salad:
- rinse your pasta after cooking to get rid of excess starch
- lightly drizzle olive oil onto your pasta and toss together if not serving immediately. This keeps them from sticking together.
- store in the fridge to serve cold
- wait until right before serving to dress your pasta with the vegan pesto
Add your choice of colorful, crunchy veggies to give your pasta salad more flavor and crunch. I opted for cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, and bell peppers. Next add in your pesto and give it a gentle stir.
Here's an amazing recipe for a Vegan Pumpkin Seed Pesto made with basil and parsley!
Try this Vegan Pumpkin Seed Pesto with basil and parsley
If you're not serving the cold vegan pesto pasta salad immediately, chill in the fridge and wait to add the pesto right before serving. This helps keep your pesto bright green since it's exposed to less air in its container. Make sure when storing pesto, to drizzle a thin layer of olive oil on top to keep the top from oxidizing.
I hope you make this cold vegan pesto pasta salad! Please share, rate, and comment below. I’d love to hear from you!
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Recipe
Cold Vegan Pesto Pasta Salad
☑ Ingredients
- 10 ounces macaroni pasta - or other pasta shape
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil - extra virgin
- ¾ cup vegan basil parsley pesto sauce
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes - cut in half
- ¾ cup cucumbers - sliced
- ¾ cup bell peppers - chopped
- ¼ cup red onions - diced
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil your pasta according to its directions. Drain and rinse under water to get rid of excess starch. If serving later, lightly drizzle one tablespoon of olive oil onto your pasta to keep them from sticking together.
- Add the pasta, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and red onion into a large bowl. Keep in the refrigerator with plastic wrap until ready to serve cold. Gently toss with the vegan pesto sauce and serve immediately.
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is an estimate, calculated using online tools.
Frida
I love this recipe! It is really fresh and delicious, and easy to make.
We had some homegrown herbs that we used for the pesto, and I also added some celery into the salad for an extra bit of crunch.
It was a real hit between myself (a vegan) and my friends who usually need to have some meat with their meals.
Jayde
This worked so well at our latest grill night! We grilled some veggies and served them alongside this delicious pasta salad. A filling and satisfying meal! And it looks so pretty on the plate.
Jamie
Hi Jayde! That sounds delicious with grilled veggies. So glad you liked it! 🙂
Tisah
Look how gorgeous those colors are! Makes for a great side dish!
Jamie
Thank you Tisah! I hope you love it!
Dannii
I bet this would go down so well at a bbq. Can’t wait to try it
Jamie
Yes absolutely! It would make a great side at a bbq! Hope you enjoy it Dannii!
Veena Azmanov
This is so colorful and the combinations amazing. Love the pesto option to it. Truly yum.
Jamie
Thank you Veena! I hope you enjoy it!
Patty at Spoonabilities
All the colors and flavors in this are amazing! I love pasta salads - they are so perfect for hot summer days!
Jamie
Thank you Patty! Yes I've had this a few times already this summer! 🙂
Danielle
Ah, this is THE salad that is healthy, crunchy and looking so fine. Definitely something I could make at home and take with me for a summer party. Just need to buy a few ingredients for it.
Jamie
Thank you Danielle! I hope you enjoy it! 🙂