One of my favorite pasta salads to make and eat is a cold pesto penne pasta filled with sweet peas and artichoke hearts in a creamy pesto dressing. Each time I prepare this salad it brings me back to when I was in 7th grade and my friends and I would go to Seattle’s famous Paglicacci’s pizza on University Avenue. I would order a slice of cheese pizza, a small pesto salad, and a diet coke. For over 20 years I have loved Paglicacci’s pesto pasta salad and relish it when we make it at home. This salad is incredibly easy and simple to make. The basil pesto dressing magically transforms this pasta salad into the perfect side dish or a meal of its own. Either way I think you’ll agree this pesto pasta salad is perfect in it’s simple glory. Enjoy!
Pesto Salad Pasta Recipe
Serves 6
Ingredients:
16 oz box (1 lb) of penne pasta
1 cup of homemade pesto or store bought.
1/2 cup of mayonnaise
1 cup of frozen sweet peas
16 oz can artichoke hearts, quartered
*Optional: 1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
In a small bowl mix pesto sauce and mayonnaise together and set aside.
Prepare penne pasta according to package instructions to al dente. Drain pasta well and toss in a large bowl. Add frozen peas to pasta and toss with pesto dressing until everything is well mixed and coated.
Gently fold in artichoke hearts and allow the salad to cool in the refrigerator for 20 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese prior to serving. Enjoy!
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{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
This salad sounds delicious and refreshing – a great summer dish!
That looks really, really good right now! I wish I had some for lunch today!
Pasta salad looks hearty and fulfilling, delicious! love the color!
This is definitely a keeper. I love pesto and pasta. What better day to have the two in a salad way.
Lucky me I made pesto and found your pasta salad idea on the same day! Perfect for dinner on a hot night. Thanks!
Can pasta salad be dreamy? After reading this recipe and ogling your photos, I know it’s possible.
delicious and summery! I’ll have some thanks!
This looks fantastic I love every single flavour, picture is very tasty looking.
Such a delicious recipe. This is something I could eat everyday.
How delicious does this look! I’m going to make this for my other half. He will totally love it:)
Ha! I too have been eating this salad for about 15 years, I LOVE it. Wouldn’t you know I have a bag of peas in my freezer I was just this minute trying to figure out what to do with!
This looks beautiful! I love both pesto and peas and this sounds like a great combo of this.
Now that is my kind of pasta salad!! I love all things pesto but in this cold salad just kicks it up a level
I cant wait to try this!!!
Yum! I love everything in this salad and putting them all together looks so delicious. Wonderful salad.
Great blog and post, keep it up i will be subscribing to your feed!
really enjoyed reading this
Can you make this the night before or does it get too mushy?
I made this salad to accompany my mom’s famous teriyaki burgers for a small family barbecue recently. So delicious!!! I love all your recipes!
I made this last night and it is delicious! Just had it for lunch, too. Yummy.
I hate peas!! Can I subsutute anything or leave them out??
Hi Lisa,
Yes, you can omit them entirely or substitute with anything you like. I’ve omitted the peas and substituted with sun dried tomatoes.
I am planning to make this for our get together on the 4th. It is appealing to the eye and the palate. I can’t wait to make it!!
I worked at Pagliacci’s for years and I think you nailed it. I also like the mayo + pesto mix for dipping the breadsticks, believe it or not. Simply awesome.
I made this last weekend and LOVED it! So creamy, refreshing, and versatile too.
I posted about it here:
http://thisistolove.blogspot.com/2011/07/pesto-pasta-salad.html
thanks for the great recipe, I will be making it again and again!
It says your site is only approved to certain people. Would have loved to check it out!
Yay! So excited to try this! I am a huge fan of this pasta/pesto salad! I drive the Bell Square Paglicacci’s staff crazy by asking them to also add an some fresh mozzarella slices… They never know how to charge me for the ‘extra’ :S
This sounds delicious! Would really like to make it, but don’t like mayonnaise. Can I substitute anything or will it turn out okay if I leave it out? Thanks!
Great salad! I love Pagliacci”s. I substituted plain greek yogurt for the mayonnaise and it was delish! Thanks so much.
I need simple, easy and cheap recipes thanks!! got 2 cans of canned white chicken and i wanna make a pasta salad with {macaroni pasta} for my boyfriends lunch to take to work…..
macaroni pasta
I love making this salad and taking it to a potluck!
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