Summer Pesto Pasta Salad (Gluten Free)

This gluten free Summer Pesto Pasta Salad is flavorful side! It's made with tomatoes, walnuts, Parmesan, and a creamy basil pesto dressing.

I love a good pasta salad served cold during the summer months. This creamy Basil Pesto Pasta Salad is full of Italian flavors. It's the perfect side to serve at a BBQ or on a picnic!

Summer in Minnesota is chock-full of get-togethers. Picnics, weddings, BBQ's, and small town festivals. On any given weekend you may find yourself at some sort of social gathering that ends with fireworks and a street dance.

You will most certainly find an array of salads that are good for feeding a crowd - Potato salads, macaroni salads, and other various forms of pasta salads. Trust me, no one is leaving these things hungry.

More often than not, pasta salads served at these events are not gluten free. This recipe is great if you're gluten free and don't want to miss out on this most quintessential summer fare.

It's got an Italian spin and made with fresh grape tomatoes, toasted walnuts, Parmesan cheese, and a creamy basil pesto dressing. This dish is so good that you're gluten-eating friends and family won't know the difference!

Jump to:

• How To Add Flavor To A Pasta Salad
• Ingredients For Summer Pesto Pasta Salad
• Best Gluten Free Pasta For Pasta Salad
• Gluten Free Pasta Salad Tips
• How To Toast Walnuts
• How To Make Creamy Pesto Dressing
• How To Make Pesto Pasta Salad
• What To Serve With Pasta Salad
• How Long Does Pasta Salad Last In The Fridge?
• Can This Salad Be Make Ahead?
• Can It Be Frozen?
• Summer Pesto Pasta Salad (Gluten Free)

How To Add Flavor To A Pasta Salad

Pasta salad is a simple side dish made with short pasta that is cooked just until al dente, rinsed under cold water, and tossed in a creamy dressing that often contains mayo and some type of vinegar or acid.

There are any number of ingredients that can be added to a pasta salad base. They usually contain fresh seasonal vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, or peas.

Briny or pickled items such as olives or dill pickles are sometimes added for extra flavor and crunch, as are things like cheese and salty meats like pepperoni or salami.

Pasta salad can be taken in a number of different directions in terms of flavor, from Greek to Southwest to Asian.

This version is inspired by Italian flavors and tossed in a creamy pesto dressing made with mayo and jarred basil pesto, along with fresh tomatoes, toasted walnuts, Parmesan cheese, and some fresh basil.

Ingredients For Summer Pesto Pasta Salad

Here's what you'll need to make it.

• 12 oz. package Gluten Free Short Pasta (such as fusilli or penne) (can use regular short pasta if not gluten free)
• 1 pint Grape Tomatoes
• 1 cup Chopped Walnuts (unsalted)
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese (or Asiago or Romano)
• ½ cup Mayo
• ¼ cup Jarred Basil Pesto
• 3 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
• ¼ tsp. each of Kosher Salt and Pepper
• Fresh Basil for garnish

Best Gluten Free Pasta For Pasta Salad

The base of any pasta salad (gluten free or not) is the pasta. If you're familiar with gluten free pasta, you know that all brands are not created equal.

For success when making gluten free pasta salad, it's important to choose a quality brand of pasta and to follow a few extra steps to ensure optimal taste and texture.

Any type of pasta salad is made with a variety of short pasta, such as fusilli, rotini, penne, and farfalle.

My favorite brands of gluten free short pasta include Jovial, Tinkyada, and Barilla. This recipe was made using the gluten free brown rice fusilli from Jovial.

Gluten Free Pasta Salad Tips

After some experimentation, I've discovered a few tips to ensure that gluten free pasta does not become mushy when making pasta salad.

• Cook the gluten free pasta until just under al dente. It's very important not to overcook gluten free pasta, or it will become mushy and fall apart.
• Once the pasta is cooked until just under al dente, drain it in a strainer and run it under cold water. This will stop the cooking process.
• Allow the pasta to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before adding the rest of the ingredients. This helps the pasta to retain it's springy texture.
• When adding the dressing and the rest of the ingredients, fold them into the pasta carefully using a large spoon and mix only until combined. The less gluten free pasta is disturbed, the better it stays together.

The same tips apply if making regular short pasta for pasta salad, however, pasta that is not gluten free does not need to sit for 30 minutes before adding the rest of the ingredients.

If not gluten free, simply cook pasta until al dente, drain in a strainer, and rinse under cold water.

How To Toast Walnuts

Toasted walnuts are added to this Summer Pesto Pasta Salad for extra crunchy texture and flavor.

Walnuts are easily toasted in a skillet on the stove top and the process only takes a few minutes.

Toasting the walnuts (or any other nut, for that matter) helps to release the oils in the nuts, resulting in a deeper flavor.

1. To toast the walnuts, place 1 cup of chopped, unsalted walnuts in a small skillet (I love to use a small cast iron skillet) on the stove top and heat to medium-low.
2. Toast the walnuts in the skillet for 5-6 minutes, or until fragrant. Stir the walnuts every couple of minutes to prevent them from burning.
3. Remove the skillet from the heat and set aside.

If you don't care for walnuts, you can sub any nuts you like. Almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, or pine nuts are all great substitutes for the walnuts.

How To Make Creamy Pesto Dressing

The thing that ties any pasta salad together is the dressing. This dressing is super easy to prepare and this is due to the fact that it's made with jarred basil pesto.

Jarred basil pesto is a great shortcut ingredient that I use to make everything from flatbread pizza to BLT sandwiches to grilled cheese.

If you're feeling ambitious, you can whip up a batch of homemade pesto, but it's really not necessary.

1. To make the pesto mayo, simply add ½ cup mayo, ¼ cup jarred basil pesto, 3 Tbsp. lemon juice, and ¼ tsp. each kosher salt and pepper to a small bowl.
2. Stir all of these ingredients until completely combined using a fork or small whisk.

The mixture should be creamy and easy to pour when combined.

How To Make Pesto Pasta Salad

Another component of this pasta salad is the tomatoes. They provide a welcome pop of freshness and acidity and tomatoes are basically basil's best friend. Where basil goes, tomatoes usually follow.

1. Chop 1 pint of grape tomatoes into halves or quarters, depending on your preference.
2. Grate ½ cup of Parmesan, Asiago, or Romano cheese.
3. Place the rinsed and cooled gluten free pasta noodles into a large bowl. Add the chopped tomatoes, toasted walnuts, and grated cheese into the bowl.
4. Pour the creamy pesto dressing over the pasta a bit at a time, carefully folding it into the pasta using a large spoon. Continue until all of the dressing is added.
5. Make sure to mix only until combined, so as not to break apart the gluten free pasta.

What To Serve With Pasta Salad

This is a great dish to serve at a picnic, potluck, or any type of get-together. It makes a lot, so it's perfect for serving a crowd.

Feel free to garnish this pasta salad with some extra chopped walnuts, grated cheese, and freshly torn basil leaves.

The fresh basil helps to enhance the flavor of the jarred basil pesto.

This is one of those dishes that's perfect served alongside grilled meats at a summer BBQ. The flavors pair well with this Italian chicken sandwich, grilled chuck steak, bruschetta chicken, or juicy grilled burgers.

Looking for grilled dishes to serve with this pasta salad? Don't miss these!

• Ribeye with Shallot Sauce
• Blue Cheese Burgers
• BBQ Sweet Potatoes
• Jalapeno Sauce Burgers
• Summer Grilled Vegetable Salad
• Grilled Corn Avocado Salad

How Long Does Pasta Salad Last In The Fridge?

This summer pesto pasta salad should last 3-4 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

Can This Salad Be Make Ahead?

Yes, this pasta salad can be made the day ahead and stored in an airtight container, or covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator.

Keep in mind that gluten free pasta does harden a bit as it sits in the fridge. This is due to the higher starch content in ingredients like rice and brown rice.

Can It Be Frozen?

For optimal taste and texture, I do not recommend freezing this pasta salad.

It's best enjoyed right away, or within a few days.

Love pasta salads? Check out these recipes!

• Sundried Tomato Pesto Pasta Salad
• Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
• Corn Tomato Pasta Salad

Looking for more summer salads? Don't miss these recipes!

• Classic Coleslaw
• Spanish Potato Salad
• Italian Quinoa Salad
• Kohlrabi Slaw
• Marinated Tomato Salad
• Chipotle Potato Salad
• Italian Green Bean Salad
• Pickled Beet Salad

Looking For More Pasta Salad Recipes? Don't Miss These!

Pasta Salad with Yogurt Dressing

BLT Pasta Salad

Grilled Veggie Pasta Salad