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Pesto Caprese Macaroni Salad

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This Pesto Caprese Macaroni summer pasta salad is jam-packed with the bold flavors of fresh, cheesy pesto. It can be made ahead for your next potluck dish, BBQ side, or meal side dish. Everyone will be coming back for seconds.

Pesto pasta salad on white rectangle dish

When the heat is on, salads are my go to meals. I love the versatility, and ease a pasta or leafy green salad encompasses. With minimal time, you can easily prepare one of my go to pasta salads that eats like a meal.

My kids, and husband love my pesto caprese macaroni salad because it is bold, and it contains cheese and garlic which provides delicious flavor for otherwise bland pasta.

You can use either regular elbow macaroni pasta or gluten-free pasta for this salad.

I don’t know about your family, but anything loaded with cheesy goodness, and flavored with garlic is a must around here! Even my newly turned 2-year-old can agree that mommy’s pesto caprese macaroni salad gets two messy thumbs up.

Pesto macaroni salad recipe

Use fresh basil & garlic

Garden-fresh garlic, and basil have such vibrant flavors that really make this dish POP. My husband is an avid gardener who takes his hobby seriously, but I don’t mind because it produces an abundance of herbs, and vegetables that allow me to be creative in the kitchen.

Storage

When I make my pesto sauce, I like to store it in a mason jar because it keeps it fresh for up to a week. Just make sure the jar is sealed properly and stored in the refrigerator.

Pesto is such a go to for us in the summer. I find myself smearing it on french bread, putting it on grilled pizza, in leafy green salads, and on chicken. I usually make a double batch so that I have plenty to use throughout the week.

Make it

  • Basil- 5 cups (fresh is best)
  • Parmesan cheese- 3/4 cup
  • Garlic- 4 cloves
  • Lemon juice- 1 tablespoon
  • Extra virgin olive oil- 1/2 cup
  • Elbow macaroni- 1 box (12-16 ounces)
  • Cherry tomatoes- 1 pint, halved or whole

Tips

This dish tastes best chilled in the refrigerator for a few hours. By chilling the pesto caprese macaroni salad, you allow the pasta and cheese to soak up all the bold flavors of the garlic, Parmesan, and fresh basil leaves.

More Summer salads

Pesto pasta salad on white rectangle dish
Print Recipe
2.34 from 3 votes

Pesto Caprese Macaroni Salad

An easy to make summer pasta salad that is loaded with the bold flavors of garlic, basil, and parmesan cheeses. Can be made regular or gluten free.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time25 mins
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keyword: pesto
Servings: 6
Calories: 231
Author: Amy

Ingredients

  • 5 cups Basil
  • 3/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
  • 4 cloves Garlic
  • 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
  • 1/2 cup Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 box Elbow Macaroni
  • 1 pint Cherry Tomatoes

Instructions

Pesto Caprese Macaroni Salad

    Directions:

    • Boil macaroni elbows until al dente
    • In a food processor, blend cheese, oil, garlic, and basil until pureed.
    • Set pesto in the fridge to chill, and “marinate”.
    • Once pasta is cooked, rinse it will cold water
    • Add your cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls, and pesto; mix thoroughly.
    • Garnish with extra basil leaves before serving.
    • This dish tastes best chilled in the refrigerator for a few hours. By chilling the pesto caprese macaroni salad, you allow the pasta and cheese to soak up all the bold flavors of the garlic, parmesan, and fresh basil leaves.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 231cal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 210mg | Potassium: 250mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1540IU | Vitamin C: 23.2mg | Calcium: 196mg | Iron: 1.4mg
    Pesto Caprese Macaroni Salad

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    4. marylou

      You love it doesn’t have pine nuts…and I was thinking I just need to add some pine nuts to make this perfect,LOL

    7. Nancy @ Whispered Inspirations

      This looks amazing. The colors are gorgeous and I bet the flavor is out of this world.

    8. Onica {MommyFactor}

      So many of my friends enjoy pasta salad during the summer. I think they will enjoy this recipe with adding the pesto. Adds something different.

    12. Shauna

      Oh my; you combined two of my favorite things, caprise and pesto! Love this and pinning it

    20. Pam

      Looks awesome! I love that it’s able to be made gluten free, so my whole family can enjoy it.

    21. CrazyMom a/k/a Melanie

      This looks delicious… I love pasta salad and sooo have to try this…. all my favorite ingredients in one dish… YUMMM… thanks for sharing

    25. Laura (Lauras Little House Tips)

      Yum! I have a ton of basil and right now dehydrating so much of it. Pesto I love and seem to make so much I burn out on it. Thank you for the reminder this looks amazing. Kuddo’s

    26. Angela S

      I grow my own basil and have a freezer full of pesto. I’ll have to make this. It looks delish!

    32. Kelsey Apley

      Man oh man does this look good! I love Pesto and gonna have to try your pasta salad recipe soon!!!

    33. Courtney

      Great recipe. I love finding gluten free meals that I can serve at parties and events that are enjoyable for everyone.

    34. Jennifer

      This looks delicious. The fact that it’s gluten free is a plus. I finally have something I can serve at events that is safe for everyone to eat.

    35. Daisy

      I am in love with this recipe! I love the combination of flavorful ingredients, especially the GF pasta noodles and pesto.

    36. Robin (Masshole Mommy)

      I have never had pesto in my macaroni salad before, but I love pesto so I bet it’s awesome!!

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