This Pesto Pasta Salad with Burrata comes packed with the super fresh flavors of tomato, cucumber and basil. And, of course, is tossed with delicious pesto and topped with creamy burrata. Enjoy!
Pesto Pasta Salad of Your Dreams
You’re going to love this pesto pasta salad that’s topped with deliciously creamy burrata. It’s the perfect salad for a summer picnic or a veggie-packed lunch. We’ll walk you through how to make this pasta salad, what to pair it with and some easy ingredient swaps.
Ingredients – What You Need
This pesto pasta salad comes together in 7 simple ingredients. You’ll need:
- Cavatappi noodles
- Pesto
- Cherry tomatoes
- Sliced cucumber
- Toasted pine nuts
- Ball burrata
- Fresh basil
Easy Ingredient Swaps
Burrata: we love the rich and creamy flavor that burrata gives this salad, but mini mozzarella balls are a nice alternative if you don’t have burrata on hand.
Cherry tomatoes: feel free to use any tomato you have on hand! Grape tomatoes or a larger variety of tomato sliced with the seeds removed are great alternatives.
Cucumbers: if your cucumbers are on the larger size, feel free to slice into coins and then 1/4s. English cucumbers are perfect for this salad, too 😀
Pine nuts: don’t have access to pine nuts? Sunflower seeds or chopped pecans will complement this salad well, too.
Cavatappi noodles: choose your own adventure with the noodles in this pasta salad! We love the look of twisty cavatappi noodles, but any noodle will do.
want to make your own pesto?
Making your own pesto is quite easy! Follow along with this Easy Homemade Pesto or this Vegan Pesto on our sister site, Fit Foodie Finds.
How to Make Pesto Pasta Salad with Burrata
This pesto pasta salad could not be easier! Simply follow along with these steps, top with delicious burrata, and ENJOY 😀
Cook Pasta
Cook your pasta in salted boiling water according to the box directions.
Don’t forget: Before you drain the pasta, reserve ½ cup of cooking liquid for later. This will help thicken your pesto sauce!
Whisk Pesto & Reserved Pasta Water
In a large bowl, whisk together the pesto and ¼ cup of the reserved cooking liquid from the pasta.
Toss Ingredients Together
Add the following ingredients to the pesto, and toss to combine:
- cooked pasta
- cherry tomatoes
- cucumber
- pine nuts
Burrata Time
Break up the burrata into bite-size pieces and add it to the pasta salad. The ooey gooey middle will add delicious flavor as it mixes into your pasta salad.
Final Touches
Sprinkle over the basil and season to your taste preference with salt and pepper.
Serve & Enjoy!
Enjoy this pesto pasta salad with burrata chilled or at room temperature.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this pesto pasta salad as a deliciously fresh summer side, or top with your favorite protein for a main meal. Our sister site, Fit Foodie Finds has some amazing grilling recipes that would complement this pesto pasta salad, including:
How to Store Pesto Pasta Salad
Store any leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Feel free to toss in additional sliced tomatoes and chopped basil to freshen up the pasta salad when serving as leftovers.
Pesto Pasta Salad with Burrata
Ingredients
- 1 lb. pasta*
- ½ cup pesto
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ cup sliced cucumber
- ¼ cup toasted pine nuts
- 1 ball burrata
- ¼ cup fresh basil julienned
Instructions
- Cook your pasta in salted boiling water according to the box directions. Before you drain the pasta, reserve ½ cup of cooking liquid for later.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the pesto and ¼ cup of the reserved cooking liquid from the pasta.
- Add the cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and pine nuts and toss to combine.
- Break up the burrata into bite-size pieces and add it to the pasta salad.
- Sprinkle over the basil and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Enjoy chilled or at room temperature. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
Tips & Notes
- We used cavatappi pasta, but feel free to use any shape you'd like.
