Add this Tomato Basil Rotini Pasta Salad to your next BBQ and add lots of flavor with fresh basil, cherry tomatoes, avocado and freshly shredded Parmesan. This is not your average pasta salad recipe by any means!

Tomato Basil Rotini Pasta Salad in white bowl.

This recipe was originally published March 2015. The post was updated to include new copy and photos.

No more same old, same old pasta salad.

Now, pasta salad is typically one of the things I don’t waste my time on at BBQs. I find them to be the same thing over and over: pasta, Italian dressing, some veggies and cheese.

It gets old. And boring. And who wants that?

This super simple rotini pasta with fresh basil, mozzarella pearls, spinach and a simple balsamic dressing is THE SALAD of the summer. We eat this one over and over and over–and it never gets old. Not one bit.

I bring this pasta salad along quite often during the summer and never go home with any leftovers–which is actually sort of a bummer. It is a matter of tossing everything together and it’s ready to enjoy.

And it’s even better when you get to use ingredients fresh from the garden!

What you need to make this recipe:

The key ingredient is the fresh basil in this pasta salad. It is the one ingredient I would not substitute if at all possible. Check out these basil storage best practices so it doesn’t go bad before you are ready to make this pasta salad!
If you can’t find mozzarella pearls, feel free to cut regular mozzarella into small pieces–that will work well too!
I typically use cherry tomatoes, but grape tomatoes are great as well.

How to make this recipe:

Cook your pasta according to package instructions. Drain the pasta and then toss the spinach in to wilt it slightly. (steps 1 and 2)
Transfer to a mixing bowl and add the tomatoes, basil, and onion and toss to combine. (steps 3 and 4)

Whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper and red pepper. (steps 5 and 6)
Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss to combine and coat ingredients evenly. (steps 7 and 8)

Add the mozzarella and parmesan and toss well. Chill for about 30 minutes if possible before serving to allow the flavors to really meld into the salad. You can even chill overnight. (steps 9 and 10)

Mozzarella and parmesan added to recipe in mixing bowl.

Notes:

You can make this Tomato Basil Rotini Pasta Salad the night before you intend to serve it. I suggest tossing it before serving with an extra drizzle or so of olive oil.
Feel free to use your favorite gluten free pasta for this pasta salad. Make sure to follow cooking instructions.

Pasta salad in white bowl with serving bowls.

What to serve with this recipe?

By all means: burgers! I have an amazing Sun-Dried Tomato Turkey Burger that would pair well with this pasta salad. If you are looking for a vegetarian option, then go with these Black Bean Burgers instead.
A basic, simple grilled chicken, plain and simple right on top is amazing with this as well.
Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken–now that is what you pair with this Tomato Basil Pasta Salad!
Toss some steaks on the grill to round out this pasta salad, or even some grilled salmon!

Overhead shot of rotini pasta salad with serving spoon.

Other Summer BBQ recipes that are must haves all summer:

DID YOU MAKE ONE OF MY RECIPES? LEAVE A COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW! I ALSO LOVE TO SEE YOUR LEMONS + ZEST RECIPES ON SOCIAL MEDIA–TAG ME @LEMONSANDZEST ON INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK!

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