Tomato Basil Rotini Pasta Salad

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!

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.
• If you can’t find mozzarella pearls, feel free to cut regular mozzarella into small pieces–that will work well too!

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)

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.

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.
• 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!

Other Summer BBQ recipes that are must haves all summer:

• Sun-Dried Tomato Spinach and Feta Turkey Burgers
• Street Corn with Garlic Feta Butter
• Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
• 3 Bean Cowboy Caviar
• Simple Pasta Salad with Grilled Lemon Garlic Zucchini

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!

Tomato Basil Rotini Pasta Salad

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!

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 250kcal

Author: Lorie Yarro

Ingredients

• 8 oz. Rotini pasta
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 10 oz. sliced cherry tomatoes
• ⅓ cup chopped fresh basil
• ¼ cup thinly chopped red onion
• 3 T balsamic vinegar
• ⅓ – ½ c olive oil
• ½ c grated parmesan romano and/or asiago cheese (optional)
• ⅔ c mozzarella pearls
• ¼ tsp crushed red pepper (optional)
• ½ tsp cracked pepper
• ½ tsp sea salt

Instructions

• Cook pasta according to package instructions.
• Prep and cut all of the vegetables.
• In a small bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, garlic, red pepper, salt and pepper.
• When pasta is cooked al dente, drain. Add spinach immediately and stir. This will allow the spinach to wilt a bit from the heat of the pasta. Transfer to a medium bowl.
• Add tomatoes, basil and onion and toss to combine.
• Pour the dressing in and stir to coat evenly.
• Finally, add the cheeses and toss to combine.
• Refrigerate for about 30 minutes to one hour before serving.

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.
• Have this as a side dish or toss some chicken or other protein in for a full meal!

 

Nutrition

Calories: 250kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 258mg | Potassium: 211mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1105IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 121mg | Iron: 1mg

Did you try this recipe? I would love to see it! Mention @LemonsAndZest or tag #LemonsAndZest!