Sun Dried Tomato Pasta Salad

This sun dried tomato pasta salad is one of my favorite pasta salad recipes for summer. It's so easy to whip together and perfect for any summer BBQ or a quick weeknight dinner. 

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You’ll love this sun dried tomato pasta salad

It's so easy to make. Seriously couldn't be any easier! There is nearly no slicing and dicing to prepare the ingredients for this. It's the best pasta salad recipe if you're looking for something quick, easy, and super flavorful.

It's perfect to make ahead. Some may say pasta salads are best when they're made ahead of time! This pasta salad is perfect to make ahead in preparation for a party or even to use as a meal-prepping recipe for quick and easy lunches or dinners. 

The dressing is so easy to make. It uses leftover oil from the tomatoes, and it's so full of flavor and it honestly might be the best part of this salad!

What is the best pasta to use for pasta salad?

I prefer bowtie pasta or cavatappi. The bow ties are my favorite, which is why I used them in this recipe!

Ingredients

With a few simple ingredients, you get a pasta salad that is so full of flavor and a variety of textures, you'll absolutely want to bring it to your next picnic or use it as a summer meal prep recipe. 

Pasta. Use 1 lb (or 1 box) of pasta and be sure to cook your raw pasta in salted water! You could use whatever type of pasta you like and/or have in your pantry, but I prefer to use bowtie pasta. 

Sun-Dried Tomatoes. The key ingredient! You can find sundried tomatoes at almost any grocery store! They are typically in the "Italian" aisle by jarred peppers, pesto sauces, etc. You only need a small jar of sun-dried tomatoes, but I don't blame you if you want to buy the bulk size to have them readily available for this sun dried tomato pasta salad all summer long. 

Spinach. I use baby spinach and I chop it up using scissors so it's easier to mix and eat. It adds a bit of nutritional value, and I love the contrast of color. 

Fresh Mozzarella. I love using fresh mozzarella in this recipe, I think that the buttery, creamy flavor it adds to this pasta salad recipe takes it to the next level. I buy a pre-sliced fresh mozzarella log and slice it into little cubes. You could also use mozzarella pearls. 

Walnuts. You can truly use any nut you like or have in your pantry. I like the flavors of walnuts paired with the dressing and sun-dried tomato flavor. 

Dressing. The dressing is so easy to make! It's like a sun-dried tomato vinaigrette. The dressing ingredients are sun-dried tomato oil, olive oil, a splash of balsamic vinegar, and Italian seasoning. It's light, flavorful, and the perfect dressing to use for this easy pasta salad. This dressing seriously has the best flavor. 

Salt and Pepper.​ I like to top this off with a bit of kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper. 

How to make sun dried tomato pasta salad

1. In a large pot, boil your salted pasta water (use plenty of salt!) and cook pasta according to the package instructions.
2. Cook your pasta al dente, drain, and then rinse with cool water. This'll help stop the cooking process and cool off the pasta. Pour into a large bowl and set aside.
3. Prep your other ingredients. Slice your sun-dried tomatoes into chunks, chop your spinach, chop your walnuts, and cut your fresh mozzarella into tiny cubes.
4. Add these ingredients to the large bowl with the pasta. Mix up the dressing by stirring together sun-dried tomato oil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and Italian seasoning.
5. Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and mix well. 
6. Try a bite and add salt and pepper to taste. 
7. For the best results, cover with plastic wrap (or store in an airtight container) in the fridge for a minimum of 30 minutes before serving. 

Substitutions and variations

Cheese. You can use parmesan cheese, goat cheese, or feta cheese for this recipe and it'll taste just as good!

Veggies. You can add other fresh vegetables like peas, artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, green onions, or red pepper.

Other Mix-ins. You can add kalamata olives, chickpeas (garbanzo beans), white beans 

Protein. You can always add a protein of choice like cooked chicken or shrimp. 

Nuts. You can also use pine nuts, cashews, almonds, or any other nuts you like!

Lemon Juice. If you want to add a splash of zest and freshness, you can also add lemon juice to your homemade pasta salad dressing.

Vinegar. If you don't have balsamic vinegar, you can use red wine vinegar. 

Fresh Herbs. You can absolutely add fresh herbs to this pasta salad! I would recommend using fresh basil leaves, fresh parsley, or fresh oregano.

Pasta. You can use whatever pasta you prefer. Whether that be chickpea pasta, whole wheat pasta, a preferred gluten-free pasta, or whatever you like.

How long will pasta salad keep in the fridge

Pasta salad will typically keep for 3-5 days in the fridge. Be sure you're storing it in an airtight container for the best results. 

FAQ

How do Italians eat sun-dried tomatoes?

They typically eat them as a part of an antipasto board or on toasted bread but they can be included in so many things like sauces, salads, and pizzas.

Is it better to make pasta salad the day before?

I always like making pasta salad ahead of time. It tastes so much better the next day once all the flavors have time to marinate!

Should you rinse pasta when making pasta salad?

Yes. I rinse pasta in cold water to halt the cooking and cool down the noodles so I can make the salad sooner. The last thing you want is overcooked noodles that are falling apart and can't hold their own in a salad. 

Amazon home kitchen finds

You'll want a set of mixing bowls that can double as food storage for this pasta salad recipe for sure!

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Want more summer side salad recipes?

• Easy Pesto Tortellini Salad
• Best Broccoli Crunch Salad
• Watermelon Basil Salad
• Copycat Sweetgreen Elote Salad