Pesto Pasta Salad with Spinach & Feta Cheese

My favorite 5 ingredient Pesto Pasta Salad with spinach and feta cheese! Bountiful pasta tossed with loads of pesto sauce, juicy tomatoes and fragrant basil for an incredible pasta salad with pesto and feta! Healthy, light, and satisfying for lunch, picnics, or a hearty side dish.

this recipe

Spinach Pesto Pasta Salad with Feta Cheese (or your fave cheese!)

Wondering what to eat for lunch today? Welcome to one of my very favorite lunch recipes: pesto pasta salad!

In this pesto pasta with spinach, fresh lemon perfectly balances creamy Pesto that’s packed with basil, pine nuts, and olive oil, while cherry tomatoes add crisp juiciness along with tangy parmesan or feta cheese that is filling and delicious… much like this delicious Christmas salad.

Pasta Salad with Pesto and Feta – 5 Ingredients!

1. Pasta – I used rotini pasta, but fusilli, penne, and farfalle are other fun options
2. Cherry tomatoes are delicious and sweet, but grape tomatoes will do as well!
3. Spinach
4. Basil – the combination of fresh basil and spinach is so satisfying: crisp and fragrant, while keeping it light
5. Pesto – I love making homemade pesto, but you can use store-bought for a recipe speed-up!

Optionally, you can add in feta cheese or parmesan as well as pine nuts or kalamata olives to jazz up your pesto pasta salad.

How to Make Pesto Pasta Salad

1. Using a pasta pot, cook pasta of your choice according to package instructions. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water. Drain and rinse pasta in cool water.
2. Cool pasta completely and add to a large serving bowl. Fold in tomatoes, spinach, basil, and salt & pepper to taste.
3. Pour pesto and as much reserved pasta water as needed to thin out sauce as desired. Toss to coat.
4. Fold in add-ins like feta cheese (for pesto pasta with feta) and pine nuts.
5. Toss to combine. Enjoy the best pasta salad with pesto and feta!

FAQ

• Can you make pesto pasta salad the night before?

Yes! I think this pesto pasta salad tastes even better the next day. Simply place pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve—up to 4 days.

• What to put in pesto pasta salad?

You can add your favorite protein like chicken or salmon bites, extra vegetables like more spinach or tomatoes, and cheese to your pesto pasta salad.

What to Serve with Pesto Pasta Salad

• Pastas: fettuccine Alfredo, creamy chicken garlic parmesan pasta, manicotti
• Appetizers: pizza dip, Caprese skewers, bruschetta, pizza sliders
• Bread: garlic toast, roasted garlic bread,
• More: chicken parmesan, pear salad, balsamic dressing or balsamic glaze, garlic butter shrimp

Storing

This pesto pasta salad with spinach lasts 3-4 days in the fridge, as long as it’s store in an airtight container.

Can I Freeze Pesto Pasta Salad?

Yes, you can freeze it, but the texture will change quite a bit after being frozen and thawed. Once thawed, tomatoes will be a bit soggy, soft, and mushy. Spinach will be a bit wilted (similar to cooked spinach). However, pasta and pesto freeze well. Try adding tomatoes and leafy greens after thawing.

It’s been so much fun making all of the pesto dishes with you! Be sure to take a pic of your BB creation, tagging me at @beamingbaker and #beamingbaker when you post it it to Facebook and Instagram. 🙂 ‘Til the next one… Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️

Pesto and Pasta Salad Recipes

We love pastas and salads at BB! Try our Asian Salad with Asian salad dressing and chickpea salad, or our tomato basil pasta and garlic butter pasta.

Dips

Homemade Basil Pesto Sauce Recipe

Dinner

Pesto Parmesan Pasta with Pine Nuts

Sides

Italian Pasta Salad

Sides

Easy Tortellini Pasta Salad