This Bruschetta Pasta Salad is packed with flavor and comes together super quickly. It has a few shortcuts in the prep department so that all you really need to do is boil the pasta and then add everything to the bowl and mix!
I really meant to share this with you before Labor Day so you could bring it to your BBQ’s and potlucks, but I didn’t get it posted in time. There’s still a few official weeks of summer left though, and this no-mayo pasta salad is a winner anytime of year.
I did find some key ingredients at Trader Joe’s – like the fresh bruschetta topping (in the refrigerated section), the pre-made basil pesto (refrigerated section), the balsamic glaze (by the oil and vinegars), and also the pepitas (by the nuts and seeds). You could also use toasted pinenuts.
The flavors are just so robust and hearty. Alongside some grilled chicken or steak, and you’ve got a beautiful meal that is super easy but guest worthy!
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Bruschetta Pasta Salad
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
The flavors are just so robust and hearty. Alongside some grilled chicken or steak, and you’ve got a beautiful meal that is super easy but guest worthy!
Ingredients
- 2 cups dry rotini pasta
- 3 tablespoons prepared basil pesto
- 1 cup fresh bruschetta sauce (Trader Joe’s)
- 2 handfuls greens (I used arugula)
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta
- 1/3 cup roasted salted pepitas
- Balsamic glaze for drizzling (to taste – about 2-3 tablespoons)
Instructions
- Bring a pot of well salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to directions. Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water.
- Toss the room temperature pasta with the basil pesto until well combined, then add 1 cup of the bruschetta sauce, leaving some of the oil in the container behind.
- Add two handfuls of greens and toss together.
- Spoon the pasta salad into a large bowl or platter and sprinkle crumbled feta and pepitas over the top. Drizzle with balsamic glaze according to taste.
- I like to serve this salad at room temperature, but leftovers keep well in the fridge for lunch the next day.
- Serves 6-8 as a side dish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories: 271
- Sugar: 5.4g
- Sodium: 289mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 5.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8.8g
- Trans Fat: 0.1g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 8.9g
- Cholesterol: 21mg
Keywords: bruschetta pasta salad, bruschetta sauce, pasta salad, dinner, side dish
April says
Like all your recipes that I have tried, this was AMAZING! I made it last night for a potluck and got lots of compliments. I made it exactly as described, and will definitely make it again.
If you ever create a cookbook, I would most definitely purchase it for myself, and several more for gifts!
From one Arizonan to another,
April
Julie says
Thank you so much for your kind words April. You made my day!
Connie says
I love this. I haven’t even added the crumbled Feta and pepitas (will add just before serving), but it’s already excellent!
★★★★★
Julie says
So glad, thanks Connie!
Connie Sutherland says
It went from outstanding to spectacular when I sprinkled on the pepitas and Feta and drizzled on a bit of the balsamic
glaze.
The only thing extra I did was to add a handful of shrimps, which I roasted using Ina Garten’s method.
I should add that the balsamic glaze and pepitas were also found at TJ’s — there was nothing in the ingredient list that I didn’t find there. Big plus for me, because I shop there every week.
I loved the short cuts of the bruschetta sauce and prepared pesto.
But all that aside, this recipe is wonderful. The shrimps I added were certainly not necessary, but just a few of them made this a hearty main dish for dinner.
And P.S., the pepitas are inspired, sprinkled on top!
★★★★★
Julie says
Wonderful! Thanks so much for letting me know. Your variation sounds amazing!