"Pantry Fresh" Pesto Pasta Salad

A few weeks ago, I had a pool party and needed to make a quick side dish to go with my taco bar.  I perused a few recipes for a pasta salad and found this recipe which looked pretty good.  However, I didn't want to make too much from scratch, and keep it simple and quick to make.  All of these ingredients can be found in your pantry, freezer, and/or garden, but the final dish seems incredibly fresh and homemade without having to shop for groceries and spend a lot of time cooking!

The best part is that it was a hit with the guests!  I'm so glad that it was a crowd pleaser with very little effort on my part.  Mission accomplished!

Pantry Fresh Pesto Pasta Salad
A Vintage Zest original

Ingredients

• 1 pound pasta *(see note below)
• 1 cup pesto, storebought or homemade
• 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 4 cups cherry or pear tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
• Salt & Pepper, to taste
• Fresh basil, sliced thinly (optional)

Directions

1. Prepare pasta according to package directions.
2. Drain and return to the pot.
3. Mix in the pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, and corn kernels.  If necessary, add salt and pepper, to taste.
4. Cool before serving.
5. Top with fresh basil (if using) and enjoy!

See!  It's such a super simple recipe, with all of the ingredients coming from my freezer, pantry, and garden.  I could see adding all kinds of other ingredients, such as mozzarella, feta, mushrooms, or peas.  The possibilities are endless!

For the pasta, I chose a combination of penne, bow ties, and cavatappi, which I thought was just a bit more festive!  Everyone agreed.  :)  The tomatoes were a combination of red cherry, yellow pear, and regular Roma from my mom's garden.

I'm definitely going to keep this recipe in my back pocket for any impromptu get-togethers when I need a quick dish without having to run to the store.  I hope you enjoy!

What is your favorite easy party dish?