Red Pesto Pasta Recipe with Roasted Tomatoes

Name: Red Pesto Pasta Recipe with Roasted Tomatoes
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 8 Oz Dried Angel Hair Pasta; 6.5 Oz Red Pesto (Store bought or homemade); 12 Oz Cherry Tomatoes (Grape or a similar small tomato will work); 2 Tbsp Olive Oil; 1 Tsp Ground Black Pepper; 1/2 Tsp Sea Salt; 1/2 Tsp Italian Seasoning; 1/4 Tsp Minced Garlic; 4 Oz Fresh Mozzarella; 6-8 Fresh Basil Leaves

Ingredients

Dried Pasta Noodles: My favorite noodle to use is Angel Hair Pasta, but you can use regular spaghetti noodles or any other variety you prefer.

Red Pesto: I use store bought tomato pesto the vast majority of the time for this pasta. It saves long in the pantry and makes this recipe super easy and quick to throw together. You can of course make your own homemade pesto if you wish. If you want to try a different sauce for this pesto pasta recipe you can use my homemade basil pesto sauce.

Fresh Mozzarella: I buy a ball of it and just tear some off. You can slice it, use shredded mozzarella, or buy the small pearls.

Dried Spices

Olive Oil

Fresh Basil: This is optional for topping. You can leave the leaves whole as shown, or slice them into ribbons or strips.

Tomatoes: I love using a medoly of tomatoes for this red pesto pasta recipe, but cherry or grape tomatoes can be used as well. I do not recommend using canned tomatoes for this quick and easy recipe.

How to Make Red Pesto Pasta

Cooking the Pasta
Place a large pot of salted water on the stove and bring to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions.

Roasting the Tomatoes
While the pasta is boiling, add the tomatoes to a prep bowl and toss in olive oil and dried spices. Add to a small baking sheet either sprayed with cooking oil or lined with foil. Bake in the oven at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes until soft and blistered.

Combing the Pasta
Once the pasta is al dante, strain it then toss in the red pesto sauce. Next, once the tomatoes are finished roasting, toss them in with the pasta, add in some fresh mozzarella and garnish with fresh basil. Enjoy!

Prep images of tomatoes being roasted and pasta being combined with red pesto sauce.

Check out these Other Great Side Dishes

Close up of roasted tomatoes on top of pasta.

Pro Tips

Prep Ahead of Time: I love making the tomatoes and pasta ahead of time and keeping them in the fridge overnight. This makes it simple to toss everything together the next day for a fast and simple side for dinner.

Make it a Main: I enjoy serving this sun dried tomato pesto pasta as a side, but this recipe can be turned into the star of the show by pairing with a side salad, or garlic bread. Alternatively, you could add in some grilled or baked chicken.

Common Questions

What is red pesto sauce made of?

Red pesto sauce is made of a blend of fresh basil leaves, parmesan cheese, tomatoes, lemon juice, pine nuts, and garlic. You combine everything in a food processor and pulse until a paste forms. You can easily make your own homemade sauce or use a basil store bought one.

Where do you find pesto sauce?

I find red pesto sauce near the pasta sauces, usually on the top shelf. Also, another place to look in your local supermarket is in the Italian food section.

How should leftover pasta be stored?

Store leftover red pesto pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Rewarm the pasta in the microwave for 30-60 seconds until warm when ready to eat.

This easy pesto pasta recipe is always a hit and a longtime favorite of mine. This recipe is inspired by my favorite restaurant I loved going to when we lived in Japan. I hope you and your family enjoy, and if you have any questions leave them below.

Happy Eating!

Red pesto pasta pin with white and black text overlay.

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