Pesto Pasta Salad

Pesto pasta salad is one of those meals that takes 30 minutes to prepare and feeds you for days. Whole wheat pasta is tossed with jarred roasted peppers, basil pesto, fresh mozzarella, and peppery rocket. The result is a cold pasta dish that gets better as it sits in the fridge and the flavors meld together.

Carb Loading Made Simple

At 67g of carbohydrates per serving, this is one of the highest carb meals in this recipe collection. Whole wheat pasta provides complex carbs along with more fiber and B vitamins than white pasta. For runners preparing for a long run or race, a bowl of this the night before is a straightforward way to top off glycogen stores. The mozzarella and pesto add enough fat and protein to slow digestion and keep you feeling full without the bloated sensation that can come from eating too much plain pasta.

Meal Prep for the Week

This salad stores well in the refrigerator for up to three days, which makes it a reliable option for packing lunches. The pesto coats the pasta and prevents it from drying out, and the flavors actually improve after a night in the fridge. Just keep the rocket separate and add it fresh each day if you want it to stay crisp.

You can swap the roasted peppers for sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, or olives depending on what you have available. Any of these variations work with the pesto and mozzarella base.