Bruschetta Pasta Salad

This Bruschetta Pasta Salad recipe is an easy, fast, and delicious cold pasta salad that comes together in less than 20 minutes.  This healthy pasta salad is filled with bowtie pasta, summer tomatoes, basil, parmesan cheese, and olive oil making it perfect for a summer dinner, potlucks, and BBQs.

Love Italian pasta salads? Also, try my Caprese Pasta Salad and Zesty Italian Pasta Salad.

Bruschetta Pasta Salad

Bruschetta Pasta Salad is a perfect no-cook twist on everyone's favorite appetizer, bruschetta.  This pasta salad is filled with all of the same fresh flavors, but in a fun pasta salad package that makes a hearty meal for summer.  I'm taking it off the classic crostini and onto an amazing Healthy Pasta Salad including tomato, basil, parmesan, and homemade Italian Spice Mix!

Has there ever been a better combination of food than tomato and basil?  With ripe tomatoes bursting off the vines and basil plants constantly popping new leaves summer is the perfect time to celebrate this dream team of foodie pairs.  There is something so perfect about the way plump maters match with sweet fragrant basil.  There are so many ways you could go with the tomato and basil combination (hello, CAPRESE!) but today we are celebrating another delish dish of summer... Bruschetta!

For me, summer is all about celebrating the fresh fruits and vegetables that just taste SO much better this time of year.  At the top of the list is the humble tomato.  Summer tomatoes have so much more flavor and color.  They are honestly one of my favorite foods. You are going to love that this summer recipe comes together in less than 20 minutes, with easy-to-find ingredients, and can be served at everything from a family dinner to a summer party.

This Bruschetta Pasta Salad recipe comes together in a flash and is SUMMER in a bowl.

Why You'll Love this EASY Bruschetta Pasta Salad Recipe...

• Bruschetta Pasta Salad is fresh and healthy!
• This EASY Bruschetta Pasta Salad recipe can be made in any season but shines when you can find vine-ripe tomatoes to use.
• It's a cold no-cook (other than boiling the pasta) recipe that can be made ahead of time.
• It's super easy to make in less than 10 minutes.  The hardest part is dicing up the tomato.
• This recipe is great for a vegetarian potluck dish or makes wonderful leftovers for the family.
• Tomatoes are filled with vitamins including lycopene, potassium, B vitamins, and E vitamins.

What exactly is bruschetta?

If you are new to the bruschetta game it's an antipasto or starter dish from Italy featuring grilled bread rubbed with garlic and topped with olive oil and salad.  Most commonly tomato bruschetta is topped with a beautiful mixture of chopped fresh tomato, basil, and parmesan cheese.  Sometimes you will see that premade mixture packaged and sold in stores.

This pasta salad idea was born from that topping.  It uses all the fresh tomato, basil, and cheese but puts it in a pasta salad instead of on top of the bread.  You still get the traditional garlic and olive oil flavors from the simple homemade dressing.  The entire dish can be tossed together in less than 20 minutes and makes a great vegetarian main course or side dish for a crowd.

Is Bruschetta healthy to eat?

Yes! Bruschetta and this Bruschetta Pasta Salad is healthy to eat because it is packed with tomatoes which are loaded with vitamins and antioxidants.  Tomatoes are known to improve heart health, build strong bones, and perhaps even help certain cancers.

Ingredients:

Here's an overview of what you'll need to make this Bruschetta Pasta Salad recipe, but keep scrolling for the full recipe amounts.

For the Pasta Salad:

• Tomato: Use whatever type of tomato is the freshest with the most color and flavor.  I used Roma tomatoes because they were ripe and easy to dice.  They also usually have a vibrant red color.  You can substitute cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes too.  To prep the tomatoes you need to cut them and deseed them, leaving just the flesh to dice into even pieces.
• Fresh Basil: Fresh basil leavesgives this dish the authentic Bruschetta flavor.  It packs a lot of flavor without a lot of fuss.  I grow lots in my garden each summer just for recipes like this one.
• Parmesan Cheese: I like the use of shredded parmesan cheese in the refrigerated section of the store and not the grated type found near the pasta sauce aisle.  The real cheese makes the flavors shine.
• Favorite Pasta:  You can use your favorite type of pasta including penne, rotini, fusilli, orzo, or even tortellini.  I love the way the bowtie looks with this healthy pasta salad though.  Cook it according to package instructions and salt the water well.

For the Dressing:

• Olive Oil: Since this is a simple salad dressing, I like to use high-quality extra virgin olive oil for lots of Italian flavors.
• White Wine Vinegar: White wine vinegar is mild enough not to overpower the tomatoes and has a nice clear color so the pasta salad remains bright. You can also use balsamic vinegar, but the pasta salad will turn out darker than the photos.
• Italian Seasoning: Use my homemade Italian Seasoning Mix or your favorite dried Italian seasoning blend.  I like the combination of fresh basil AND dried herbs to get lots of flavor in this dish.
• Garlic Powder: Garlic powder is perfect for this fast and easy dressing because it allows the garlic flavor to coat all the noodles.
• Salt and Pepper To Taste

Other Dressing Options

You can also make this with my Homemade Zesty Italian Dressing, Homemade Greek Dressing, Homemade Basil Vinaigrette, or Homemade Red Wine Vinaigrette.  If you are looking to save some time making this, you can swap out any of these bottled salad dressings as well if you need a shortcut.

• Organic Italian Romano Dressing
• Italian Dressing
• Fat-Free Italian Dressing

Instructions:

This is an overview of the instructions to make this Bruschetta Pasta Salad recipe, but the full detailed printable recipe is below in the recipe card.

1. In a large pot, boil water.  Cook your pasta according to the package directions.  You will want the pasta to be al dente and still have a bit of a bite in it... not soggy.
2. While the pasta is cooking, chop your tomatoes and basil.
3. Drain the pasta and allow it to cool.
4. Toss the pasta with the tomato, basil, parmesan, and homemade Italian Dressing.  Add any additional salt or pepper to taste.
5. Serve at room temperature or cold.

Variations

I love this Bruschetta Pasta Salad as written, but here are some fun variations.

• Make it Gluten-Free: Easily make this gluten-free by swapping out a gluten-free pasta, like this one.
• Make it Vegan or Dairy: Swap out the parmesan for nutritional yeast or leave it off.
• Add Protein: Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu to make it a more rounded meal.
• Add Some Citrus: Brighten up the dish with some lemon juice.
• Add Balsamic: Make it even richer with a drizzle of balsamic glaze before serving, much like bruschetta is served.
• Add Some Greens: Toss in your favorite green including peppery arugula or spinach.
• Add Mozzarella: Fresh mozzarella pearls would taste so good in this.
• Add Breadcrumbs: Toss in your favorite breadcrumbs or croutons, like the crostini of bruschetta.

FAQ

Which tomatoes are best for bruschetta? 

Bruschetta can be made with any type of tomato, but fresh summer ones are the best.  I like to use Roma because of the thinner skin that allows for even cubed bites that look like bruschetta.

Bruschetta Pasta Salad is Perfect for Summer!

This Bruschetta Pasta salad is the perfect recipe for summer and really lets simple ingredients shine.  You can serve it on so many occasions and has the best flavors of the season.  This Bruschetta Pasta Salad is simply the BEST!  It's healthy, easy to make, and tastes like a dream.  Give it a try and let me know what you think. I can't wait for you to try it.

I think this healthy pasta salad can be great as a healthy vegetarian main course or as a side dish with another vegetarian or pescatarian dish.  Here are a few dishes that it would taste great with!

Serve it with:

• Lightened Up Three Cheese and Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms
• Caprese Crustless Quiche
• Foil Salmon with Rainbow Veggies
• The Best BBQ Shrimp Kabobs
• Healthy New England Style Shrimp Rolls
• Blackened Mahi Mahi
• Grilled Fish in Foil

More Healthy Pasta Salad Recipes

• 4 Ingredient Caprese Pasta Salad
• Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
• Kale Ceasar Pasta Salad
• Healthy Tex Mex Pasta Salad
• Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad
• Tomato and Asparagus Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
• Thai Peanut Noodle Salad

If you make this Bruschetta Pasta Salad recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and a star rating ★ below. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook too!

Bruschetta Pasta Salad recipe

Julie Wunder

This Bruschetta Pasta Salad recipe is an easy, fast, and delicious cold pasta salad that comes together in less than 20 minutes.  This healthy pasta salad is filled with bowtie pasta, summer tomatoes, basil, parmesan cheese, and olive oil making it perfect for a summer dinner, potlucks, and BBQs.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine American, Italian

Servings 4

Calories 288 kcal

Ingredients

  

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For the Bruschetta Pasta Salad:

• 4 cups cooked bowtie pasta
• 2 cups tomato, finely diced
• ½ cup shredded parmesan
• ½ cup fresh basil, chiffonade
• optional: balsamic glaze, extra basil

For the Dressing:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Toss the cooked pasta, tomato, shredded parmesan and basil together in the bowl.
• Whisk together the dressing and pour it on top of the pasta salad. Toss again.
• Serve room temperature or cold. You can also top with optional extra balsamic glaze and/or extra basil or parmesan.

Notes

Storage & Leftovers

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.  The tomatoes tend to wilt after any longer.  I do not recommend freezing this recipe.

Serve this Italian Pasta Salad at room temperature or cold.  It's great for dinner or cookouts!  You can make it ahead up to one day.

Nutrition

Calories: 288kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 12gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 149mgPotassium: 318mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 815IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 136mgIron: 3mg

Keyword Bruschetta Pasta Salad recipe

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