Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe – Always A Favorite!

This Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe is delicious served warm or cold! Made with pasta, fresh pesto, tomatoes, onions, and cheese, it’s always a favorite.

Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe

It’s ready in just a few minutes, which makes it great as a make ahead side dish for the summer.

I love throwing in the toasted sunflower seeds for extra crunch. So good!

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Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
32 mins
 

This Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe is very easy to make even with the homemade pesto sauce!

Course: Salad
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe
Servings: 4
Calories: 280 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 16-ounce package bowtie pasta
  • 1 pint grape tomatoes halved
  • ½ red onion diced
  • 1 8-ounce package feta cheese, crumbled or Parmesan cheese, chunks
  • ¼ cup sunflower seeds
For the Pesto:
  • 4 cups fresh basil
  • 2-3 cloves garlic
  • ¼ cup sunflower seeds
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup olive oil
  • ¾ cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
  1. Bring pasta to boil in large stockpot over medium heat. Cook according to package instructions. Remove from heat and pour through a strainer when cooked. Pour into a large mixing bowl.
  2. Add grape tomatoes, onion, feta cheese and sunflower seeds.
  3. Make pesto by adding all ingredients to a food processor or blender until smooth. Pour over pasta and stir until well-combined.
  4. Serve warm or store in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature to serve.

Enjoy This Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe!

More recipes you might enjoy.

Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Chinese Chicken Salad
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

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Easy Shepherds Pie – Kiddies Love This Dish!

This Easy Shepherds Pie Recipe covers all the bases. No need for any side dishes with your beef, potatoes, and vegetables all in one dish!

Shepherds Pie is so easy and your kids will really love it!

Fast Recipe! I like this recipe because it’s quick and also versatile.

Just serve with a tossed green salad and you have a complete meal. Quick and cheap!

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Easy Shepherds Pie
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Easy Shepherds Pie
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
50 mins
 

This Easy Shepherds Pie really is easy and the kiddies just love it!

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Easy Shepherds Pie
Servings: 6
Calories: 350 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 lb of browned and seasoned ground beef
  • 2 cups of hot mashed potatoes I used ones already made
  • ½ package of cream cheese 4 ounces
  • 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 cloves of garlic I used the minced garlic
  • 4 cups of frozen vegetables that have been thawed
  • 1 cup of beef gravy in a jar
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375F
  2. Mix potatoes, cream cheese, garlic, and ½ of the shredded cheese together
  3. Mix the mixed vegetables, gravy, and meat together. Put the vegetable, meat, gravy mixture into a 9" square baking dish
  4. Cover vegetable mixture with the mashed potato mixture
  5. Take the remaining half cup of shredded cheese and cover the potatoes
  6. Bake uncover in the preheated oven for 20 minutes

Enjoy your easy Shepherds Pie!

Up Next: 

Easy Company Hamburger Casserole

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Italian Sausage Pie – Very Easy Plus Delicious!

I made this Italian Sausage Pie last night for dinner because I had the sausage and the pie crust that I didn’t have any plans for. I’m soooo glad I did.

 

This was AH-MAZING! So good!

It’s a cheesy blend of eggs, sausage, and other staple ingredients that’s great for either dinner or breakfast!

I frequently make frittatas which is just a crustless egg pie. But this was my first time using a crust. Adding the crunch of the crust makes a big difference in the texture of the dish.

I’ll be making more pies with different ingredients in the near future.

Be sure to follow Foodgasm Recipes on Pinterest for more great recipes.

Italian Sausage Pie
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Italian Sausage Pie
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Resting Time
10 mins
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
 

Easy to make and sooo good! Have it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. 

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Italian Sausage Pie
Servings: 6
Calories: 280 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 pound Bulk Italian Sausage
  • 3 teaspoons Minced Garlic
  • 1 diced bell pepper
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 2 1/2 cups Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese Divided
  • 1 cup Milk
  • 3 whole Eggs
  • 3/4 cups self rising flour
  • 1/4 teaspoons black Pepper
  • 1 9 inch deep dish pie crust
Instructions
  1. In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic, bell pepper and onion; cook a few minutes longer. Drain. Stir in 2 cups of the cheese. Transfer to a 9-inch deep-dish pie crust.
  2. In a small bowl, combine the milk, eggs, flour and black pepper. Pour over sausage mixture.
  3. Bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
  4. Sprinkle with remaining cheese; bake 1-2 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
  5. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

Tips and Tidbits About Italian Sausage Pie

One big tip, LET IT REST when it’s done, it will firm up! I would say at least 15 min. to 1/2 hour.

Also, this would be even better (if possible) with a side of spaghetti or pizza sauce.

You can make this frittata style in a deep-dish pie plate. Just up the eggs to 8.

Enjoy!

Up Next: 

Italian Sausage Pasta Bake

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Hearty Stuffed Shells – Easy Make Ahead Meal

These Hearty Stuffed Shells are very easy to make and they freeze very well. I do a lot of “once a week” cooking. What I mean by that is I cook freezer foods on the weekend and then freeze to have meals during the week.

Hearty Stuffed Shells

I think it’s much better for me than buying all the boxed stuff at the grocery. Kinda’ like my own TV dinners!

I was extremely excited to find this great recipe. I love Italian type foods and stuffed shells are one of my favorites. Well any pasta for that matter!

Whenever I need some for a meal I just take a few out the night before and let ’em thaw in the fridge. Come dinner time I just zap ’em in the microwave.

Dinner is served!

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Hearty Stuffed Shells
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
 

A great Italian type dish to make on the weekend for a mid-week meal! 

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Hearty Stuffed Shells
Servings: 4
Calories: 375 kcal
Ingredients
  • 18 jumbo pasta shells
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 3 oz. fresh baby spinach
  • 24 oz. pasta sauce
  • 1/2 C. whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 1/4 C. small curd cottage cheese
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 1/4 C. Parmesan cheese
  • 4 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
  1. Bring a pot of water to a boil, add a good pinch of salt and the shells and cook according to pkg. directions. Drain, rinse to cool, and set aside.
  2. Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a skillet, drain the grease, stir in the onion and cook for 5-6 minutes till tender, stir in the garlic and spinach. Cook until spinach has wilted and add in all but 1 C. of the pasta sauce. Remove from heat.
  3. In a bowl, stir together the ricotta, cottage cheese, egg and Parmesan cheese.
  4. Spread the remaining cup of pasta sauce in the bottom of a casserole dish (I used individual serving size ones since I was freezing mine).
  5. Take each shell and fill with 1 T. of the ricotta mixture, then a good spoonful of the meat mixture, place in the casserole dish, repeat with remaining shells. Top with the mozzarella cheese and bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly. 3 stuffed shells per serving.

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Chocolate Ganache Tart

This Chocolate Ganache Tart is an extremely easy and very chocolaty tart. It’s like melted chocolate candy layered on top of a chocolate cookie.

Chocolate Ganache Tart

This is an extremely easy recipe. In fact the only difficult thing is pressing the cookie layer in the tart pan. If you can call that difficult.

Satisfy your chocolate cravings with this delicious recipe.

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Chocolate Ganache Tart
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Setup Time
8 hrs
Total Time
40 mins
 

This Chocolate Ganache Tart is really easy to make and yet elegant enough for company!

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Chocolate Ganache Tart
Servings: 6
Calories: 435 kcal
Ingredients
For the Crust:
  • 1-1/2 cups of Crushed Chocolate Graham Crackers
  • 1/2 cup of Unsalted Butter softened at room temperature
For the Filling:
  • 1 cup of Heavy Cream
  • 1/4 cup of Unsalted Butter softened at room temperature
  • 6 oz of Semisweet Chocolate Chips
  • 6 oz of Milk Chocolate Chips
  • Small Pinch of Salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9” tart pan with a removable bottom with some non-stick spray and set aside.
  2. In a food processor, add the crushed cookies and butter, pulse until the mixture resembles the texture of wet sand and then press it evenly into your prepared tart pan.
  3. Bake the crust for about 10 minutes, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool quite a bit. The crust will puff up as it bakes but as it cools, it will deflate.
  4. Add the chocolate chips to a large bowl along with the pinch of salt and set aside.
  5. In a small saucepan, add the butter and cream and heat together until the butter is fully melted and the mixture comes to a simmer. Pour mixture over the chocolate chips and allow it to sit for just a few minutes.
  6. Whisk the chocolate chips and cream mixture together really well until you get a nice smooth ganache. Pour mixture into your prepared crust, pop it in the fridge and allow it to set for about 8 hours or overnight.
  7. When ready to serve, top with some sliced strawberries that have been tossed with a little grand marnier!

Recipe By: Laura Vitale

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Potato Rolls – Very Easy and Delicious

Delicious Potato Rolls! Do you shy away from making yeast bread? A lot of people do because it can be a little intimidating. These rolls, however, are very easy!

To make it even easier they can be made in the bread machine if you have one. The instructions in the recipe are for handmade. But for the bread machine just throw the ingredients in according to your machine instructions and set the machine on the dough cycle.

The results with either method are amazing! Soft and fluffy. The perfect dinner roll. So much better than store-bought rolls.

Give the recipe a try and I’ll just bet they will become your go-to roll recipe.

Be sure to follow Foodgasm Recipes on Pinterest for more great recipes.

Potato Rolls
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Potato Rolls

A delicious potato roll recipe that's easy to make and tastes great! 

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Potato Rolls
Servings: 6
Calories: 320 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 pkg. active dry yeast
  • 1 1/2 C. warm water
  • 2/3 C. sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 2/3 C. shortening
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 C. luke warm mashed potatoes
  • 7 - 7 1/2 C. all purpose flour
Instructions
  1. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water along with 1 T. of the sugar. Allow to proof for 5 minutes.
  2. Add in the remaining sugar, shortening, eggs and potatoes. Add 5 C. of the flour and the salt. Beat until smooth (I used a stand mixer for this).
  3. Turn the dough out onto a heavily floured work surface and knead in as much of the remaining flour as needed to form a good dough. Knead for 5 minutes.
  4. Place the dough into a greased bowl, cover and allow to rise until double in size (about 1 1/2 - 2 hrs.).
  5. Punch down the dough and place on a floured surface. Knead about a minute. With floured hands pinch off pieces, just a little bigger than a golf ball, and form into a roll. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Continue with remaining dough.
  6. Allow the rolls to rise for 1 hour. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown on top.
  7. (Approx. 20-24 rolls) The freeze well.

 

Enjoy!

Up Next:

Classic Southern Buttermilk Cornbread

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Blueberry Cheesecake Bars – Definite Keeper Recipe

This recipe for Blueberry Cheesecake Bars is a keeper! Cheesecake bars bursting with juicy blueberries.

Blueberry Cheesecake Bars

If I had to pinpoint my favorite dessert recipe that I’ve made lately, without a doubt it would be these Bars!

Hey cheesecake lovers? Just a heads up to you right now, you are going to l-o-v-e them!

I used fresh blueberries but you could also use frozen blueberries that you have thawed completely.

I know you are probably wondering if you could sub strawberries, raspberries or even blackberries and the answer is yes. However, I just love the blueberries. So refreshing!

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Blueberry Cheesecake Bars
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr
 

A delicious dessert that's easy to make and guests will rave about! 

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Blueberry Cheesecake Bars
Servings: 6
Calories: 375 kcal
Ingredients
  • 6 tablespoons butter melted
  • 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 2 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 8 ounce jar blueberry jam (or preserves)
  • 1 cup blueberries
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F Combine butter and graham cracker crumbs and press firmly and evenly onto bottom of 9 X 13-inch baking pan.
  2. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar, eggs and vanilla, beating until well blended. Set aside.
  3. Stir jam until softened and spread evenly over crust; sprinkle with blueberries. Top with cream cheese mixture.
  4. Bake 30 minutes or until slightly puffed. Cool completely in pan.
  5. These cheesecake bars will need to cool at room temperature for about an hour, and then they will need to continue chilling in the refrigerator for about three hours.
  6. Please do not attempt to cut into these cheesecake bars until they have cooled for the entire four hours!
  7. You can refrigerate leftover bars for up to 3 days.

Up Next:

Any Flavor Cake Mix Cookies

Christmas cookies of almost any variety with very little work! A simple recipe to turn your favorite flavor cake mix into perfect cookies!

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Quick and Easy Beef Patties In Onion Gravy

Quick and Easy Beef Patties In Onion Gravy! Quick, Easy, delicious and cheap aren’t adjectives you can use to describe many foods.

 

But it certainly applies in this case.

Add some noodles, rice or mashed potatoes and a green vegetable and you have dinner for four that costs at least 1/4 as much as fast food would for the same four.

When you add in the fact that it’s an extremely easy recipe… It doesn’t take long to cook… And is delicious; well that makes it unbeatable.

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Quick and Easy Beef Patties In Onion Gravy
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Quick and Easy Beef Patties In Onion Gravy
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
45 mins
 

So quick and easy. A delicious weeknight meal! 

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Quick and Easy Beef Patties In Onion Gravy
Servings: 4
Calories: 365 kcal
Ingredients
Patties Ingredients
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 envelope dry onion soup mix
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
Gravy Ingredients
  • 1/2 envelope dry onion soup mix
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons flour
Instructions
  1. Combine all patty ingredients; mix thoroughly with your hands and shape into 4 patties.
  2. Spray a non-stick skillet, and brown patties on both sides. Add dry onion soup mix and 1 1/2 cup water. Cover pan tightly and simmer for 20 minutes.
  3. Remove patties to a plate.
  4. In a gravy shaker or jar, combine 1/2 cup water with 2 tbs. flour.
  5. Stir flour and water into onion gravy. Stir constantly with a whisk until it comes to a boil. Boil 1 minute.
  6. Return patties to pan until reheated.

 

Enjoy!

Up Next:

Beef Enchilada Recipe – Easy & Delicious

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Super Quick and Easy Chocolate Pie

This Super Quick and Easy Chocolate Pie is for those times when I need a super quick dessert. Maybe for friends dropping by for coffee or when my sweet tooth is asserting itself.

Super Quick and Easy Chocolate Pie

Even though it uses grocery store products and goes together in a flash because of that, it’s surprisingly delicious.

Give it a try and see if it doesn’t belong in your “cooking to eat” collection too!

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Super Quick and Easy Chocolate Pie
Prep Time
15 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 

It just doesn't get any easier than this Super Quick and Easy Chocolate Pie! 

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Super Quick and Easy Chocolate Pie
Servings: 6
Calories: 300 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 graham cracker pie crust
  • 1 1/4 cups cold milk
  • 2 3 1/2 ounce packages chocolate flavor instant pudding and pie filling mix
  • 1 8 ounce container frozen non-dairy topping, thawed and divided
Instructions
  1. Beat milk, pudding and 1/2 of the whipped topping in medium bowl with wire whisk 1 minute. (Mixture will be thick.) Spread in crust.
  2. Spread remaining whipped topping over pudding layer in crust.
  3. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve. Garnish as desired.

Tips and Tidbits About This Super Quick and Easy Chocolate Pie

This same recipe, or formula, will work with most any kind of pie you want to make. Just change it up to suit yourself.

There are different types of pie crusts, many different types of fillings and toppers. You are only limited by your imagination.

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The Worlds Easiest Chocolate Fudge

Oh MY goodness! The Worlds Easiest Chocolate Fudge! Can you get any easier??? This fudge only takes moments to make and tastes great. Not the most sophisticated, but for the ease of making it is delicious!

The Worlds Easiest Chocolate Fudge

If you’re having a chocolate attack or you’re under the influence of a monster sweet tooth and an apple or a banana just ain’t gonna’ cut it. You need fudge! Well you’re not far way from satisfaction with this recipe.

Only 3 ingredients quickly put together and then a little time for it to set and you’re good to go!

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The Worlds Easiest Chocolate Fudge
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
2 mins
Refrigerator Time
1 hr
Total Time
7 mins
 

So easy and tastes great. Sure to satisfy a chocolate attack quickly!

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: The World's Easiest Chocolate Fudge
Servings: 4
Calories: 375 kcal
Ingredients
  • 3 C. semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/2 C. chopped almonds or any nut you would like, optional
Instructions
  1. Pour the chips into a microwave safe bowl, pour the condensed milk over the top. Stir and put in the microwave for 30 second intervals until the chips have melted.
  2. Stir well once melted, stir in the nuts and pour into a 9x9 pan lined with wax paper. Place in the fridge to set for 1 hour.
  3. Remove the fudge using the wax paper and cut into bite size pieces.

More recipes you might like.

5-Ingredient No Bake Reese’s Squares
Perfect Chocolate Brownies
Mississippi Mud Pie

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