10+ Pesto Pasta Recipes You’ll Love to Make

Pesto pasta is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed in many ways. Whether you prefer it simple or with added protein and veggies, there’s a pesto pasta recipe for everyone.

These recipes offer quick and easy meal options that are perfect for busy weeknights or cozy dinners.

With fresh ingredients like basil, garlic, and nuts, pesto brings a burst of flavor to your pasta. You can adjust the ingredients to match your taste and dietary needs, making it a go-to recipe in your kitchen.

Enjoy exploring various versions of pesto pasta that will surely delight your taste buds.

1) Classic Basil Pesto Pasta

Classic basil pesto pasta is simple and flavorful. You can whip it up quickly for a delicious meal. The recipe features fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese.

To start, cook your favorite pasta until al dente.

While it cooks, make the pesto. In a food processor, blend basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, and Parmesan. Then, slowly add olive oil until smooth.

Once your pasta is done, drain it and mix in the pesto. You can add extra cheese or cherry tomatoes for more flavor. Serve it warm and enjoy a delightful dish!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 8 oz pasta of your choice

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
2. In a food processor, combine basil, garlic, and pine nuts.
3. Pulse until chopped, then add Parmesan.
4. Slowly pour in olive oil while blending until smooth.
5. Drain pasta and mix with the pesto.
6. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Serve immediately.

2) Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta

Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta is a simple and delicious dish you can whip up quickly. This recipe combines tender chicken, creamy sauce, and flavorful pesto. It’s perfect for busy weeknights.

To start, cook your pasta according to package instructions.

While it’s cooking, sauté chicken pieces in a pan until browned and cooked through. Add sun-dried tomatoes and let them warm through.

Once the pasta is ready, drain it and add it to the pan with the chicken.

Pour in your pesto and cream, stirring until everything is well combined. Let it simmer for a few minutes, and then sprinkle with parmesan cheese for extra flavor.

Ingredients

• 8 oz pasta
• 2 chicken breasts, diced
• 1 cup cream
• 1/2 cup pesto
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
2. In a pan, sauté diced chicken until cooked through.
3. Add sun-dried tomatoes to the chicken and warm.
4. Drain pasta and add to the pan.
5. Pour in cream and pesto, stirring to combine.
6. Simmer for 3-5 minutes.
7. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese before serving.

3) Pesto Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Pesto pasta with sun-dried tomatoes brings a burst of flavor to your meal. The combination of fresh basil, rich tomatoes, and creamy cheese makes this dish truly special.

You can use any pasta shape you like. Cook the pasta until it’s al dente, then mix in your favorite pesto and chopped sun-dried tomatoes.

This dish is quick to prepare, perfect for busy weeknights. You can also add veggies or grilled chicken for extra protein.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces (225 grams) pasta
• 1 cup (150 grams) sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 1 cup (240 ml) pesto
• ½ cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh basil for garnish (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
2. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
3. Stir in the pesto and chopped sun-dried tomatoes.
4. Mix until everything is well combined.
5. Add Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper to taste.
6. Serve hot and garnish with fresh basil, if desired.

4) Three-Ingredient Pesto Pasta

Three-ingredient pesto pasta is quick and tasty. You can make it in about 20 minutes, making it perfect for a busy day. This simple dish only requires pasta, basil pesto, and lemon juice.

To start, cook your pasta according to the package instructions.

While it’s cooking, mix in the pesto. Finally, add a splash of lemon juice for extra flavor.

This recipe is great as a side or a light main meal. You can also add ingredients like vegetables or protein if you want.

Ingredients

• Pasta (your choice)
• Basil pesto
• Lemon juice

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions.
2. Drain the pasta, reserving a bit of pasta water.
3. Mix in basil pesto and lemon juice.
4. Add reserved pasta water if needed for creaminess. Enjoy!

5) Vegan Spinach Pesto Pasta

Vegan spinach pesto pasta is a quick and delicious meal that you can whip up in about 30 minutes. The fresh spinach adds a vibrant color and healthy twist to traditional pesto.

To make this dish, you’ll blend fresh spinach with basil, garlic, and nuts. You can use your favorite nuts, like walnuts or pine nuts, for extra flavor.

Cook your pasta according to package instructions, then mix it with the pesto. This dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion.

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 1 cup fresh basil
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 cup nuts (walnuts or pine nuts)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 8 ounces pasta of your choice

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook the pasta according to package directions.
2. In a blender, combine spinach, basil, garlic, and nuts.
3. Slowly add olive oil while blending until smooth.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Toss the pesto with the cooked pasta and serve.

6) Pesto Pasta with Pine Nuts

Pesto pasta with pine nuts is a tasty dish that’s quick to prepare. The combination of fresh basil, garlic, and parmesan creates a rich and flavorful sauce. Adding pine nuts gives it a great crunch and nutty taste.

You can use any pasta you like, but bucatini or farfalle works well. The vibrant green sauce clings beautifully to each piece of pasta, making each bite delicious.

To make this dish even better, top it with crispy pine nut breadcrumbs. This extra texture adds a lovely contrast to the creamy pesto.

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450g) pasta (bucatini or farfalle)
• 2 cups (60g) fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 cup (30g) pine nuts (toasted)
• 4-5 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic (minced)
• 1/2 cup (50g) parmesan cheese (grated)

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook the pasta according to package instructions.
2. In a food processor, combine basil, pine nuts, garlic, and lemon juice.
3. Blend while slowly adding olive oil until smooth.
4. Mix in parmesan cheese until well combined.
5. Toss the cooked pasta with the pesto sauce.
6. Serve topped with extra pine nuts if desired.

7) Lemon Basil Pesto Pasta

Lemon Basil Pesto Pasta is a fresh and flavorful dish you can whip up in no time. This recipe highlights the bright taste of lemon combined with the richness of basil. It’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.

To make it, you’ll blend fresh basil, garlic, lemon juice, and nuts for a zesty pesto. Cook your pasta until it’s al dente, then toss it with the pesto. This dish pairs well with any noodle you like.

Feel free to add veggies or grilled chicken for extra nutrition. Enjoy the vibrant flavors with every bite!

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup pine nuts or walnuts
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Salt, to taste
• Pasta of your choice (about 12 ounces)

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook the pasta according to package directions.
2. In a food processor, combine basil, garlic, and nuts.
3. With the processor running, add olive oil and lemon juice.
4. Blend until smooth, then season with salt.
5. Toss the cooked pasta with the pesto. Serve and enjoy!

8) Pesto Shrimp Linguine

Pesto shrimp linguine is a delicious and quick meal. You can make it in about 30 minutes, perfect for a busy weeknight. The combination of shrimp, linguine, and pesto creates a flavorful dish that everyone will enjoy.

Start with fresh or frozen shrimp, which you will sauté with garlic for a great taste. Cook your linguine in salted water until it’s al dente.

Next, mix the shrimp with your favorite basil pesto. Toss the shrimp and pesto with the cooked linguine for a delightful meal. You can add some cherry tomatoes for extra color and flavor.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces linguine pasta
• 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1/2 cup basil pesto
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook the linguine in salted water according to package instructions.
2. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
3. Add shrimp and cook until pink, about 3-4 minutes.
4. Stir in pesto and cherry tomatoes.
5. Toss the cooked pasta with the shrimp mixture.
6. Season with salt and pepper, and top with Parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy!

9) Quick and Easy Pesto Penne

You can make a delicious pesto penne in just a few minutes. It’s perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. All you need are some fresh ingredients and a pot.

Start by cooking your penne in boiling salted water until al dente. While the pasta cooks, prepare the pesto. You can use store-bought pesto or make your own using basil, garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese.

Once the pasta is ready, drain it and mix in the pesto. Toss until the pasta is well-coated. You can also add veggies like cherry tomatoes or spinach for extra flavor.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces penne pasta
• 1/2 cup pesto
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes (optional)
• 1 cup fresh spinach (optional)
• Salt, to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Boil salted water in a large pot.
2. Add penne and cook until al dente. This usually takes about 10-12 minutes.
3. Drain the pasta.
4. In a bowl, mix the cooked pasta with pesto.
5. Add cherry tomatoes and spinach if desired. Then, toss well.

10) Pesto Pasta with Broccoli

Pesto pasta with broccoli is a great way to enjoy healthy greens. The combination of fresh broccoli and basil pesto adds flavor and nutrition to your meal. It’s quick to make, perfect for busy nights.

To start, cook the pasta according to package instructions. While the pasta cooks, steam or boil the broccoli until it’s tender but still bright green. This usually takes about 5 minutes.

For the pesto, blend together fresh basil, garlic, nuts, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese. Then, mix the pasta, broccoli, and pesto together in a large bowl.

Serve it warm and enjoy!

Ingredients

• Pasta (your choice)
• Broccoli florets
• Fresh basil
• Garlic
• Pine nuts or walnuts
• Olive oil
• Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
2. Steam or boil broccoli for about 5 minutes.
3. In a blender, combine basil, garlic, nuts, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese.
4. Mix the cooked pasta, broccoli, and pesto together in a large bowl.
5. Serve warm.