Pesto Pasta is a creamy, flavorful, and herbaceous Italian dish. It's typically made using pasta, olive oil, basic seasonings, and a rich pesto sauce. This homemade Pesto Pasta is one of the best and easy pasta dishes and can be enjoyed for both lunch and dinner. The best part about this dish is that it pairs perfectly with roasted or baked vegetables, chicken, or seafood, making it a versatile meal.
What's great about Pesto Pasta is that it can be prepared in under 30 minutes, making it a quick and easy meal option. To make it even simpler, I've provided a detailed video with step-by-step instructions for you to follow along with.
Jump to:
What is Pesto Pasta?
Pesto Pasta is a creamy, delicious, and flavorful Italian dish. The pesto sauce is made with fresh green basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, and olive oil, which create a creamy and herbaceous flavor profile. This Pesto pasta can be served hot or cold and is often garnished with additional grated cheese, pine nuts, or fresh basil leaves. It pairs well with roasted or baked vegetables, meats, or simple garlic bread.
One of the best things about Pesto Pasta is its classic herbaceous flavor and easy-to-make nature. It can be prepared in under 30 minutes, making it a perfect dinner meal. The fresh and vibrant flavor of homemade pesto sauce adds an extra dimension to the dish. Though store-bought pesto sauce can also be used, homemade pesto sauce is always best due to its fresh flavors. Pesto Pasta is one of the best pasta dishes among others because of its unique flavor and easy preparation.
Overall, Pesto Pasta is a delicious and impressive dish that can make dinner easy and enjoyable for the whole family. It's a perfect combination of flavors, textures, and simplicity that everyone will love. With healthy vegetable side dishes or baked meats, Pesto Pasta is an excellent comfort food. So, let's make a bowl of pasta with homemade pesto sauce and enjoy the deliciousness it brings to the table.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Pesto Pasta is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that requires simple pantry ingredients and fresh, flavorful greens like basil leaves. Here are the ingredients you'll need to make it:
- Pasta - As for the type of pasta, any type of pasta can work with pesto, but some popular choices are angel hair, spaghetti, fettuccine, linguine, rotini, or penne
- Fresh Basil Leaves: The fresh basil leaves give the pesto its signature flavor and aroma. They have a slightly sweet and peppery taste with hints of mint and cloves. If you don't have fresh basil leaves, you can use other fresh green herbs like parsley, or cilantro
- Pine Nuts (toasted): Pine nuts are rich and buttery with a slightly sweet and nutty flavor They add texture and crunch to the pesto. If you don't have pine nuts, you can use other nuts like walnuts, almonds, or cashews
- Garlic: Garlic adds pungency and depth to the pesto. It has a strong and savory flavor with a slightly sweet aftertaste. If you don't have fresh garlic, you can use garlic powder or minced garlic from a jar
- Parmesan Cheese (grated): Parmesan cheese adds a nutty and salty flavor to the pesto. It also helps to thicken and emulsify the sauce. If you don't have Parmesan cheese, you can use other hard cheeses like pecorino romano or asiago
- Lemon Juice (freshly squeezed): It adds a tangy and citrusy flavor to the pesto. It also helps to brighten and balance the flavors. If you don't have lemon juice, you can use lime juice or vinegar
- Olive oil: Olive oil adds richness and smoothness to the pesto. It also helps to bind the ingredients together
- Seasonings: Salt and black pepper enhance the flavors of the pesto and bring out its natural sweetness and spiciness
Note: I have used a homemade Pesto Sauce to create a delicious Pesto Pasta. However, if you find it more convenient, you are welcome to use store-bought sauce. Additionally, I recommend customizing the ingredients to suit your personal preferences.
For a detailed ingredients list, please check out the recipe card below.
How to Make Pesto Pasta at Home?
The recipe I have shared here is Pesto Pasta, a classic and delicious Italian dish. It is made with fresh ingredients and freshly made basil pesto sauce. It's an effortless and satisfying meal that's perfect for any day of the week.
Below are the high-level instructions for this recipe, but for detailed step-by-step instructions with photos and a video, please see the recipe card below.
Make Sauce
Note: You can skip this step if you are using store brought Pesto Sauce.
- Prep the ingredients - To make a homemade pesto sauce, you will need a few ingredients such as fresh basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, black pepper, salt, and olive oil. Start by washing the basil leaves thoroughly and remove the stems
- Blend - Then, add the basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, and parmesan cheese to a blender or food processor. Drizzle in the olive oil as you blend everything until you get a smooth consistency
- For Chunkier Consistency - If you prefer a chunkier pesto sauce, simply blend for less time. Once the sauce is ready, set it aside
Prep Pesto Pasta
- Boil Water - Start by boiling 5 cups of water or enough water to cook the amount of pasta you plan to use. Add a pinch of salt and a tablespoon of oil to the water to prevent the pasta from sticking together
- Cook Pasta - Once the water comes to a boil, add the pasta of your choice, such as angel hair, spaghetti, rotini, or linguine, and cook it as per the package instructions
- Drain the Pasta - Once the pasta is cooked to your liking, reserve some pasta water and drain the rest of the water from the pasta
- Mix with Sauce - Transfer the cooked pasta to a large mixing bowl and add about 5 tablespoons of the prepared pesto sauce to it. You can adjust the amount of pesto sauce based on your preference
- Adjust the Consistency - Add ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water to the mix to create a creamy consistency. If the pasta looks too dry, you can add more pasta water until you get the desired consistency
- Garnish and Serve - Once everything is mixed well, it's time to serve the Pesto Pasta. You can garnish it with some toasted pine nuts and grated parmesan cheese. This adds a delicious crunch and flavor to the pasta
Tips
- Pasta - When making Pesto Pasta, you can choose any type of pasta you prefer, such as angel hair, spaghetti, linguine, penne, or rotini
- For the pesto sauce - I recommend using fresh basil leaves, but you can also try other leafy greens like cilantro or parsley to make your own version
- Store-bought sauce - If you're short on time or don't have fresh ingredients, you can also use store-bought pesto sauce. To enhance the flavor, sauté some onions in oil and add the sauce for a few minutes before mixing it with the pasta. Season the pasta with black pepper and salt if needed
- Consistency - For the consistency of the pesto sauce, I prefer a smooth texture, but you can leave it chunky if you prefer. When cooking the pasta, reserve some pasta water and add it to the sauce if it's too thick while mixing it with the pasta. This will help adjust the consistency and create a creamy texture
Storage Suggestions
The Pesto Sauce can stay fresh for up to four days when stored in a closed, airtight container in the refrigerator. This makes it easy to cook the pasta and mix it with the sauce whenever you feel like enjoying a bowl of Pesto Pasta.
Serving Suggestions
There are several dishes that you can serve with Pesto Pasta. Here are some ideas:
- Garlic Bread: Pesto pasta and garlic bread make a great combination. You can easily make it at home by toasting some bread with garlic butter
- Salad: You can make a simple salad with greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and a light vinaigrette
- Sauteed dishes: Sauteed veggies like sauteed mushrooms, or sauteed brussels sprouts can be a great accompaniment
- Baked or Roasted Vegetables: Roasted vegetables such as zucchini, green beans, potatoes, or broccoli pairs great with most pasta dishes
- Chicken: If you want to add some protein to your meal, roasted chicken is a great option. You can also serve baked chicken breast, oven-baked chicken drumsticks, or air fryer chicken thighs
- Bruschetta: Bruschetta is a delicious and easy appetizer. You can make it with sliced bread, tomatoes, garlic, and basil
- Seafood: If you want to add some seafood to your meal, grilled salmon, shrimp, or fried shrimp is a great option
Related Recipes
You could also find similar pasta recipes below and more at Italian recipes.
- Chicken Alfredo
- Shrimp Alfredo
- Alfredo Pasta
- Garlic Parmesan Pasta
- Salmon Pasta
- Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
- White Sauce Pasta
Pesto Pasta Recipe Video
I have also shared a detailed video of this Pesto Pasta Recipe below that I hope will help you to make delicious pasta at home. You can also find the recipe in story format.
📖 Recipe
Pesto Pasta
Ingredients
For Homemade Pesto Sauce (skip if using store brought Sauce)
- 3 cups Basil Leaves, loosely packed
- ½ cup Olive Oil
- ½ cup Pine Nuts, toasted or sub with walnuts, almonds, or pistachios
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated
- 3 Garlic cloves
- ½ tsp Black Pepper, ground
- Salt, to taste
- 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
For Pesto Pasta
- 10 oz Angel hair Pasta, or preferred pasta of your choice
- 2 tsp Olive Oil
- 5 cups Water
- ½ tsp Salt, or as needed
- Parmesan Cheese, to garnish
- Pine Nuts, to garnish
Instructions
To make Pesto Sauce
- To make homemade pesto sauce, start by adding all the ingredients mentioned below for making pesto sauce into a blender jar
- Blend everything until it turns smooth. If you prefer the sauce to be chunkier, you can leave it chunkier. Now, your pesto sauce is ready. This homemade sauce yields upto 2½ cups, which can be stored for later use
To make Pesto Pasta
- Take a wide pot and add 5 cups of water, or enough water to cook the pasta. Add salt and oil and bring the water to a boil. Add the pasta (I have used angel hair pasta here, but feel free to use spaghetti, rotini, linguine or any other pasta of your choice)
- Cook the pasta until it is tender, as per the instructions on the package, and reserve some pasta water for later use
- Drain the pasta from the water and add it to a large mixing bowl. Add 5 tablespoons of prepared pesto sauce, and ¼ cup of pasta water, and mix well. You can also add more pesto sauce and adjust the consistency by adding pasta water while mixing. If the pasta is too dry, add a little pasta water and mix again
- Finally, garnish the pasta with toasted pine nuts and parmesan cheese. Now, the delicious Pesto Pasta is ready for you to taste and enjoy
To serve
- Serve this creamy Pesto Pasta with garlic bread, roasted vegetables such as zucchini, green beans, and broccoli, or chicken dishes like roasted chicken, baked chicken breast or drumsticks, or grilled or fried shrimp
Video
Notes
- Pasta - When making Pesto Pasta, you can choose any type of pasta you prefer, such as angel hair, spaghetti, linguine, penne, or rotini
- For the pesto sauce - I recommend using fresh basil leaves, but you can also try other leafy greens like cilantro or parsley to make your own version
- Store-bought sauce - If you're short on time or don't have fresh ingredients, you can also use store-bought pesto sauce. To enhance the flavor, sauté some onions in oil and add the sauce for a few minutes before mixing it with the pasta. Season the pasta with black pepper and salt if needed
- Consistency - For the consistency of the pesto sauce, I prefer a smooth texture, but you can leave it chunky if you prefer. When cooking the pasta, reserve some pasta water and add it to the sauce if it's too thick while mixing it with the pasta. This will help adjust the consistency and create a creamy texture
Nutrition
FAQ
Pesto Pasta is an Italian dish that consists of cooked pasta tossed in a sauce made from basil, garlic, pine nuts, olive oil, and grated cheese. The sauce is known as pesto sauce, which gives the dish its distinct flavor and aroma. It is a versatile dish that pairs well with a variety of vegetables, meats, and seafood. Pesto pasta is a popular dish around the world, loved for its simple yet delicious taste.
Yes, you can use store-bought pesto sauce to make Pesto Pasta. Store-bought pesto sauce is a convenient option that saves time and effort in making the sauce from scratch. However, keep in mind that the quality and taste of the store-bought sauce can vary depending on the brand, so it's important to choose a good quality sauce to ensure the best taste. Also, if you have the time and ingredients, making homemade pesto sauce can be a fun and rewarding experience that allows you to customize the taste according to your preferences.
Pesto pasta pairs well with a variety of vegetables such as roasted cherry tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms, or steamed broccoli. It also goes well with grilled or roasted chicken, shrimp, or salmon. Additionally, crusty bread and a fresh green salad make great accompaniments to complete the meal.
I hope you found the recipe enjoyable and I would appreciate hearing about your experience with it.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to leave a comment and I will do my best to respond promptly. Thank you for reading and happy cooking!
Leave a Review