Pesto

Pesto recipes have been around for centuries, with the earliest known recipes dating back to the 13th century. The name “pesto” comes from the Italian word for “to pound,” which is how the sauce was traditionally made. In the early days, pesto was simply a mixture of crushed garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese.

As the recipe evolved, other ingredients were added, such as pine nuts, basil, and mint. Today, there are countless variations of pesto, with each region of Italy having its own unique take on the sauce.

While pesto is commonly associated with pasta, it can be used in a variety of dishes, such as on pizza, in soups, or as a dip. No matter how you enjoy it, there’s no doubt that pesto is a delicious and versatile sauce with a long and rich history.

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Recipes

 

Garlic Scape Pesto

5/5 - 949 votes

• basil
• olive oil
• parmesan cheese
• sunflower seed
• lemon juice
• garlic scape

 

Broccoli-Walnut Pesto Pasta

4/5 - 1760 votes

• black pepper
• salt
• parmesan cheese
• pasta
• garlic
• lemon
• olive oil
• walnut
• mint
• broccoli

 

Basic Pesto Sauce

5/5 - 806 votes

• parmesan cheese
• pine nut
• salt
• basil
• garlic
• olive oil

 

Spicy Red Pesto Pasta

4/5 - 1398 votes

• lemon zest
• salt
• basil
• rigatoni
• red pepper flake
• parmesan cheese
• walnut
• red pepper
• oil tomato
• olive oil
• tomato paste
• garlic

 

Basil Pesto

4.6/5 - 207 votes

• salt
• pecorino cheese
• pine nut
• basil
• garlic
• olive oil

 

Basil Pesto

4/5 - 996 votes

• salt
• trofie
• garlic
• pecorino romano cheese
• olive oil
• pine nut
• basil
• parmesan cheese

 

Pesto Pasta With White Beans and Halloumi

4/5 - 774 votes

• ARUGULA (ROCKET) PESTO
• pine nut
• salt
• parsley
• olive oil
• garlic
• arugula
• PASTA
• salt
• thyme
• block halloumi
• green serrano chile
• olive oil
• lemon juice
• cannellini bean
• trofie pasta
• chicken
• garlic

 

Basil Pesto

4.3/5 - 182 votes

• olive oil
• pine nut
• basil
• garlic
• hard cheese
• salt

 

Spinach-Basil Pesto

5/5 - 248 votes

• salt
• olive oil
• rennet parmesan cheese
• walnut
• basil
• spinach

 

Parsley Pesto

5/5 - 246 votes

• pepper
• salt
• mint
• olive oil
• parsley
• garlic
• parmesan cheese

 

BA’s Best Pesto

4.6/5 - 145 votes

• salt
• pine nut
• garlic
• parmesan cheese
• olive oil
• basil

 

Creamy Avocado Pesto Pasta

4/5 - 592 votes

• salt
• fusilli
• avocado
• garlic
• olive oil
• lemon juice
• basil
• parmesan cheese
• pepita

 

Kale Pesto With Whole Wheat Pasta

4.5/5 - 143 votes

• black pepper
• salt
• parmesan cheese
• garlic
• tuscan kale
• farro pasta
• pistachio
• olive oil
• butter

 

Basil Pesto

4.96/5 - 180 votes

• garlic
• pine nut
• olive oil
• parmesan cheese
• salt
• basil
• lemon juice
• black pepper

 

Chicken Pesto

5/5 - 235 votes

• bread crumb
• mushroom
• pesto sauce
• provolone cheese
• chicken breast

 

Kale and Walnut Pesto

3.8/5 - 184 votes

• black pepper
• salt
• lemon juice
• garlic
• kale
• olive oil
• parmesan cheese
• walnut

 

White Pesto Pasta

4.4/5 - 119 votes

• black pepper
• salt
• lemon zest
• garlic
• tube
• walnut
• olive oil
• parmesan cheese
• oregano
• ricotta cheese

 

Vegan Pesto

4.5/5 - 97 votes

• pine nut
• basil
• black pepper
• nutritional yeast
• oil
• salt
• garlic

 

Baked Pesto Chicken

5/5 - 156 votes

• mozzarella cheese
• basil pesto
• plum tomato
• chicken breast

 

Basil Pesto

5/5 - 154 votes

• basil
• parmesan cheese
• pine nut
• lemon juice
• olive oil
• garlic

 

Broccoli Pesto

4/5 - 270 votes

• pepper
• salt
• basil
• parmesan cheese
• broccoli
• olive oil
• garlic

 

Garlic Scape and Basil Pesto

4.5/5 - 69 votes

• olive oil
• basil
• parmesan cheese
• pine nut
• salt
• garlic scape

 

Creamy Ramp Pesto Pasta

4/5 - 248 votes

• pink peppercorn
• salt
• zest
• fusilli lunghi
• ramp
• parmesan cheese
• olive oil
• pistachio
• bufala ricotta

 

Classic Basil Pesto (Pesto alla genovese)

4.5/5 - 68 votes

• olive oil
• pecorino romano cheese
• salt
• garlic
• basil
• pine nut

 

Mashama Bailey’s Pecan Pesto

4/5 - 236 votes

• salt
• basil
• opal basil
• thai basil
• garlic
• olive oil
• pecan
• pecorino romano cheese

 

Homemade Pesto Recipe

4.5/5 - 57 votes

• olive oil
• water
• parmesan cheese
• pine nut
• salt
• lemon juice
• garlic
• basil

 

Red Pesto Pasta

4.6/5 - 54 votes

• spaghetti
• walnut
• salt
• butter
• red fresno chile
• parmesan cheese
• tomato paste
• lemon juice
• olive oil
• garlic
• oil anchovy

 

Broccoli Pesto Pasta

4/5 - 70 votes

• black pepper
• salt
• broccoli
• parmesan cheese
• basil
• lemon juice
• olive oil
• orecchiette

 

Sunflower Seed Pesto

3.4/5 - 120 votes

• salt
• basil
• lemon juice
• lemon zest
• garlic
• sunflower seed
• olive oil
• arugula
• honey

 

Basil Pesto

5/5 - 25 votes

• parmesan cheese
• salt
• pine nut
• olive oil
• basil
• garlic

 

Easy Pesto Pasta

5/5 - 32 votes

• basil pesto
• pine nut
• arugula
• spaghetti
• olive oil
• lemon juice
• vegan parmesan
• red pepper flake
• salt

 

Basil Pesto

4.4/5 - 24 votes

• black pepper
• salt
• olive oil
• garlic
• basil
• parmesan cheese
• pine nut

 

Radish Greens Pesto

4.97/5 - 31 votes

• basil
• radish green
• garlic
• pine nut
• parmesan cheese
• salt
• olive oil
• lemon juice
• black pepper

 

Smoked Salmon, Avocado and Pesto Pizza

5/5 - 40 votes

• egg yolk
• lemon
• mozzarella cheese
• pizza dough
• water
• avocado
• smoked salmon
• pesto
• cornmeal
• parsley

 

"Blanched" Basil Pesto

4.2/5 - 21 votes

• parmesan cheese
• italian parsley
• pine nut
• garlic
• olive oil
• salt
• black pepper
• powdered ascorbic acid
• basil

 

Vegan Pesto

5/5 - 24 votes

• garlic
• pine nut
• olive oil
• salt
• basil
• lemon juice
• black pepper
• nutritional yeast

 

Pesto Meatballs

4/5 - 31 votes

• egg
• onion
• butter
• olive oil
• ground beef
• salt
• parmesan cheese
• black pepper
• garlic
• pesto

 

JUICY Pesto Pasta!

5/5 - 19 votes

• quantity pesto
• salt
• pasta
• pasta water
• parmesan cheese

 

Oven-Fried Pesto Chicken

5/5 - 9 votes

• panko breadcrumb
• bread crumb
• salt
• parmesan cheese
• black pepper
• paprika
• pesto
• chicken

 

Refreshing Mint Pesto Recipe

4.5/5 - 14 votes

• parsley
• almond
• olive oil
• feta
• lemon juice
• garlic
• black pepper
• salt

 

Collard and Pecan Pesto

4/5 - 24 votes

• black pepper
• salt
• olive oil
• honey
• collard green
• pecan
• red pepper flake
• apple cider vinegar

 

Green Garlic Pesto

4.5/5 - 13 votes

• vegetable oil
• green garlic
• salt
• olive oil
• pecorino cheese
• pine nut

 

Collard Greens and Kale Pesto

3.8/5 - 28 votes

• black pepper
• salt
• olive oil
• lemon zest
• lemon juice
• collard green
• tuscan kale
• parmesan cheese
• peanut
• garlic

 

Spinach Pesto Sauce With Linguine or Spaghetti

4/5 - 23 votes

• spinach
• linguine
• basil
• olive oil
• parmesan cheese
• salt
• garlic
• pine nut

 

Easy Pesto Pasta

3.5/5 - 53 votes

• pesto
• parmesan cheese
• penne pasta

 

Basil 101: Pesto

5/5 - 12 votes

• garlic
• pine nut
• olive oil
• parmesan cheese
• salt
• basil
• lemon juice
• black pepper

 

Broccoli Pesto

5/5 - 12 votes

• lemon zest
• broccoli floret
• basil
• salt
• olive oil
• parmesan cheese
• lemon juice
• pine nut
• garlic
• pasta
• vegan parmesan
• black pepper
• red pepper flake

 

Broccoli-Walnut Pesto With Pasta

4.1/5 - 11 votes

• lemon juice
• salt
• garlic
• wheat
• broccoli
• basil
• walnut
• vegetable broth
• nutmeg
• red pepper flake
• olive oil
• parmesan cheese

 

Vegan Spinach Cashew Pesto

4.5/5 - 11 votes

• salt
• cashew
• olive oil
• nutritional yeast
• basil
• spinach
• lemon juice
• garlic

 

Vegetarian Pesto Pizza With Feta Cheese

4/5 - 20 votes

• pizza crust
• artichoke
• kalamata olife
• pesto
• tomato
• feta

 

Kale Pesto

5/5 - 11 votes

• garlic
• olive oil
• pepita
• parmesan cheese
• lemon juice
• kale
• black pepper
• salt

 

Pea and Walnut Pesto

5/5 - 6 votes

• olive oil
• walnut
• pea
• pecorino romano cheese
• garlic
• black pepper
• salt

 

Basil Sunflower Seed Pesto

4/5 - 18 votes

• parmesan cheese
• sunflower seed
• olive oil
• garlic
• butter
• basil

 

Easy Homemade Pesto Pasta Recipe

4.05/5 - 45 votes

• bucatini
• garlic
• parmesan cheese
• olive oil
• pine nut
• salt
• lemon
• basil
• cherry tomato
• black pepper

 

Pesto

4.91/5 - 21 votes

• garlic
• parmesan cheese
• salt
• pine nut
• black pepper
• basil
• olive oil

 

Basil Pesto

4.7/5 - 7 votes

• black pepper
• salt
• olive oil
• garlic
• basil
• parmesan cheese
• pine nut

 

Pesto Pizza

5/5 - 8 votes

• mozzarella cheese
• basil pesto
• cornmeal
• basil
• pizza dough
• red pepper flake
• cherry tomato

 

Cheapo Pea Pesto

5/5 - 6 votes

• lemon juice
• salt
• crostini
• green pea
• garlic
• domestic parmesan
• olive oil
• walnut

 

English Pea Pesto Pasta With Ham

4/5 - 14 votes

• petite green pea
• spaghetti
• parmesan cheese
• walnut
• garlic
• olive oil
• basil
• olive oil
• ham
• black pepper
• salt

 

Sun-Dried Tomato and Olive Pesto Pizza with Salami + Roasted Red Peppers.

5/5 - 4 votes

• oil tomato
• red pepper
• honey
• olive oil
• garlic
• all purpose flour
• yeast
• kalamata olife
• parmesan cheese
• water
• salt
• pine nut
• basil
• cheddar cheese
• salami
• blue cheese
• mozzarella cheese
• balsamic reduction
• red pepper
• sage
• pepper

 

Burst Cherry Tomato, Artichoke, and Zucchini Pesto Pizza

4.8/5 - 5 votes

• basil pesto
• mozzarella cheese
• provolone cheese
• thyme
• marinated artichokes heart
• garlic
• zucchini
• pizza dough
• red pepper flake
• cherry tomato
• olive oil
• arugula
• salt

 

Shrimp and Fresh Pesto Pasta Recipe

4.5/5 - 6 votes

• cherry tomato
• basil
• vegetable oil
• garlic
• parmesan cheese
• pine nut
• olive oil
• spaghetti
• salt

 

Burnt Broccoli Pesto

4.7/5 - 5 votes

• parmesan cheese
• basil
• salt
• black pepper
• olive oil
• nut
• garlic
• broccoli

 

Creamy Pesto Meatballs

4/5 - 10 votes

• meatball
• alfredo sauce
• pesto sauce
• bell pepper
• onion
• parmesan cheese
• milk
• garlic
• rice

 

Charred Tomato and Corn Pesto Pasta.

4.38/5 - 8 votes

• basil vinaigrette
• angel hair pasta
• garlic
• olive oil
• red pepper flake
• herb
• basil
• cherry tomato
• olive oil
• red wine vinegar
• garlic
• ears corn
• zucchini
• burrata
• salt
• salt
• basil

 

Feta-Avocado Pesto Sauce

5/5 - 16 votes

• feta
• avocado
• lemon
• olive oil
• parmesan cheese
• pistachio
• basil
• garlic
• salt

 

Carrot-Top Pesto

4.3/5 - 4 votes

• salt
• carrot
• garlic
• olive oil
• parsley
• parmesan cheese
• cashew

 

Arugula Pesto

5/5 - 4 votes

• garlic
• cashew
• olive oil
• arugula
• lemon juice
• water
• black pepper
• salt

 

Chicken Pesto Pasta

5/5 - 4 votes

• half
• thyme
• italian seasoning
• olive oil
• onion
• parmesan cheese
• pesto
• penne pasta
• pepper flake
• butter
• chicken breast
• chicken broth
• all purpose flour
• garlic
• basil
• salt

 

Fridge-Dive Pesto Pasta

5/5 - 3 votes

• salt
• tripoline
• ricotta salata
• onion
• sesame seed
• butter
• olive oil
• green
• garlic

 

Gluten-Free Pesto Pasta With Toasted Pine Nuts

4/5 - 6 votes

• gluten spaghetti
• salt
• garlic
• olive oil
• pine nut
• black pepper

 

Pumpkin Seed Pesto

4/5 - 6 votes

• olive oil
• pumpkin seed
• garlic
• lemon juice
• parmesan cheese
• basil
• salt

 

Low-Calorie Pesto With Pasta

4/5 - 6 votes

• basil
• garlic
• pine nut
• wheat spaghetti
• salt
• olive oil
• parmesan cheese

 

Quick Pesto Roasted Chicken Recipe

3.5/5 - 15 votes

• roasting chicken
• lemon
• orange
• salt
• black pepper
• basil
• pesto

 

Broccoli Pesto Pizza

5/5 - 2 votes

• cooking spray
• salt
• basil
• cornmeal
• tomato
• parmesan cheese
• red pepper flake
• broccoli
• goat cheese
• olive oil
• wheat pizza dough

 

Pesto Pizza with Balsamic Chicken and Peaches

5/5 - 2 votes

• pesto sauce
• brown sugar
• rosemary
• soy sauce
• balsamic vinegar
• olive oil
• chicken breast
• peach
• provolone cheese
• salt
• pizza dough

 

Our Best Basil Pesto

5/5 - 2 votes

• garlic
• olive oil
• parmesan cheese
• pine nut
• salt
• basil

 

Easy Baked Pesto Chicken

4.72/5 - 7 votes

• basil pesto
• hellman
• bread crumb
• chicken breast
• salt

 

Pesto Chicken

5/5 - 2 votes

• basil pesto
• mozzarella cheese
• tomato
• chicken breast

 

One-Pot Chicken Pesto Pasta

5/5 - 2 votes

• chicken
• pesto
• half
• parmesan cheese
• pepper
• salt
• penne pasta

Ingredient Breakdown