After all, pesto is fresh, zippy, and wonderfully bright. Plus, it’s easy to make and goes well with pretty much everything. I like to make it myself because I enjoy a lot of garlic and extra-extra cheese. But it’s totally fine if you prefer store-bought. Either way, these recipes with pesto will show you how to make everything from a legendary grilled cheese sandwich to the most mouthwatering chicken ever. Enjoy!
1. Easy Pesto Pasta
A simple meal that never disappoints is pesto pasta. Like peanut butter and chocolate, the combination of basil-rich pesto and tender pasta is flawless. But don’t just coat the pasta in pesto and call it a day! Instead, enhance the flavor with a handful of arugula, a squeeze of lemon, a sprinkle of parmesan, and a pinch of chili flakes. It’s an extra step that makes all the difference.
2. Baked Frittata with Pesto, Roasted Tomatoes, & Goat Cheese
The fusion of farm-fresh ingredients in this breakfast bake is a seamless match. Juicy tomatoes, creamy goat cheese, and peppery arugula intermix with the eggs to form a tasty frittata you won’t want to share. But what truly seals the deal is emulsifying the eggs with pesto. Delish!
3. Chicken Pesto Pasta
Between the tender chicken, ripe cherry tomatoes, minced garlic, nutty parmesan, and pesto, this pasta has it all. It checks every box you can think of and then some. And you know what else it checks? That 30-minute dinner mark we all covet on weeknights!
4. (No-Rise) Slow Cooker Basil Pesto Bread
You don’t have to be a baker or even own a bread machine, to make this six-ingredient basil pesto bread. Combine all your ingredients, need for a handful of minutes, then plop that dough into the slow cooker. In a couple of hours, you’ll have a savory, basil-infused bread the entire family will enjoy.
5. Sun-Dried Tomato Prosciutto Pesto Pizza
Do you know what else the family will love? This enticing pizza! Make pizza night memorable with this incredible pie topped with salty prosciutto, meaty sun-dried tomatoes, fresh parmesan, and a handful of pistachios. Skip the red sauce for this one; it’s screaming for pesto!
6. Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Arugula Pesto
This grilled cheese is my kryptonite! It’s a grown-up version of a childhood classic that you’ll crave day after day. In between two slices of sourdough, you’ll find layers of ripe tomatoes, mozzarella, and an exciting homemade arugula pesto. Butter your bread to get it golden brown, and sink your teeth in. You can thank me later.
7. Baked Tilapia with Spinach Pecan Pesto
This is one of the best tilapia recipes for making weeknight dinners a little more special. It tastes restaurant quality but is both super affordable and a cinch to make. All you need to do is whip up a quick pesto, slather it on top of tilapia, and leave it in the oven to bake. How easy is that?
8. Pesto Pita Pizza
Don’t have time to fuss with dough? No worries! Ditch the hassle of hand-tossing and make your pizza with pita bread instead. For lunch, dinner, or an afternoon snack, this pesto pita pizza will satisfy hungry bellies. Layer pita bread with pesto and fun toppings like mushrooms, tomatoes, feta, and mozzarella. About 15 minutes later, it’s pizza time!
9. Baked Brie Cheese with Sundried Tomatoes and Pesto
Baked Brie is always a huge hit. So much so that I’m always on the hunt for fun new variations on the classic melted cheese dish. And boy, does this one deliver! It’s gooey, fresh, savory, and ready in a snap. Spread pesto on top of the Brie, then add the rest of your fixings. After a few minutes in the hot oven, it’s ready to devour.
10. Shrimp Linguine with Lemon Artichoke Pesto
There’s something about pasta and shrimp that always wins me over. If you feel the same, you’ll love this scrumptious dinner. The zippy artichoke heart and basil pesto is a fancy twist that’s fuss-free if you have a trusty food processor or high-speed blender. Even the shrimp cooks super quick. So, if you’ve got about 20 minutes to spare, you can whip up this quick dish.
11. Salmon Pesto Pasta
Another seafood pasta dinner you’ll want time and time again is this salmon and pesto pasta. Big pieces of juicy salmon simmer in a creamy pesto sauce, then meld together with tender penne pasta. Just before serving, I add a hint of lemon juice and a sprinkle of red pepper chili flakes. It’s all about the little things that make the flavors pop.
12. Sour Cream Pesto Dip with Prosciutto Dippers
Here’s a unique appetizer that will have all your guests raving! The crunchy dippers combine puff pastry, parmesan, and prosciutto for a tasty tidbit. But it doesn’t stop there! These are dippers, after all, so the creamy pesto is a must-make.
13. Vegan Pesto Tofu Pasta
Turning pesto into a vegan-friendly dinner is super easy. Use all the traditional ingredients, but swap out the parmesan for nutritional yeast. It’s cheesy, a little nutty, and perfect for recipes like this. Slather it on anything you like, but I suggest starting with this tofu pasta. The seasoned and baked tofu is the ideal accompaniment to the tender linguine noodles and fresh pesto sauce. Speaking of which, if you have extra sauce, freeze it for later.
14. Dairy-Free Dill Pesto
Pesto is traditionally made with basil, but have you tried it with dill? It’s still super fresh and garlicky; only this version has a citrusy, grassy flavor. It pairs well with seafood and tastes terrific on falafels. You can even skip the mayo and try it in potato salad for a twist.
15. Grilled Chicken Margherita
Take all the best flavors of margherita pizza and meld them into this low-carb chicken dish. Protein-packed and savory, the grilled chicken breast with gooey mozzarella and juicy cherry tomatoes is made all the more irresistible with a layer of pesto. It’s a fun one for grilling and ideal for sharing.
16. Pesto Chicken Gnocchi Soup
What could be cozier than plump gnocchi swimming in a creamy pesto broth with shredded chicken and fresh spinach? It’s an excellent way to repurpose leftover chicken, and better still, you don’t have to hang around for hours waiting for it to be ready.
17. Cheesy Pesto Pull-Apart Bread
The only thing more addictive than pull-apart cheesy bread is pull-apart cheesy bread with pesto! This four-ingredient delight is a game day and holiday must. You’ll slice a giant loaf of French bread and stuff the crevices with pesto and Italian cheese. Don’t forget the butter too! It should be enough to feed a large group, but it’s so delicious, I have a feeling you’ll need to make extra.
18. Baked Basil Pesto Chicken
Here’s an easy chicken dinner to save you in a pinch. You’ll doctor up chicken breasts with pesto, tomatoes, mozzarella, and some extra basil. It’s similar to the chicken margherita, except you’ll bake it rather than grilling.
19. Chicken Pesto Roll-Ups
Rather than just layer pesto on top of chicken, why not try rolling it up inside? And, while you’re at it, add some cheese and tomato slices in there too. Bake it in the oven with some butter and a handful of cherry tomatoes to infuse it with more flavor. These pesto roll-ups are fresh and savory with a fun twist that the family will get a kick out of.
20. Pesto Lasagna Roll-Ups
Another superb way to do a pesto roll-up is with sheets of lasagna. Coat the pasta with creamy ricotta, fresh pesto, and two types of cheese, then roll it all up. But why stop there? Go the extra mile and drown everything in a creamy bechamel sauce. Yum!
21. Pesto Quinoa Salad
Looking for some more vegan recipes with pesto? This quinoa salad will be your new staple. A bed of fluffy quinoa turns into a Mediterranean delight thanks to olives, artichoke hearts, and tomatoes. Of course, everything is made even better with a coat of vegan pesto.
22. Pesto Zucchini Noodles with Chicken
Crazy for zoodles? It doesn’t get much more fresh and savory than this! Low-carb and wholesome, these zoodles are the clean eating dinner you’ll want all summer long. Each bite is a tasty mix of spiralized zucchini, fresh cherry tomatoes, and succulent chicken. Oh, and I almost forget, it’s all coated with pesto!
23. Turkey Pesto Sandwich
Is your daily turkey sandwich losing its appeal? Make it enticing again with a dab of pesto. The pesto adds a fresh twist that pairs perfectly with the sun-dried tomatoes, Provolone cheese, and turkey. But for this one, skip the deli slices. Instead, treat yourself to oven-roasted carved turkey and turkey bacon!
24. Creamy Avocado Basil Pesto Spaghetti
If you’re looking for a fresh basil recipe that lets the herb shine, this spaghetti is a fine choice. This 10-minute dinner involves smothering noodles with a creamy avocado basil pesto. Then, add extra basil and lemon juice for a burst of freshness. Pine nuts can be pretty expensive, so to keep costs down, swap them out with walnuts in the pesto. By skipping additional pasta fillings, you highlight the freshness of basil and the beautiful notes of the pesto.
25. Pesto Fried Rice
You may think of fried rice as an Asian dish, but you can also give it a Mediterranean twist. Just take a bed of rice, coat it with pesto, then add complementary ingredients like cherry tomatoes, olives, spinach, and peas. It’s also fabulous with crumbly feta or goat cheese. However, skip the cheese and use nutritional yeast pesto instead if you’re going vegan.
26. Pesto Stuffed Chicken (with Cream Cheese)
Another tantalizing dinner featuring stuffed chicken is this pesto dish. The outside has a crispy golden-brown breadcrumb coating, while the inside is a decadent surprise. It’s a fresh and creamy filling of cream cheese and pesto. It’s an easy way to do something different with chicken, and I bet everyone at the table will ask for seconds.
27. Pesto Pasta with Green Beans and Potatoes
If you can’t decide between pasta or potato salad, why not try this fusion of both? It features fork-tender potatoes, fresh green beans, and fettuccine in a popping pesto sauce. You’ll especially love the dash of balsamic vinegar that adds a sweet, tangy component. Potlucks, picnics, family dinners, or lunches, this pesto pasta is one you’ll want to add to the recipe book.
28. Chicken Pesto Pizza
On the hunt for a fully loaded pizza that looks as good as it tastes? This beauty comes with the works! It’s not only got chicken and pesto, but you’ll also enjoy mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, and red onions. Some may prefer to serve this with a side of Ranch dressing. But I like it with extra pesto to dip the crust in.
29. Homemade Pesto Chicken Meatballs
Add a twist to your spaghetti and meatballs with this flavorsome dish. Chicken meatballs are leaner and healthier than beef or pork. With a dollop of pesto, it’s especially easy to infuse them with flavor. Pair this with some pesto-smothered spaghetti for a gratifying meal.
30. Keto Chicken Pesto Stuffed Sweet Peppers
Whether you’re on the keto diet or not, these four-ingredient stuffed peppers will draw you to the table. Each mini pepper gets stuffed with cooked chicken, pesto, and cheese. They’ll cost you 6 net carbs, and it’s well worth it. They’re the perfect little morsels for serving guests and an excellent solution for a quick snack. Click on a star to rate it!
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