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Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

Quick and Easy Pesto

Published: Sep 14, 2020 · Modified: Mar 8, 2022 by Scott · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Homemade pesto is so quick and easy to make with just a few simple ingredients and is SO much better than store bought. It can be used in many different ways, and freezes well too so you can have a taste of summer year round!

Image showing a spoon dipping into a jar of homemade pesto sauce set on a white countertop against a black background.

Pesto Ingredients

  • Fresh basil
  • Garlic
  • Pine nuts
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Olive Oil

Why use a food processor for pesto

Pesto originates from the Italian city of Genoa and is traditionally made in a mortar and pestle by crushing and grinding the ingredients together into a sauce. Most modern recipes use a food processor or blender to avoid the manual work. A food processor will provide the best results, both in texture and appearance. The wider blade will quickly chop the ingredients, resulting in a better texture and less bruising of the basil leaves than when using a blender, giving you a greener pesto.

How to make pesto

  • To make the pesto, simply add the basil, pine nuts, garlic, and salt to a food processor and pulse 5 to 6 times until roughly chopped.
  • Remove the lid and scrape down the sides. Reseal the lid the turn on the food processor and, with the machine running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil through the feed tube.
  • Continue running the food processor until the mixture is well blended and emulsified. Stop to scrape the sides if needed.
Close up image of pesto in a food processor after the initial blend to chop the ingredients and prior to adding the olive oil.
Pesto shown after the initial blending step, before adding olive oil.

How to use pesto

Pesto can be used in so many ways. The herb and garlic flavor is great on just about anything!

  • The most common way to use pesto is as a simple pasta sauce.
  • It's also great on pizza, either for replacing traditional tomato sauce or drizzling over top to add more flavor.
  • Pesto is fantastic on grilled meats such as chicken, steak, and fish.
  • It's also delicious on bruschetta, crostini, or sandwiches. You can also mix it with mayonnaise to create a pesto aioli which makes a great spread for sandwiches and burgers.
  • Another great way to use pesto is tossing it with roasted veggies or potatoes for a boost of flavor.
  • One of my favorite pesto uses is to combine it with alfredo sauce and add to cooked pasta to make a creamy pesto pasta. It's SO yummy! I usually do this with frozen pesto, and the alfredo only takes about 5-10 minutes to make so it's a really quick and easy dinner, perfect for weeknights.
Close up image of the finished pesto sauce in a food processor.
Finished pesto shown in a food processor.

How to store homemade pesto

You can refrigerate pesto in tightly sealed glass jar or plastic container for up 1 week. Top the pesto with a thin layer of olive oil to cover the surface to help prevent browning during storage.

Pesto freezes very well and will keep for 6 months. I always make a double batch so I have plenty to freeze. An ice cube tray works great to make little pesto cubes that are perfect for portioning out later. Pour your pesto into the tray and freeze. Once they are completely frozen remove the cubes from the tray and transfer them to a freezer bag.

A large bowl of penne pasta tossed with pesto and topped with grated Parmesan cheese.

Pesto Sauce Variations

  • The classic pesto sauce recipe, also known as pesto alla genovese, is a blend of fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, extra-virgin olive oil, and Parmesan cheese. But pesto can easily be altered with different nuts or seeds in place of pine nuts. Almonds, pistachios, walnuts (my favorite!), or pecans are good options. Seeds like sunflower, hemp, or pumpkin seeds are great too for a nut free pesto sauce.
  • Basil pesto is the most common, but you can also use other herbs or leafy greens in place of, or in combination with the basil. Mint and parsley are great herb choices. Spinach, kale, arugula, or even the greens from root vegetables like carrots or beets will work.
  • For a dairy free and vegan pesto you can replace the Parmesan cheese with around 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast.

If you try this recipe, don't forget to leave a RATING or COMMENT below. I would love to hear from you!!! And FOLLOW me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram for all the latest recipes!

Image of a spoon dipping into a jar of homemade pesto on a white countertop against a black background.

Quick and Easy Classic Pesto Sauce

This classic basil pesto is a versatile and flavorful sauce that is quick and easy to make at home with just a few simple ingredients.
Author: Scott
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 15 mins
Servings: 1 cup
Calories: 257kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh basil, tightly packed
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup pine nuts
  • 2-3 large cloves garlic, roughly chopped
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Add the basil to a food processor along with the pine nuts, garlic, and salt then pulse 5-6 times until roughly chopped. Remove the lid and scrape down the sides.
  • Close the lid then turn the food processor on and, with the machine running, drizzle the oil in through the feed tube. Blend until the mixture is well combined and emulsified, stopping to scrape the sides if needed. Be careful not to overmix, you want the pesto to have some texture.
  • Add the Parmesan cheese and pulse 2-3 times to combine.

Nutrition

Calories: 257kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 4gFat: 26gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 244mgPotassium: 62mg

* All nutrition information we provide are estimates based on third party calculators. We encourage you to calculate these on your own for accurate results.

Course: Sauce
Cuisine: Italian
Tried this recipe?Don't forget to leave a rating above and mention @disheswithdad or tag #disheswithdad on social media!

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Hello, I'm Scott! ! I'm a former professional cook and a long-time home cook. I created this space to share my favorite quick and easy, family-friendly recipes and hopefully inspire you to try some of them for yourself!

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