12 Delicious Recipes Featuring Pesto
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on June 17, 2026
Iโm obsessed with pesto! Since I shared my classic basil pesto recipe, Iโm sharing a collection of my favorite pesto-based recipes today. I love to toss it with pasta or zucchini noodles (zoodles), spread it on pizza or toast, or even thin it out for salad dressing.
Pesto is a great way to liven up your meal and incorporate fresh leafy herbs. My cookbook even includes my basic pesto recipe on the cut-out cheat sheet so you can tape it to the inside of your cabinet for easy reference! Get your copy here.
Creative Pesto Variations
Itโs fun to make unconventional pestos with arugula, kale, cilantro and parsley instead of basil. You can also branch out from pine nutsโtry almonds, pepitas (green pumpkin seeds, pecans, walnuts or hemp seeds. You canโt go wrong!
Sometimes, I even throw in an avocado to make the sauce extra creamy, or add a fresh jalapeรฑo to make it spicy.
12 Recipes Made with Pesto
From the expected to the unexpected, here is ample pesto inspiration. You can view even more pesto recipes here.
Pesto Pasta
Make pesto pasta for a quick and easy dinner! These saucy pesto noodles are made with homemade pesto, which comes together quickly in the food processor. This pesto yields 3/4 cup, which will generously coat 8 ounces of pasta once cooked (you can stretch this amount of pesto to coat up to 12 ounces of pasta, or easily double the recipe to use an entire 16-ounce package of pasta).
Pesto Pizza
This classic pesto pizza recipe features basil pesto, mozzarella and tomato! Itโs easy to make from scratch. Store-bought components work well, too. Recipe yields two medium pizzas.
Basil Pesto Salad Dressing
This simple basil salad dressing takes cues from pesto and pairs marvelously with green salads, Italian/Greek flavors and a variety of bold, summery flavors. Recipe yields about 1/2 cup dressing and keeps well for up to 10 days.
Pesto Squash Noodles and Spaghetti with Burst Cherry Tomatoes
Homemade pesto tossed with raw squash noodles and spaghetti, topped with burst cherry tomatoes. This vegetarian recipe is easily made vegan and/or gluten free (see recipe notes). This recipe is saucyโyou could stretch it to accommodate 1/2 pound spaghetti or an extra zucchini, if youโd like. Recipe yields 4 servings, which would be great served with big green salads!
Pesto Pasta Salad
This pesto pasta salad recipe is bursting with fresh flavor. Itโs light, healthy and easy to make. Perfect for picnics and potlucks! Recipe yields 6 to 8 side servings.
Mediterranean Spaghetti Squash Bowls
Roasted spaghetti squash topped with your favorite Mediterranean ingredients and pesto! This healthy vegetarian dinner recipe will make everyone happy. Recipe yields 4 servings (4 stuffed spaghetti squash halves).
Gabyโs Pasta with Peas and Pesto
This easy pasta recipe features peas and pesto. Itโs made with basic ingredients (frozen peas and store-bought pesto) and tastes fantastic! Keep this recipe in your back pocket for busy weeknights. Recipes serves 6.
Summertime Pasta Salad with Tomatoes, Corn and Jalapeรฑo Pesto
This healthy pasta salad features bold summer flavors, including tomatoes, corn and black beans tossed in spicy, fresh pesto! Itโs a great vegetarian side dish for potlucks and barbecues. See paragraph above for variations and substitution suggestions! Recipe yields about 8 cups salad, which is enough for 4 main or 8 side servings.
Arugula-Almond Pesto Pizza
Homemade pesto pizza recipe with a simple whole wheat pizza crust, topped with fresh summer tomatoes and squash. Feel free to change up the toppings. Recipe below yields two 12-inch pizzas.
Simple Greek Avocado Sandwich
My favorite Greek salad ingredients sandwiched between layers of bread smothered with avocado and pesto. A quick, satisfying vegetarian lunch (vegan if you use cheese-free pesto). Recipe yields 1 sandwich so multiply as necessary.
Cilantro Pesto Pasta with Squash Ribbons
Super flavorful cilantro-pepita pesto tossed with fettuccine and julienned summer squash makes a light and simple meal. You could double the squash and omit the pasta altogether for a lighter meal, but I like the pasta-squash combination best. Recipe yields 4 generous servings or 6 medium.
Avocado Pesto Pasta
Make your pesto extra creamy and rich by adding ripe avocado! This fresh basil and avocado pesto recipe is lovely on pasta, sandwiches, vegetables and more. Recipe yields about 1 1/2 cups.
More resources you might appreciate: 23 healthy make-ahead breakfast recipes, 45 recipes that pack well for lunch and 20 simple weeknight dinners.
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