GO! Pesto™ - Calories In Pesto Sauce (2024)

FAQs

GO! Pesto™ - Calories In Pesto Sauce? ›

Based on our average of 372 calories per 100g, we've worked out how many calories you will be consuming based on popular weight measurements.

That's largely down to the fact that most pesto sauces contain generous amounts of oil, nuts, and cheese. All three of these are high in fat and calories, so eating too much pesto, too regularly, and not getting enough exercise can ultimately be fattening.

2 tbsp of basil pesto (Santa Barbara - Freshdirect) contains 130 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 4% carbs, 93% fat, and 3% protein. This has a relatively high calorie density, with 464 Calories per 100g.

There are 27 calories in 5 grams of Pesto Sauce.

Given all of the above, pesto can undoubtedly be considered a healthy food, and as long as you keep track of portions, it can also be part of a diet that supports a healthy weight. Pesto is nutrient-dense, and because of its fat content, it's also calorically dense.

Pesto contains, on average, 1% salt. That's not enough for it to be labelled a "high salt" food, but it is enough for the government to recommend that it should only be eaten in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Because its ingredients include olive oil, nuts, and cheese, pesto can be high in calories and fat. However, the fat is primarily unsaturated and may have heart health benefits. Pesto is also full of antioxidants that can help protect your cells from damage.

The Bottom Line. Pesto is higher in calories than some sauces but it's also made with super-healthy ingredients, like basil, olive oil and nuts. I find it's a great way to add more flavor to pasta dishes and even vegetables and proteins.

1 cup of basil pesto italian sauce 8oz (Prego) contains 200 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 10% carbs, 84% fat, and 6% protein.

Is homemade pesto high in calories? ›

This means that a tablespoon (15g) of pesto contains around 56 calories, while our recommended serving size of 50g per person contains around 186 calories. Two of the most expensive ingredients in all pesto recipes are nuts and cheese, both of which are very high in calories.

And if you eat fewer calories and burn more calories through physical activity, you lose weight. In the past, research found about 3,500 calories of energy equaled about 1 pound (0.45 kilogram) of fat. So researchers thought burning or cutting 500 calories a day led to losing 1 pound a week.

Pasta With Pesto Sauce, Noodles (1 cup) contains 27.8g total carbs, 25.8g net carbs, 25.3g fat, 11.1g protein, and 377 calories.

Nutrition summary:

There are 619 calories in a 1/2 cup of Pesto Sauce. Calorie breakdown: 83% fat, 4% carbs, 13% protein.

For the pasta sauce, we're allowing just over 100g per person. So, as you can see, even though both sauces contain olive oil, garlic, and basil, the pesto contains over six times more calories than the traditional pasta sauce.

Pesto. This is a great calorie-dense option for muscle gain. Traditional Italian pesto, made from basil, olive oil, garlic and pine nuts, provides similar health benefits to guacamole.

Even though pesto is packed full of vitamins, iron, calcium, and healthy fats, sadly, it doesn't contribute anything towards your 5 a day.

Nearly 60% of the calories in pesto are from fats, which come from olive oil, cheese, and pine nuts. There are 9.47 grams of fats per spoonful, which includes 5.63 grams of monounsaturated fatty acids, 1.53 grams of saturated fatty acids, and 1.68 grams of polyunsaturated fatty acids.