Pesto Pasta (2024)

This top-rated pesto pasta recipe, which comes together in just 15 minutes, is the perfect quick and easy weeknight dinner.

How to Make Pesto Pasta

You'll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let's go over the basics:

Pesto Pasta Ingredients

These are the ingredients you’ll need to make this easy pesto pasta recipe:

  • Pasta: Start with your favorite pasta shape.
  • Onion and oil: Cook the onion in olive oil until it’s translucent.
  • Pesto: Use store-bought or homemade pesto sauce.
  • Seasonings: This pesto pasta is simply seasoned with salt and pepper.
  • Cheese: Grate your own Parmesan cheese instead of using the pre-shredded stuff.

How to Make Pesto Pasta

Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make this shortcut pesto pasta:

  1. Boil the pasta in salted water and drain.
  2. Cook the onion in oil, then stir in the pesto and seasonings.
  3. Add the pesto mixture to the hot pasta and toss with cheese.

What to Serve With Pesto Pasta

This versatile pesto pasta recipe is easy to customize by adding your favorite protein, if you like. Chicken, sausage, and chickpeas are all delicious mix-ins.

If you’re in need of side dish inspiration, meanwhile, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few delicious recipes that pair well with pesto pasta:

How to Store Pesto Pasta

Store your leftover pesto pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to five days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

“I doubled the sauce,” says 5-star reviewer Sarah Stewart. “I added garlic, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, red pepper flakes, and fresh basil. Served with a breaded chicken cutlet, garlic bread, and salad.”

“This is a huge winner,” according to Curt McLey. “And versatile too. I can imagine adding grilled chicken or shrimp for an even heartier meal.”

“Quick and easy,” says Aja. “Just how I like a recipe when I get off of work and want to eat right away without spending a ton of time in the kitchen. This is a go-to base recipe to add any protein of your choice.”

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

Pesto Pasta (2024)

FAQs

How much pesto is enough for pasta? ›

For pesto sauces, use about one jar of 5.6-ounce sauce for a 16-ounce package of pasta. The amount of pesto sauce needed for pasta per person would be about . 75 ounces of sauce for each 2 ounce (about 1 cup cooked) serving of pasta.

How healthy is pasta with pesto? ›

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.

How much pesto for 2 people? ›

How Much Pesto To Add To Pasta?
ServingsDried pastaPesto
2150g100g
3225g150g
4300g200g
5375g250g
6 more rows
Jun 1, 2022

What pasta is best for pesto? ›

Pesto Sauce

This fresh and fragrant pasta sauce is served uncooked, so choose a pasta shape that won't overwhelm it. Similar to oil-based sauces, pesto is served best with longer cuts of pasta, like the corkscrew shape of Fusilli. Pesto works best with Bucatini, Capellini, thinner Spaghettini, and Fettuccine.

How much pesto for 4 servings of pasta? ›

Use up to 350g/12oz for "normal" amount of pesto sauce to pasta - 4 standard servings.

How much is 1 cup of pesto? ›

Weight, i.e. how many oz, lbs, g or kg in 1 US cup of Sauce, pesto, ready-to-serve, refrigerated
gram252
kilogram0.25
milligram252 000
ounce8.89
pound0.56

Is pesto healthier than alfredo? ›

It has a pretty high sodium content unless you make it from scratch, but both versions have an added protein boost. Alfredo sauce is based on cream and cheese as its two primary ingredients. Neither sauce is going to win a health competition, but pesto is the superior option for that reason.

Is pesto healthier than tomato? ›

As you would expect, pesto's wider variety of ingredients means it does slightly better in the vitamin and mineral stakes. Pesto outsmarts tomato sauce in many of these, but the pasta sauce still provides a sizeable chunk of your recommended daily targets.

Is pesto pasta healthier than tomato sauce? ›

pesto and alfredo sauce are less nutrient dense than tomato sauce. however, it's your food, and it's just sauce, so I would do what you feel like and not worry too much about it. eating a balanced diet it general is more important than worrying about the “health" value of specific foods.

How much pesto should you eat? ›

No matter which tummy trouble you're experiencing, you should take 1 dose of Pepto Bismol every half hour to hour until you feel better, but do not take more than 8 doses in a 24-hour period.

How much sauce for 1 lb of pasta? ›

Italian dishes do not swim in sauce. An average ratio of tomato sauce to pasta is 1 1/2 cups of sauce to 1 pound of pasta. For oil-based sauces, use 1 cup per 1 pound of pasta.

How much pesto is in a jar? ›

Tesco Classic Green Pesto 190G - Tesco Groceries.

Do you add pesto to hot or cold pasta? ›

  1. It is better to mix your pesto to fresh boiled pasta, not for taste-reasons but for a rather practical issue: unseasoned pasta gets sticky when it cools down and you won't be able to mix it properly.
  2. If you please to have your pasta with pesto cold, season it warm and let it then cool down.
Aug 3, 2023

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