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Splash of Taste – Vegetarian Recipes

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Home / Vegetarian

Pesto pasta recipe

Published December 20, 2021 | Updated November 12, 2022 | By Mandy & Jane

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Pesto pasta image for Pintrest.

Good, tasty food shouldn’t be this easy – right? Treat yourself to the perfect midweek meal with our creamy, nutty pesto al pasta (basil pesto pasta) recipe. When we first went to Italy, we experienced what pesto pasta should really taste like, over the years we’ve experimented and while this isn’t strictly traditional, we think you’ll agree that it’s absolutely delicious!

A close up of pesto pasta with toasted pine nuts and vegetarian grated Parmesan cheese.

Why you’ll love this pasta recipe

  • It’s ridiculously easy and can take as little as 5 minutes to make!
  • The whole family will love it, including the kids and meat-eaters!
  • We think that our pasta with basil pesto recipe tastes just as good cold as it does hot!
  • It’s 100% vegetarian.

Creamy pesto pasta sauce is something that we always have in our home, either freshly made or in the freezer, because you never know when you want a comfort food fix.

Thanks to Corrie Cooks for making a great video for us!

What ingredients will I need?

If you’re making your own pesto, then you’ll need all the ingredients in the photo, if you’re using store-bought, then you’ll just need the pasta, pesto, and the optional cheese and pine nuts to garnish.

Ingredients needed to make pesto pasta, vegetarian Parmesan cheese, toasted pine nuts, fresh basil, spaghetti, lemon, garlic, olive oil, blanched almonds, salt and pepper.

How to make pesto pasta with step-by-step instructions

Making our best pesto pasta recipe is easy if you follow our simple instructions.

A full printable recipe along with the measurements in both US customary and metric is available in the recipe card below.

Not making your own pesto sauce?

Skip directly to the ‘for the pasta‘ section.

If you’re making homemade pesto sauce (optional)

Roughly break or chop up your Parmesan cheese and place it in a food processor or blender.

Add chunks of Parmesan cheese into a food processor or blender.
Break up the vegetarian Parmesan and add it to a food processor or blender.
Add garlic, pine nuts and almonds.
Add basil leaves, garlic cloves, pine nuts, and blanched almonds.

Now, add in the basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, and blanched almonds

Next, you’ll need to add the zest of one lemon and freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Finally, add extra virgin olive oil.

Add extra virgin olive oil.
Add lemon zest, lemon juice, and olive oil.
Blitz in a food processor.
Blitz until you have a smooth pesto sauce.

Secure the lid on your food processor and blitz until you have a smooth pesto sauce.

Taste and season with kosher salt and pepper if needed.

For the pasta

Bring a large pan of salted water to a boil and add your spaghetti and cook according to the package directions.

When the spaghetti is cooked, it should be al dente, carefully take a cup full of the pasta water and then drain the pasta.

Add the drained pasta to a bowl and add the pesto and a little of the reserved pasta water, approximately ¼ of a cup, stirring thoroughly to combine and coat the pasta evenly.

Add pesto to pasta.
Add hot pasta to a bowl, and then add pesto pasta sauce.
Stir to combine
Toss to coat pasta evenly.

Season with salt and pepper, and garnish with toasted pine nuts, fresh basil leaves, and finely grated parmesan cheese (vegetarian version).

Serve immediately and enjoy!

Pesto pasta recipe notes and expert tips

  • Make a batch
    Make a double batch of your pesto sauce and freeze it in tablespoon portions in ice cube trays, so that you have it whenever you need it!
  • Add tomatoes
    Add halved cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, or roasted cherry tomatoes.
  • Got leftover pesto pasta?
    Store it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 days, no need to reheat, eat at room temperature.
  • Don’t toss the pesto pasta in the cooking pot
    It’ll be too hot, and it could turn the pesto brown, which is most off-putting!
  • Tempted to put olive oil in the pasta water?
    Don’t do it! It’ll prevent the basil pesto sauce from sticking to the pasta.
  • Missing the chicken?
    Chicken pesto pasta is a popular dish, you can replace it with vegetarian substitute chicken.
  • Spice it up
    Add a teaspoon of red pepper flakes to add a little heat to your dish.
An overhead view of a bowl of warm pasta with a creamy sauce, made from basil pesto, with a mortar of freshly made pesto, fresh herbs and toasted pine nuts.

Do I have to make my own pesto?

No, you don’t, you can use a store-bought pesto sauce.

But homemade pesto is so easy to make and the difference between store-bought and homemade pesto sauce is like night and day.

It takes just 15 minutes to make pesto, so while you’re boiling the pan of water and waiting for the spaghetti to cook, you could easily make some.

We’ve got a really easy basil pesto recipe, it’s cheesy, nutty, and bursting with flavor.

The great thing with pesto is that it freezes well, you can make a big batch up and freeze it in tablespoon portions in ice cube trays.

Once the pesto is frozen, you can pop them out and put them in a bag, and hey pesto (sorry, we couldn’t resist that), you’ve got homemade pesto sauce whenever you need it.

A side view of a pasta dish with spaghetti and a creamy sauce made from basil pesto.

Is pesto vegetarian?

Most store-bought pesto sauces are not vegetarian because they contain parmesan cheese.

Parmesan cheese contains rennet, so if you are buying a jar then make sure you buy one suitable for a vegetarian.

Our homemade basil pesto is vegetarian as we use vegetarian parmesan cheese or Italian hard cheese.

Don’t add olive oil to pasta water

You may hear that when you cook pasta putting a little oil in pasta water will stop it from sticking together, but all it does is make your pasta oily and for this pesto pasta recipe, it would mean that the pesto will not stick to the pasta.

The simple way to prevent your pasta from sticking together is by stirring it – yes, it’s that simple, just stir it!

Why do you add pasta water to pesto pasta?

The pasta water is a crucial part of pesto pasta sauce.

If you don’t add a little of the reserved water that you cooked your pasta in, it’ll be dry and a little clumpy.

You want a delicious creamy pesto pasta, and the starchy pasta water allows the sauce to coat the cooked pasta perfectly.

What pasta goes with pesto?

Our creamy pesto pasta recipe is perfect as a standalone main meal, but if you did want to add a little extra to it, then why not try it with a Caprese salad, an Italian green salad with balsamic vinaigrette, or garlic bread.

If you’d like a good appetizer then try our caprese skewers made with fresh basil, cherry tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella balls.

Why not try burrata basil pesto pasta from Call Me Pmc!

A bowl of easy pesto pasta, garnished with vegetarian Parmesan cheese and toasted pine nuts, with a fork ready to eat.

How much pesto should you add to pasta?

We use around 1-2 tablespoons of basil pesto sauce per person but use your own judgment and adjust the portions accordingly.

Other spaghetti recipes that you’ll love

If you’re a big fan of spaghetti recipes like us, then you should give these delicious pasta dishes a try;

  • Cacio e pepe
  • Spaghetti aglio e olio
  • Lemon pasta
  • Spaghetti marinara
  • Gigi Hadid pasta
A bowl of Gigi Hadid pasta with a fork and cheese grate by the side.

Gigi Hadid pasta: spicy vodka pasta

A bowl of freshly made cacio e pepe.

Cacio e pepe recipe

Homemade spaghetti aglio e olio on a pate.

Spaghetti aglio e olio (with garlic & oil)

Best lemon pasta

A bowl of spaghetti marinara with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

Spaghetti marinara recipe

We hope you enjoyed making and eating our pesto pasta recipe and would love to hear how you got on with it.

Please leave a comment below and feel free to ask any questions you have.

Close up of a delicious bowl of pesto pasta.
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Pesto pasta recipe

You can make this delicious pasta dish in as little as 5 minutes! Our pasta al pesto is bursting full of flavor & is the perfect quick & easy midweek meal. Use homemade pesto sauce to add a different flavor dimension, it's creamy, nutty, and delicious. Perfect for a midweek quick and easy dinner. Great if you want a meat-free meal or are a vegetarian.
Cook Time5 mins
Total Time5 mins
Servings4
Calories434
Course: Main course
Cuisine: Italian
Author: Mandy Applegate | Splash of Taste
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Ingredients

If you're making homemade pesto sauce (optional)

  • 10 oz Parmesan cheese roughly broken into chunks
  • 4 tsp Basil leaves with stalks removed
  • ½ Clove Garlic
  • 4 tsp Pine nuts
  • 4 tsp Blanched almonds
  • ¼ tsp Lemon zest
  • ¼ tsp Lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

For the pasta

  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 12 oz Spaghetti
  • Parmesan cheese (optional) finely grated
  • Toasted pine nuts (optional)
  • Fresh basil leaves (optional)
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

If you're making homemade pesto sauce (optional)

  • Roughly break or chop up your Parmesan cheese and place it in a food processor or blender. Now, add in your basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, blanched almonds, lemon juice, lemon zest, and olive oil. Secure the lid on your food processor and blitz until you have a smooth pesto sauce. Taste and season with kosher salt and black pepper if needed
    10 oz Parmesan cheese, 4 tsp Basil leaves, ½ Clove Garlic, 4 tsp Pine nuts, 4 tsp Blanched almonds, ¼ tsp Lemon zest, ¼ tsp Lemon juice, 2 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil, Salt and black pepper

For the pasta

  • Bring a large pan of salted water to a boil and add your spaghetti and cook according to the package directions. When the spaghetti is cooked, it should be al dente, carefully take a cup full of the pasta water and then drain the pasta. Add the drained pasta to a bowl and add the pesto and a little of the reserved pasta water, approximately ¼ of a cup, stirring thoroughly to combine and coat the pasta evenly. Season with salt and pepper, and garnish with toasted pine nuts, fresh basil leaves, and finely grated parmesan cheese (vegetarian version). Serve immediately and enjoy!
    1 pinch of salt, 12 oz Spaghetti, Parmesan cheese (optional), Toasted pine nuts (optional), Fresh basil leaves (optional)

Notes

  • Make a batch
    Make a double batch of your pesto sauce and freeze it in tablespoon portions in ice cube trays, so that you have it whenever you need it!
  • Add tomatoes
    Add halved cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, or roasted cherry tomatoes
  • Got leftover pesto pasta?
    Store it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 days, no need to reheat, eat at room temperature
  • Don’t toss the pesto pasta in the cooking pot
    It’ll be too hot, and it could turn the pesto brown, which is most off-putting!
  • Tempted to put olive oil in the pasta water?
    Don’t do it! It’ll prevent the basil pesto sauce from sticking to the pasta

Nutrition

Calories: 434kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 126mg | Potassium: 236mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 284IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 122mg | Iron: 2mg

Disclaimer

Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.

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Learn how to make pesto pasta with step-by-step photos to help you!

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About Mandy

A vegetarian for over 35 years, Mandy has taught herself to be creative in the kitchen. Traveling extensively, Mandy loves learning and adapting vegetarian recipes from across the world. Read more...

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. Danielle Wolter says

    December 23, 2021 at 11:36 am

    5 stars
    What a wonderful recipe! It was so easy to put together and so flavorful. The family loved it!

    Reply
  2. Lauren Michael Harris says

    December 23, 2021 at 1:46 pm

    5 stars
    I love a traditional pesto pasta recipe! This one is perfect for busy weeknights too!

    Reply
  3. Toni says

    December 23, 2021 at 2:06 pm

    5 stars
    This is really good!! A new favorite for our weeknights!

    Reply
  4. Claudia Lamascolo says

    December 23, 2021 at 2:57 pm

    5 stars
    This was delicious and we all loved the pasta with pesto!

    Reply
  5. Shadi Hasanzadenemati says

    December 23, 2021 at 2:59 pm

    5 stars
    Homemade pesto is the best, I cannot wait to make this recipe soon, thank you!

    Reply
  6. Indi says

    March 12, 2022 at 1:59 pm

    5 stars
    So good! I added sun dried tomatoes and some spinach and it was a huge hit! Thanks for a great recipe!

    Reply
    • Mandy from Splash of Taste says

      March 18, 2022 at 2:16 pm

      That sounds great, so pleased you enjoyed it!

  7. Jenn says

    March 12, 2022 at 2:55 pm

    5 stars
    I love how simple this recipe is – but also how delicious it is! I have made it twice already! Yum!

    Reply
  8. Lisa says

    March 13, 2022 at 12:42 am

    5 stars
    I loved how easy and delicious this recipe is. Will definitely make it again.

    Reply
  9. Rebekah Kuk says

    March 14, 2022 at 5:48 pm

    5 stars
    My family loves pasta, and every year I grow basil to make pesto. I look forward to using my homegrown basil in the future, but for now I opted for store bought. It turned out great! I also add extra Parmesan on top with flaky sea salt, and it’s perfect.

    Reply
    • Mandy from Splash of Taste says

      March 18, 2022 at 2:16 pm

      We’re so pleased that you like it and what a lovely treat to have homegrown pesto!

  10. Shelby says

    March 15, 2022 at 4:00 pm

    5 stars
    This came out so beautifully! I added the sundried tomatoes like you mentioned and it was still light but really flavorful!

    Reply
  11. ale says

    October 5, 2022 at 2:37 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe has been a really special recipe for me.
     

    Reply
    • Mandy from Splash of Taste says

      October 5, 2022 at 3:18 pm

      We’re really pleased to hear that!

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