Indulge in a culinary journey with our comprehensive guide to preparing the ever-popular Pesto Pasta. This delectable dish, originating from the vibrant region of Liguria in Italy, is a symphony of flavors that has captured the hearts of food enthusiasts worldwide. With its vibrant green hue and aromatic basil scent, Pesto Pasta is a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds. In this article, we present a collection of carefully curated Pesto Pasta recipes, each offering a unique twist on this classic dish. From traditional Genovese Pesto to creative variations like Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto and Arugula Pesto, our recipes cater to diverse preferences and dietary needs. Whether you're a seasoned home chef or just starting your culinary adventure, our detailed instructions and helpful tips will guide you in creating a delicious and authentic Pesto Pasta that will transport you to the heart of Italy. So, gather your ingredients, prepare your taste buds, and let's embark on this culinary adventure together!
Here are our top 11 tried and tested recipes!
ONE-TRAY PESTO PASTA RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: pasta, cherry tomato, pesto, salt, pepper, parmesan cheese
Provided by Merle O'Neal
Categories Dinner
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400ºF (200ºC).
- Take two sheets of aluminum foil (about 12x12-inch, 30x30 cm) and stack them on top of each other.
- Fold one side of the foil about ⅓ of the way across sheet, repeat for opposite side.
- Pinch the corner to form a point and then flatten it to the short side of the foil, forming a raised corner. Repeat for all four sides, and make four of these.
- Add all of the ingredients to one of the foil boats, then stir.
- Bake for 12 minutes.
- Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
- Eat or pack into tupperware and refrigerate 3-5 days.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 490 calories, Carbohydrate 66 grams, Fat 18 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 15 grams, Sugar 4 grams
PESTO TWIST PASTA RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: fusilli pasta, fresh basil leaf, garlic, pine nuts, extra virgin olive oil, water, salt, pepper, grated parmesan cheese
Provided by Jody Duits
Categories Dinner
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Cook fusilli ( or rotini) in boiling salted water until it's al dente. Reserve 1 cup (235 ml) of the pasta water before draining.
- Add basil, garlic, pine nuts, salt, and pepper to a food processor or blender and pulse to start to break up the ingredients. Add water and a splash of the olive oil to get things started.
- Scrape down the sides of processor bowl to ensure everything is being incorporated evenly.
- Put the top back on, turn on the food processor, and slowly drizzle the remaining olive oil through the hole on the top of the food processor until emulsified in the sauce.
- Pour the pesto into a bowl, then stir in the parmesan. (The heat of the food processor will start to melt the cheese, so adding it afterwards retains a nice texture)
- Drain the pasta and transfer to large bowl or pan.
- Add pesto and a splash of pasta water, stirring to incorporate.
- Add parmesan and another splash of pasta water.
- Top off with more cheese and basil before serving.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 760 calories, Carbohydrate 86 grams, Fat 37 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 20 grams, Sugar 3 grams
CREAMY PESTO PASTA BAKE RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, grated parmesan cheese, olive oil, cold water, heavy cream, salt, pepper, fusilli pasta, cherry tomato, grated parmesan cheese, mozzarella ball
Provided by Tasty
Categories Dinner
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- To make the pesto, mix basil, garlic, pine nuts, parmesan, cold water, heavy cream, salt, and pepper in a food processor for about 30 seconds. Add in olive oil. Process until combined, set aside.
- Cook fusilli to very al dente, or about 3-4 minutes before the package instructs for cook time, then drain pasta.
- Halve cherry tomatoes.
- In a skillet or casserole pan, mix fusilli, cherry tomatoes, and pesto.
- Top with grated parmesan and mozzarella balls.
- Bake at 400° Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes, or until mozzarella has melted.
- Garnish with additional parmesan and fresh basil. Serve immediately.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1234 calories, Carbohydrate 71 grams, Fat 89 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 42 grams, Sugar 6 grams
ONE-PAN GARLIC CHICKEN PESTO PASTA RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: canola oil, chicken breasts, garlic, kosher salt, black pepper, heavy cream, grated parmesan cheese, pesto, penne pasta, cherry tomato, parmesan cheese, fresh basil
Provided by Tasty
Categories Dinner
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a pan over high heat. Combine the chicken, garlic, salt, and pepper, cooking until chicken is browned.
- Then, mix in the heavy cream, parmesan, and pesto, stirring until evenly combined.
- Next, bring to a boil and cook until the sauce has reduced, about five to seven minutes.
- Toss in the pasta and cherry tomatoes, stirring until evenly coated. Remove from heat.
- To serve, sprinkle parmesan cheese and basil on top!
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 892 calories, Carbohydrate 99 grams, Fat 36 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 47 grams, Sugar 6 grams
PESTO PASTA RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: bow tie pasta, pesto, fresh mozzarella cheese, cherry tomato
Provided by Hannah Williams
Categories Lunch
Time 30m
Yield 2 servings
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
- Serve with a hard-boiled egg and sliced bell pepper.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 610 calories, Carbohydrate 88 grams, Fat 16 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 25 grams, Sugar 5 grams
VEGAN PESTO PASTA RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: fresh basil, fresh arugula, lemon juice, olive oil, water, garlic, pepper, kosher salt, almond meal, vegan spaghetti, pasta water
Provided by Camille Bergerson
Categories Dinner
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Combine basil, arugula, lemon juice, water, and olive oil to a blender and blend for 5-10 seconds.
- Add garlic, salt, pepper, and almond meal to the blender and blend until completely incorporated.
- Boil salted water and cook spaghetti according to packaging instructions.
- When draining the pasta, reserve ⅓ to 1 cup (80 to 235 ml) of water.
- Once drained, return the pasta to the pot, and stir in the pesto, adding reserved pasta water until the sauce reaches desired consistency.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 392 calories, Carbohydrate 47 grams, Fat 18 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 11 grams, Sugar 2 grams
ONE-POT CHICKEN PESTO PASTA
When my garden basil goes nuts, I make pesto and keep it frozen in small containers for the right opportunity, like this saucy one-pot chicken pesto pasta recipe. -Kimberly Fenwick, Hobart, Indiana
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Toss chicken with seasoning blend. In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and brown evenly; remove from pan., In same pan, combine broth and lemon juice; bring to a boil, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Stir in pasta; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 10 minutes., Add broccoli; cook, covered, 5 minutes. Return chicken to pan; cook, covered, until pasta is tender and chicken is no longer pink, 2-3 minutes longer, stirring occasionally. Add peas; heat through. Stir in pesto.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 404 calories, Fat 18g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 76mg cholesterol, Sodium 646mg sodium, Carbohydrate 29g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 30g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
PESTO GARDEN PASTA FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: fresh basil leaves, olive oil, grated parmesan cheese, almond butter, lemon juice, garlic, lemon zest, kosher salt, pepper, kosher salt, pasta, grape tomato, yellow cherry tomato, red onion, mozzarella ball
Provided by Greg Perez
Categories Dinner
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Add the basil, olive oil, Parmesan, almond butter, lemon juice, garlic, lemon zest, salt, and pepper to a blender. Blend until smooth and set aside.
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
- Drain and transfer the pasta to a large serving bowl.
- Add the grape tomatoes, yellow tomatoes, red onion, and mozzarella balls to the pasta.
- Pour the pesto sauce over the pasta.
- Toss the ingredients together.
- Serve warm in a bowl.
- Enjoy! Adapted from The Minimalist Kitchen by Melissa Coleman. Copyright © 2018 Oxmoor House. Reprinted with permission from Time Inc. Books, a division of Meredith Corporation. New York, NY. All rights reserved.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 744 calories, Carbohydrate 88 grams, Fat 31 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 26 grams, Sugar 6 grams
PESTO PASTA
Easy to make, but full of flavor! Good hot or cold.
Provided by Lauren
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 15m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water until done. Drain.
- Meanwhile, heat the oil in a frying pan over medium low heat. Add pesto, onion, and salt and pepper. Cook about five minutes, or until onions are soft.
- In a large bowl, mix pesto mixture into pasta. Stir in grated cheese. Serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 224.7 calories, Carbohydrate 32 g, Cholesterol 43.5 mg, Fat 7.2 g, Fiber 2.5 g, Protein 7.8 g, SaturatedFat 1.5 g, Sodium 71.3 mg, Sugar 0.4 g
PESTO PASTA
"My husband loves this fresh-tasting side dish that's as good as it is easy," assures Karen Behrend of Newport, Washington. The appetizing aroma of basil is sure to whet guests' appetites.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 20m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Cook pasta according to package directions. , Meanwhile, in a blender or food processor, place the basil, parsley, Parmesan cheese, salt, garlic and nutmeg. Cover and process on low for 1 minute or until very finely chopped. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Drain pasta; top with pesto and toss to coat.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 264 calories, Fat 14g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 3mg cholesterol, Sodium 263mg sodium, Carbohydrate 29g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 6g protein.
PESTO
Homemade pesto always makes a thoughtful hostess gift. Mix things up with this cilantro variation. It's delicious served with pasta or in one of these recipes using pesto. -Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 10m
Yield 3/4 cup.
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- In a food processor, puree all ingredients. Refrigerate for several weeks or freeze in a tightly covered container. Toss a few tablespoons pesto with hot cooked pasta.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 97 calories, Fat 10g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 3mg cholesterol, Sodium 114mg sodium, Carbohydrate 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 2g protein.
Tips:
- Use fresh basil for the best flavor. If you don't have fresh basil, you can use dried basil, but the flavor will be less intense.
- To make a smoother pesto, use a food processor or blender. If you don't have either of these appliances, you can chop the basil and other ingredients by hand, but it will take a little longer.
- If you don't have pine nuts, you can use walnuts or almonds instead.
- If you don't have Parmesan cheese, you can use another hard cheese, such as Asiago or Romano.
- To make a vegan pesto, you can omit the Parmesan cheese and use nutritional yeast instead.
- Pesto can be used as a sauce for pasta, pizza, or grilled vegetables. It can also be used as a marinade for chicken, fish, or tofu.
- Pesto can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze pesto for up to 3 months.
Conclusion:
Pesto pasta is a quick and easy meal that is perfect for a weeknight dinner. It is also a great way to use up fresh basil. With just a few simple ingredients, you can make a delicious and flavorful pesto that can be used in a variety of dishes. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give pesto pasta a try. You won't be disappointed.
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