If you’re a huge pesto fan like me and want more exciting ways to enjoy it, this list of Best Pesto Recipes is for you! It’s my all-encompassing list of my favorite homemade pesto recipes, plus the recipes that use it!
Pesto is famously fresh, vibrant, herbaceous, and packed with flavor, making it a welcomed ingredient in dishes that range from pasta to seafood to flatbread. Classically made with basil, pesto is a herby blended sauce that tends to be garlic-forward and peppery.
Green tip: Making your own sauces and syrups is a great way to avoid extra plastic packaging that eventually ends up in landfills or makes its way into the environment and becomes microplastics.
As an environmental scientist, I always prioritize being more sustainability-minded in the kitchen. Making my own homemade sauces and dressings is one of my favorite ways to lower my contribution to environmentally damaging microplastics.
Best Pesto Recipes
- Arugula Basil Pesto
- Small-Batch Pesto Vinaigrette
- Pesto Butter
- Mushroom Pesto Pasta
- Salmon Pesto Pasta
- Pesto Butter Garlic Bread
- Ricotta Pesto Pasta
- Carrot Top Pesto
- Canned Tuna Pesto Pasta Salad
- Pesto Butter Salmon
- Burrata Pesto Pasta
- Fig and Goat Cheese Flatbread
- 25-Minute Orzo Pesto Salad
1. Arugula Basil Pesto
5-Minute Arugula Basil Pesto
This Arugula Basil Pesto packs such a powerful punch of flavor and freshness. All you need is a food processor, 5 fresh ingredients, and 5 minutes and you’re off and running!
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2. Small-Batch Pesto Vinaigrette
Pesto Vinaigrette
This Small-Batch Pesto Vinaigrette with Parmesan is a zesty, fresh, and flavorful addition to your salad that you can whip up in just 5 minutes!
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3. Pesto Butter
5-Minute Pesto Butter
This versatile, easy, and over-the-top tasty 5-Minute Pesto Butter requires just two ingredients and brings a punch of flavor to any meal!
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4. Mushroom Pesto Pasta
4-Ingredient Mushroom Pesto Pasta (One-Pot)
This Mushroom Pesto Pasta is quick, easy, packed with flavor, and requires only one pot and 4 ingredients to come together!
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5. Salmon Pesto Pasta
4-Ingredient Salmon Pesto Pasta
With just four ingredients, one pot, and 30 minutes, you can whip up this easy and delicious Salmon Pesto Pasta to feed four.
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6. Pesto Butter Garlic Bread
20-Minute Pesto Butter Garlic Bread
This Pesto Butter Garlic Bread is the best buttery, garlicky crispy carb-loaded shareable appetizer or starter to any meal! Just 20 minutes and 5 ingredients required.
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7. Ricotta Pesto Pasta
20-Minute Ricotta Pesto Pasta
This Ricotta Pesto Pasta blends bold and fresh flavors with creamy, but not-too-rich ricotta to bring you succulent and zesty pasta in just 20 minutes.
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8. Carrot Top Pesto
5-Minute Carrot Top Pesto
Don't toss your carrot greens! Use the subtly sweet, earthy greens to make this Carrot Top Pesto in just 5 minutes.
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9. Canned Tuna Pesto Pasta Salad
Canned Tuna Pesto Pasta Salad
This Tuna Pesto Pasta Salad is fresh, hearty, and satisfying. And with it being so affordable, easy, and abundant, it will be your new go-to family meal!
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10. Pesto Butter Salmon
3-Ingredient Pesto Butter Salmon
This Pesto Butter Salmon requires just 3 ingredients and 15 minutes to bring you a healthful dish that's bursting with color and flavor!
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11. Burrata Pesto Pasta
5-Ingredient Burrata Pesto Pasta
This Burrata Pesto Pasta is filled with flavor and delicious texture and only requires 5 ingredients, one pot, and less than 30 minutes to make.
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12. Fig and Goat Cheese Flatbread
Fig and Goat Cheese Flatbread
This delicious Fig and Goat Cheese Flatbread comes together in just 30 minutes and with 5 flavorful ingredients that hit the perfect balance of salty and sweet.
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13. 25-Minute Orzo Pesto Salad
25-Minute Orzo Pesto Salad
This Orzo Pesto Salad is light, fresh, and bursting with flavor. Only 7 ingredients and 25 minutes required.
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I hope this list of Best Pesto Recipes inspires you to embrace this awesome sauce! If you’re still not sure where to start, I’ve included the recipe for Salmon Pesto Pasta, a quick and easy 4-ingredient family-friendly meal that comes together in 30 minutes and in just one pot.
12+ Best Pesto Recipes, including Salmon Pesto Pasta
PRINT PIN RATEBest Pesto recipes, including this Salmon Pesto Pasta that only requires four ingredients, one pot, and 30 minutes!
Equipment
- Bamboo Paper Towels (optional)
Ingredients
- 16 ounces pasta (short or long)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 10 ounces salmon (1 portion = 3-5 ounces)
- 8 ounces pesto (8 ounces pesto = approx 1 cup)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta al dente according to the directions on the box. Before straining, make sure to conserve at least 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Set pasta aside in a colander or large bowl.
- Remove the skin from salmon if necessary and pat the salmon dry with paper towels (use these bamboo paper towels for a more sustainable option!). Cut it into small cubes, about 1 cubic inch in size.
- Add the salmon to the pot with the olive oil and about 1 tablespoon of pesto. Cook over medium heat for about 5-7 minutes, tossing frequently so the salmon cooks evenly on both sides.
- Remove the pot from the heat and add the pasta to the pot with the salmon.
- Add the pesto to the pasta and toss to coat. While you are tossing, slowly add the pasta water, about 1 tablespoon at a time, assessing the consistency as you go. You should only need about 2-3 tablespoons of pasta water to successfully coat the pesto in the pasta. Serve hot and enjoy!
Pro Tips
- For more easy and low clean-up recipes, check out this awesome list of my best One-Pot meals.
Did you make this recipe?Let me know by leaving a recipe rating below, or by tagging @marleysmenu on Instagram.
