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
- 2-Ingredient Pesto Tortellini
1. Arugula Basil Pesto
2. Small-Batch Pesto Vinaigrette
3. Pesto Butter
4. Mushroom Pesto Pasta
5. Salmon Pesto Pasta
6. Pesto Butter Garlic Bread
7. Ricotta Pesto Pasta
8. Carrot Top Pesto
9. Canned Tuna Pesto Pasta Salad
10. Pesto Butter Salmon
11. Burrata Pesto Pasta
12. Fig and Goat Cheese Flatbread
13. 25-Minute Orzo Pesto Salad
14. 2-Ingredient Pesto Tortellini (One Pot)
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 Save RateEquipment
- 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.
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