Trust me, this pasta recipe is super easy to put together and is mouthwateringly good!

If you’re looking for a pasta recipe that is sure to be a hit with any crowd, it’s the classic Italian pesto pasta recipe. Sure to be everyone’s favorite, this dish is made with pasta with dreamy pesto sauce.

Visit our Youtube Channel.

How to make Pesto Pasta

Pesto sauce pasta is just one example of a quick and easy pasta dinner that is also healthy. The pesto sauce itself is made from fresh basil leaves, your chosen nuts (pine nuts or walnuts), garlic, Parmesan cheese and of course olive oil. Blend all the ingredients together into a paste and your sauce is ready. Some people like a smooth fine sauce but personally I prefer a it a little rough and choppy in texture to add depth. A 5-ingredient sauce and 3 steps, and your date night dinner is sorted out!

Pasta Dinner Ideas

In the end, you have to combine the pasta and the sauce until both are one. This dish is a fresh green color and full of flavor and fragrance. It can be served alone, a simple meal satisfying and delicious or it can be paired with extra ingredients like cherry tomatoes, grilled chicken, shrimp, or vegetables according to your taste. It can also be paired with a pesto salad or a fresh tomato salad. We’re not joking when we say 3 easy steps, take a look at the full step by step recipe below!

Take a look at Italian Food Recipes here.

3 Steps to The Best Pesto Pasta

Ingredients

12 ounces (about 340g) pasta (spaghetti/linguine/penne)

2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp Black pepper

Salt to taste

-Optional toppings:

Cherry tomatoes

Grated Parmesan cheese

Fresh basil leaves

Step 1

PESTO SAUCE

In a mixer grinder or a food processor, add in the fresh basil leaves, pine nuts/walnuts, minced garlic, salt, black pepper and Parmesan cheese.

Grind it on pulse a few times and check the consistency until coarsely chopped.

Gradually add in the olive oil until and keep grinding the mixture until the sauce comes together smooth.

TIP: stop the food processor and scrape down the sides with a spatula so that everything mixes well!

Step 2

PASTA

In a large pot, bring water to a boil and add in salt and a little bit of olive oil so that the pasta does not stick together.

Cook the pasta until al dente (usually about 8-10 minutes).

Drain the pasta but keep a glass of pasta water for later use.

Step 3

COMBINE

In a pot, add the previously made pesto sauce to the cooked pasta and combine together gently until the pasta is coated evenly. If the pasta and sauce seem dry, you can add in the left over pasta water a little bit at a time until it reaches the right consistency.

Serve while warm and garnish with fresh basil, grated Parmesan or cherry tomatoes.

Italian Pesto Pasta

3 Steps to The Best Pesto Pasta

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Servings 4 Person

Ingredients

  

• 12 ounces about 340g pasta (spaghetti/linguine/penne)
• 2 cups fresh basil leaves packed
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 1 tsp Black pepper
• Salt to taste
• – Optional toppings:
• Cherry tomatoes
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Fresh basil leaves

Instructions

 

• STEP 1

  PESTO SAUCE
• In a mixer grinder or a food processor, add in the fresh basil leaves, pine nuts/walnuts, minced garlic, salt, black pepper and Parmesan cheese.
• Grind it on pulse a few times and check the consistency until coarsely chopped.
• Gradually add in the olive oil until and keep grinding the mixture until the sauce comes together smooth.
• TIP: stop the food processor and scrape down the sides with a spatula so that everything mixes well!
• STEP 2

  PASTA
• In a large pot, bring water to a boil and add in salt and a little bit of olive oil so that the pasta does not stick together.
• Cook the pasta until al dente (usually about 8-10 minutes).
• Drain the pasta but keep a glass of pasta water for later use.
• STEP 3

  COMBINE
• In a pot, add the previously made pesto sauce to the cooked pasta and combine together gently until the pasta is coated evenly. If the pasta and sauce seem dry, you can add in the left over pasta water a little bit at a time until it reaches the right consistency.
• Serve while warm and garnish with fresh basil, grated Parmesan or cherry tomatoes.

Keyword Healthy Recipes, Italian Pasta, Main Dish