Pesto Pasta Recipes 🌿 Bright, Fresh & Flavor-Packed

ByKarl S

Pesto pasta delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort — just toss al dente noodles with this herby, garlicky, cheesy green sauce and go.

Whether you stick with classic basil pesto or explore nutty, spicy, or veggie-forward variations, these recipes prove pesto belongs in every pasta night lineup.

🍝 Classic Basil Pesto Pasta

Simple, fresh, and totally satisfying.

Ingredients:

  • Pasta (spaghetti, fusilli, or penne)
  • Fresh basil
  • Garlic
  • Parmesan
  • Pine nuts
  • Olive oil
  • Salt, pepper

Instructions:

  1. Cook pasta and reserve ¼ cup pasta water.
  2. Blend basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan, olive oil.
  3. Toss pesto with warm pasta and reserved water.
  4. Serve with extra cheese and black pepper.

👉 Complete Classic Basil Pesto Pasta Recipe

🍗 Chicken Pesto Pasta

Hearty, high-protein, and family-friendly.

Ingredients:

  • Pasta (penne or rotini)
  • Cooked chicken (grilled or shredded)
  • Basil pesto
  • Cherry tomatoes (optional)
  • Parmesan

Instructions:

  1. Cook pasta and warm chicken.
  2. Toss with pesto and halved tomatoes.
  3. Top with Parmesan and serve warm or cold.

👉 Complete Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe

🧀 Pesto Mac & Cheese

Ultra creamy with a herby punch.

Ingredients:

  • Elbow pasta or shells
  • Basil or spinach pesto
  • Cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan
  • Milk or cream
  • Butter, flour

Instructions:

  1. Make a roux with butter and flour, then stir in milk.
  2. Add cheese and pesto, stir until creamy.
  3. Mix with cooked pasta and broil if desired.

👉 Complete Pesto Mac & Cheese Recipe

🥬 Spinach Pesto Pasta

Extra green and nutrient-rich.

Ingredients:

  • Pasta (spaghetti or linguine)
  • Baby spinach
  • Basil or parsley
  • Garlic
  • Olive oil, lemon
  • Parmesan or nutritional yeast

Instructions:

  1. Blend spinach, basil, garlic, lemon, oil, and cheese.
  2. Toss with pasta and season to taste.
  3. Top with extra lemon zest or crushed almonds.

👉 Spinach Pesto Pasta Recipe

🥓 Pesto Bacon Pasta

Smoky, savory, and packed with umami.

Ingredients:

  • Pasta (penne or farfalle)
  • Pesto
  • Cooked bacon (chopped)
  • Garlic (optional)
  • Parmesan

Instructions:

  1. Cook pasta and crisp bacon.
  2. Toss pesto with pasta and bacon.
  3. Serve with garlic and cheese.

👉 Complete Pesto Bacon Pasta Recipe

🍤 Shrimp Pesto Pasta

Fast and elegant.

Ingredients:

  • Pasta (linguine or spaghetti)
  • Shrimp
  • Garlic
  • Olive oil
  • Basil pesto

Instructions:

  1. Sauté shrimp in garlic and oil.
  2. Toss cooked pasta with pesto.
  3. Add shrimp and serve with lemon wedge.

👉 Complete Shrimp Pesto Pasta Recipe

🍅 Roasted Tomato Pesto Pasta

Sweet, tangy, and herby.

Ingredients:

  • Pasta (orecchiette or penne)
  • Cherry tomatoes (roasted)
  • Basil pesto
  • Mozzarella balls or goat cheese

Instructions:

  1. Roast tomatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
  2. Toss pasta with pesto, tomatoes, and cheese.
  3. Serve warm or cold.

👉 Roasted Tomato Pesto Pasta Recipe

🧄 Pesto Alfredo Pasta

Creamy meets herby.

Ingredients:

  • Pasta (fettuccine or tagliatelle)
  • Alfredo sauce (store-bought or homemade)
  • Basil pesto
  • Parmesan

Instructions:

  1. Warm Alfredo and stir in pesto.
  2. Mix with pasta and top with extra cheese.
  3. Add grilled chicken or mushrooms if desired.

👉 Pesto Alfredo Pasta Recipe

🥦 Veggie Pesto Pasta

Loaded with greens and ready in 20 minutes.

Ingredients:

  • Pasta (rotini or bowtie)
  • Broccoli, zucchini, spinach
  • Pesto (any kind)
  • Olive oil
  • Lemon juice

Instructions:

  1. Sauté or steam veggies.
  2. Toss with cooked pasta and pesto.
  3. Drizzle with lemon and olive oil.

👉 Veggie Pesto Pasta Recipe

🥩 Steak & Pesto Pasta

Savory, herby, and restaurant-level good.

Ingredients:

  • Pasta (fettuccine or farfalle)
  • Sliced steak
  • Pesto
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Parmesan

Instructions:

  1. Cook pasta and sear steak to desired doneness.
  2. Slice steak and mix with cooked pasta and pesto.
  3. Toss in tomatoes and top with cheese.

👉 Steak & Pesto Pasta Recipe

🥬 Kale Walnut Pesto Pasta

Heart-healthy and bold in flavor.

Ingredients:

  • Pasta (whole grain or gluten-free)
  • Kale
  • Garlic, lemon juice
  • Walnuts
  • Olive oil
  • Parmesan or vegan alternative

Instructions:

  1. Blend pesto ingredients until smooth.
  2. Cook pasta and drain.
  3. Toss with kale pesto and adjust seasoning.
  4. Garnish with extra nuts or cheese.

👉 Kale Walnut Pesto Pasta Recipe

🧾 Final Thoughts: Pesto = Instant Flavor

Pesto pasta is a fast-track to a fresh, satisfying meal. With countless ways to spin the sauce — from leafy greens to cheesy mixes — it’s one of the easiest ways to reinvent your pasta game week after week.

Pro Tip: Freeze pesto in an ice cube tray for single-serve flavor boosts whenever you need them.

🍝 Pasta Recipes Collection

Explore All Pasta Recipes – A complete noodle lover’s hub — creamy, meaty, veggie-packed, or refreshingly cold, these recipes have it all.

🧄 Classic & Comforting

  • 🧄 Classic Pasta Recipes – Tried-and-true dishes like spaghetti, fettuccine, and timeless tomato-based favorites.
  • 🍅 Simple Pasta Recipes – Minimal ingredients, maximum flavor — pasta perfection without the fuss.
  • ⚡ Easy Pasta Recipes – Weeknight lifesavers that deliver rich flavor fast, with zero culinary stress.
  • 🍽️ Pasta Dinner Recipes – Family-friendly pastas that satisfy any night of the week.

🧀 Sauce Styles

  • 🥛 Creamy Pasta Recipes – Silky sauces made with cream, cheese, or both — pure comfort in a bowl.
  • 🧈 Alfredo Pasta Recipes – Rich and buttery Alfredo sauce takes center stage in these indulgent dishes.
  • 🥄 White Sauce Pasta Recipes – Mellow and smooth béchamel-based recipes that pair beautifully with chicken or veggies.
  • 🍅 Red Sauce Pasta Recipes – Bright, bold tomato sauces — classic marinara, spicy arrabbiata, and more.
  • 🌿 Pesto Pasta Recipes – Herbaceous and vibrant, these green-sauced dishes are perfect for warm-weather meals.

🍗 Protein-Packed Pastas

  • 🐓 Chicken Pasta Recipes – Tender chicken meets creamy or tangy sauces — the perfect protein-pasta pairings.
  • 🍤 Shrimp Pasta Recipes – Juicy shrimp with garlic butter, wine, or creamy sauces — quick and elegant.
  • 🐟 Seafood Pasta Recipes – Scallops, crab, salmon, or mixed shellfish in rich and zesty sauces.
  • 🐄 Ground Beef Pasta Recipes – Comforting classics like bolognese, skillet meals, and one-pot beefy favorites.
  • 🌭 Sausage Pasta Recipes – Hearty and spiced — from Italian to spicy andouille, sausage elevates every bite.

🥗 Pasta Salads & Light Fare

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