5-Minute Easy Pesto Recipe for Busy Weeknight Dinners (2024)

Looking foraneasy, healthy pesto recipe fora busy weeknight dinner everyone will love? Make this 5-Minute Pesto Recipe, and, I promise, you’ll be hooked! Plus, get 5 more easy, healthy pesto recipes to try!

So, tell me…What’s on repeat at your house for a quick and easy dinner EVERYONE loves?

My list includes Spaghetti and Meat Sauce, Crunchy Lentil Tacos with Avocado Feta Guacamole, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches w/ Trader Joe’s Organic Cream of Tomato Sauce, this , oh, and this SUPER easy pesto recipe with gluten free pasta we eat almost every week.

Not lyin’.

Sometimes I make this easy pesto recipe withjust basil, but other times, when I want to get in an extra dose of leafy greens {remember they’re an essential component of the MIND Diet}, I throw in some spinach, kale, Swiss chard, or whatever greens I have in the fridge, and, nobody’s the wiser.

Trust me. It’s a win, win.

It’s So Easy to Make This Quick & Easy Pesto Recipe…

The other key ingredients in my easy pesto recipe, besides the green stuff, are extra virgin olive oil, pine nuts, garlic {or garlic oil if you’re following a low FODMAP diet plan}, Parmesan cheese {easily omitted for a vegan version}, plus salt and pepper. And, that’s it!

[click_to_tweet tweet=”Dinner is served! 5-Minute Quick & Easy Healthy Pesto to the rescue! #glutenfree #vegetarian” quote=”Dinner is served! 5-Minute Quick & Easy Healthy Pesto to the rescue! “]

Easy Pesto Recipe

Looking foraneasy pesto recipe fora busy weeknight dinner everyone will love? Makemy 5 Minute Pesto Recipe, and, I promise, you’ll be hooked!

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 cups fresh basil + leafy greens {i.e. spinach, kale, chard, etc}
• ▢ 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• ▢ 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese {omit for vegan version}
• ▢ 1/4 cup pine nuts
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic {omit & add 1 tablespoon garlic oil for low FODMAP version}
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste

Instructions

• Combine all the ingredients in a food processor with blade attachment. Process until blended. Scrape down sides, and process again until smooth, or desired consistency is achieved. Store in refrigerator, tightly covered, until ready to use, or for up to 3 days. Or, freeze in ice cube trays, and defrost as needed when ready to serve.

Video

Notes

Serving Suggestions

1. Serve on top of your favorite pasta. I especially like this with lentil or chickpea pasta {affiliate links} for extra protein and fiber. All you need on the side, is some fresh fruit.
2. Make a pizza! Top your favorite crust with pesto, then add cheese and sliced fresh tomatoes for a delicious pizza night!
3. Add this easy pesto to veggie noodles or noodles.
4. Swirl it in to a bowl of soup. Yum!
5. For a healthy snack., how about topping some Greek yogurt with a little pesto, then serving it with carrots, cucumber, and other veggies? Sounds good to me!
6. Oh, and for breakfast, scrambled eggs go really well with this easy pesto recipe + chopped up cherry tomatoes and spinach. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 272kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 253mg | Potassium: 92mg | Vitamin A: 1460IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 0.6mg

EA Stewart, RD | Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Course Dinner, Lunch, Sauce

Cuisine Gluten Free, Italian, Low FODMAP Option, Mediterranean, Vegan Option, Vegetarian

Keyword easy pesto, pesto recipe

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See Also

Standard Process 21 Day Cleanse Recipes

Once you’ve mastered this basic pesto recipe, you’ll definitely want to try these other healthy pesto recipes I’ve rounded up from my dietitian and food blogger friends.

5 Healthy Pesto Recipes You’ll Love

These Zucchini Noodles with Lemony Avocado Pesto {Gluten Free, Vegan, Paleo, Low Carb} are one of the most popular recipes on my blog. And, with good reason, because they’re easy to make, super nourishing, and oh-so-delicious. Be sure and give ’em a try!

Doesn’t this Creamy Burrata with Pesto and Tomatoes{Gluten Free, Vegetarian} from Jenny Shea Rawn at My Cape Cod Kitchen, look absolutely dreamy? My kids got hooked on Buratta when we were in Italy 2 Summers ago. I can’t wait to make this for them. And, for me too!!

Or, this creamy Cilantro Pistachio Pesto {Gluten Free, Vegan, Paleo} from Liz at Shaw’s Simple Swaps? This would be absolutely dreamyon a veggie or turkey burger for your next Summer BBQ. Just sayin’ 🙂

Oh, and I think this Parsley Stem Pesto with Roasted Asparagus {Gluten Free, Vegetarian}, from Julie at RDelicious Kitchen is a absolutely genius, not to mention delicious, way to cut back on food waste!

And, last but not least, this Fresh Mint Pea Pesto {Gluten Free, Vegan} from Amber at Homemade Nutrition, is a delicious “cheese free” alternative to traditional basil pesto, not to mention a great way to use up any mint you’ve got growing in your garden. Yum!

Let’s Chat!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE “GO-TO” QUICK AND EASY DINNER? DO YOU LOVE PESTO AS MUCH AS MY FAMILY AND I DO? WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO SERVE PESTO? ANY NON-TRADITIONAL INGREDIENTS YOU ADD TO YOUR PESTO?