Quick and easy pesto pasta!
Basil pesto pasta is one of my favorite summertime meals. The flavor of in-season, homemade basil pesto beats store bought any day, hands down. It’s super easy to prepare, which means you don’t have to debate whether you’ve got enough time to make it from scratch. You do. It’s simple.
Pair your homemade pesto with fresh pasta and a few seasonal veggies.
Cherry tomatoes and roasted corn are two of our favorites, but let your kids pick.
Even better, this recipe is budget-friendly. Made with sunflower seeds instead of pine nuts, you’ll save a few dollars for summer fun. Every little bit counts.
Remember to save extras for your kids’ lunchboxes the next day.
Basil Pesto Pasta
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients for Basil Pesto Pasta
1 cup Basil Pesto, try our homemade Nut-Free Basil Pesto or use store bought
1 pound fresh pasta
1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
Parmesan cheese
Directions for Basil Pesto Pasta
1. Prepare the pasta according to the package directions. Drain, reserve some of the pasta water, and set aside.
2. Add the cooked pasta back to the empty pot and toss with the pesto and cherry tomatoes. Add a tablespoon or two of the reserved pasta water.
3. Serve immediately topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Tip: Clip a few sprigs of fresh basil and keep them in a vase on your kitchen counter. The chill of your fridge will turn the leaves black.
Pin It! Basil Pesto Pasta
Pin our recipe for Basil Pesto Pasta. For more budget-friendly dinner ideas, check out our Easy Dinner Recipes board on Pinterest.
- 1 cup Basil Pesto, try our homemade Nut-Free Basil Pesto or use store bought
- 1 pound fresh pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- Parmesan cheese for sprinkling
- Prepare the pasta according to the package directions. Drain, reserve some of the pasta water, and set aside.
- Add the cooked pasta back to the empty pot and toss with the pesto and cherry tomatoes. Add a tablespoon or two of the reserved pasta water.
- Serve immediately topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
