Busy weeknights call for simple recipes that can be pulled together in a flash, and nothing’s simpler than a basic, homemade basil pesto pasta recipe that even a kid can make and clean up after too.
There are definite skills one should pass along to the younger generation, the secrets to succeed in life. At our house, one of those skills is keeping up with the daily family chores (I LOVE what the former Dean of Freshman at Stanford has to say about why!!!) and whether Smudge likes it or not, she’s getting a good education in this area. She used to think “getting” to do the dishes was fun — she got to wear an apron and play with bubbles as she twirled about to whichever song is on replay over and over in her head — but these days, that shine has certainly worn off.
With summer’s laziness giving way to back-to-school’s busier nights of homework, two soccer teams to practice with, basketball practice and her other basic daily chores, Smudge’s dish washing time has gotten the squeeze right along with the time I have in my schedule to create time-intensive dinners, if I remember to get anything ready for dinner at all!
That’s why keeping super simple, basic recipes like this one in my back pocket are always weeknight saviors, for days when the basics are really all that’s needed. And craved. Like my basic pesto pasta just yearning for a twirl around the silver twines.
This is an old and familiar recipe here on the blog but I recently took some new photos and tweaked my basic homemade basil pesto recipe.
I’ve made homemade pesto many, many times. And many times I’ve totally screwed it up. Why? Because I didn’t keep it basic.
Check out my post on how to make homemade pesto here, or here are a few highlights:
- Don’t add any more garlic. You’ll totally ruin the herbacious flavor if you turn it into a vampirefest and it will turn the sauce into tin. Seriously, I’ve done it.
- Be sure to pulse your food processor or blender when chopping the herbs. This will keep it a fresh green color rather than a murky, bottom of the pond color.
- Use a fresh and fruity olive oil for the lightest flavor.
- Because the flavors are so simple, use the best you can afford and fresh, leafy herbs always shine the most.
- Out of pine nuts or simply can’t afford them? Walnuts, marcona almonds and even pistachios are a tasty alternative.
About the Recipe
I used the bunches of garden basil from my garden before the freeze sets in, but if basil isn’t in season, pesto can always be made with any of these greens:
- Parsley
- Arugula
- Spinach
- Mint
- Kale
- Broccoli or broccolini
- Beet Greens
Pesto and pasta is perfectly delicious served plain with a bit of parmesan cheese and a sprinkling of extra roasted pine nuts if you have them.
Pesto works for any shape pasta, but typically long and thin or short and compact varieties are most familiar. I used the thicker bucatini here. Here are a few more types to consider:
- Farfalle
- Fussili
- Spaghetti
- Linguine
- Orzo
- Tortellini
- Penne
- Orecchiette
And when making lasagna or stuffed shells, pesto is an awesome alternative to marinara or tomato sauce for a lighter, brighter flavor.
When cooking your pasts, always salt your water generously (wait until your water has come to a boil to avoid pitting your pan) and cook your pasta until al denté so the noodles still have a good texture that hasn’t turned to mush.
Or, I LOVE to toss in a few fresh to-maters on top. And I totally dig it with an extra douse of salty parmesan cheese.
See, the best part of a basic recipe is the opportunity to doctor it up any which way you see fit and learn to like a little something new.
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment below or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
Easy Homemade Pesto Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound bucatini spaghetti or other favorite noodle
- 1 garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves washed and stemmed and finely packed
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese plus more for garnish
- 1/2 lemon juiced
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- fresh ground black pepper
- Cherry tomatoes
Instructions
-
Cook the spaghetti or other pasta in large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions or until al dente. Drain the pasta and reserve 1 cup of the cooking water.
-
While pasta is cooking, add the roughly chopped garlic, toasted pine nuts and finely grated parmesan cheese to a food processor and process until smooth. Then, add in the basil. Pulse a few times until chopped then let it run as you drizzle the olive oil into the processor as it runs until emulsified. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, give a squeeze of lemon juice, and whiz again until combined. Taste for seasoning and adjust to your liking.
-
Toss the hot pasta with the pesto in a large bowl and add reserved cooking water ¼ cup at a time or until saucy. Top with the cherry tomatoes and season with more salt and pepper if desired and garnish with more parmesan cheese.
What to Serve With Homemade Pesto Pasta to Make a Meal
Pesto pasta can certainly make a meal on its own, but it also comes together quick as an easy side dish. Here’s a few main meal ideas of to cozy it up next to.
30-Minute Caprese Chicken Recipe
Lemon Garlic Herb Shrimp in Packets
Crispy Italian Oven Baked Chicken
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Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
August 13, 2013 at 5:34 amI wish doing the dishes was still fun for me! MAN, that would be the best!! Also, love the simplicity to this pasta!
ashley - baker by nature says
August 13, 2013 at 5:40 amI remember vividly helping my mama do the dishes as a tot and thinking it was bliss… oh the irony in that these days! Always love your cute family stories, H! And this pasta looks divine! xo
Tieghan says
August 13, 2013 at 6:12 amI wish I had someone helping me do the dishes….least favorite part of the day for sure!!
This pesto pasta is gorgeous Heidi! Sometimes simple is really all we need!
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
August 13, 2013 at 6:57 amgreat looking as always!
Cookin' Canuck says
August 13, 2013 at 7:08 amMy boys are loving doing the laundry right now. I know that won’t last forever, so I’m feeling grateful for that while it lasts!
“Pesto pasta” (what my boys call it) is one of our favorite year-round meals. And you’re so right about easing off on the garlic when making pesto…let that basil shine!
Bev @ Bev Cooks says
August 13, 2013 at 7:34 amFavorite. Food. In. All. Of. The. Life.
Kathy @ Olives and Garlic says
August 13, 2013 at 9:27 amSimple yet delicious. Pesto adds so much flavor even to the most simplest dishes and that’s why I love it so much. As always your pictures and so so so so beautiful
Belinda @themoonblushbaker says
August 13, 2013 at 9:43 amPesto is the best thing to hit carbs since butter! I love it on pasta, bread even in rice! SO flavourful no wonder you love it so much. Your pictures are impeccable
Betty Ann @Mango_Queen says
August 13, 2013 at 11:55 amWhat an easy recipe and the photos of pesto pasta are so gorgeous! This post just reminded me I need to go get lunch. Bookmarked this to try soon. Thanks for sharing!
Karen says
August 13, 2013 at 12:01 pmeverything looks yummy as usual!
Rachel Cooks says
August 13, 2013 at 12:39 pmOH man — seriously craving that simple, perfect bowl of pasta. Not to mention all the other fab recipes. Must. go. buy. basil.
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
August 13, 2013 at 1:07 pmI love pesto pasta! Simple and delicious dishes like this is what summer is about!
Stefanie @ Sarcastic Cooking says
August 13, 2013 at 1:40 pmOoo I love pesto. I love that your teaching Smudge the awesomeness of doing dishes. My husband and I were just joking that we can’t wait to have another little person around to help with the dishes! That’s probably not a good thing to admit hahaha.
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
August 13, 2013 at 2:30 pmGorgeous, I want to dive into this!
Des says
August 13, 2013 at 2:41 pmLove love love pesto! I never would’ve thought that pistachios would be an option to sub for pine nuts but I am totally loving the idea.
My little dude (21 months) LOVES helping me unload the dishwasher and he’s actually really good about putting things where they go. Keeping my fingers crossed that he continues to enjoy this as he gets older. Maybe I should cross my toes too :)
Patti says
August 13, 2013 at 7:29 pmI hope Smudge likes doing dishes more than her mother did. She’s a good little helper. The pesto looks delicious, I used way too much garlic the last time I made it, next time 2 cloves. Who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
August 14, 2013 at 12:05 amI love the simplicity of this!
Melissa // The Fauxmartha says
August 14, 2013 at 6:46 amI heart a good pesto. Love all your tips! And thanks for including me in the mix. Cheers to many successful dishwashing days ahead :)
Charul @ Tadka Masala says
August 15, 2013 at 10:46 amoh my! i am literally drooling over all the pasta recipes here. Yum!
natalie @ wee eats says
August 15, 2013 at 5:29 pmpesto pasta is basically my favorite ever. actually, pesto anything is basically my favorite thing ever… pesto is like my savory addiction equivalent of peanut butter, IT TASTES GOOD ON EVERYTHING!!!
Jubaira says
February 24, 2015 at 12:57 pmMy kids loves your recipe for pesto pasta. So easy to make, but yummy❤️❤️❤️
Genelia Santanelli says
August 5, 2015 at 2:40 pmThank you for this share! I prepared this dish this past Monday night as a “going away meal” for my long weekend guests and we all loved it!! I even had stretched it out to a lb and a half of pasta and they still wanted more! Delicious, simple and fresh! I followed your recipe and because I needed extra pesto sauce and only had exactly a half of a cup of pine nuts, I stretched it with walnuts and it was perfect! Namaste’ – Gen
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September 19, 2017 at 9:11 pmI visit your blog regularly to get new things like this.
Hanna says
October 1, 2017 at 11:26 pmThis looks incredible. I love anything with pasta and am always looking for new recipes, but haven’t seen anything like this. Thanks. Will definitely be trying this. Love your photos too.
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Rahul Yadav says
June 13, 2018 at 12:58 pmI want to say that your blog is awesome and i love reading it more nd more !! Thnxx for such content
Vital Wires says
July 9, 2018 at 4:53 amBeautiful, looks great!
Jolene says
July 22, 2018 at 8:46 amThank you for this helpful and inspiring article. I went into the kitchen and made a dish of pasta with what I had on hand–penne, spinach, and walnunts–and it came out great.
Rayyan says
November 25, 2018 at 11:18 amI love this recipe, so delicious!
klebefolie says
January 26, 2019 at 9:25 amThis was delicious! I just made it. My husband and I both loved it. Thanks for the recipe!
Murshid says
March 31, 2019 at 11:39 pmDefinelty gonna tell my wife to try this. my children is gonna love this.
Ashley @ Foodie Crush says
April 1, 2019 at 7:54 amHappy to hear that. I hope you all enjoy!