15 Pesto Pasta Recipes That Bring Northern Italy to Your Dinner Table (2024)

Native to Genoa, Italy, herbaceous pesto sauce—and pesto pasta recipes that feature it—is bright, garlicky, and good to the last drop. While basil pesto pastas that use pine nuts, garlic, and olive oil are most traditional, other variations with spinach, arugula, and different nuts are featured in our guide to the best pesto pasta dishes. Whether you prefer heart-healthy shrimp pesto pasta recipes or are craving cheesy pesto pasta bakes, we have a delicious pesto pasta recipe for you.

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Pesto Penne with Deli-Roasted Chicken

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For a chicken pesto pasta that will earn you dinner party fame, you need to invest a mere 20 minutes. Three store-bought staples help you hit "fast-forward" on this satisfying dinner recipe: a jar of basil pesto, a jar of roasted red peppers, and chopped rotisserie chicken. Fresh broccoli and plenty of Parmesan round out the showy yet simple entrée that's so delicious, everyone will be begging for the recipe.

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Pesto Orecchiette with Spinach and Smoked Salmon

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This salmon pesto pasta looks and tastes like something you'd order at a gourmet deli or restaurant. The fact that it requires just 15 minutes of hands-on prep time and one pan to execute can be your little secret. The one-pot pasta cooks in a chicken broth-based blend. Finish with purchased basil pesto (or our DIY variation), fresh spinach, and smoked salmon.

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Veggie-Pesto Lasagna Soup

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When you're in the mood for a basil pesto pasta that's like a big food hug, think vegetable soup. Not only is this pesto-crowned veggie noodle soup super cozy, it's also remarkably adaptable. "I LOVE this recipe because it is so versatile. Don't have lasagna noodles? Use farfalle or rotini. Add a different squash like zucchini for some added bite. You can switch out the broth to make it totally vegetarian. No ricotta? Melt some mozzarella on top," one BHG home cook says.

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Italian Pesto Pasta Salad

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Pesto Pasta with Charred Radicchio

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If basil is not your jam—or is not easily available—this pesto pasta with veggies recipe features a sauce that's about to become your new go-to. Prepare to fall in love with "any herb pesto," a brilliant sauce that can be blitzed up with just about any nut or seed, 2 cups of your favorite herb, olive oil, lemon juice, and shreds of your favorite hard cheese. To make it a meal, combine this customizable sauce with charred radicchio (psst…roasting mellows out the bitterness and accentuates the natural sugars!) and cooked pasta.

How to Cook with Fresh Herbs

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Pesto Shrimp Mac and Cheese

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Everyone loves a good 'ol bowl of gooey mac and cheese. Here, fresh shrimp makes a surprising splash in the childhood fave. And the pesto flair comes in a delightful deconstructed fashion: basil and pine nuts join forces with eggs, butter, half-and-half, plus two types of cheeses in the luscious sauce for the baked pasta.

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Garden Veggie Linguine with Cilantro Pesto

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During that glorious stretch where spring ushers in summer, zucchini pesto pasta is on repeat in many BHG editor homes. That's because from garden to table, this pesto pasta features the freshest seasonal produce. Toss in baby zucchini, carrots, and seedless oranges, then coat in cilantro-infused pesto for a zippy pasta dinner.

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Chicken and Pasta with Spinach-Basil Pesto

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A combination of fresh basil and spinach gives this pesto pasta recipe a vibrant green color and earthy flavor. Toss it with fresh mushrooms, tomatoes, and spaghetti. A grilled chicken breast rounds out the plate and makes it a complete meal.

Spaghetti and Zucchini Noodles with Basil-Walnut Pesto

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For the ultimate summer pasta recipe, put your bounty of zucchini to good use! Swap in homemade zucchini noodles for half the pasta and toss with a homemade pesto. Here we used walnuts, fresh bails, Parmesan cheese, and lemon.

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Copycat Pesto Cavatappi

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Inspired by a restaurant version of pesto pasta, this copycat version is made with bouncy cavatappi pasta, purchased pesto, and fresh tomato. If you've got them, you can use either cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, or garden tomatoes.

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Turkey Meatballs in Pesto Pasta Pie

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Create a "crust" made with whole wheat spaghetti and pesto then pile it high with saucy turkey meatballs and cheese. It bakes in the oven until golden brown and melted. Slice and serve it as you would any other pie.

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Green Beans and Pesto Pasta

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This homemade pesto is made with fresh green beans and pitted green olives. The finished sauce is tangy, flavorful, and perfect for tossing with ditalini pasta. If you want to add more protein to this pesto pasta recipe, top each bowl with a fried egg.

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Gluten Free Cheesy Pesto-Meatball Lasagna Rolls

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This rolled up lasagna bake is loaded with cheese, green bell peppers, pesto, and ground beef. To keep it gluten-free, be sure to use purchased gluten-free pesto or make your own. Our homemade basil pesto recipe is a good place to start.

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Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes and Arugula Pesto

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Using arugula in this pesto recipe gives it a slightly peppery flavor that pairs perfectly with sweet roasted tomatoes and Parmesan cheese. You can prep the pesto ahead of time and keep it in the fridge for up to five days before serving.

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Cheesy Pesto-Meatball Manicotti

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Manicotti is a tubular pasta that's often stuffed with ground beef or cheese. Here a pesto, ground beef, and mozzarella mixture is stuffed into each and topped with sauce. Bake until bubbly and the cheese is melted.