Easy Homemade Basil Pesto

Make this easy homemade basil pesto in just 5 minutes! Spoon it over chicken, pasta, salads, plus so much more. 

this recipe

Homemade Basil Pesto

I’m sharing my all-time favorite basil pesto recipe that I use over and over for things like pasta, sauces, dips, dressings, and spreads. It comes together in about 5-minutes in a food-processor.

Made with only 6-ingredients, this basil pesto sauce recipe is going to become your go-to for easy meals. Plus it’s a delicious way to make the most out of fresh basil year-round.

What is Basil Pesto Made of?

You can make basil pesto year-round as long as you have access to fresh basil. Here’s what you’ll need to make pesto:

• Basil 
• Pine nuts
• Parmesan cheese
• Garlic
• Olive oil
• Lemon juice

I know a lot of recipes skip on lemon juice but I find that it breaks down the heaviness of the garlic and Parmesan, and brightens the pesto all around. 

How to Make Easy Basil Pesto

I love to use my food-processor for making pesto. It literally takes 5-minutes! A high-speed blender can be used as well but will require a little more work. If you have both, definitely go with a food processor.

Step 1: Add basil leaves, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, garlic and lemon juice into a bowl of a food processor. Pulse a couple of times until finely minced. Scrape down the sides of the food processor with a spoon or small spatula.

Step 2: While the food processor is running, slowly add the olive oil in a steady small stream. Scrape down the sides as needed.

Step 3: Season with salt and pepper to taste. Use immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 week.

This recipe makes around 2/3 cups of pesto.

How to Store Pesto

IN THE REFRIGERATOR: Homemade basil pesto can be used right away or refrigerated for up to 1 week. Just keep in mind the pesto will darken when refrigerated.

To keep pesto bright green, simply top the pesto with about 1/2-inch of olive oil. This will create a seal so it doesn’t darken. Store in a container with a lid. Stir the oil into the pesto before using.

IN THE FREEZER: To extend the life of your homemade pesto even further, you can freeze it in small batches. I like to use ice cube trays.

Simply put spoonfuls of pesto into ice cube trays and place in the freezer until solid. Then transfer the pesto cubes to freezer-safe plastic bag or container with a lid and keep in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Thaw out frozen pesto in the refrigerator before using it. 

How to Use Pesto Other Than Pasta

Basil pesto does not have to be cooked or heated before serving unless a recipe tells you to. You can serve it cold straight from the jar, at room temperature or warmed up in your favorite main meals.

Here are some of my favorite ways to use pesto:

• Mix it into your avocado toast. 
• Smear on a sandwich. Whether alone or mixed in with little mayo. 
• Drizzle over a salad. I like to thin out the pesto with little olive to use as a dressing. 
• Dollop on a baked potato for some flavor or in place of butter. 
• Top grilled chicken, shrimp, or fish for a burst of flavor. 

Basil Pesto Recipe Variations

Think beyond basil and Parmesan cheese. The best part about pesto is that it can be made a variety of ways. Here are some fun ways to change it up:

BASIL – instead of basil, try adding tender greens such as arugula, parsley, or mint. Or do a half and half.

PINE NUTS – try almonds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, or sunflower seeds. Just make sure to buy roasted nuts or roast them yourself. It’ll add delicious rich flavor to the pesto.

PARMESAN CHEESE – Pecorino Romano, aged Asiago or manchego cheese are all hard and salty cheeses suitable for pesto.

More Pesto Recipes to Try:

• Turkey Pesto Meatballs
• Chicken Mushroom Spinach Pasta
• Baked Balsamic Salmon with Asparagus
• Greek Yogurt Pesto Chicken Pasta

If you try Homemade Basil Pesto, don’t forget to leave feedback and a rating.

Easy Homemade Basil Pesto

★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews

• Author: Katya
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Total Time: 5 mins
• Yield: 5 1x
• Category: Salad
• Method: Blend
• Cuisine: Italian

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Description

Make this easy basil pesto in just 5 minutes! Spoon it over chicken, pasta, salads, or use it as a salad dressing. 

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
• 3 Tbsp. toasted pine nuts
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 garlic clove
• 3 tsp. fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Combine basil leaves, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and lemon juice in a bowl of a food processor. Pulse until finely minced. Scrape down the sides with a spoon or small rubber spatula.
2. While the food processor is running, slowly add the olive oil in a steady small stream. Scrape down the sides as needed. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Use immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 week. See notes for freezer instructions.

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Notes

• To Freeze Pesto – put spoonfuls of pesto into ice cube trays and place in the freezer until solid. Then transfer the pesto cubes to freezer-safe plastic bag or container with a lid and keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw out overnight in the refrigerator before using.
• Substitutions – see blog post for a full list of ingredient substitutions.

Keywords: easy, fresh, summer, pasta

This post may contain affiliate links.

Recipe originally published March 2015, updated February 2020 with new photos, rewritten post, and additional information. No change to the recipe.