You can make this easy fresh basil pesto recipe in just minutes! Perfect as a sauce, dip, spread, for pizzas, pastas, veggies, and so much more.
There’s something magical about fresh basil pesto.
The bright and zingy aroma. The zippy herbaceous flavor.
Whether you’re tossing it with pasta, spreading it on sandwiches, or drizzling it over grilled veggies, basil pesto adds a vibrant taste that makes any dish feel like a special occasion.
We love making pesto about once a month or every other month as part of our meal prep. It's so easy to make, and we use it for so many different dishes.
The freshness of the basil leaves, the punch of garlic, and the smooth texture from olive oil all come together to create a sauce that you can make ahead and store, always ready to elevate your next dish. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a beginner in the kitchen, pesto is an easy recipe to master.
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🌟 Why this recipe works
This is an easy pesto recipe that whips up in minutes. We love it for so many reasons!
- Quick and easy: The recipe comes together in under 10 minutes with just a food processor.
- Versatile: Perfect for pasta, sandwiches, pizza, salads, and more.
- Customizable: You can adjust the ingredients to suit your taste or dietary needs, like using different nuts or skipping the cheese for a dairy-free pesto and vegan pesto.
- Storage-friendly: Pesto stores well in the fridge or freezer, allowing you to make it ahead of time for later use.
- Healthy: Made with fresh herbs, heart-healthy olive oil, and nuts, it’s a nutrient-rich addition to meals.
🛒 Ingredient notes
You only need a few simple ingredients that you can easily find in any local grocery stores to make this classic basil pesto recipe.
- Fresh basil leaves: The star ingredient, sweet basil gives the basil pesto sauce its signature flavor and aroma.
- Garlic: Adds a sharp, savory kick that complements the sweetness of the basil.
- Pine nuts: Traditional in pesto, pine nuts add creaminess. Substitution ideas: use walnuts, almonds, or sunflower seeds instead.
- Parmesan cheese: Gives the pesto a salty, rich depth of flavor. Pecorino romano or other hard cheeses work well, too. Omit if you want to make this a vegan pesto or dairy-free pesto.
- Olive oil: Extra-virgin olive oil creates a smooth, silky texture and enhances the flavors of the ingredients. Use more or less than what the recipe calls for depending on your preferred thickness.
- Salt & pepper: Balances the flavors, ensuring that every bite is perfectly seasoned.
- Lemon juice: A squeeze of lemon juice adds brightness and helps preserve the vibrant green color of the pesto. If you want additional lemon zing, add a little fresh lemon zest too.
✅ Step-by-step instructions
You'll find the full list of ingredients with measurements, along with detailed directions, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
But here are step-by-step photos to show you how easy it is to make this fresh basil pesto recipe.
- Add all ingredients except the olive oil to a food processor bowl.
- Pulse and blend ingredients in the food processor, and slowly add the olive oil in a steady stream as it blends.
- Blend until smooth or to your desired consistency of pesto.
Ta da! That's it! Now you have delicious fresh basil pesto for the week.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQs
Fresh basil is key to pesto’s bright flavor. Dried basil won’t provide the same texture or taste, so it’s best to stick with fresh leaves.
Absolutely! As someone who is dairy-free, I usually simply omit the Parmesan cheese for a dairy-free or vegan version of pesto. You can also substitute nutritional yeast flakes for Parmesan.
Adding a small amount of lemon juice or blanching the basil leaves for a few seconds before blending can help keep your pesto vibrant green.
Store pesto in an airtight container in the fridge, with a thin layer of olive oil on top to prevent oxidation. It should keep for about a week.
Yes! Pesto freezes beautifully. Store it in small airtight containers or freeze it in ice cube trays for easy portioning.
🍽 Serving ideas
The combination of fresh basil, garlic, nuts, and cheese creates a rich, aromatic sauce that pairs perfectly with a variety of meals.
There are SO many different, delicious ways to use pesto!
- Use it as a homemade pesto sauce for pasta.
- Drizzle it over salmon, chicken, or steak.
- Mix it with additional oil to create a salad dressing.
- Use it as a dip for chips and vegetables.
- Use it as a condiment and spread in sandwiches.
- It's great to use as a base sauce for pizzas and flatbreads.
🍷 🥂 Wine pairings
Whether you're using this fresh basil pesto as a sauce, a dip, or a condiment, there are two wines I love to pair with basil pesto dishes.
- Sauvignon Blanc: A crisp, herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc pairs beautifully with the fresh, green flavors of basil pesto. The acidity of the wine cuts through the richness of the olive oil and cheese, balancing the dish perfectly.
- Vermentino: This light, citrusy Italian white wine complements the bright and savory flavors of pesto. Its subtle minerality also works well with the nutty richness of the sauce.
🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment
Ready to make this recipe? You really only need one main small appliance: a food processor.
I love my KitchenAid food processor. But if you don't have a food processor, you can also make this in a high-powered blender instead.
More pesto recipes
Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Easy Basil Pesto Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 2 Tablespoons pine nuts
- 2 large garlic cloves
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a food processor, add the basil, pine nuts, garlic cloves. Process until well combined.
- Add the parmesan and process to combine.
- While the food processor is running on low, slowly add the olive oil and lemon juice. Add the salt and pepper and pulse until the pesto reaches your preferred consistency.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
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