Looking for an easy side dish that goes with almost any meal? This easy Pesto Bread recipe is easy to make and comes together quickly. Serve it with pastas, soups, salads, and large hearty main courses. Perfect for busy weeknight dinners, holiday meals, and dinner parties alike.
Side dishes don’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it’s tricky enough to get a main course out on the table on those super hectic, busy weeknights!
We love making easy Air Fryer Garlic Bread and Instant Pot Garlic Rice as fast sides. And when we want to bump up the flavor factor without additional fuss, we make this quick and easy Pesto Bread recipe.
Make it tonight and add it to your regular dinner rotation!
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🌟 Why this recipe works
We love pesto bread for so many reasons. And I think you and your family will love it, too!
- Simple – You only need a few simple ingredients to make this delicious side dish.
- Easy – The steps are so simple. This is a great dish that your teens can make on their own and little kids can help with. I’ve got step-by-step photos below to show you just how easy this recipe is.
- Flavorful – With bright pesto, additional garlic, and creamy butter, you’ll fall in love with every flavorful bite of this delicious bread!
- Freezer-friendly – You can prep a few loaves then freeze them and bake them later. Making weeknight family dinners even easier!
🛒 Ingredient notes
Another thing to love about this pesto bread? You only need six simple ingredients that are easy to find in any local grocery store.
- Bread – Use a store-bought loaf of baguette or homemade French bread.
- Pesto – You can use our homemade basil pesto recipe for this. Or use your favorite store-bought pesto.
- Butter – Use unsalted butter that is softened to room temperature so that it can be blended easily with the pesto.
- Garlic – Most pesto already has some garlic. But we like to bump up the garlic flavor with even more fresh minced garlic cloves. You can leave this out if you prefer less garlic flavor.
- Parmesan – If you’re dairy-free, like me, you can use non-dairy grated parmesan cheese. Otherwise, use freshly grated parmesan cheese for the best flavor.
- Flaky sea salt – Optional, but we find that sprinkling just a few flaky sea salt pieces onto the bread before serving adds even more flavor.
✅ Step-by-step instructions
You can find detailed cooking instructions along with ingredients with full measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here are step-by-step photos to help you make this easy bread recipe.
- Slice a baguette loaf in half.
- In a large bowl, add the pesto, butter, garlic, parmesan, and salt.
- Mix together with a fork until well combined.
4. Brush the pesto mixture onto the cut halves of the baguette.
5. Place the bread onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
6. Bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQs
Yes! I use vegan pesto (which typically excludes Parmesan cheese). You can also choose a vegan-friendly bread to make it completely plant-based.
Toppings like shredded cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, or pine nuts can be sprinkled on before baking for extra flavor and texture.
Store leftovers in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer.
Yes, you can freeze pesto bread before baking it or freeze the baked version. Wrap it well in foil or plastic wrap and store it in an airtight container.
🍽 Serving ideas
This easy Pesto Bread recipe is the perfect side dish to go with almost any meal! Serve it with pastas, soups, salads, and large hearty main courses.
- Pesto bread is a great side dish for so many pastas. When we want a vegan or vegetarian dinner, we make this pesto without cheese or with non-dairy cheese, and serve it with Tahini Pasta (pictured above), Creamy Pasta and Crispy Mushrooms, or Bruschetta Pasta. For non-vegan meals, serve it with Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta or Creamy Lobster Gnocchi.
- This is a great bread to serve with soup. The flavors go well with One Pot Lasagna Soup or Italian Wedding Soup.
- Enjoy this with a salad for a delightful lunch option. Go for a full pesto meal by serving it with this tasty Pesto Orzo Pasta Salad. Or serve it with this Mango Avocado Prawn Salad or hearty Broccoli Crunch Salad.
🍷 🥂 Wine pairings
You can pair pesto with both white wine and red wine, although my personal preference is with a crisp white wine. Here are two wines I recommend pairing with pesto bread:
- Sauvignon Blanc – This crisp, herbaceous white wine pairs beautifully with the fresh basil and garlic flavors of pesto. Its bright acidity cuts through the richness of the olive oil and cheese in the pesto, making it a refreshing companion.
- Chianti – If you prefer a red wine, Chianti is a great choice. This Italian wine has a nice acidity that balances the oily, garlicky richness of the pesto. Meanwhile, its subtle earthy and herbal notes enhance the basil’s flavors in the bread.
🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment
Ready to make this recipe? Here are the kitchen tools and equipment you’ll need:
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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!
Pesto Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 French baguette, sliced into 1/2" thick slices
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- ¼ cup basil pesto
- ¼ cup finely grated parmesan
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- flaky sea salt, to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice baguette in half. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mash together the softened butter, pesto, parmesan, garlic. Use a fork to mash the butter down and into the other ingredients. Mix until well combined.
- Brush or spoon the pesto onto the inner cut halves of the bread. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes, just until the bread has a light golden crust.
- Slice the bread. Sprinkle just a few sea salt flakes over the pesto bread. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
