This article may contain affilate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

We all need at least one quick pasta dish in our menu options, right? This easy pesto recipe can be whipped up in less than 10 minutes, making it great for those busy weeknight dinners!

We love pasta in our home. It’s simple, easy to make and filling. Around our home, pasta is the language of love for the Frenchman.

Now, I get it. Pasta is anything but French. Don’t tell that to the Frenchman, okay? It’ll break his heart.

The rest of us totally get it. For those nights that we are too busy for anything fancy, or when what I had already planned just doesn’t sound good anymore, pasta is a great go to. All you need to do is boil some water, add the noodles, cook for 7-10 minutes, drain, add sauce and dinner is ready.

What makes it better is when the sauce is easy to fix, and can be used with fresh garden ingredients, like this easy pesto recipe.

In the summer, our herb garden is loaded with basil. Basil is easy to grow, as it requires little maintenance and can spread like wildfire. When your gardening season is over, lift a basil plant to keep in your kitchen garden all winter long. To do that:

• Carefully dig around the base of the plant, giving an extra 2 inches of space.
• Dig down to the roots.
• Lift the plant and replant in fresh potting soil and cover with soil.
• Water generously.
• Keep the plant in a southern facing window, if possible, to enjoy a harvest all winter long.
• In the Spring, replant the basil plant back in the garden to allow it to regrow.

We love to make this easy pesto recipe with our garden fresh basil. Light and refreshing, it is full of flavor. Traditionally, pesto is made with pine nuts. However, for many, they are price prohibitive. Great news, though. You can get great flavor and results from using other nuts, too! Try:

• cashews
• walnuts
• almonds
• peanuts

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves
• 3 cloves garlic
• juice of 1 lemon, or 3 Tablespoons bottled lemon juice
• 1/2 cup shredded parmesean cheese
• 1/4 cup nuts of choice
• 1 cup olive oil

Instructions:

1. In a food processor, or high powered blender, add the garlic. Process to chop into fine pieces.
2. In a medium sized pan, without oil, roast the nuts for 2-3 minutes on low heat until they begin to smell fragrant and release their oils. Add to the blender.
3. Add the remaining ingredients, except oil and process until all blended.
4. Drizzle in olive oil, 1/4 cup at a time, and process between additions.
5. Process until just slightly chunky.
6. Toss over hot pasta. Makes 1 1/2 cups, enough for 6 servings of pasta.
7. Will store in the fridge for up to a week.

Other ways to use pesto:

Pesto Grilled Cheese

Pesto Pizza

Serve this easy pesto recipe with somehomemade artisan bread on the side for a complete, fancy but simple meal!

What is your favorite pasta sauce? Do you enjoy pesto? Be sure to pin this for later!