Making pesto at home is easier than you think. The flavor of our Homemade Pesto Recipe far outmatches the store bought version. Use our tips to double batch this recipe and freeze pesto for later too!
What is in Pesto?
Pesto is a popular Italian sauce made primarily from fresh basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil. The ingredients are typically crushed or blended together to create a smooth, vibrant green sauce.
Store Bought vs. Homemade Pesto
Friends, there just isn’t even a comparison. Homemade Pesto is just SO much tastier than store-bought pesto. The canned pesto from the store is more oily and lacks the fresh taste of basil that just can’t be replicated.
If you must buy it from the store, we recommending getting refrigerated pesto if possible.
Pro Tips for Making Fresh Pesto
The pesto will be as good as your ingredients . Quality fresh basil, and freshly grated cheese will do wonders for the flavor.
A food processor is a must . I have never tried it in a blender but I don’t think it has enough liquid to work in one of those. A food processor is necessary to get the texture you’ll want.
You can double the recipe in the food processor. If you have enough ingredients, save yourself some time and double the recipe. Freeze the pesto that you don’t use!
Silicone muffin cups work great to freeze the pesto in. Just pop it out after it’s frozen and store in a freezer bag.
How to Freeze Pesto
Because of the superiority of fresh pesto, I am a HUGE HUGE HUGE advocate of making tons of fresh pesto when basil is in season and freezing it to use all year long . We have an entire post and video on How to Freeze Pesto but I will give you a quick rundown here as well.
Make your fresh pesto.
Divide your fresh pesto into small portions.
Drizzle a little olive oil over the pesto to prevent discoloration.
Flash freeze the pesto until it is solid enough to put in a storage container. Use it all year long!
Recipes that Use Pesto
Now that you have a delicious batch of pesto, here are some great ideas on how to use it. Yum!
Chicken Pesto Pasta
Turkey Pesto Paninis
Pesto Burgers
FAQs
How long does pesto last? Homemade pesto can typically be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. It’s best to cover the surface of the pesto with a thin layer of olive oil to help preserve its vibrant green color. Can I freeze homemade pesto? Yes! Divide your fresh pesto into small portions. Drizzle a little olive oil over the pesto to prevent discoloration.Flash freeze the pesto until it is solid enough to put in a storage container. Use it all year long. Is Pesto gluten-free? Generally, homemade pesto is gluten-free as long as the ingredients you use are gluten-free. However, it’s essential to check labels, especially for ingredients like Parmesan cheese and nuts, as some brands may process these items in facilities that also process gluten-containing products. Can I use something besides pine nuts? Yes, you can substitute the pine nuts. Feel free to experiment with these alternatives and adjust the quantities to suit your taste preferences. Walnuts: Walnuts have a rich, slightly bitter flavor that complements the other ingredients in pesto. They are readily available and often more affordable than pine nuts. Almonds: Almonds add a slightly sweet and nutty flavor to pesto. You can use either raw almonds or lightly toasted almonds for a more intense flavor. Cashews: Cashews have a creamy texture and a mild, buttery flavor that works well in pesto. They can help create a smoother, creamier sauce.
More Homemade Sauces You’ll Love
Slow Cooker Marinara Sauce
Cheese Sauce Recipe
Homemade Pizza Sauce
Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star
4.7 from 3 reviews
5 Ingredient Pesto
Try your hand at homemade pesto with just a few ingredients. The robust flavor will wow your most-favorite dishes!
Yield: 1 cup
Prep: 5 minutes Total: 5 minutes
Print Recipe
Rate
Pin for Later
Email
Units:
US M
Ingredients
2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1/4 cup pine nuts (sub: walnuts)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Cook Mode
Prevent your screen from going dark
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
In a food processor, combine the basil, garlic, pine nuts, and cheese and pulse until coarsely chopped.
Add 1/2 cup of olive oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Freezer Meal Instructions:
To Freeze: Blend the pesto sauce as directed. Once fully incorporated, you can add small amounts of pesto to ice cube trays. Put in freezer until solid. Then dump ice cubes out into freezer-safe ziplock bags. Store in freezer for up to 6 months. You can also store larger quantities of pesto in glass jars.
To Prepare: Remove desired amount of pesto from freezer. Let thaw in refrigerator overnight or on the countertop. Use as needed.
Notes/Tips
Prep Time Note: The prep time in this recipe doesn’t include the time it takes to harvest, rinse, and dry the basil, if you’re harvesting your own. When you buy it from the store, this is already done for you.
Harvesting Basil : Be sure to harvest basil leaves before the plant begins to flower. Once they get to this stage, the basil gets bitter. It’s best to cut back your plant regularly (and make pesto regularly!).
Reader Tip: One reader mentioned that she toasts her pine nuts and roasts the garlic to add more flavor.
(function(){
window.addEventListener( 'message', function( event ){
if ( ( 'https://nutrifox.com' !== event.origin && 'https://nutrifox.test' !== event.origin ) ||
typeof event.data !== 'string' ) {
return;
}
var payload = JSON.parse( event.data );
switch ( payload.event ) {
case 'setHeight':
var iframe = document.getElementById( 'nutrifox-label-' + payload.recipeId );
iframe.style.height = payload.height + 'px';
break;
}
} );
}());
© Author: Polly Conner
Cuisine:
American
Method:
Blend
Did you make this?
Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!
Rate Recipe
Tag Us on Instagram
.tasty-recipes-print-button{background-color:#667;border:none;display:inline-block;padding:.5em 1em;text-decoration:none}body:not(.tasty-recipes-print-view) .tasty-recipes-print-button.tasty-recipes-print-above-card{color:#fff;display:none}body:not(.tasty-recipes-print-view) .tasty-recipes-print-button.tasty-recipes-print-above-card:hover{background-color:#b2b2bb;color:#fff;display:inline-block;padding:.5em 1em;text-decoration:none}.tasty-recipes-image-button-container{display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-wrap:wrap;float:right;margin-left:10px}body.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-buttons,body.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-cook-mode{display:none}.tasty-recipes-image-button-container .tasty-recipes-buttons{margin-bottom:10px;margin-top:10px}.tasty-recipes-image-button-container .tasty-recipes-button-wrap{box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:10px}.tasty-recipes-image-button-container .tasty-recipes-buttons a,.tasty-recipes-quick-links a.button{background-color:#f9f9f9;background-color:var(--tr-button-color,#f9f9f9);border:1px solid #aaa;border-color:var(--tr-button-color,#aaa);border-radius:0;color:#aaa;color:var(--tr-button-text-color,#aaa);cursor:pointer;display:block;font-size:16px;font-weight:700;line-height:16px;margin-top:0;padding:8px;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;text-transform:uppercase}.tasty-recipes-quick-links{align-items:center;display:flex;gap:.625em;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:1em}.tasty-recipes-quick-links a.button{display:inline-block;margin:0}.tasty-recipes-quick-links a.button+span{display:none}.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-buttons a:hover,.tasty-recipes-image-button-container .tasty-recipes-buttons .button:hover,.tasty-recipes-quick-links a.button:hover{background-color:var(--tr-button-text-color,#aaa);color:var(--tr-button-color,#f9f9f9);text-decoration:none}.tasty-recipes-image-button-container .tasty-recipes-buttons .button:hover{opacity:1}.tasty-recipes-image-button-container .tasty-recipes-buttons a:hover{background-color:#979599;text-decoration:none}.tasty-recipes-image-button-container .tasty-recipes-buttons svg{display:none}.tasty-recipes-yield-scale{border:1px solid #979599;border-radius:2px;color:#979599;font-size:.7rem;margin-left:3px;padding:0 4px}.tasty-recipes-units-scale-container{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap}.tasty-recipes-convert-container{padding:0 1em 1em 0}.tasty-recipes-convert-container .tasty-recipes-convert-label{align-self:center;color:#979599;font-size:.6rem;text-transform:uppercase}.tasty-recipes-convert-container button{background:transparent;border:1px solid #353547;border-radius:2px;color:#353547;letter-spacing:0;margin-left:5px;min-width:34px;padding:2px 4px;text-align:center}.tasty-recipes-convert-container button.tasty-recipes-convert-button-active{background-color:#000;border-color:#000;color:#fff}.tasty-recipes-convert-container button:focus{outline:none}.tasty-recipes-scale-container{display:flex;padding:0 0 1em}.tasty-recipes-scale-container .tasty-recipes-scale-label{align-self:center;color:#979599;font-size:.6rem;text-transform:uppercase}.tasty-recipes-scale-container button{background:transparent;border:1px solid #353547;border-radius:2px;color:#353547;cursor:pointer;letter-spacing:0;margin-left:5px;min-width:34px;padding:2px 4px}.tasty-recipes-scale-container button.tasty-recipes-scale-button-active{background-color:#000;border-color:#000;color:#fff}.tasty-recipes-scale-container button:focus{outline:none}.tasty-recipes-ingredients-header{margin:1em 0}@media only screen and (min-width:520px){.tasty-recipes-ingredients-header{align-items:center;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:space-between}}.tasty-recipes-ingredients-header .tasty-recipes-ingredients-clipboard-container{align-items:baseline;display:inline-flex}.tasty-recipes-ingredients-header h3{margin:0 10px 10px 0}.tasty-recipes-ingredients-clipboard-container .tasty-recipes-copy-button{background:transparent;border:none;color:#353547;height:24px;padding:0;position:relative;width:24px}.tasty-recipes-ingredients-clipboard-container .tasty-recipes-copy-button:hover{opacity:.5}.tasty-recipes-instructions-header{align-items:baseline;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:space-between;margin:1em 0}.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions h3{margin:0 0 1rem}@media only screen and (min-width:520px){.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions h3{margin:0}}button[name=tasty-recipes-video-toggle]{background:#979599;border:#979599;border-radius:2px;display:inline-block;font-size:14px;height:30px;line-height:20px;margin:0;padding:0;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;width:86px}button[name=tasty-recipes-video-toggle] span{padding:0 4px;pointer-events:none}button[name=tasty-recipes-video-toggle][aria-checked=false] :last-child,button[name=tasty-recipes-video-toggle][aria-checked=true] :first-child{background:#fff;border-radius:2px;color:#979599;padding:2px 4px}button[name=tasty-recipes-video-toggle][aria-checked=false] :first-child,button[name=tasty-recipes-video-toggle][aria-checked=true] :last-child{color:#fff}label[for=tasty-recipes-video-toggle]{color:#979599;font-size:.6rem;line-height:30px;padding-right:8px;text-transform:uppercase;user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;-o-user-select:none;vertical-align:middle}.tasty-recipe-responsive-iframe-container{margin:10px 0}.tasty-recipes-equipment{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:space-evenly}.tasty-recipes-equipment>h3{flex:0 0 100%}.tasty-recipes-equipment .tasty-link-card{flex:0 0 50%;padding:1.5rem 1rem;text-align:center}@media screen and (min-width:500px){.tasty-recipes-equipment .tasty-link-card{flex:0 0 33%}}.tasty-recipes-equipment .tasty-link-card p{font-size:1em;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:0}.tasty-recipes-equipment .tasty-link-card p a{color:initial}.tasty-recipes-equipment .tasty-link-card span{font-size:.9em}.tasty-recipes .tasty-recipes-nutrition ul{list-style-type:none;margin:0;padding:0}.tasty-recipes .tasty-recipes-nutrition ul:after{clear:both;content:" ";display:block}.tasty-recipes .tasty-recipes-nutrition li{float:left;list-style-type:none;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0;margin-right:16px}.tasty-recipes-plug{align-items:center;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:1em;text-align:center}.tasty-recipes-plug a{box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none}.tasty-recipes-plug a img{background:transparent;box-shadow:none;display:inline-block;height:auto;margin:5px 0 0 8px;padding:0;width:150px}.tasty-recipes-footer-content{padding:1.5em;text-align:center}.tasty-recipes-footer-content .tasty-recipes-footer-copy{margin-left:0}.tasty-recipes-footer-content img,.tasty-recipes-footer-content svg{width:60px}.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-entry-footer h3{font-size:1.25em;margin:0 0 .25em;padding:0}.tasty-recipes-entry-footer p{font-size:.75em;margin:0}.tasty-recipes-entry-footer p a{border-bottom:none;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:underline}.tasty-recipes-flash-message{background-color:#fff;border-radius:4px;box-shadow:0 .3px .4px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.024),0 .9px 1.5px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.05),0 3.5px 6px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.1);color:#313135;display:inline-block;font-size:13px;letter-spacing:0;line-height:1.2em;margin-left:10px;padding:4px 10px}@media screen and (min-width:500px){.tasty-recipes-flash-message{padding:4px 10px}}.tasty-recipes-flash-message p{margin:0;padding:0;text-transform:none}@media screen and (min-width:500px){.tasty-recipes-footer-content{align-items:center;display:flex;justify-content:center;padding:1.5em 0;text-align:left}.tasty-recipes-footer-content .tasty-recipes-footer-copy{margin-left:.8em}}@media print{.tasty-recipes-no-print,.tasty-recipes-no-print *{display:none!important}}[data-tr-ingredient-checkbox]{cursor:pointer;list-style-position:outside;list-style-type:none!important;margin-left:0!important}[data-tr-ingredient-checkbox] .tr-ingredient-checkbox-container{position:relative}[data-tr-ingredient-checkbox] .tr-ingredient-checkbox-container input[type=checkbox]+label{display:inline-block;position:relative;vertical-align:middle}[data-tr-ingredient-checkbox] .tr-ingredient-checkbox-container input[type=checkbox]{clip:rect(1px 1px 1px 1px);clip:rect(1px,1px,1px,1px);height:1px;overflow:hidden;position:absolute!important;width:1px}[data-tr-ingredient-checkbox] .tr-ingredient-checkbox-container input[type=checkbox]+label:before{border:1px solid;border-radius:2px;content:"";display:inline-block;height:20px;margin-right:10px;position:relative;width:20px}[data-tr-ingredient-checkbox] .tr-ingredient-checkbox-container input[type=checkbox]:checked+label:after{border-bottom:2px solid;border-left:2px solid;content:"";display:inline-block;height:6px;left:4px;position:absolute;top:4px;transform:rotate(-45deg);width:12px}[data-tr-ingredient-checkbox] .tr-ingredient-checkbox-container input[type=checkbox]:focus+label:before{box-shadow:0 0 8px #5e9ed6;outline:1px solid #5d9dd5}[data-tr-ingredient-checkbox=checked]{opacity:.8;text-decoration:line-through}.tasty-recipes-cook-mode__container{align-items:center;display:flex;line-height:100%}.tasty-recipes-cook-mode__container label{font-size:inherit}.tasty-recipes-cook-mode__switch{display:inline-block;height:17px;margin-right:10px;position:relative;width:30px}.tasty-recipes-cook-mode__switch-slider{background-color:#737373;bottom:0;cursor:pointer;display:block;left:0;opacity:.4;position:absolute;right:0;top:0;transition:.4s}.tasty-recipes-cook-mode__switch-slider:before{background-color:#fff;bottom:2px;content:"";height:13px;left:2px;position:absolute;transition:.4s;width:13px}.tasty-recipes-cook-mode__switch input{display:none}.tasty-recipes-cook-mode__switch input:checked+span{opacity:1}.tasty-recipes-cook-mode__switch input:checked+span:before{transform:translateX(13px)}.tasty-recipes-cook-mode__switch-round{border-radius:34px}.tasty-recipes-cook-mode__switch-round:before{border-radius:50%}.tasty-recipes-cook-mode__label{font-weight:700}@media only screen and (max-width:767px){#shop-with-instacart-v1{transform:scale(.75);transform-origin:top left}}
body{ --tr-star-color:#32414e; }
.tasty-recipes-rating-outline,.tasty-recipes-rating-solid{display:inline-block;line-height:1}.tasty-recipes-rating-outline svg,.tasty-recipes-rating-solid svg{fill:currentColor;height:var(--tr-star-size,18px);width:var(--tr-star-size,18px)}.tasty-recipes-rating-outline[data-tr-clip="10"] svg,.tasty-recipes-rating-solid[data-tr-clip="10"] svg{fill:url(#tasty-recipes-clip-10)}.tasty-recipes-rating-outline[data-tr-clip="20"] svg,.tasty-recipes-rating-solid[data-tr-clip="20"] svg{fill:url(#tasty-recipes-clip-20)}.tasty-recipes-rating-outline[data-tr-clip="30"] svg,.tasty-recipes-rating-solid[data-tr-clip="30"] svg{fill:url(#tasty-recipes-clip-30)}.tasty-recipes-rating-outline[data-tr-clip="40"] svg,.tasty-recipes-rating-solid[data-tr-clip="40"] svg{fill:url(#tasty-recipes-clip-40)}.tasty-recipes-rating-outline[data-tr-clip="50"] svg,.tasty-recipes-rating-solid[data-tr-clip="50"] svg{fill:url(#tasty-recipes-clip-50)}.tasty-recipes-rating-outline[data-tr-clip="60"] svg,.tasty-recipes-rating-solid[data-tr-clip="60"] svg{fill:url(#tasty-recipes-clip-60)}.tasty-recipes-rating-outline[data-tr-clip="70"] svg,.tasty-recipes-rating-solid[data-tr-clip="70"] svg{fill:url(#tasty-recipes-clip-70)}.tasty-recipes-rating-outline[data-tr-clip="80"] svg,.tasty-recipes-rating-solid[data-tr-clip="80"] svg{fill:url(#tasty-recipes-clip-80)}.tasty-recipes-rating-outline[data-tr-clip="90"] svg,.tasty-recipes-rating-solid[data-tr-clip="90"] svg{fill:url(#tasty-recipes-clip-90)}.tasty-recipes-rating-outline[data-tr-clip="0"] svg{fill:url(#tasty-recipes-clip-0)}.tasty-recipes-rating-solid{--tr-star-opacity:.4}.tasty-recipes-rating-solid[data-tr-clip="0"] svg{opacity:var(--tr-star-opacity)}[data-tr-default-rating]>span:not([data-tr-checked]) .tasty-recipes-rating-solid svg{--tr-star-opacity:.4;opacity:var(--tr-star-opacity)}[data-tr-default-rating]>span:not([data-tr-checked]) .tasty-recipes-rating-outline svg{fill:url(#tasty-recipes-clip-0)}[data-tr-default-rating] span[data-tr-checked]~span .tasty-recipes-rating-solid svg{fill:currentColor;--tr-star-opacity:1}[data-tr-default-rating] span[data-tr-checked]~span .tasty-recipes-rating-outline svg{fill:currentColor}input.tasty-recipes-rating:checked~span .tasty-recipes-rating-solid svg{fill:currentColor;--tr-star-opacity:1}input.tasty-recipes-rating:checked~span .tasty-recipes-rating-outline svg{fill:currentColor}@media only screen and (min-width:1024px){.tasty-recipes-ratings-buttons:hover span .tasty-recipes-rating-solid svg{--tr-star-opacity:.4!important;opacity:var(--tr-star-opacity)}.tasty-recipes-ratings-buttons:hover span .tasty-recipes-rating-outline svg{fill:url(#tasty-recipes-clip-0)!important}.tasty-recipes-ratings-buttons:hover>:hover .tasty-recipes-rating-solid svg,.tasty-recipes-ratings-buttons:not(:hover)>input:checked~span .tasty-recipes-rating-solid svg,.tasty-recipes-ratings-buttons>:hover .tasty-recipes-rating-solid svg,.tasty-recipes-ratings-buttons>:hover~span .tasty-recipes-rating-solid svg{fill:currentColor!important;--tr-star-opacity:1!important}.tasty-recipes-ratings-buttons:hover>:hover .tasty-recipes-rating-outline svg,.tasty-recipes-ratings-buttons:not(:hover)>input:checked~span .tasty-recipes-rating-outline svg,.tasty-recipes-ratings-buttons>:hover .tasty-recipes-rating-outline svg,.tasty-recipes-ratings-buttons>:hover~span .tasty-recipes-rating-outline svg{fill:currentColor!important}}.tasty-recipes-static-tooltip{background-color:#000;border-radius:4px;color:#fff;font-size:.9rem;opacity:0;padding:5px 10px;position:absolute;text-align:center;transition:opacity .5s ease-in-out,visibility .5s ease-in-out,transform .5s cubic-bezier(.71,1.7,.77,1.24);vertical-align:middle;visibility:hidden;width:230px;z-index:9}.tasty-recipes-static-tooltip.opened{opacity:1;transform:translateY(-4px);visibility:visible}.tasty-recipes-static-tooltip a{color:#f7d578;display:block}.tasty-recipes-static-tooltip:after{border-left:6px solid transparent;border-right:6px solid transparent;border-top:6px solid #000;bottom:-6px;content:"";font-size:0;left:calc(50% - 4px);line-height:0;pointer-events:none;position:absolute;transform:translateZ(0);transition:opacity .2s ease-in-out,visibility .2s ease-in-out,transform .2s cubic-bezier(.71,1.7,.77,1.24);width:0;z-index:99}.tasty-recipes-static-tooltip.tr-hide-tail:after{display:none}.tasty-recipes,.tasty-recipes-quick-links,.tasty-recipes-ratings,.wp-admin .tasty-recipes-comment-form{--t
All Rights Reserved Book Blog