20 Easy Pesto Meals That Brighten Any Plate

Pesto is more than just a sauce for pasta. These recipes use its fresh, herby taste to make all sorts of meals better. You can find ideas for chicken, pizza, salads, and more. Each one is simple to make but still tastes really good. They are perfect for an easy family dinner or when you want to impress your friends without a lot of cooking time.

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Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad

The Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad is extra filling. Cheese-filled pasta is tossed with pesto and fresh veggies. It’s a hearty salad that still tastes fresh.
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Baked Pesto Chicken Recipe

A white plate holds several pieces of cooked chicken breast topped with melted cheese and a green pesto sauce. Fresh basil is sprinkled on top, and roasted cherry tomatoes are scattered around the dish. Two black-handled forks rest on the side of the plate. — Baked Pesto Chicken Recipe. Photo credit: Joy Food Sunshine.

Baked Pesto Chicken is super easy and juicy. The chicken cooks under a layer of pesto and melted cheese. It comes out of the oven flavorful and moist.
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Lemon Pesto Pasta Sauce with Artichoke

A white bowl filled with linguine pasta garnished with grated cheese, fresh basil, and black pepper. A fork is placed inside the bowl. A lemon half and a piece of Parmesan cheese are on the side, set on a light-colored surface. — Lemon Pesto Pasta Sauce with Artichoke. Photo credit: Knife & Soul.

Try a zesty twist with Lemon Pesto Pasta Sauce. The lemon brightens up the pesto and goes great with artichokes. It makes the whole dish taste light and fresh.
Get Recipe: Lemon Pesto Pasta Sauce with Artichoke

Pesto Bruschetta Chicken

A white oval platter holds crispy, golden-brown breaded chicken cutlets topped with a vibrant mixture of diced tomatoes, basil, and a luscious pesto bruschetta sauce, placed on a marble surface. A glass of white wine is faintly visible in the top left corner. — Pesto Bruschetta Chicken. Photo credit: Elle and Pear

Pesto Bruschetta Chicken is both pretty and tasty. Juicy chicken gets topped with a fresh tomato mix and a drizzle of pesto. It’s light but still totally satisfying.
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Cheesy Flatbread Pizza with Salami and Honey Goat Cheese Almond Pesto

A wooden board displays a freshly baked, sliced pizza topped with greens, such as arugula and microgreens, melted cheese, and scattered almonds. The rustic pizza has a golden crust and is arranged on a weathered wooden surface. — Cheesy Flatbread Pizza with Salami and Honey Goat Cheese Almond Pesto. Photo credit: Heavenly Spiced.

Cheesy Flatbread Pizza with Salami and Honey Goat Cheese Almond Pesto feels fancy. The pesto is sweet and savory, topped with salty salami. It’s great for a fun dinner or snacks.
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Easy Caprese Pasta Salad

A vibrant plate with a pasta salad featuring orecchiette, fresh basil leaves, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and sundried tomatoes. Beside the plate, there is a dish with sundried tomatoes and a fork resting on a napkin. — Easy Caprese Pasta Salad. Photo credit: In The Kitch.

Easy Caprese Pasta Salad is perfect for a crowd. It mixes pasta, mozzarella, and tomatoes with pesto. The flavors come together for a great make-ahead lunch.
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Red Pepper and Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta

A white plate filled with rigatoni pasta coated in a creamy, orange sauce garnished with small basil leaves and red pepper flakes. A silver fork is partially visible among the pasta. Fresh basil leaves are seen on the side. — Red Pepper and Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta. Photo credit: Plant-Based on a Budget.

Red Pepper and Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta has a deep, rich flavor. The sweet and tangy pesto clings to the noodles. It’s a really satisfying meatless meal.
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3-Ingredient One Pot Vegan Pesto Pasta

A white ceramic dish is filled with pasta mixed with broccoli florets and coated in a green pesto sauce. Fresh parsley sprigs are placed on top as a garnish. The dish sits on a light gray surface. — 3-Ingredient One Pot Vegan Pesto Pasta. Photo credit: Earth To Veg.

3-Ingredient One Pot Vegan Pesto Pasta could not be easier. The pasta cooks right in the pesto sauce. You get a flavorful dinner with just one pot to wash.
Get Recipe: 3-Ingredient One Pot Vegan Pesto Pasta

Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta with Tomatoes

A skillet filled with creamy penne pasta, chunks of grilled chicken, cherry tomatoes, and asparagus spears, garnished with fresh basil leaves. The vibrant ingredients are mixed together and coated in a rich, creamy sauce. — Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta with Tomatoes. Photo credit: Borrowed Bites.

Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta with Tomatoes is a complete meal. Tender chicken and tomatoes mix with a rich, creamy pesto sauce. It’s a comforting one-bowl dinner.
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Pesto Tagliatelle Recipe

A plate of tagliatelle pasta tossed in a vibrant green pesto sauce, garnished with fresh basil leaves and pine nuts, served on a dark, rustic plate. The dish appears fresh and appetizing, highlighting the rich, creamy texture of the pesto. — Pesto Tagliatelle Recipe. Photo credit: Deliciously Homecooked.

For a classic meal, try this Pesto Tagliatelle. The wide noodles hold onto the rich pesto sauce perfectly. Every bite is packed with that great basil flavor.
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Broccoli Arugula Pizza

A pizza cut into eight slices on a round baking tray. The pizza is topped with a generous amount of melted cheese, green vegetables like broccoli, and spinach, creating a colorful and appetizing presentation. — Broccoli Arugula Pizza. Photo credit: Our Love Language is Food.

Broccoli Arugula Pizza uses pesto as the sauce. It’s topped with broccoli and peppery arugula. This gives you a veggie-packed slice that’s full of flavor.
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Pesto Pasta Recipe

A bowl of spaghetti pasta coated in green pesto sauce is garnished with cherry tomatoes, pine nuts, and fresh basil leaves. A fork rests in the bowl, ready to dig in. The dish is colorful and appetizing, set on a light marble surface. — Pesto Pasta Recipe. Photo credit: Joy Food Sunshine.

The basic Pesto Pasta Recipe is always a good choice. It’s just noodles tossed with fresh pesto. You can eat it hot or cold and add anything you like.
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Instant Pot Pesto Chicken

A white bowl contains cooked chicken pieces, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil leaves, all topped with a creamy green pesto sauce. The dish looks vibrant and appetizing. — Instant Pot Pesto Chicken. Photo credit: The Feathered Nester.

Instant Pot Pesto Chicken is hands-off and tender. Chicken thighs cook quickly in the pressure cooker with pesto. The sauce becomes thick and creamy for serving over pasta or rice.
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15-Minute Pesto Gnocchi

A bowl of gnocchi served with a rich green pesto sauce, topped with a garnish of fresh basil leaves and grated cheese. The dish includes pieces of asparagus, adding color and texture. The bowl sits on a white plate, with a fork placed nearby. — 15-Minute Pesto Gnocchi. Photo credit: The Feathered Nester.

15-Minute Pesto Gnocchi is a quick comfort food. The soft potato dumplings soak up the pesto sauce. You can add any veggies you have for a fast dinner.
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Caprese Stuffed Chicken Breast

A white plate holds two grilled chicken breasts garnished with basil leaves. The plate is adorned with sliced tomatoes, also garnished with basil. To the right, a gold fork rests on a gray napkin on a blue textured background. — Caprese Stuffed Chicken Breast. Photo credit: Unicorns in the Kitchen.

Caprese Stuffed Chicken Breast bakes all the good flavors inside. The chicken is filled with cheese, tomatoes, and pesto. It turns out juicy and is a full meal by itself.
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Pesto Pizza

A delicious pizza topped with cherry tomatoes, pesto sauce, and sun-dried tomatoes is partially sliced into four pieces on a white plate. A pizza cutter, a small bowl of pesto, a red and white checkered cloth, and fresh cherry tomatoes are nearby on a wooden surface. — Pesto Pizza. Photo credit: My Pure Plants.

A simple Pesto Pizza skips the red sauce. The crust gets spread with pesto and your favorite toppings. It’s a lighter twist on regular pizza that tastes amazing.
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Creamy Pesto Gnocchi with Peas and Carrots

Creamy Pesto Gnocchi with Peas and Carrots is cozy and colorful. The soft gnocchi and sweet veggies are in a creamy pesto sauce. It’s a very comforting dish.
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Roasted Tomato Soup Recipe

A white bowl filled with vibrant tomato soup garnished with a swirl of green pesto and a couple of fresh basil leaves. The bowl is placed on a light-colored surface, and there are sprigs of parsley nearby. — Roasted Tomato Soup Recipe. Photo credit: Borrowed Bites.

Swirl pesto into a Roasted Tomato Soup Recipe. It adds a fresh flavor and a pretty look. This simple change makes tomato soup feel special.
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Pesto Salmon

A plate with a cooked salmon fillet topped with green herb sauce, accompanied by a side of roasted cherry tomatoes in varying colors, both red and yellow. The dish is served on a gray circular plate, placed on top of a striped napkin. — Pesto Salmon. Photo credit: Joyfully Mad.

Pesto Salmon is an easy way to make fish taste great. The pesto forms a crust on top of the salmon fillets. It keeps the fish moist and adds lots of flavor.
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Savory Potato Galette

A rustic galette with an artichoke filling is displayed on parchment paper atop a baking tray. The golden-brown crust is folded over the filling, with a piece cut out to show the interior. A block of cheese and shaved cheese pieces are visible on a wooden tray in the background. — Savory Potato Galette. Photo credit: In The Kitch.

A Savory Potato Galette looks impressive but is simple. Sliced potatoes are layered with pesto and baked until crispy. It’s a delicious and fancy-tasting side dish.
Get Recipe: Savory Potato Galette