35 Pesto Recipes That Go Beyond Just Pasta (2024)

Home Recipes

Whether you bought a jar of prepared pesto or have some fresh herbs laying around, enjoy our favorite recipes using pesto. We found delicious ways to include it in appetizers, dinners and even pizza!

Artichoke Chicken Pesto Pizza

Make pizza night an upscale affair with this fun twist on the traditional pie. A prebaked crust and prepared pesto keep things quick and easy. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

Chicken Pesto Meatballs

These tender, pesto-stuffed meatballs get gobbled up in our house. They're short on ingredients, but packed with flavor. I always make a double batch, freezing the other half for a busy night. —Ally Billhorn, Wilton, Iowa

Easy Chicken Pesto Stuffed Peppers

On busy weeknights, I don’t want to spend more than 30 minutes preparing dinner, nor do I want to wash a towering pile of dishes. This peppers and pesto recipe delivers without having to sacrifice flavor! —Olivia Cruz, Greenville, South Carolina

Feta-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

My husband adores mushrooms, and portobello mushrooms have loads of room for stuffing with feta cheese and pesto. Plan on one mushroom per person. —Amy Martell, Canton, Pennsylvania

Pesto Shrimp Pasta

A dash of red pepper puts zip in this lively shrimp and pesto recipe. —Gloria Jones Grenga, Newnan, Georgia.

Italian Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

I made up this cheese and pesto recipe for the students in the foods and nutrition class I teach. The kids like it so much, they often go home and fix it for their families. —Beth Hiott, York, South Carolina

Sweet Pea Pesto Crostini

I made a healthier spin on my favorite celebrity chef’s recipe by subbing in vegetable broth for some of the oil and going easy on the cheese. To top crostini, use this recipe for a pastelike pesto. For use on pasta, add more broth for a saucelike consistency. —Amber Massey, Argyle, Texas

Crunchy Lemon-Pesto Garden Salad

I love using fresh vegetables straight from the garden to prepare this salad. If I pick the squash and cucumbers early enough, their skins are so tender that there's no need to remove them! Best yet, the salad is easily adaptable—any fresh veggie from the garden can be put in with delicious results. —Carmell Childs, Orangeville, Utah

Chicken Gnocchi Pesto Soup

After tasting a similar soup at a restaurant, I created this chicken gnocchi and pesto recipe. The pesto adds an extra-nice Italian flavor that is often missing from other gnocchi soups. —Deanna Smith, Des Moines, Iowa t

Pesto Twists

Use pesto made straight from your garden if you make these in the summer or purchase it prepared from the grocery store to fill these easy appetizers. —Jaye Beeler, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Chicken Pesto Roll-Ups

One night I looked in the refrigerator and pondered what I could make with chicken, cheese, mushrooms and pesto. This pretty pesto recipe was the result. Add Italian bread and a fruit salad for a complete meal! —Melissa Nordmann, Mobile, AL

Pesto Quinoa Salad

My daughter-in-law got me hooked on quinoa, and I’m so glad she did! I’ve been substituting quinoa in some of my favorite pasta recipes, and this pesto dish is the happy result of one of those experiments. I love using my garden tomatoes and peppers in this salad; however, sun-dried tomatoes and roasted red peppers are equally delicious. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

Creamy Pesto ‘n Bacon Eggs Benedict

One of my favorite brunch dishes is eggs Benedict. While I adore the traditional version, I also have fun using other flavors. This is my Italian take using a semi-homemade creamy pesto sauce.—Jenn Tidwell, Fair Oaks, California

Garlic-Grilled Chicken with Pesto Zucchini Ribbons

The first time I substituted zucchini noodles for regular pasta, it was because I was trying to reduce carbohydrates and calories. Now I make them because we love the flavor and texture they bring to dishes. This dish is just as delicious if you substitute shrimp for the chicken. —Suzanne Banfield, Basking Ridge, New Jersey. If you enjoyed this, then you must try our favorite garlic scape pesto.

Pesto Flatbread

We kneaded basil, oregano and Parmesan cheese into packaged bread dough for this full-flavored crust. Purchased pesto sauce keeps the pesto flatbread big on taste and convenience. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Prosciutto-Pesto Breakfast Strata

I'd never tried prosciutto before this recipe, and it instantly made me a big-time fan! The layers of flavor in this dish are brilliant, making it well worth the time and a must for your recipe box. —Vicki Anderson, Farmington, Minnesota

Bacon-Wrapped Pesto Pork Tenderloin

I love to serve this family-favorite tenderloin—maybe because of the compliments that come with it! When the weather warms up, we grill this pesto recipe instead. —Megan Riofski, Frankfort, Illinois

Chicken Pesto Sandwiches

This easy chicken pesto recipe is just right for game day! The sandwiches are tasty as well as easy to prep ahead and assemble later at the event. —Colleen Sturma, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

This smoky grilled pizza scores big with me for two reasons: It encourages my husband and son to eat greens, and it showcases fresh produce. —Sarah Gray, Erie, Colorado

Party Pesto Pinwheels

I took a couple of my favorite recipes and combined them into these delicious hors d'oeuvres. The colorful and impressive snacks come together easily with refrigerated crescent roll dough, prepared pesto sauce and a jar of roasted red peppers. —Kathleen Farrell, Rochester, New York

Grilled Pesto, Ham and Provolone Sandwiches

These Italian-style sandwiches are loaded with zesty flavors. To lighten them a little, use fat-free mayo. We serve them with minestrone or a crisp salad. —Priscilla Yee, Concord, California

Pesto Vegetable Pizza

My family loves pizza night, but we have rarely ordered takeout since I created this fresh and flavorful version. It is a fast and scrumptious meal that is always a winner in my house. —Kate Selner of Lino Lakes, Minnesota

Garden Vegetable Gnocchi

When we go meatless, we toss gnocchi (my husband's favorite) with veggies and a dab of pesto. I use zucchini in this, too. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah

One-Pot Chicken Pesto Pasta

When my garden basil goes nuts, I make pesto and keep it frozen in small containers for the right opportunity, like this saucy one-pot chicken pesto pasta recipe. —Kimberly Fenwick, Hobart, Indiana. Looking for more? Try our favorite pesto pasta recipe.

Pesto Mashed Potatoes

Rich and creamy mashed potatoes get a pop of flavor with a swirl of pesto just before serving. These Pesto Mashed Red Potatoes are a fabulous way to amp up Thanksgiving dinner or dinner on a Tuesday night. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Lisa is a formerTaste of Home editor and passionate baker. During her tenure, she poured her love of all things sweet (and sometimes savory) into Bakeable, Taste of Home's baking club. Lisa also dedicated her career here to finding and testing the best ingredients, kitchen gear and home products for our Test Kitchen-Preferred program. At home, you'll find her working on embroidery and other crafts.

As Senior Shopping Editor, Katie connects Taste of Home readers with the best gifts, deals and home products on the market. An avid foodie and a holiday enthusiast, Katie is an expert at cultivating meaningful moments.When she’s out of the office, you’ll find her exploring Wisconsin, trying out new vegetarian recipes and watching Christmas movies.