Fresh Basil Pesto Pasta

Name: Fresh Basil Pesto Pasta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1.00 lb Pasta; 2.00 cups Fresh basil leaves; 0.33 cup Pine nuts; 0.50 cup Parmesan cheese, grated; 3.00 whole Garlic cloves; 0.50 cup Extra virgin olive oil; 1.00 tbsp Lemon juice; 0.50 tsp Salt

Simple pasta tossed with homemade basil pesto. Bright, fresh, and ready in 20 minutes!

Prep: 10 min

Cook: 10 min

Total: 20 min

Servings: 4

Easy

Dinner Italian

By Test User | Published Jan 15, 2026

Ingredients

4 servings

1 lb Pasta

Suggested swaps

Zucchini noodles · 1:1 ratio — Low-carb; spiralize fresh zucchini; cook briefly
2 cups Fresh basil leaves
0.33 cup Pine nuts
0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
3 whole Garlic cloves
0.5 cup Extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp Lemon juice
0.5 tsp Salt

Instructions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water.
In a food processor, combine basil, pine nuts, Parmesan, and garlic.
Pulse until finely chopped.
With processor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil until smooth.
Add lemon juice and salt. Pulse to combine.
Toss hot pasta with pesto, adding pasta water as needed to reach desired consistency.
Serve immediately with extra Parmesan and pine nuts.