Easy Pasta Al Pesto (Linguine with Pesto)

Pasta al pesto is a simple, flavorful Italian pasta dish made with pasta tossed in fresh basil pesto sauce. This quick and delicious recipe is ready in 30 minutes and perfect for a weeknight meal.

I'm sharing how to make a pasta al pesto with linguine pasta using walnut basil pesto and garlic breadcrumbs.

This simple pasta with pesto (pasta al pesto) is one of our favorite weeknight meals and is also great for kids ' lunchboxes. It's easy, quick, delicious, and satisfying!

With just a handful of simple ingredients and a food processor, you can quickly whip up a vibrant, homemade basil pesto sauce. It is perfect for meal prep and stores beautifully in the fridge or freezer.

To serve, toss the pesto sauce with your favorite pasta and serve with air-fried Broccoli and cheesy garlic bread for a comforting meal.

Jump to:

• What is Pasta Al Pesto?
• Why You'll Love This Recipe
• Recipe Ingredients
• How To Make Pasta al Pesto (Stepwise Photos)
• What Goes With Pesto Pasta
• Storage and Reheating 
• Recipe Tips
• Frequently Asked Questions 
• More Pasta Recipes
• Recipe Card

What is Pasta Al Pesto?

"Pasta al pesto" literally means "pasta with pesto." It is also commonly known as Pasta alla Genovese, referring to its origins in Genoa, Italy, where the famous Pesto alla Genovese was created. It may also be called Pesto Pasta (a more general and widely used name).

As the name indicates, the main ingredient of this Italian dish is the pesto sauce, traditionally made with fresh basil leaves, garlic cloves, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, fresh lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil. The ingredients are crushed or blended into a smooth, vibrant green paste.

The pesto sauce is then tossed with cooked pasta, coating each strand of pasta well. It is served warm or at room temperature, garnished with extra cheese or a drizzle of olive oil. I also like adding garlic bread crumbs as a topping for texture and flavor. They truly elevate the dish.

Pasta al pesto is incredibly versatile. While it's often paired with long pasta like spaghetti or linguine (like I have used in this recipe), you can also enjoy it with shorter varieties of pasta like penne or fusilli, which catch the sauce in their grooves.

This green pesto pasta dish is quick and easy to prepare, making it popular for weeknight dinners and delicious for parties.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Quick & Easy: This recipe comes together in 15 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.

Simple Ingredients: You only need a handful of fresh, high-quality ingredients and pantry staples to create a delicious, satisfying meal that feels gourmet.

Fresh & Flavorful: It is bursting with vibrant, homemade pesto flavor, tastes much better than the store-bought kind.

Versatile: Easily customizable with your favorite add-ins like grilled chicken, shrimp, tomatoes, or roasted vegetables.

Diet-Friendly: This dish can easily be adapted to suit vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free diets by using gluten-free pasta and omitting or substituting cheese. The pesto sauce is naturally gluten-free.

Meal prep friendly: Make extra pesto and store it for quick meals anytime.

Recipe Ingredients

Pasta: I've used linguine pasta, but you can use spaghetti, penne, or your favorite type. Use gluten-free pasta (for a gluten-free option) or zucchini noodles for a low-carb option.

Fresh Basil Pesto: For the best flavor, use homemade pesto sauce. You can use the classic basil pesto sauce or the spinach pesto (for added nutrition). You can roast the walnuts (or nuts) in a pan on the stove before adding them to the food processor. this would enhance the nutty flavor of the pesto sauce even more.

Parmesan Cheese: I prefer adding Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese to enhance the overall taste of the basil pesto pasta recipe.

Seasonings: Season your pesto linguine recipe with salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and red pepper flakes.

Garlic breadcrumbs: These are optional, but I like adding them for crunch, texture, more flavor, and garnish. To make them, you will need some bread or breadcrumbs, fresh garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt.

Please refer to the recipe card for exact measurements of ingredients. 

How To Make Pasta al Pesto (Stepwise Photos)

Cook the pasta (linguine)

1 - Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt to the pasta water and mix to dissolve.

2 and 3 - Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.

4 - Drain the pasta and return it to the pot to keep warm or transfer to a mixing bowl.

While the pasta cooks, make the garlic breadcrumbs and prepare the Basil pesto sauce.

Make garlic breadcrumbs

5 - Toast or air fry the bread at 400 for 5 minutes until golden and crispy. Cool and then pulse in a food processor a few times to a coarse texture. You can also use store-bought bread crumbs and skip this step.

6 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Once the oil is hot, add the grated garlic and saute until fragrant.

7 - Then add breadcrumbs and salt and saute until golden brown.

8 - Remove from heat and add Italian seasoning. Mix to combine. Transfer to a bowl to cool.

Make the Pesto Sauce

9 - Add pesto ingredients to a food processor, such as walnuts (or pine nuts), garlic, fresh basil, salt, black pepper, and lemon juice. You can also add lemon zest for fresh flavor. Process until well combined yet slightly coarse

10 - Open the food processor lid and scrape the sides using a spatula. Add cheese and ice cubes and close the lid again.

11 - Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while the food processor runs.

12 - Blend until the mixture reaches a smooth, creamy consistency. Adjust the amount of olive oil to your preferred texture. Taste the pesto and adjust the seasoning if necessary. The pesto should have a little texture, not be uniformly smooth.

Assemble Pasta al Pesto

13 to 15 - Add the pesto to the cooked pasta. Toss well with tongs. Taste and adjust salt and pepper to taste.

16 - Serve this easy Pasta al Pesto immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese, freshly cracked pepper, chili flakes, and garlic bread crumbs. Drizzle some olive oil and add basil leaves and cherry tomatoes if desired.

What Goes With Pesto Pasta

Pasta al pesto is great on its own, but you can pair it with a side dish to make it a more complete and satisfying meal. Here are a few ideas for serving pesto pasta.

• Roasted vegetables: Roasted cherry tomatoes, potatoes, or air-fried broccoli
• Proteins: Grilled chicken, shrimp, or Italian sausage or chickpeas, marinated tofu for vegetarian options.
• Bread: Cheesy garlic bread, bruschetta, or focaccia.
• Salads: Caprese or a Caesar salad.  

Storage and Reheating 

Store leftover pesto al pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

You can reheat it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. If the sauce has thickened, add a splash of water or olive oil to restore its original consistency and texture.

The green color may fade due to oxidation, so it's best to consume it sooner for the freshest taste and vibrant color.

Recipe Tips

Mix Pesto Off-Heat: Combine the pasta and pesto off the heat to prevent the basil from cooking and losing its bright color and fresh flavor.

Adjust Seasoning: Taste and adjust the salt, pepper, and lemon juice to balance the flavors before serving.

Add Proteins or Veggies: Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or roasted vegetables for flavor and nutrition.

Serve Immediately: Basil pesto pasta is best enjoyed fresh to maintain its vibrant color and flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions 

More Pasta Recipes

I hope you enjoy this Pasta Al Pesto recipe !! If you try it, please rate it by clicking stars ⭐️ on the recipe card. Thank you ❤️! You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram to see what's cooking in my kitchen!!

Recipe Card

Update Notes: This post was originally published on December 14, 2013, but it was republished in March 2025 with step-by-step instructions, new photos, tips, and a video.