Making homemade pesto from scratch and tossing it with pasta, potatoes, and green beans is pure comfort. I first discovered this combo in Italy, where the creamy potatoes and crisp green beans took a simple pasta dish to the next level. It's a wholesome, satisfying Mediterranean meal perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner or when you're craving something homemade and comforting.
This Mediterranean-inspired dish is all about simple, fresh ingredients coming together in the most delightful way. To begin with, the homemade pesto takes center stage, made with fragrant basil and garlic that bring a burst of freshness to every bite. Additionally, the bold, nutty flavors of Pecorino and Parmigiano Reggiano add richness and depth, creating a pesto that truly elevates this dish.
Cooking the potatoes and green beans alongside the pasta not only streamlines the process but also allows the flavors to combine beautifully. This comforting, vibrant meal comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
What’s truly wonderful about this Mediterranean pesto pasta dish is its versatility. It’s hearty enough to enjoy on its own, yet the leftover pesto can elevate so many other dishes, spread it on sandwiches, drizzle it over roasted veggies, or toss it with more pasta for a quick lunch. Once you try it, you’ll find yourself reaching for this recipe again and again.
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⭐Why You'll Love This Pesto Pasta
- Ready in under half an hour: Perfect for busy days when you need something quick and satisfying.
- Fresh and Flavorful: The homemade pesto adds so much depth and brightness to every bite.
- Versatile: Enjoy it as a hearty meal or use the extra pesto for other dishes throughout the week.
🧾Pesto Pasta Ingredients
Here’s the breakdown of what’s in this Pesto Pasta recipe:
Pesto:
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: I always use high-quality extra virgin olive oil because its rich, fruity flavor makes the pesto taste so much better.
- Garlic Cloves: Fresh garlic is essential because it provides that bold, aromatic punch that truly makes the pesto shine. Furthermore, it's what gives the pesto its rich, savory depth, enhancing all the other flavors beautifully.
- Pine Nuts: I absolutely love the creamy texture and mild nuttiness that pine nuts bring to the pesto. Not only do they make the pesto incredibly smooth, but they also add a subtle richness that makes it irresistibly delicious.
- Fresh Basil: The star ingredient! Fresh basil leaves add that sweet, slightly peppery flavor that makes this dish so special.
- Pecorino and Parmigiano Reggiano Cheeses: This combination is unbeatable. Pecorino adds a sharp, salty kick, while Parmigiano Reggiano brings a nutty richness.
- A Pinch of Salt: Just a little bit to enhance all those beautiful flavors.
Pasta:
- Salt: Adding salt to the boiling water ensures the potatoes, green beans, and pasta are perfectly seasoned.
- Potato: I love how the creamy potato chunks make the dish feel heartier and more satisfying.
- Green Beans: The green beans bring a nice crunch and freshness that balances everything so well.
- Pasta: I usually go with spaghetti or linguine, but any pasta shape works great with this recipe.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: I use this for cooking the potatoes and green beans to give them a rich flavor.
- Parmigiano Cheese: This is added when tossing the pasta with the pesto to make it creamy and flavorful.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
👩🏻🍳How to Make Pesto Pasta
These step-by-step instructions and photos will help you to visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for a printable version of this recipe.
1. Make the Pesto: In a food processor, blend 70 ml extra virgin olive oil, garlic, and pine nuts until finely chopped. Add basil leaves and blend to a coarse paste. Add Pecorino, Parmigiano Reggiano, 20 ml extra virgin olive oil, and salt; process until smooth and creamy.
2. Cook the Vegetables: Bring a large pot of salted water (1½ teaspoons salt) to a boil. Peel and cube the potatoes and trim the green beans in half. Cook the potatoes and green beans in boiling water until the potatoes are tender. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
3. Cook the Pasta: In the same water, cook the pasta until al dente. Reserve about ½ cup of the cooking water before draining.
4. Combine and Serve: Heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the potatoes and green beans, cooking for 1 minute. Add the pasta, reserved cooking water, and Parmigiano cheese, tossing well. Stir in the pesto until evenly coated and serve warm.
🍽 What to Serve with Pesto Pasta
I love serving this pesto pasta with a refreshing tomato burrata salad. The creamy burrata with juicy tomatoes, a drizzle of olive oil, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper makes the perfect, light pairing.
Adding an antipasto platter with cured meats, olives, fresh mozzarella, and roasted red peppers makes it feel even more special. And of course, some crusty ciabatta bread on the side is perfect for mopping up every bit of that delicious pesto. For dessert, I’d suggest something special like lemon tiramisu. Its creamy, citrusy layers are a delightful way to finish off the meal and leave everyone feeling satisfied.
💭Tips for Recipe Success
Don’t Overcook the Potatoes and Green Beans: Keep an eye on them as they cook. Once the potatoes are soft, take them out. Overcooking will make them mushy, and you want them to hold their shape in the pasta.
Save the Pasta Water: I always save about half a cup of the pasta cooking water. Adding it while tossing the pasta helps the pesto coat everything more smoothly.
Use Fresh Basil: The fresher the basil, the better the flavor. Try to use bright, vibrant leaves for the best-tasting pesto.
Make Extra Pesto: I often double the pesto recipe because it keeps well in the fridge and is so good on sandwiches or stirred into soups.
🍝More Pasta Recipes to Try!
If you're loving this Pesto Pasta, you'll also adore these tasty pasta recipes:
- Baked Ziti
- Ground Turkey Pasta
- Homemade Mac and Cheese
- Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
- Pasta alla norma (Eggplant Pasta)
- Cherry Tomato Pasta
- Chicken Alfredo Pasta Fettuccine
- Apple Macaroni
- Pasta Salad
🍛More Dinner Recipes!
Here are more of my favorite dinner recipes! Try these:
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📖 Recipe
Creamy Pesto Pasta
Ingredients
For Pesto:
- 70 ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 Garlic Cloves
- 30 g Pine Nuts
- 70 g Fresh Basil
- 30 g Pecorino
- 50 g Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese
- 20 ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- A pinch of salt
For Pasta:
- 1& ½ teaspoon Salt
- 150 g Potato
- 70 g Green Beans
- 200 g Pasta
- 2 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 30 g Parmigiano Cheese
Instructions
Prepare the Pesto:
- In a food processor, combine 70 ml of extra virgin olive oil, garlic, and pine nuts; pulse until finely chopped.
- Add fresh basil leaves and process until a coarse paste forms.
- Add Pecorino, Parmigiano Reggiano cheeses, 20 ml of extra virgin olive oil, and a pinch of salt; process until smooth and creamy.
Cook the Vegetables and Pasta:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add 1½ teaspoons of salt.
- Peel and cut the potatoes into cubes. Trim and cut the green beans in half.
- Add the potatoes and green beans to the boiling water; cook until the potatoes are soft.
- Remove the potatoes and green beans, place them in a bowl, and set aside.
- Cook the pasta in the same water until al dente.
- Reserve about ½ cup of the cooking water before draining.
- In a large pan, heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add the potatoes and green beans, and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the cooked pasta, reserved cooking water, and Parmigiano cheese; toss well to combine.
- Add the prepared pesto and mix until evenly coated.
- Serve warm, garnished with additional Parmigiano cheese if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Cindy says
This pesto pasta recipe looks amazing! I love how the fresh basil, Parmesan, and pine nuts come together to create a rich and vibrant sauce. Plus, the addition of garlic and olive oil makes it extra flavorful. Can’t wait to try this simple yet delicious pesto pasta for a quick and satisfying meal!