16 Creative Ways to Use Basil Pesto
Every time we come across a jar of pesto, we have the strong urge to eat it by the spoonful. It’s so darn delicious! Mixing together basil, olive oil and toasty nuts creates that perfectly balanced sauce that we all know and love. If you’re like us, you probably have a jar of it in your fridge, just waiting to be used. No worries! We have 16 creative ways to make the most of the ever popular pesto.
1. Basil Pesto: If you’re all about making things at home, you should definitely start off with this simple pesto recipe. It’ll make the perfect batch every time. (via The Food Network)
2. Rustic Chicken and Pesto Tarts: Tarts are basically a jack of all trades. They can be both sweet or savory. This rustic tart is just begging to be served at your next small dinner party. (via A Soulful Appetite)
3. Roasted Corn and Pesto Quinoa Pizza: When we said innovative, we really meant innovative! Who ever thought the words corn, pesto and quinoa would be used to describe a single dish? (via Almonds + Avocados)
4. Pesto Tortellini Salad With Asparagus: Working with tortellini automatically makes you seem like a professional chef. We suggest serving this to wow all of your friends instead of a boring ol’ macaroni salad. (via The Kitchen is My Playground)
5. Crispy Green Beans With Pesto: You know when you were little and your parents could never get you to eat your green beans? If they tasted like this, you probably would’ve gobbled them down in less than 10 seconds. (via Not Enough Cinnamon)
6. Creamy Pesto Salad Dressing: This salad dressing is so easy that you could probably whip it up in under five minutes. (via Savory Sweet Life)
7. Green Beer Cheese Soup With Pesto Croutons: We initially included this recipe for the actual croutons themselves, but who wouldn’t want a bowl of cheesy green soup spiked with beer? We dare you to try this out for dinner tonight. (via The Beeroness)
8. Pesto Popcorn: Popcorn and pesto together? Two of our most favorite foods are colliding, and we’ve never been happier about it. (via Cookie + Kate)
9. Pesto Cornbread With Garlic Scallion Butter: Cornbread is often thought of as a dish for the fall, but summer definitely deserves a little bit of the fun. This herb-filled bread would make an excellent addition to your picnic basket. (via Little Kitchie)
10. Grilled Chicken Sandwich With Pesto Goat Cheese Spread: Just look at that cheesy pesto spread oozing out from underneath the grilled chicken. Drool. (via Food People Want)
11. Cheesy Chicken Pesto Cups: A quick and easy hors d’oeuvre at your service. Your guests will keep on coming back to these. (via I Breathe… I’m Hungry…)
12. Pesto Mashed Potatoes: After you try these, you’ll never go back to your plain ol’ smashed spuds again. (via Better Recipes)
13. Grilled Pesto Chicken + Tomato Kebabs: Kebabs are fun to talk about (seriously, what a great word) and fun to eat. It’s grilling season, everyone! (via Gina’s Skinny Recipes)
14. Pesto Cavatappi: Chances are you’ve had this at an Italian restaurant before. Pesto cavatappi is a popular dish, and now you can learn how to make it at home. (via Culinary Hill)
15. Potato Pesto Pizza: Another pizza recipe, because no one can ever get tired of pizza. This one is basically a pizza version of those awesome mashed potatoes we shared earlier. (via Pillsbury)
16. Pesto Shells + Cheese: And finally, a play on shells and cheese because we’re even reinventing macaroni and cheese today! (via Amuse Your Bouche)
Which basil-filled recipe will be making an appearance in your kitchen soon? Let us know in the comments below!
