{"id":1828225,"date":"2022-11-29T15:05:04","date_gmt":"2022-11-29T21:05:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?post_type=listicle&p=1828225"},"modified":"2025-04-09T02:49:04","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T07:49:04","slug":"best-store-bought-pesto-brands","status":"publish","type":"listicle","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/collection\/best-store-bought-pesto-brands\/","title":{"rendered":"We Tried 10: These Are the Best Store-Bought Pesto Sauces"},"content":{"rendered":"[SINGLE_AFFILIATE_PRODUCT superlative=\"Most Vibrant Store-Bought Pesto\" product_name=\"Rana Basil Pesto\" image=\"1830146\" image_credit=\"via merchant\" pr_name=\"Walmart\" pr_url=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=131817X1598243&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FGiovanni-Rana-Pesto-Premium-Pasta-Topping-Jar-Share-Size-12-5oz-1-4-Cup-60-g-Refrigerated%2F45048082%3Fwmlspartner%3Dwlpa%26selectedSellerId%3D0%26wl13%3D3511%26gclsrc%3Daw.ds%26adid%3D2222222227745048082_173997163852_21805298803%26wl0%3D%26wl1%3Dg%26wl2%3Dc%26wl3%3D711499322290%26wl4%3Daud-2255648754622%3Apla-320749874633%26wl5%3D9029659%26wl6%3D%26wl7%3D%26wl8%3D%26wl9%3Dpla%26wl10%3D8175035%26wl11%3Dlocal%26wl12%3D45048082%26veh%3Dsem_LIA%26gad_source%3D1%26gclid%3DCj0KCQiAx9q6BhCDARIsACwUxu6l4nGPGxY10j9CMNz2ibg-EvDjb-1gYO9NohbrGEyH0yHfTRHyATkaAslnEALw_wcB\" pr_display_text=\"Shop on Walmart\" \/]\r\n\r\nNext time you're walking through the refrigerated section of the grocery store, pick up a jar of Rana Basil Pesto<\/strong><\/a>.\r\n\r\nThe second our team snagged their samples, they took note of the vivid green of this Rana pesto. \"This has a vibrant green color that looks just like freshly made pesto,\" says Catherine Ward<\/a> in the Test Kitchen.\r\n\r\nThis store-bought pesto wowed our taste testers with its wonderful herbaceous aroma balanced with plenty of parmesan cheese and a hint of salt. Even the oil in this pesto tasted like a good quality product; just give it a stir into the sauce if it separates.\r\n\r\nBesides using this pesto in pasta dishes like this one-pot chicken pesto pasta<\/a>, Catherine recommends trying this basil-forward sauce spread across a pizza crust in lieu of a red sauce. This easy pesto pizza<\/a> and artichoke-chicken pizza<\/a> are great places to start. And if you need to use up a jar, \"spoon it over grilled chicken,\" suggests Catherine.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n[SINGLE_AFFILIATE_PRODUCT superlative=\"Best Smooth Pesto\" product_name=\"Buitoni Pesto with Basil\" image=\"1830148\" image_credit=\"via merchant\" pr_name=\"Kroger\" pr_url=\"https:\/\/www.kroger.com\/p\/buitoni-pesto-with-basil-refrigerated-basil-sauce\/0002484232111\" pr_display_text=\"Shop on Kroger\" \/]\r\n\r\nThe consistency of pesto, both store-bought and homemade, can vary depending on how finely it's pulsed. If you prefer a smoother pesto, try\u00a0Buitoni Pesto with Basil<\/strong><\/a> (it's in the refrigerated section of the supermarket).\r\n\r\nOur testers found that this jewel green pesto was well-balanced with no overwhelming garlic or cheese flavors. Instead, every ingredient was in harmony which makes it a joy to eat spread across a crostini or stirred into these recipes with pesto<\/a>.\r\n\r\nInside the container, you'll see a few flecks of garlic and pine nuts, but overall the mixture is homogenous. Give it a quick stir to incorporate any oil that's settled on the top and enjoy. If you ask our pros, they say that Buitoni pesto is just the right consistency for spooning over a salmon filet<\/a> or topping hors d'oeuvres like pesto and goat cheese toasts or pesto pinwheels<\/a>.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n[SINGLE_AFFILIATE_PRODUCT superlative=\"Best Shelf-Stable Pesto\" product_name=\"Prego Basil Pesto\" image=\"1830150\" image_credit=\"via merchant\" pr_name=\"Walmart\" pr_url=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=131817X1598243&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FPrego-Pasta-Sauce-Basil-Pesto-Sauce-8-Ounce-Jar%2F51804558\" pr_display_text=\"Shop on Walmart\" \/]\r\n\r\nFor a pesto that'll keep for an extended period in your pantry, try shelf-stable Prego Basil Pesto<\/a><\/strong>.\r\n\r\nThis brand is available in the same aisle as jarred marinara sauce<\/a> and can be stored in your cupboard for just as long. Don't think for a second, though, that this shelf-stable sauce is lacking in any way.\r\n\r\nIn fact, Prego's powerful flavor really captured our team's attention.\u00a0\"Who doesn't want big garlic taste in their pesto?\" asks Sarah Farmer<\/a>, the head of our Test Kitchen. \"This brand delivers!\"\r\n\r\nBesides the powerful (but not overwhelming) garlic flavor, this brand offers a good texture thanks to the pine nuts<\/a> and parmesan. Along with smooth bits of parmesan cheese, our Test Kitchen got a bit of a bite thanks to the ground pine nuts. This makes this jarred pesto an appealing option for when you want that rustic feel without having to make a batch of pesto from scratch.\r\n\r\nWhen you crack open a jar of this pesto, give it a good stir. Like many brands, the oil does settle on the top; this is absolutely normal. After a quick mix, stir this pesto into your pasta recipe. Try Prego pesto with this reader-favorite pesto shrimp pasta<\/a>.\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Why You Should Trust Us<\/h2>\r\nThe\u00a0Taste Recipes<\/em>\u00a0Test Kitchen team has expert taste buds. They\u2019ve tried hundreds of foods in a variety of flavors and work to find the brands worthy of suggesting to readers. You can trust them because they\u2019ve actually tasted the food. Beyond yummy drinks and bites, they also test kitchen gadgets and cleaning tools to help round out every room in your home.\r\n

How Our Team Tested Store-Bought Pesto Sauces<\/h2>\r\nFor this taste test<\/a>, our team sampled 10 different types of pesto including refrigerated and shelf-stable options. As always, the brands behind each sample were kept a secret until after the test was complete to avoid any bias.\r\n\r\nThe sauces were judged in each of these three categories:\r\n