{"id":1952337,"date":"2024-02-02T14:40:30","date_gmt":"2024-03-19T14:53:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?post_type=recipe&p=1952337"},"modified":"2024-06-03T04:41:02","modified_gmt":"2024-06-03T09:41:02","slug":"easy-pesto-pasta","status":"publish","type":"recipe","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/easy-pesto-pasta\/","title":{"rendered":"Pesto Pasta"},"content":{"rendered":"
Did you know that opened pesto technically lasts for just 5 days in the refrigerator? Admittedly, we’ve used the fragrant, flavorful and sometimes expensive green sauce much past its prime simply because we hate to see any go to waste.<\/p>\n
However, if you have leftover pesto\u2014whether it’s an entire container or a few servings worth\u2014there are lots of delicious and easy ways to use it up. We have tons of recipes with pesto<\/a>! When you’re looking for last-minute dinner ideas, pesto pasta is one that’s easily elegant and always satisfying.<\/p>\n Cook the spaghetti according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.<\/p>\n Editor’s Tip:<\/em> Don’t forget the salt! Know how to salt pasta water<\/a> the right way so your noodles are flavored just enough.<\/p>\n In a large bowl, whisk the pesto and 1\/3 cup pasta water. Add the cooked spaghetti, and toss to coat.<\/p>\n Editor’s Tip:<\/em> Adding the starchy pasta water to the pesto loosens up the sauce a bit, and makes it go further in your dish.<\/p>\n Add more pasta water to reach your desired consistency. If you want a more concentrated sauce for the noodles, go with less water.<\/p>\n Sprinkle with Parmesan, and, if desired, red pepper flakes for a little kick.<\/p>\n Keep any remaining pasta in an airtight container in the fridge. When you’re hungry again, be very careful about reheating the leftovers, because pesto can easily turn black with high heat. If you like, you can also eat this pesto pasta cold, like you would a pasta salad<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pesto is a pretty versatile sauce. It’s typically paired with long noodles like spaghetti, linguine, bucatini, cappellini and fettuccine, but short, textured noodles such as orecchiete and gemelli will work too.<\/p>\n If you want to elevate pesto pasta, there are many ingredients that will serve your purpose. If you’d prefer a softer, more decadent cheese than Parm, go for little mozzarella pearls or roughly chopped burrata<\/a>. Add some veggies with blistered cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced roasted red peppers or roasted cauliflower. Fresh basil, a sprinkle of pine nuts and a touch of freshly cracked pepper would also add so much flavor. If you want to add protein, try grilled chicken or crispy prosciutto.<\/p>\n Your favorite garlic bread recipe<\/a> would complement pesto pasta nicely, as would a simple side salad.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Have pesto sitting in the fridge? Put it to use in pesto pasta for a quick and easy dinner.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7815,"featured_media":1952338,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"tags":[304032,304328,305271,304292,305487,304007,304338,305334,303966,304988,304368,303887,306848,305353,304268,307514,306297,324623,304388,306300,307554,304005,304398,303883,305031],"categories-v2":[308623,308988,308984,308481,309216,308305,310796,308554,308992,309337,308495,308935,308745,308478,309603,309362,259483,310497,312156,309177,308752,312158,310534,308549,308797,308476,308975],"coauthors":[340633],"recommended_recipes":[{"post_title":"One-Pot Chicken Pesto Pasta","post_link":"\/recipes\/one-pot-chicken-pesto-pasta\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/One-Pot-Chicken-Pesto-Pasta_EXPS_TOHD24_117847_EricKleinberg_5.jpg"},{"post_title":"Classic 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Sauce","post_link":"\/recipes\/simple-pasta-sauce\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Simple-Pasta-Sauce_EXPS_FT20_67497_F_0124_1.jpg"},{"post_title":"Pesto Gnocchi","post_link":"\/recipes\/gnocchi-with-pesto-sauce\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Pesto-Gnocchi_EXPS_TOHD24_25632_KaylaWidmer_6.jpg"},{"post_title":"Easy Italian Sausage and Peppers","post_link":"\/recipes\/easy-italian-sausage-and-peppers\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Easy-Italian-Sausage-and-Peppers_EXPS_TOHDJ22_42028_B08_05_13b.jpg"},{"post_title":"Pesto Vegetable Pizza","post_link":"\/recipes\/pesto-vegetable-pizza\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pesto-Vegetable-Pizza_EXPS_QEBZ20_26064_E01_24_3b.jpg"},{"post_title":"Pasta Pizza","post_link":"\/recipes\/pasta-pizza\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Pasta-Pizza_EXPS_THFM18_17630_C09_14_1b-2.jpg"},{"post_title":"Chicken Pesto 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If you want a more concentrated sauce for the noodles, go with less water."},{"@type":"HowToStep","name":"Sprinkle with cheese and serve","text":"Sprinkle with Parmesan, and, if desired, red pepper flakes for a little kick."}],"recipeYield":"8 servings","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lauren Pahmeier"}],"nutrition":{"@type":"NutritionInformation","calories":" 351 calories","fatContent":"14g fat (3g saturated fat)","cholesterolContent":"6mg cholesterol","sodiumContent":"383mg sodium","carbohydrateContent":"45g carbohydrate (2g sugars","fiberContent":"2g fiber)","proteinContent":"11g protein."},"aggregateRating":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"AggregateRating","ratingValue":0,"reviewCount":0,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5},"recipeCuisine":"Europe, Italian"},"video":{"data":{"status":204},"message":"No shortcode found in recipe"},"rms_legacy_id":"274174","romance_copy_dek":"Have pesto sitting in the fridge? 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\n
Directions<\/h2>\n
Step 1: Cook the pasta<\/h3>\n
Step 2: Make the pesto pasta sauce<\/h3>\n
Step 3: Adjust the sauce, if necessary<\/h3>\n
Step 4: Sprinkle with cheese and serve<\/h3>\n
Taste Recipes<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
How should you store leftover pesto pasta?<\/h2>\n
Pesto Pasta Tips<\/h2>\n
What’s the best pasta shape for pesto?<\/h3>\n
What else can you add to pesto pasta?<\/h3>\n
What can you serve with pesto pasta?<\/h3>\n