Easy Basil Pesto Recipe: How To Make Pesto Sauce

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If there’s a classic summer flavor, homemade basil pesto sauce is it! There are many variations, but I’m going to show you how to make pesto sauce with just 5 ingredients… and from there you can mix and match the nuts you use, or make other easy swaps for any dietary restrictions. Either way, it’s ready in just 5 minutes. I have a feeling you’ll want to make this basil pesto sauce recipe all summer long…

This time of year, the basil plants are growing uncontrollably. You prune them and then they grow even faster! Anyone else have a hard time keeping up? If you do, this homemade basil pesto is the answer to your too-much-basil-problem. But it’s not a problem anymore, because I have a delicious answer. While I love store-bought pesto throughout the year, nothing compares to the flavor of fresh basil.

It adds such great flavor to just about anything. Try it on fish, grilled chicken, veggies, or whisk it into salad dressings or mayonnaise. It’s incredibly versatile and I always recommend having a stash in your fridge or freezer.

Next time you find yourself with a big pile of basil leaves fresh off the plant? It’s time for this basil pesto recipe.

How To Make Pesto Sauce

The first step in this easy homemade pesto recipe is to choose what kind of nuts you are going to use! I have a list of options below, but for this version I made a macadamia nut pesto. The macadamia nuts give the pesto an incredibly rich flavor and they are incredibly nutritious.

Put the nuts in the food processor to give them a rough chop.

Then you’ll add all of the other ingredients into the food processor (see the ingredient list below!) and pulse the mixture until it reaches the desired consistency.

THAT’S IT!!!

What Is Pesto Sauce Made Of?

Pesto sauce is made of a few simple ingredients. It’s best to use high-quality ingredients in recipes like this because they each stand out.

Basil pesto ingredients: 

• Fresh basil
• Grated parmesan cheese
• Olive oil
• Garlic
• Nuts (see full list below)
• Sea salt
• Black pepper

As for the nuts, you have so many options! You can make basil pesto with cashews, or any of the following nuts:

• Macadamia nuts
• Almonds
• Pine nuts
• Walnuts
• Cashews

How To Make Pesto Sauce Allergy-Friendly

If you or someone in your family has an allergy, it’s easy to alter the basil pesto sauce recipe to fit those needs:

• Paleo, dairy-free or vegan pesto sauce – simply omit the Parmesan cheese and add some nutritional yeast instead.
• Nut-free pesto sauce – simply replace the nuts with seeds, such as pepitas or sunflower seeds.

Pesto Sauce Calories

There are 162 calories in 2 tablespoons of pesto sauce. The full nutrition stats are below the recipe card, but here are the highlights:

• 162 calories
• 2 grams carbohydrates
• 5 grams protein
• 16 grams fat

This will vary a bit depending on what type of nuts you use in your pesto sauce recipe.

How To Store Homemade Pesto Sauce

Homemade pesto sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for about 7-14 days. If you want use it within two weeks, you should definitely freeze it as it freezes really well!

Can You Freeze Basil Pesto Sauce?

Yes, you can freeze basil pesto sauce. In fact, if you’re making pesto, you might as well double or triple the batch so that you can freeze some for later.

Simply pour your homemade pesto sauce into small, freezer-safe containers and freeze until solid. Once they are frozen, you can pop them out and put them into a freezer bag.

TIP: Wrap pesto pods with plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn.

Recipes With Basil Pesto Sauce

Once you’ve learned how to make basil pesto, you might wonder what to do with it! There are so many ways to enjoy this fresh and herb-y condiment. (Find more keto low carb sauces, dips, and condiments here.)

Here are some recipes that use pesto you might enjoy:

• Caprese Salad Skewers with Pesto & Bacon
• Baked Pesto Stuffed Chicken Breast
• Pesto Keto Zucchini Lasagna
• Zucchini Stir Fry with Beef & Pesto

Tools To Make Homemade Pesto Sauce:

Click the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.

• Food Processor – This homemade pesto sauce recipe couldn’t be easier, thanks to the food processor who does all the hard work! This is the food processor that I have, use, and love.
• Tabletop Spiralizer – Right after you finish making the basil pesto recipe, you’ll want to spiralize a big batch of zucchini noodles. Zoodles + pesto = fresh summer meal perfection!
• 12-Piece Freezer Container Set – These 2 oz containers are the perfect size for storing extra basil pesto sauce in. Or make a few batches when basil is at it’s peak to freeze for fall and winter.

Easy Basil Pesto Recipe: How To Make Pesto Sauce:
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RECIPE CARD

5 from 17 votes

Easy Basil Pesto Recipe: How To Make Pesto Sauce

The universal EASY basil pesto recipe! Learn how to make homemade basil pesto sauce: 5 ingredients, 5 minutes, and you'll want to put it on everything.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Keyword basil pesto recipe, basil pesto sauce, homemade pesto sauce, how to make pesto sauce, pesto sauce recipe

Calories 162 kcal

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Author Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings 8 servings

Recipe Video

Click or tap on the image below to play the video. It's the easiest way to learn how to make this recipe!

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Ingredients

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• 1/3 cup Nuts (any kind you like - I used macadamia nuts)
• 2 cups Fresh basil (packed)
• 1/3 cup Grated parmesan cheese
• 1/3 cup Olive oil
• 2 cloves Garlic (minced or coarsely chopped)
• 1/4 tsp Sea salt
• 1/8 tsp Black pepper

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Instructions

RECIPE TIPS + VIDEO in the post above, nutrition info + recipe notes below!

Click on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

1. Place nuts into a powerful blender or food processor. Pulse several times until they are broken up into smaller pieces. (Don't over-process, or you'll end up with nut butter!)

2. Add the remaining ingredients to the blender. Push the basil leaves into the olive oil.
3. Pulse intermittently, scraping sides occasionally with a spatula, until the desired consistency is reached.

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Recipe Notes

Serving size: 2 tbsp

I used a high power blender for this recipe. If using a food processor where the blade is notably higher than the bottom of the food processor, you'll want to modify the method slightly. Instead of adding the olive oil with the rest of the ingredients, gradually pour it in as a stream while the food processor is running.

Video Showing How To Make Basil Pesto Sauce:

Don't miss the VIDEO above - it's the easiest way to learn how to make Basil Pesto Sauce!

Nutrition Information Per Serving

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 162

Fat 16g

Protein 5g

Total Carbs 2g

Net Carbs 1g

Fiber 1g

Sugar 0.3g

Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database. You can find individual ingredient carb counts we use in the Low Carb & Keto Food List. Carb count excludes sugar alcohols. Net carb count excludes both fiber and sugar alcohols, because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.

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