38 Fresh Basil Pesto Recipes For Summer Garden Herbs

Transform your garden’s basil bounty into incredible homemade pesto with these versatile recipes. From classic Italian versions to creative twists, there’s something for every taste.

These recipes showcase different nuts, herbs, and techniques to help you make the most of fresh basil season.

01. Traditional Italian Basil Pesto

This authentic version combines fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan, and Pecorino Romano cheese with quality olive oil.

The traditional method creates a bright green sauce with intense herbal flavor. Proper cheese balance gives it authentic Italian taste.

This classic recipe stores well in the fridge for weeks when topped with olive oil. Perfect for pasta or spreading on bread.

02. Simple Homemade Basil Pesto

Fresh basil leaves blend with pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil for a chunky, robust sauce.

This method creates a nutty, rich texture that works great on toasted bread, pizza, or your favorite pasta dishes.

The recipe freezes beautifully and takes just minutes to make in a food processor. Great for beginners wanting homemade pesto.

03. Garden Herb Pesto Blend

Multiple fresh herbs from your garden combine with garlic, nuts, and olive oil for a complex, flavorful sauce.

This version uses whatever herbs are overflowing in your garden. A blender works fine with a splash of water.

Perfect for using up abundant summer herbs. This approach creates unique flavors based on what herbs you have available.

04. Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

Rich sun-dried tomatoes blend with basil, garlic, nuts, and olive oil for a deep, concentrated flavor profile.

The tomatoes add sweetness and umami depth that complements the fresh basil. This creates a more complex taste experience.

This version works wonderfully on bread, pasta, or crackers. The intense flavor means a little goes a long way.

05. Premium Classic Pesto

High-quality ingredients create a peppery, tangy, and fresh-tasting pesto that showcases summer herb garden bounty perfectly.

This method focuses on ingredient quality and proper technique. The result lasts two weeks refrigerated and works in countless dishes.

Great for pasta, potatoes, eggs, marinades, or homemade pesto aioli. This versatile sauce elevates simple meals into something special.

06. Creamy Pesto with Cream Cheese

Cream cheese creates a smooth, rich texture in this family-friendly pesto that skips the expensive pine nuts completely.

The cream cheese addition makes it milder and creamier than traditional versions. Kids love this “green spaghetti” sauce.

This budget-friendly version delivers great results without breaking the bank. Perfect for families who want creamy, mild pesto flavors.

07. Restaurant-Quality Homemade Pesto

Simple, high-quality ingredients combine to create an impressive pesto that rivals expensive restaurant versions at home.

The secret lies in ingredient quality and proper ratios. This straightforward approach creates professional-level results every time.

Friends and family will think you’re a professional chef. This foolproof recipe works great for entertaining and special occasions.

08. Quick Creamy Pesto Sauce

This easy creamy version delivers rich, smooth pesto perfect for pasta, vegetables, soups, or eating straight from the pan.

The creamy texture makes it incredibly versatile for different dishes. It spreads easily and coats pasta beautifully.

Ready in minutes with simple ingredients. This approach works great when you want creamy pesto without complicated techniques.

09. Cacao Nib Pesto

Cacao nibs add a unique smoky dimension to traditional basil pesto, creating an unexpected and sophisticated flavor profile.

The cacao provides earthy, slightly bitter notes that complement the bright basil. This creates a complex, gourmet taste experience.

Perfect for impressing guests with something unique. Great on pasta or toasted bread topped with grated Italian cheese.

10. Red Pesto Sauce

Red peppers and tomatoes create a vibrant red pesto that’s fast and easy to make for quick pasta sauces.

This version can be spiced up with Spanish peppers if desired. Lemon or lime juice adds bright acidity.

Ready in minutes for weeknight dinners. This colorful alternative offers different flavors while keeping the pesto concept familiar.

11. Sunflower Seed Basil Pesto

Budget-friendly sunflower seeds replace expensive pine nuts while delivering similar nutty flavor and creamy texture when blended.

This version can be smooth or chunky depending on your preference. Sunflower seeds work just as well as pine nuts.

Much more affordable than traditional versions. Stores well in the refrigerator for five to six days in airtight containers.

12. Versatile Basil Pesto

This extremely versatile pesto enhances steak, chicken, fish, vegetables, and pasta with bright, fresh basil flavor.

The recipe forms into tubes for easy portioning. Simply slice what you need and freeze the rest for later use.

Easy to prepare and bursting with flavor. This method makes meal planning simple with ready-to-use pesto portions.

13. Mixed Nut Pesto Sauce

A mixture of walnuts and pine nuts creates complex nutty flavors, with optional cayenne pepper adding gentle heat.

This flexible approach uses whatever nuts you have in the pantry. The combination creates more interesting flavors than single nuts.

Even picky eaters love this version. The mixed nuts provide great texture and make the recipe more budget-friendly.

14. Basil Cream Sauce

This creamy basil sauce reheats beautifully in the microwave without separating, making it perfect for meal prep.

The light green color displays beautifully over tri-color pasta, regular pasta, salmon, and grilled chicken dishes.

Great for busy cooks who want make-ahead sauces. This version works wonderfully for entertaining since it reheats so well.

15. Lighter Basil Pesto

This lower-fat version reduces calories while maintaining creamy, delicious pesto flavor using creative ingredient substitutions.

Stock helps create creaminess with less oil. Any type of nuts work well, making it flexible for different preferences.

Perfect for health-conscious cooks who don’t want to give up pesto. This version proves you can enjoy pesto more often.

16. Basil Walnut Pesto

Walnuts replace pine nuts in this flavor-packed pesto that’s perfect for pasta, vegetable dipping, or grilled cheese sandwiches.

The food processor makes this incredibly easy. Just pulse together a few ingredients for instant homemade pesto.

Walnuts are usually more affordable and available than pine nuts. This version offers great nutty flavor without the premium price.

17. Traditional Mortar and Pestle Pesto

Hand-smashing ingredients with a mortar and pestle releases oils and creates intense flavors that surpass machine-made versions.

The traditional technique creates new flavor compounds when ingredients are slowly crushed together by hand.

Takes more time but delivers unmatched flavor intensity. This authentic method shows the difference traditional techniques can make.

18. Easy Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

Sun-dried tomatoes blend easily in a food processor or blender to create rich, concentrated pesto with deep flavors.

This version tastes fabulous on pasta, pizza, and sandwiches. The tomatoes provide natural sweetness and umami depth.

Ready in minutes with pantry ingredients. This approach gives you gourmet flavors without complicated techniques or fresh herbs.

19. Basic Homemade Pesto

Fresh-tasting pesto works alone on pasta, crostini, or pizza, or mixed into spaghetti sauce for special flavor.

Pine nuts, walnuts, or a combination of both work well. This flexibility lets you use whatever nuts you prefer.

This versatile base recipe adapts to many uses. Great for cooks who want one reliable pesto recipe for everything.

20. Cashew Basil Pesto

Creamy cashews replace pine nuts while providing similar mild flavor and smooth texture when blended with fresh basil.

Lemon juice adds brightness that balances the rich cashews. Good quality olive oil makes a noticeable difference in taste.

Cashews create incredibly smooth texture. This version works great for people who want mild, creamy pesto without strong nut flavors.

21. Spinach Basil Pesto

Spinach stretches the basil and adds nutrition while maintaining great pesto flavor in this freezer-friendly version.

Perfect for freezing in ice cube trays. Just pop out cubes and add to pasta for quick, easy meals.

Great way to add vegetables to your diet. The spinach makes basil go further while boosting nutritional value significantly.

22. Three Pepper Pesto

Red bell peppers dominate this unique pesto that uses less basil and more Parmesan cheese than traditional recipes.

Black pepper and dried chile pepper add heat while sweet red peppers provide the main flavor profile.

Excellent toasted on bread or tossed with pasta. This creative version keeps three days refrigerated and offers something completely different.

23. Garlic-Free Italian Pesto

Traditional Italian pesto from Camogli uses no garlic and gets made in a mortar and pestle for authentic texture.

This raw sauce traditionally pairs with fresh green beans and trofie pasta, though linguine works as a substitute.

Authentic regional Italian recipe that shows how pesto varies by location. Perfect for garlic-sensitive eaters who love pesto.

24. Quick Garlic Basil Pesto

This blender version uses easily found supermarket ingredients to create versatile pesto for meat, pasta, or stuffed shells.

The paste works great mixed into dishes while cooking. Heating with the meal brings out the best flavors.

So popular that friends and family keep requesting more. This simple approach delivers impressive results that everyone loves.

25. Basil Pecan Pesto

Pecans replace pine nuts in this recipe developed through a summer of testing to find the perfect flavor balance.

The creator prefers pecans over pine nuts for their richer, more complex flavor that complements basil beautifully.

This version took trial and error to perfect. The pecans provide Southern flair and work especially well in this combination.

26. Restaurant-Inspired Pesto

This recipe recreates a restaurant pesto from 15 years ago and makes enough for a full pound of pasta.

Wonderful drizzled over tomatoes, boiled potatoes, or Italian bread. The recipe creates a versatile sauce for many uses.

Keeping a jar on hand means you’re always ready for quick meals. This version proves homemade can match restaurant quality.

27. Pepita Pesto

Pumpkin seeds create a mild, nutty-tasting vegan pesto combined with parsley and basil for fresh herb flavor.

This nut-free version works great for people with tree nut allergies. Pepitas provide similar texture to pine nuts.

Perfect on pasta or bread for vegan meals. This approach opens pesto to people who can’t eat traditional nut-based versions.

28. Chive Pesto

Fresh chives create a creamy herb sauce that works perfectly for all seasons when basil isn’t available.

This version came from running out of basil and discovering chives work even better for some tastes.

Great with short pasta shapes. This creative substitution shows how pesto concepts work with many different herbs successfully.

29. Perfect Fresh Basil Pesto

Balanced proportions create pesto with just the right amount of everything for perfect flavor in every bite.

Even pesto skeptics love this version. Great stirred through hot pasta or as an easy pizza topping.

This recipe gets the ratios exactly right. Perfect for quick dinners or easy homemade pizza nights with family.

30. Dairy-Free Vegan Pesto

Nutritional yeast replaces cheese in this vegan pesto featuring pine nuts and sun-dried tomatoes for complex flavors.

The nutritional yeast provides cheesy flavor without dairy. Sun-dried tomatoes add depth and richness to the sauce.

Perfect for vegan diets or dairy-free eating. This version proves you don’t need cheese to make delicious, satisfying pesto.

31. Classic Pesto with Parsley

Traditional pesto ingredients get enhanced with fresh parsley for a brighter, more complex herbal flavor profile.

The parsley addition differs from classic preparation but adds freshness. Extra Parmesan can be added if desired.

This variation brightens traditional pesto flavors. The parsley makes it taste more vibrant and fresh than basil-only versions.

32. Almond Basil Pesto

Almonds replace pine nuts in this budget-friendly version that tastes great and uses nuts most people have available.

Perfect solution for bumper basil crops when you don’t have pine nuts. Just don’t over-toast the almonds.

Much more affordable than pine nut versions. This substitution works so well you might prefer it to the original.

33. Sicilian Pesto with Ricotta

Authentic Sicilian pesto combines traditional pesto with ricotta cheese and tomatoes for light, refreshing Mediterranean flavors.

Seeding tomatoes first creates thicker consistency that sticks better to pasta. Ricotta makes it creamy and mild.

Perfect with tubular pasta so pesto gets inside for flavor bursts. This regional variation shows Sicily’s unique pesto style.

34. Spicy Jalapeño Pesto

Fresh jalapeños from the garden add perfect heat to this spicy pesto that delivers just the right kick.

One large jalapeño provides ideal spice level. Great on flatbread with tomato and shaved Parmesan cheese.

Perfect for people who like their food with heat. This version adds excitement to traditional pesto without overwhelming flavors.

35. Simple Walnut Pesto

Walnuts create a tasty alternative to pine nuts using either raw or toasted nuts for different flavor intensities.

Some people like adding Parmesan cheese to this version. The walnuts provide rich, earthy flavors that complement basil.

More affordable than pine nuts and readily available. This substitution works great and offers slightly different flavor profiles.

36. Swiss Chard Pecan Pesto

Swiss chard and pecans create unique pesto perfect tossed with warm pasta and chicken or spread on garlic bread.

The chard adds nutrition and stretches other ingredients while providing mild, earthy flavors that work well.

Great way to use abundant chard from the garden. This version shows how leafy greens can substitute for some basil.

37. Classic Vegan Pesto

Olive oil, pine nuts, basil, garlic, and nutritional yeast blend quickly for cheesy-tasting vegan pesto.

Nutritional yeast provides the cheesy flavor vegans miss. This version works on pasta, bread, sandwiches, and omelets.

Quick to make and very tasty for plant-based diets. This proves vegan versions can be just as satisfying as traditional.

38. Easy Almond Basil Pesto

Almonds replace expensive pine nuts in this fast, easy pesto that tastes like summer on a plate.

Much more budget-friendly while delivering similar flavors and textures. Great over pasta with salad and bread.

Stores well in the fridge with olive oil on top. This money-saving version lets you enjoy pesto more often.

Final Thoughts

These 38 pesto recipes show how versatile this classic sauce can be. From traditional Italian versions to creative modern twists, there’s a perfect pesto for every garden and taste preference.

Start with your favorite nuts and herbs, then experiment with different combinations to create your signature pesto recipe.