Quick Pesto Pasta Recipe Easy Homemade Basil and Cherry Tomato Dinner
A quick and easy pesto pasta recipe featuring fresh basil, garlic, and cherry tomatoes, perfect for a flavorful and comforting meal in under 20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
- 2–3 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted (can substitute walnuts or almonds)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 12 ounces (340 grams) spaghetti or preferred pasta shape
- 1 pint (300 grams) cherry tomatoes, halved
- Optional: 1/2 cup torn fresh mozzarella balls
- Salt for pasta water
- Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently until golden and fragrant. Set aside to cool.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil (about 1 tablespoon salt per 4 quarts of water). Add 12 ounces of spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water before draining.
- In a food processor, combine basil leaves, garlic cloves, cooled pine nuts, grated Parmesan, and a pinch of salt. Pulse a few times to chop roughly.
- With the processor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil until the mixture is smooth but still textured. Add lemon juice and adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- While pasta cooks, halve the cherry tomatoes and sprinkle with a pinch of salt if desired.
- In a large bowl, toss the drained pasta with the pesto, adding reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time to loosen the sauce as needed.
- Gently fold in the halved cherry tomatoes and optional fresh mozzarella. Adjust seasoning with black pepper or red pepper flakes.
- Serve immediately, garnished with whole basil leaves and extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
If pesto thickens too much, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it. Avoid overcooking pasta to keep it al dente. Gently fold in tomatoes and mozzarella to prevent bruising. Adjust seasoning gradually to avoid overly salty pesto.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 15
Keywords: pesto pasta, quick pasta recipe, basil pasta, cherry tomato pasta, easy dinner, homemade pesto, vegetarian pasta