Looking for a bold, fresh pesto without pine nuts? This quick 5-minute recipe skips the pricey nuts and dairy but keeps all the flavor. As a Certified Nutrition Coach and mom of three, I use this nut-free pesto to sneak extra greens into my kids' meals, without complaints. It’s vibrant, allergy-friendly, and perfect for pasta, sandwiches, or freezer meal prep.
“Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! It's really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!” - Allyssa
With minimal ingredients, this fresh basil pesto recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, and actually completely vegan! Plus, it's made without the addition of pine nuts, which gives it a unique, earthy flavor.
We love using this recipe in the summer months when we can grab fresh basil out of the garden. The pesto itself is simple and fresh, and whips into a 15 minute dinner easily enough.
Why You'll Love The Recipe
Easy: Made with only a handful of ingredients the pesto without pine nuts is ready to go in just 5 minutes.
Versatile: You can easily use this pesto to make a quick chicken pesto pasta or as the base of a pizza.
Flavorful: Cutting the basil with spinach makes this dairy-free pesto a bit milder but with a wicked savory flavor thanks to the nutritional yeast.
Why Skip Pine Nuts?
- Allergies: Pine nuts are a common allergen and thus, you may need to omit them from your diet.
- Cost: They're a pricier nut, and there are many more cost-effective options to save some money on your grocery bill.
- Variety: For both taste and nutritional variety, it's nice to switch up your nuts every so often.
Ingredients You Need
Greens: You need both fresh pesto and baby spinach leaves for the recipe.
Nutritional yeast: This is what eliminates the dairy in the recipe and replaces Parmesan. It has a slightly cheesy flavor and is PACKED with nutrients like B12.
Nuts: I use walnuts for the recipe, but in a pinch, I have used cashews too which give a creamier texture.
Basics: Grab olive oil from the pantry as well as some garlic, salt, and pepper.
How To Make Pesto Without Pine Nuts
- Gather all of the ingredients and measure them.
- Combine the ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth.
- Scrape into a jar and use as is.
Important Teaching Tips
The kind of basil you choose will affect the flavor. Sweet basil was used for this recipe however, Thai basil gives it a wonderful flavor for pasta. Learn more about holy basil vs. Thai basil
You can also use kale in place of spinach for this recipe (like in this green chickpea hummus). Or even throw in some parsley for a fun new taste. This is a great way to hide veggies.
The oil you choose will also alter the taste and texture. Flax oil can have a very unique taste, so if you don't love it, don't use it. Avocado oil and olive oil work really well.
Blend the pesto sauce as long as you need to achieve your desired texture.
How To Serve It
Pesto without pine nuts isn't just for pasta (though this chicken pesto pasta IS a tasty one that comes together in about 15 minutes!). It is also be used for:
- The base of pizzas (you can sub the marinara on this air fryer tortilla pizza and get a whole new flavor!)
- a sauce for a grilled wrap
- Buddha bowls
How To Store It
Once made, store your homemade pesto in a jar with the lid tight and in the fridge. It will stay fresh for 7-10 days.
You can also freeze pesto sauce in a plastic bag for up to 2 months. When you're ready for it, let it thaw overnight in the fridge or place the bag in a cup of warm water.
Alternatives and Variations
Nut-free pesto: If you need to skip nuts altogether, replace them with sunflower seeds, which is budget-friendly, or pumpkin seeds, which are higher in magnesium. Not only does this give you different nutrients, but the flavor varies as well.
Herbs: You can either replace the basil or simply add more herbs to change the flavor. Try using mint, cilantro, or even some lemon balm.
Dairy-free cheese: Though this pesto recipe uses nutritional yeast in place of dairy, you could use a dairy-free cheese instead for a more traditional taste.
Frequently Asked Questions About Basil Pesto
Homemade pesto is easily a better option than store-bought. Not only do you have the option to use healthier ingredients (specifically healthier oils), but for anyone with allergies, it's the only way to go. Plus, you can alter the flavor of the pesto by experimenting with different types of fresh basil.
Your pesto can be as herb-based as you wish! However, too many herbs or too much of one or another can leave your pesto tasting a bit too "grassy". Follow a base pesto recipe and add herbs lightly and one at a time, tasting in between.
Sure! In place of nuts, use sunflower or pumpkin seeds for a different taste and a totally nut-free pesto sauce.
If you find your pesto sauce is chunky after blending and you want a smoother texture, try adding a splash of water or even almond milk to the mixture and processing it until it reaches your desired consistency.
Other Dairy-Free Recipes You'll Love
- Slow cooker Tuscan chicken
- 14 Dairy-free chicken dishes
- Tangy lemon noodle bowl
- Slow cooker teriyaki chicken
- Sheet pan sausage and veggies
- Homemade coleslaw
- Dairy-free macaroni salad
- Quinoa veggie wraps
- Grilled veggie and hummus wrap
- Slow cooker balsamic chicken
- 30-minute meals
- Turkey meatballs
- Spicy stuffed peppers
Dinner doesn’t have to be chaotic—this eBook gives you 20+ protein-packed meals ready in 30 minutes or less (even when the day’s already gone sideways)
Homemade Pesto Without Pine Nuts
Video
Equipment
- Food processor
Ingredients
- ½ cup fresh basil packed
- ½ cup spinach packed
- 2 cloves garlic
- ½ cup walnuts
- 1 tbs nutritional yeast
- 5 tbs oil of choice
- ¼ teaspoon seat salt
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients into a food processor and blend until smooth.
Notes
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
David says
Wow this looks great and I have a basil plant the is flourishing. I can't wait to try this basil pesto out! I have had pesto in a few salads and it is very good. It looks a little weird but it has a great flavor.
Cheers
fitasamamabear says
It definitely looks a bit weird when you're not used to it haha I personally love this pesto over chickpea pasta or marinated onto chicken- so yummy!
lea says
Just yummy. WE always make our own Pesto as we have a basil bush in our garden. We use pretty much the same ingredients but instead of blending it up, someone always has to chop the basil into tiny pieces. We just like when not everything is blended too much together. But yours looks really nice too. I might use the blender next time as it will be so much quicker.
Lea, xx
asnippetoflife.com
fitasamamabear says
Yes we have a basil plant too! It's wonderful because the fresh stuff just tastes so much better. Hrm, I actually never thought to chop it- that's a wonderful idea! It would be great with some diced tomatoes in a pasta too... back to my kitchen!lol
Ingrid says
Can't wait to try this! It looks incredibly yummy and healthy!
fitasamamabear says
Thanks! I LOVE it on chickpea pasta- so simple but so healthy!
arita muhaxheri says
So easy to make and sooo tasty <3 I love a good basil pesto xx
Amanda says
This looks so yummy and healthy! I don't know how my toddler would like this, but my husband and I love fresh ingredients for our pasta!
fitasamamabear says
Perfect! My toddler loves pesto so I think I luck out- it's an easy way to get more veggies into her 😉
Emma says
Yummm this look delicious! I would love to put this on my zoodles!!
Emma |
fitasamamabear says
Mmm that would be tasty! Also yummy on spiralized carrot!
R.M. says
I love Pesto!!! I can't wait to make this!
fitasamamabear says
Thanks- I love it too! It works on literally everything
Luci says
This looks really good. I am going to have to try and make this tossing it in some pasta and maybe some chicken.
fitasamamabear says
Making pesto chicken pasta us one of my FAVORITE ways to use this pesto!
Latasha says
Yummy! I absolutely love everything with pesto . Totally want to try this very soon
fitasamamabear says
I'm a sucker for pesto too- works on everything!
Emily says
This looks delish! I've never made pesto before, but this seems to be something I should save for later to put on some pasta, yum!
fitasamamabear says
Thanks Emily! It's really simple to make and much more potent than store bought- perfect for pasta!
Tara says
this looks amazingly delicious! cannot wait to try!
Shannon Burlingame says
Most pesto recipes always use pine nuts which I can NEVER find where I am. Glad to know I can use walnuts instead. Definitely going to try this one!
fitasamamabear says
That was my issue too! That and I won't snack on leftover pine nuts, they taste funny lol walnuts work really well- enjoy!
Allyssa says
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! It's really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
fitasamamabear says
Glad you loved them!
Wendy says
This is delicious!
fitasamamabear says
It's so simple too!