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    Home » Recipes » Best Summer Recipes

    Pesto Recipe Without Pine Nuts [Dairy-Free]

    Modified: Jul 10, 2025 · Published: Jun 22, 2017 by Shelby Stover · This post may contain affiliate links · 26 Comments

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    Pinterest image with text: homemade basil pesto sauce in a mason jar with a wooden spoon and chicken around it. Pesto pizza on boottom image.
    Pinterest image with text: homemade basil pesto sauce in a mason jar with a wooden spoon and chicken around it
    Pinterest image with text: homemade basil pesto sauce in a mason jar with a wooden spoon and chicken around it

    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

    Homemade pesto in a glass jar on a basil leaf.

     

    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

    1. Gather all of the ingredients and measure them.
    2. Combine the ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth.
    3. Scrape into a jar and use as is.
    homemade basil pesto sauce in a mason jar with a wooden spoon

    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
    Pinterest image with text: creamy pesto pasta in a white bowl with ingredients around it

    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

    Is it worth making your own 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.

    Can you add other herbs to pesto?

    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.

    Can I omit nuts completely?

    Sure! In place of nuts, use sunflower or pumpkin seeds for a different taste and a totally nut-free pesto sauce.

    My pesto is a bit chunky, what do I do?

    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)

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    👉 Give Me Dinner in Under 30 Minutes
    homemade basil pesto sauce in a mason jar with a wooden spoon

    Homemade Pesto Without Pine Nuts

    Shelby Stover
    Made with an earthy flavor this homemade pesto sauce uses spinach and basil for it's delicious flavor and tastes great on pizzas or in pasta!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 0 minutes mins
    0 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 131 kcal

    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

    This recipe makes one cup ish (15 tablespoons). One serving is 2 tablespoons.
    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.
    The oil you choose will also alter the flavor. 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.
    Store it in the fridge in a jar for 7-10 days to stay fresh.
    Grab the ingredients you need from my Pantry Staples.
    Disclaimer:

    Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"

    Nutrition

    Calories: 131kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 2gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 74mgPotassium: 69mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.2gVitamin A: 256IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 13mgIron: 0.4mg
    Keyword dairy-free pesto, easy basil pesto, vegan pesto sauce
    Have You Tried This Recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment below. Mention @fitasamamabear or tag #fitasamamabear!

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    Comments

    1. David says

      June 22, 2017 at 6:47 pm

      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

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        June 22, 2017 at 11:27 pm

        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!

        Reply
    2. lea says

      June 22, 2017 at 6:55 pm

      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

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        June 22, 2017 at 11:26 pm

        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

        Reply
    3. Ingrid says

      June 22, 2017 at 7:09 pm

      Can't wait to try this! It looks incredibly yummy and healthy!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        June 22, 2017 at 11:25 pm

        Thanks! I LOVE it on chickpea pasta- so simple but so healthy!

        Reply
    4. arita muhaxheri says

      June 23, 2017 at 6:13 pm

      So easy to make and sooo tasty <3 I love a good basil pesto xx

      Reply
    5. Amanda says

      June 24, 2017 at 1:54 am

      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!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        June 25, 2017 at 1:23 am

        Perfect! My toddler loves pesto so I think I luck out- it's an easy way to get more veggies into her 😉

        Reply
    6. Emma says

      June 24, 2017 at 1:56 am

      Yummm this look delicious! I would love to put this on my zoodles!!

      Emma |

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        June 25, 2017 at 1:23 am

        Mmm that would be tasty! Also yummy on spiralized carrot!

        Reply
    7. R.M. says

      June 24, 2017 at 8:24 pm

      I love Pesto!!! I can't wait to make this!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        June 25, 2017 at 1:21 am

        Thanks- I love it too! It works on literally everything

        Reply
    8. Luci says

      June 25, 2017 at 2:00 am

      This looks really good. I am going to have to try and make this tossing it in some pasta and maybe some chicken.

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        June 25, 2017 at 6:53 pm

        Making pesto chicken pasta us one of my FAVORITE ways to use this pesto!

        Reply
    9. Latasha says

      June 25, 2017 at 7:31 pm

      Yummy! I absolutely love everything with pesto . Totally want to try this very soon

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        June 26, 2017 at 1:19 pm

        I'm a sucker for pesto too- works on everything!

        Reply
    10. Emily says

      June 26, 2017 at 3:04 am

      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!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        June 26, 2017 at 1:19 pm

        Thanks Emily! It's really simple to make and much more potent than store bought- perfect for pasta!

        Reply
    11. Tara says

      June 27, 2017 at 10:42 pm

      this looks amazingly delicious! cannot wait to try!

      Reply
    12. Shannon Burlingame says

      July 07, 2017 at 4:27 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        July 08, 2017 at 2:23 am

        That was my issue too! That and I won't snack on leftover pine nuts, they taste funny lol walnuts work really well- enjoy!

        Reply
    13. Allyssa says

      April 13, 2022 at 10:07 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        April 16, 2022 at 6:39 pm

        Glad you loved them!

        Reply
    14. Wendy says

      April 13, 2022 at 12:04 pm

      5 stars
      This is delicious!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        April 16, 2022 at 6:39 pm

        It's so simple too!

        Reply
    5 from 2 votes

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