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12 Easy Pesto Recipes

From vegan carrot to asparagus pesto, liven up dinner with all the pestos you could ever need—and simple ways to use them for dinner.
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Mexican pesto

Let these DIY pestos put a little spring in your step this season. They'll liven up salads, roasted vegetables, simple pastas, grilled skewers and even grilled fish—depending on what you're in the mood for, these recipes can do it all. Find new ways to add fresh flavour to dinner in the gallery below:

Classic Basil Pesto

Use this beautiful basil pesto recipe to make any dish extraordinary.

a jar of classic basil pesto made with garlic; basil leaves; toasted pine nuts; parmesan; lemon juice; salt; olive oil and vegetable oil for a post on a classic basil pesto recipe

Spring Greens Pesto

This spring greens pesto fights food waste, and is as flexible as it is tasty. "My farm box pesto used all my excess herbs and greens and even things I normally composted (like carrot and radish tops). The resulting silky, luscious sauce was so good that I dunked bread crusts into the blender for mid-way taste tests," writer Vanessa Chiasson says. Get her spring greens pesto recipe.

A blue bowl holding spring greens pesto beside a spoon.(Photo: Vanessa Chiasson)

Asparagus Pesto

Loaded with mint, lemon juice, almonds and parmesan, this is great on pasta or served with pita as a dip. Get this asparagus pesto recipe.

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A bowl of asparagus pesto in a bowl surrounded by asparagus, dried noodle nests, and garlic.(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

Onion-Basil Pesto

Change up pesto’s traditional flavour profile with onion, spanish cheese and walnuts. Get this onion-basil pesto recipe.

Overhead shot of onion-basil pesto in a white bowl with a silver spoon beside it on a white background.(Photo: Erik Putz)

Cilantro Pesto

Serve this cilantro and serrano pesto on grilled veggie or meat skewers, with pasta or over grilled chicken. Get this cilantro pesto recipe.

Overhead shot of Mexican pesto in a white bowl with a spoon on a white background.(Photo: Erik Putz)

Kale Pesto

There are so many healthy ingredients in this pesto, you’d be forgiven for assuming it won’t taste as delicious as it does. Get the kale pesto (on pasta) recipe.

a white saucepan filled with kale-pesto pasta; the pesto is made with kale; parmesan; walnuts and edamame and garlic and olive oil; the pasta is tagliatelle; for a post on an easy, healthy weeknight kale-pesto pasta recipe(Photo: Erik Putz)

Vegan Carrot Pesto

A vegan-friendly pesto with carrots, thyme, garlic and hemp. Get this vegan carrot pesto recipe.

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Overhead shot of vegan carrot pesto in a white bowl with a silver spoon on a white background.(Photo: Erik Putz)

Kale-Walnut Pesto

Who says pesto has to be all about the basil and pine nuts? Give kale and walnuts a whirl in the processor—you won’t be disappointed. Get this kale-walnut pesto recipe.

three glass jars containing barbecue condiments; the middle one holds kale-walnut pesto for a post on an easy kale-walnut pesto recipe(Photo: Erik Putz)

Garlic Scapes Pesto

Use garlic scape pesto in the same way you would use any pesto: toss with pasta, salad dressing, or toss with vegetables like blanched green beans. Get our garlic scapes pesto recipe.

Overhead view of a bowl of garlic scapes pesto on a white background.

Pesto-Burrata Salad

With juicy tomatoes, creamy burrata cheese and garden-fresh pesto, this salad is nothing short of summer on a fork. Get this pesto-burrata salad recipe.

Pesto-Burrata Salad with ripe beefsteak or heirloom tomatoes, cored and wedged; pesto, fresh basil and burrata on a wood table on a black plate next to serving tongs(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

Creamy Basil-Pesto Salad

Anchovies and pesto add depth and punch to this creamy, crunchy green salad. Get this creamy basil-pesto salad recipe.

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Creamy basil-pesto salad on a pale blue platter next to a plate of the salad, a jar of pesto and a jar of the creamy basil-pesto dressing; the salad also contains avocados, cucumber, radicchio and endive as well as chives for a post on an easy creamy-basil-pesto green salad recipe(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

Pesto Penne Rigate With Buffalo Mozzarella

A delicious—and fast—way to celebrate summer tomatoes and fresh basil. Get our pesto penne rigate with buffalo mozzarella recipe.

Pesto penne rigate with buffalo mozzarella on a black plate; the penne is made with garlic; fresh basil; toasted pine nuts; parmesan; lemon juice; salt; olive oil; 4 medium tomatoes, a mix of colours, sliced into wedges; buffalo mozzarella and penne for a post on an easy pesto penne rigate with buffalo mozzarella and tomato salad recipe(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

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A Bright Spot: Our Spring 2026 issue features 12 colourful DIY decor hacks from guest editor Alexandra Gater. Plus, recipes for protein-packed breakfasts, cheese soufflé and a dreamy rhubarb cake.