This homemade basil pesto sauce recipe is made in 10 minutes with only 5 ingredients, including fresh basil and toasted pine nuts! It’s easy to make in the blender or food processor and can be served in so many different ways!
I grow fresh basil in our garden for the sole purpose of making this homemade pesto sauce! It’s one of my favorite condiments that tastes amazing on just about everything – especially this pesto pasta and baked pesto chicken.
This homemade pesto recipe will make you look like a rockstar in the kitchen, but it’s secretly incredibly easy to make! It comes together in 10 minutes with only 5 ingredients, including fresh basil and toasted pine nuts!
Using a blender or food processor makes it the perfect consistency that can be adjusted to your tastes, and it can be served in so many different ways! It’s like summer in sauce form!
How to make pesto sauce
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this homemade pesto sauce is SO easy to make. Simply toast some pine nuts, blend the ingredients together and enjoy! The hardest part is not eating all of it with a spoon directly from the container of your blender!
Toast Pine Nuts
This pesto recipe begins with toasting the pine nuts. Please note that pine nuts can go from not even browned to burnt very quickly. Since pine nuts are an expensive ingredient, you want to be sure to watch them closely and stir them every 30 seconds, so they don’t burn. It should take 4-5 minutes to toast them.
The pine nuts need to be cooled to room temperature before used in this basil pesto recipe, so once they’re toasted transfer them from the warm pan to a small cookie sheet or baking pan for them to cool!
Blend fresh basil & olive oil
While the pine nuts are cooling blend together the olive oil and fresh basil until they are well combined but not completely smooth. By blending these ingredients first, it ensures easier blending once the other ingredients are added.
You may also use a food processor and you will get equally delicious results!
Blend remaining ingredients
Next, add the rest of the ingredients and blend until you reach your desired consistency. You may need to pause, scrape down the sides of the container, and continue blending depending on the size of your blending container.
Choose your desired consistency.
Some people like their pesto sauce a little bit chunky, some like it smooth. The great thing about making your own homemade pesto is that you are in charge and you get to choose! Since I’m feeding kids and I’m weird about texture, I like to blend our basil pesto until it’s mostly smooth!
Store or Serve
You can either store this pesto recipe to use for later, or serve it immediately!
FAQs about Homemade Pesto
How do you store pesto sauce?
If you are making this basil pesto sauce ahead of time to use in a recipe later, I recommend storing it in a glass jar with a lid in the refrigerator!
Can you freeze basil pesto?
Yes! I recommend freezing this homemade pesto recipe in silicone ice cube trays. Once the cubes are frozen, remove and store in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the freezer! Then you can use just the right amount of homemade pesto whenever the craving strikes!
How long does pesto sauce last?
This homemade pesto sauce will last for up to one week in the refrigerator, and two months in the freezer!
Basil Pesto Sauce: Ingredients and substitutions
Let’s chat about the ingredients used in this basil pesto recipe, as well as possible substitutions. As always, the quality of ingredients used to make this pesto sauce will determine the quality of the final product!
- Fresh basil. This ingredient is the star of the show in this basil pesto recipe. I don’t recommend making any substitutions for fresh basil, as it will dramatically affect the final taste. However, in a pinch (when I don’t have enough basil), I sometimes substitute up to half of the basil with fresh spinach, but never all of it.
- Olive oil. The flavor of a high-quality olive oil will really shine in this pesto recipe. I recommend using the best olive oil you have available to you, because it will impart a rich flavor to this pesto sauce. You can also use flavor-infused olive oils (like garlic, herb, etc.) just make sure it would compliment the basil. Another neutral oil like avocado oil could also be used.
- Pine nuts. If basil is the star of this recipe, toasted pine nuts are the co-star. They are key to making a classic pesto recipe, and shouldn’t be substituted if you’re going for a 100% authentic flavor. If you must, you can try using other nuts like walnuts, pecans or almonds.
- Minced garlic. Fresh roasted garlic is also amazing in this pesto recipe! If you have picky eaters you can also try using a small amount of garlic powder.
- Parmesan cheese. Again, the quality of parmesan cheese used will make a difference in the final taste of this pesto sauce. I recommend freshly grated parmesan for the best flavor!
- Salt & pepper. I always cook with sea salt and freshly ground pepper! I recommend starting with a small amount of salt, tasting and then adjusting to your liking!
