26 Things to Make with Pesto
Pesto might just be the perfect flavor enhancer. It features a well-rounded balance of peppery basil, buttery pine nuts and salty Italian cheese that’s impossible to resist. If you’ve got a jar on hand, you’re in luck. You can use your pesto to easily upgrade everything from soups and salads to breads and pastas.
5-Ingredient Chicken Pesto Soup
Although this soup is made with just five ingredients, the cooking technique packs the soup with flavor. You start by poaching bone-in chicken thighs in chicken broth, which amps up the flavor of the broth and leaves you with meat so tender, it practically falls off the bone. A swirl of pesto at the end delivers a cheesy, herby hit and turns the soup a vibrant green.
Grilled Pesto Ravioli
Cooking the ravioli in one skillet all the way through means there is no need to boil, drain and reserve the starchy cooking water. The residual cooking water will thin out the pesto just enough for a loose coating and help the pesto sauce thicken a touch without becoming gummy.
Turkey Pesto Meatball Sheet Pan Dinner
This family-friendly meal is full of tricks that will save time and energy. Aside from making fewer dishes (the meatballs and veggies cook together on one sheet pan) you can also skip extra chopping and measuring for seasonings since the meatballs get their flavor from store-bought pesto.
Crispy Artichoke Pesto-Stuffed Chicken
Pesto transforms a simple Italian-inspired dish into something special. And since it's packed with flavor, the pesto only needs a few other ingredients (artichokes, Parmesan and provolone cheese) to make a filling fit for these crispy, golden brown chicken cutlets.
Pesto Fried Eggs
Cooking eggs in pesto is a great alternative to frying in butter and an easy way to enhance their flavor. When the pesto is heated, the oil separates from the rest of the ingredients and gives your eggs crispy, fried edges. While this dish is delicious on its own, try serving the eggs with sliced fresh tomatoes and mozzarella for a take on Caprese salad or on toasted sourdough bread for a quick meal.