• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Get our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide
freezer meal quick start guide

Get Our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide

About
Free Resources
Contact

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

YouTube

TikTok

Thriving Home

Food & Lifestyle

  • Recipe Index
    • Course
      • Breakfast
      • Lunch & Dinner
      • Sides & Salads
      • Soups & Chilis
      • Appetizers
      • Snacks
      • Desserts
      • Baked Goods
      • Beverages
      • Condiments
    • Method
      • Freezer Meals
      • Stovetop
      • Oven
      • Slow Cooker
      • Instant Pot
      • Grill or Smoker
      • 6 Ingredients or Less
    • Diet
      • Gluten-Free
      • Dairy-Free
      • Vegetarian
    • Ingredients
      • Chicken & Turkey
      • Beef
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Pasta & Pizza
    • Holiday
      • Birthday
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Valentine's Day
    • All Recipes
  • Freezer Cooking
    • Start Here
    • Freezer Meal Recipes
    • 1 Hour Freezer Prep
    • Cookbooks
  • Menu Plans
  • Shop
    • Cookbooks
    • 1 Hour Freezer Prep
    • Shop Our Favorites
    • Gift Guides
Search...
Home Recipe Index Freezer Meals Freezer Misc

5 Ingredient Pesto

★★★★★ 5 /5 Updated: 5/11/21
Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Making homemade pesto is easier than you think. The flavor of our Homemade Pesto Recipe far outmatches the store bought version. Use our tips to double batch this recipe and freeze pesto for later too!

Homemade pesto in a bowl with a spoon

Every summer I make it a priority to grow my own basil. Not only is it an easy herb to grow in a pot but I get enough out of it to make a few batches of homemade pesto!

WHAT IS PESTO?

It wasn’t well into my 20s that I had my first taste of pesto. It just wasn’t a common ingredient in rural Missouri so growing up, I had no clue what it was. Sheesh, I was missing out!

So what actually IS Pesto? In short, it’s a sauce made up of these ingredients all blended together:

  • Fresh basil leaves
  • Garlic cloves
  • Pine nuts (Walnuts will work too)
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Olive oil
  • Salt & Pepper

Homemade pesto ingredients

A Short Video on How to Make Homemade Pesto in the Food Processor

Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Read our full disclosure policy here.

STORE BOUGHT PESTO VS. HOMEMADE PESTO

Friends, there just isn’t even a comparison. Homemade Pesto is just SO much tastier than store-bought pesto. The canned pesto from the store is more oily and lacks the fresh taste of basil that just can’t be replicated.

If you must buy it from the store, we recommending getting refrigerated pesto if possible.

overhead shot of Homemade pesto surrounded by ingredients

Want to make your own?

Pro Tips for Making Fresh Pesto

  • The pesto will be as good as your ingredients. Quality fresh basil, and freshly grated cheese will do wonders for the flavor.
  • A food processor is a must. I have never tried it in a blender but I don’t think it has enough liquid to work in one of those. A food processor is necessary to get the texture you’ll want.
  • You can double the recipe in the food processor. If you have enough ingredients, save yourself some time and double the recipe. Freeze the pesto that you don’t use!
  • Silicone muffin cups work great to freeze the pesto in. Just pop it out after it’s frozen and store in a freezer bag.

overhead shot of fresh pesto in a food processor

How to Freeze Pesto

Because of the superiority of fresh pesto, I am a HUGE HUGE HUGE advocate of making tons of fresh pesto when basil is in season and freezing it to use all year long. We have an entire post and video on How to Freeze Pesto but I will give you a quick rundown here as well.

Step 1: Make your fresh pesto.

Step 2: Divide your fresh pesto into small portions.

Step 3: Drizzle a little olive oil over the pesto to prevent discoloration.

Step 4: Flash freeze the pesto until it is solid enough to put in a storage container. Use it all year long!

Fresh pesto in a freezer bag

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews

5 Ingredient Homemade Pesto

Try your hand at homemade pesto with just a few ingredients. The robust flavor will wow your most-favorite dishes!

Yield: 1 cup 1x
Prep: 5 minutesTotal: 5 minutes
Print Recipe Rate Pin for Later
  • Email
Scale:

Ingredients

  • 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled
  • ¼ cup pine nuts (sub: walnuts)
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

  1. In a food processor, combine the basil, garlic, pine nuts, and cheese and pulse until coarsely chopped.
  2. Add ½ cup of olive oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Notes/Tips

Freezer Meal Instructions:

To Freeze:
Blend the pesto sauce as directed. Once fully incorporated, you can add small amounts of pesto to ice cube trays. Put in freezer until solid. Then dump ice cubes out in to freezer-safe ziplock bags. Store in freezer for up to 6 months. You can also store larger quantities of pesto in glass jars.

To Prepare:
Remove desired amount of pesto from freezer. Let thaw in refrigerator overnight or on the countertop. Use as needed.

© Author: Thriving Home
Cuisine: American Method: Blend

Did you make this?

Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

Rate Recipe

Tag Us on Instagram

Recipes that Use Pesto

Now that you have a delicious batch of pesto, here are some great ideas on how to use it. Yum!

Chicken Pesto Pasta

Turkey Pesto Paninis

Pesto Burgers

105 shares
  • Share
  • Email
Polly Conner

Polly Conner

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Polly’s passionate about helping busy parents get dinner on the table. With a house full of kids, dogs, and (usually) a DIY project in the works, she knows firsthand how every minute (and every dollar) counts. As a business owner, she enjoys wearing multiple hats and serves best as a project manager for Thriving Home.

Read more...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. AvatarRebecca says

    Posted on 6/2/21 at 5:24 pm

    I have kiddos with different food allergies but I have been able to sub raw sunflower seeds for the pine nuts and some nutritional yeast flakes for the Parmesan. Works like a charm and keeps everyone safe at my table.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  2. AvatarChristine says

    Posted on 8/30/19 at 5:22 pm

    I can’t have pine nuts or walnuts. Do you have suggestions for any other substitutions?

    Reply
  3. AvatarBeth says

    Posted on 8/31/14 at 4:23 pm

    Have you ever tried canning pesto? I have a ton of basil and was wondering if it would turn out.

    Reply

sidebar

polly and rachel

Welcome

We’re moms, cookbook authors, and freezer cooking evangelists. Our mission is to help your home thrive, one delicious meal at a time. Let’s make the most of your time in the kitchen! Read more.

Follow Us On Instagram!

freezer cooking

Order On:

Amazon • Target

Autographed Copy

Learn More

freezer to table

Order On:

Amazon • Target

Autographed Copy

Learn More
freezer meal quick start guide

Get Our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide!

5 days of our best recipes & pro tips from freezer meal experts.

Reader Favorites

marinades for chicken breasts in freezer bags

7 BEST Chicken Marinades (+ Printable Recipe Cheat Sheet)

freezer meal

The 70+ Best Freezer Meals on the Planet

20 Delicious Crockpot Meals for a Crowd

smoothie packs

7 Frozen Smoothie Packs (+ Printable with Shopping List)

freezer meal update
New to freezer cooking?

Grab Our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide!

5 days of recipes & tips from freezer meal experts.

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

YouTube

TikTok

About
About Us
Work With Us
Press
Recipes
All Recipes
Freezer Meals
Menu Plans
Shop
Cookbooks
1 Hour Prep Sessions
Gift Guides
Explore
Free Resources
Shop Our Favorites
Facebook Group
Privacy Policy
Accessibility
Disclaimers
Contact
© 2022 Thriving Home
Site Credits
Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top
105 shares