By Becky Hardin
Published May 19, 2018
Basil Walnut Pesto is an amazing sauce full of basil, walnuts, olive oil, parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and garlic. This Homemade Pesto Sauce is the perfect topping for salmon, bruschetta, chicken, steak, and more. So much flavor and you can quickly make this Basil Pesto Recipe in a blender!
Basil Walnut Pesto Recipe
This Basil Walnut Pesto recipe is so easy to make. All you need is a few ingredients and a blender!
I absolutely love Pesto! It’s so fragrant and flavorful, and it looks beautiful on top of a nice pasta dish. This Basil Walnut Pesto Recipe is my favorite pesto recipe to use around here. I like playing with the flavors and mixing things up a bit, and I think the walnuts in place of pine nuts adds so much to it.
This Homemade Pesto Sauce is so easy to make, there’s no reason to buy pre-made pesto at the store. You can really taste the fresh basil leaves and garlic and it’s pretty drool-worthy. I just love when the scent of fresh basil fills the kitchen while it’s being prepared.
Eat this amazing Walnut Basil Pesto Recipe with pasta, fish, or chicken. It goes well with so many dishes!
Learn how to make Homemade Pesto Sauce with this Basil Walnut Pesto Recipe!
Pesto Ingredients
What’s in Pesto Sauce anyways? Just a few simple, delicious ingredients!
Traditional Pesto Ingredients:
- Basil
- Garlic
- Pine Nuts
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
- Parmesan Cheese
We switched things up a bit for this Basil Walnut Pesto, using walnuts in place of pine nuts.
How to make Homemade Pesto Sauce
Pesto sauce is so full of flavor, especially when you make it at home. Plus it’s super easy to make. All you need to make this Basil Walnut Pesto is your ingredients and a blender!
- Gather all of your pesto ingredients
- Throw them in the blender
- Mix to a smooth consistency (you can make it as thick or thin as you like)
And done! Now you can use your homemade pesto sauce on all of your pastas, or anything else your heart desires.
Can you put walnuts in pesto?
Yes! You can put walnuts in pesto.
Traditional Pesto is made with basil, garlic, and pine nuts (and a few other ingredients). But you can easily replace the pine nuts with another nut. In this case, we’re making pesto with walnuts. Hence, Basil Walnut Pesto!
How long does pesto last in the refrigerator?
Homemade Pesto Sauce should be stored in an airtight container to keep it fresh. It will last in the refrigerator for up to a week. But it’s really easy to make a fresh batch whenever you need it. You can also freeze your homemade pesto for about 3 months if you prefer to make a large batch.
What can you make with Pesto?
This Walnut Basil Pesto Recipe is so delicious and it goes well with so many things. You can eat pesto with pasta, fish, chicken, or any number of dishes. It makes a great topping, sauce, dip, or even a spread on sandwiches. Use just a little or a lot, either way the flavor is just too good.
Try this Basil Walnut Pesto with some of these recipes:
- Homemade Pasta from Scratch
- Baked Pesto Salmon Recipe
- Pesto Mac and Cheese
- Pesto Shrimp
- Instant Pot Chicken Bruschetta
- Pesto Pasta Salad
- Pesto Cavatappi
- Caprese Pasta Bake
Is pesto good for you?
Everyone’s definition of “healthy” seems to be a little different. In my eyes, this Basil Walnut Pesto is a pretty good thing to add to your diet.
While basil pesto sauce is a bit high in calories, it is full of good, healthy fats and lots of nutrients. And since it tastes SO GOOD, don’t feel guilty about adding it into your dishes for extra flavor (and an extra boost of those nutrients).
This flavorful Basil Walnut Pesto recipe is too good not to try. You won’t believe how easy it is to make Homemade Pesto Sauce , and once you do, you’ll want to use it on everything! I hope you love this Walnut Basil Pesto recipe as much as we do!
If you enjoyed this Basil Walnut Pesto, you’ll love these other sauces & dressings:
- Peruvian Green Sauce
- Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe
- Homemade Alfredo Sauce
- Burger Sauce
See the recipe card below for details on how to make this Basil Walnut Pesto Recipe. Enjoy!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- ▢ 2 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ 1/2 cup walnuts
- ▢ 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
- ▢ 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ▢ 1/2 cup light olive oil
Video
Instructions
- Place all ingredients for the pesto in a high powered blender or food processor.
- Blend until fully combined and the desired consistency. If it’s too thick, add a bit more oil.
- Set aside.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Walnut Basil Pesto Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 cup light olive oil
Instructions
- Place all ingredients for the pesto in a high powered blender or food processor.
- Blend until fully combined and the desired consistency. If it’s too thick, add a bit more oil.
- Set aside.
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
