Healthy Pesto Pasta

Turn that craving for carbs into a yummy meal with this Healthy Pesto Pasta recipe that is simple to prepare! Ready in just over 30 minutes this pasta dinner recipe is bursting with flavor from pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, broccoli and Parmesan cheese.

We also love mushroom stroganoff, penne with broccoli, pasta with zucchini and tomatoes and this list of 45 healthy pasta recipes.

This healthy pesto pasta is one of the most popular recipes on iFoodReal. And there is a good reason for that – it’s fresh, light, flavorful, loaded with veggies and then topped with fresh Parmesan cheese for balance!

It comes together in less than 30 minutes from prep to clean up, just like our Tuscan chicken pasta and healthy chicken alfredo.

Part of what makes this pasta recipe so quick and easy is using your favourite store-bought pesto sauce. If you have a jar of homemade or you don’t mind taking the time to make your own, go for it! Save your leftover pesto for this ground turkey skillet or pesto chicken. Because carbs one day equals low carbs the next!

Why Make This Healthy Pesto Pasta Recipe?

• Creamy sauce: Using some of the pasta water combined with pesto makes a creamy flavorful sauce that isn’t loaded with calories!
• Fresh ingredients: This healthy pasta swaps heavy meat and dairy for light and fresh vegetables.
• Enjoy year round: Summer inspired but ingredients are easily found year-round!
• Versatile: Swap vegetables and pasta shape for what you have on hand.
• Gluten-free and dairy-free friendly: Use your favorite gluten free pasta and skip the parmesan for dairy free!
• Simple and quick: With store bought pesto, you save time in the kitchen and dinner is ready in just over 30 minutes.

Is Pasta Healthy?

So, this question. I’m sure if you ask the millions Italians if pasta is healthy they may have a thought or two! I know it’s white pasta and it might seem like an oxymoron to show up in “a healthy pasta recipe,” but here’s the scoop.

• First, you’re loading it up with veggies: You can never go wrong with including more vegetables in your diet.
• Second, you can use ANY pasta you want: Gluten free, whole wheat, brown rice, quinoa, kamut pasta. You name it! Pictured is my kids’ favourite (organic if I can find) Garofalo brand from Costco. It’s one of the best quality pasta I ever tried.
• Third, cook your pasta only until it reaches al dente. As is durum pasta has a low glycemic index, which is retained if only cooked to al dente. Overcooked pasta causes the GI index to rise. 
• And fourth, please friends, don’t forget that “health” has many components: Getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, exercise and avoiding stress.  So, go have a nap, drink a glass of water, do some yoga, then reward yourself with a bowl of pasta for dinner.

Is Pesto Healthy?

It can absolutely be incredibly healthy, especially if you use homemade pesto or spinach pesto. If using store-bought, try to find one with as fewer additives as possible. All there is to a basic pesto is olive oil, basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts and salt. I like Costco brand because it doesn’t contain GMO canola oil and has clean simple ingredients. Not to mention is a good deal!

Ingredients for Healthy Pesto Pasta Recipe

• Pasta: Any shape noodle, any type, uncooked.

• Veggies: Broccoli florets, coarsely chopped. Sun-dried tomatoes (dry or packed in oil), thinly sliced. Grape tomatoes halved.
• Pesto sauce: Store-bought or homemade pesto, divided. Pasta water, reserved.

• Seasoning: Garlic cloves, minced. Salt. Red pepper flakes. Ground black pepper, to taste.
• Oil: Extra virgin olive oil.
• Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

What Is the Best Parmesan Cheese?

As with any cheese, freshly grated is the way to go. Pre-packaged usually comes with a lot of extra junk. So, forego the shaker-faker, it’s full of additives like cellulose (a fibre extracted by wood fibre, if you can believe it) and other garbage.

Buy a hunk of fresh Parmigiano Reggiano, grate a good amount at a time and then refrigerate in an airtight container for a few weeks. Freeze the rest of the hunk and use grated cheese to sprinkle simple spaghetti recipe and minestrone soup.

How to Make Healthy Pesto Pasta

• Prep: Cook your pasta as per package directions. Because this tomato pesto pasta dish cooks fast, you want to gather your ingredients and have them ready to go, especially if you are using gluten-free pasta as it cooks faster. Timing is everything for ultimate flavour and an al dente texture to the pasta.

Salt your pasta water: As the saying goes ‘salt the pot, not the pasta’. When you salt your water – just as it is coming to a boil – and then cook your pasta in the salted water, it will absorb the salt and add that extra touch of flavor to your pasta dinner recipe!

What if you forget to salt your water? Toss the salt right in after draining, it won’t be the same, but the salt will melt and be absorbed by the pasta.

• Saute veggies: While pasta is cooking, saute garlic in olive oil for a few seconds. Stir frequently. Add a bit of pesto and tomatoes and give it a stir. Continue cooking for a couple of minutes and stir again. Move ingredients to one side of the skillet, making sure the empty spot is right above the heat. Add a bit of pesto and broccoli to the empty spot in the skillet and cook stirring once.

• Drain pasta: When pasta is finished cooking, drain and reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Set pasta aside.
• Combine: Remove the skillet from the heat and add the remaining pesto. Toss in the sun-dried tomatoes, salt, black pepper, red pepper, flakes, pasta, and pasta water. Stir gently to combine and let the flavours meld together, and watch how creamy and delicious this becomes. At this point, you can add in half of the freshly grated Parmesan cheese and save the other half for sprinkling right before serving.

Optional Add-In’s and Variations

• Fresh basil: A delicious basil pesto sauce is an awesome start, but why not throw in a few fresh basil leaves for an added burst of fresh herbs!
• Serve a crowd: Easily double this recipe to serve a larger crowd. Summer BBQs have a new star of the show! Healthy tuna pasta salad is another crowd pleaser!
• Protein: For added protein, throw in some grilled shrimp skewers or baked turkey meatballs.
• Veggies: Instead of, or in addition to, the broccoli, you can add in some kale, bell peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms.
• Frozen broccoli: If you are using frozen broccoli, you don’t need to thaw first. Just toss it in and cook until thawed right in the skillet. Because it was frozen, keep an extra eye out so that it doesn’t get overcooked and mushy.
• A burst of citrus: Squeeze a little lemon juice in with your pesto sauce and enjoy a little extra bright flavour to this dish. A lovely balance to the earthy herbed pesto.
• Dairy-free/vegetarian: Skip the parmesan or use a good quality vegan parmesan that is able to be grated, such as Violife.

Tips for Best Results

• Stir the pasta: Usually within the first 2 minutes of cooking. This will prevent it from clumping.
• Cook, then test: The best timer is your mouth! A minute or two before your pasta timer goes off, starting testing your pasta. Remove from pot, place on plate, let it cool then taste it. If it it retains a slight firm bite, your pasta is al dente and ready. 
• Don’t drain all the pasta water: Using some of the pasta water in the sauce adds flavor and helps glue the pasta and sauce together. It’s a great way to thicken your sauce without the use of flour, cornstarch etc! 
• Skip rinsing your pasta after it cooks: The starch on the surface of the pasta helps the sauce adhere and gives the pasta dinner dish additional flavor! If you rinse the pasta, all that starch goes down the drain! 
• Do not cover your skillet: Unless you like mushy broccoli…but this dish really tastes better with broccoli that is tender yet has a slight bite.
• Freshly and high quality ingredients: It’s worth mentioning again that the freshest ingredients will add the most flavor including fresh grated parmesan, garlic and a high quality pasta.

FAQs

Serving Recommendations

As much as my family loves this as a main pasta dinner recipe, there are many other ways you can enjoy it!

• As a side dish: A smaller portion is great when served with turkey burger recipe, lemon baked cod or choose one of 65 healthy chicken recipes!
• Toss it with a protein: Keep it plant based with crispy fried tofu recipe or use one of the easiest healthy chicken breast recipes.
• Along with a side salad: Veggies lovers rejoice! Serve this veggie loaded pesto pasta with lemon kale salad, lettuce salad recipe, spinach salad or even grilled romaine.
• With a simple soup: Such as healthy tomato soup or zuppa toscana.

When I feel like making olive oil bread dip or charcuterie as a starter, no one ever complains!

Making It in Advance

Store: This amazing pasta dish will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days for healthy lunch ideas.

Freeze: If you have leftovers or made more than enough, you can definitely freeze it for up to 3 months.

Reheat: To reheat, thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stovetop on low-medium heat. Add a bit more pesto if needed. OR! Eat it cold straight out of the fridge and enjoy a pasta salad.

More Healthy Pasta Recipes

• Creamy chicken spinach pasta
• Ground turkey pasta bake
• Pasta e fagioli
• Ground turkey and broccoli pasta
• Tiktok baked feta pasta
• One pot spaghetti

Also, browse 65 healthy recipes for dinner for more inspiration!