Endless Pestobillities: 10 Ways to Incorporate Pesto

Written by Gabby Sadowski | Illustration by Jordan Schek

Have you ever bitten into a sandwich and been rewarded with the taste of green, garlicky goodness? That bright green spread was most likely pesto. With its roots in Genoa, a region in Northern Italy, pesto traditionally consists of crushed garlic, basil and pine nuts. This delectable trio is then blended with parmesan cheese and olive oil. Pesto is one of the most versatile spreads and can be incorporated into almost any dish! And increasingly, pesto has been making its way into so many dishes and recipes. The rich herby taste of pesto adds a surprising burst of flavor to any meal!

While the traditional pesto recipe is pure perfection, some people are taking culinary liberties and adding their own unique twists. Kale, broccoli and even cilantro are taking the place of basil and taking pesto to new heights. With all these choices, there are endless ways to incorporate this spread into your next meal. With so many options, we have decided to highlight our top 10 ways you can add pesto to your next meal.

Why not ditch the marinara sauce and mix up your next pasta dish by adding pesto! The heavenly coat of pesto will add new flavor to your tortellini, gnocchi or pappardelle dish.

This combo blew up on TikTok, and we just had to try it. Pesto eggs take breakfast or brunch to the next level. When scrambling or frying eggs, add pesto! It is a great way to spice up your traditional scrambled egg dish.

Move over white pizza. Pesto pizza is on the rise, as the strong garlic and beautiful green hue adds depth to any pizza.

One of the most classic ways to incorporate pesto is on a sandwich. A classic sandwich combo of pesto, tomato and mozzarella - you can't go wrong!

Everyone loves guacamole and pesto, so why not combine them? Spice up your traditional guacamole by adding some pesto! It makes a great dip for tortilla chips, veggies or bread.

Pesto makes a great soup garnish. Adding pesto creates a garlicky, herby flavor that adds the element of surprise to a warm soup.

Pesto can be incorporated into salad dressing too! It adds a fresh lemon, garlicky flavor to any salad!

Who needs avocado toast, when you can use pesto instead. Our favorite bread for pesto is focaccia.

Combine the ultimate comfort food with the flavor of pesto, and you will have a must-have meal for years to come.

Pesto can be stuffed in all sorts of meats, such as chicken, pork chops and tenderloin.