This Veggie Pesto Pasta is a healthy and simple way to enjoy pasta that is packed with homemade walnut pesto and roasted zucchinis for a serving of vegetables! This recipe can be made with regular pasta, gluten-free pasta or grain-free pasta!

Veggie pesto pasta in a white bowl topped with parmesan cheese

Vegetarian Pesto Pasta with Zucchini

I’ve got an amazing simple weeknight dinner for you today, Veggie Pesto Pasta!

This recipe is perfect to make in the summer while there is an abundance of fresh local Basil and Zucchinis available at the farmer’s market! (of course, you can make this dish year-round too.) Pesto is one of my favourite vegetarain sauces (does pesto qualify as a sauce?) to make during the summer that can be used for anything from a pesto pasta salad to a pesto pizza.

This Veggie Pesto Pasta features one of my favourite green vegetables, zucchini! Zucchini is out in abundance right now for the summertime, and nothing pairs better with pesto than some roasted zucchini! (In my humble opinion.) I

If you’re not a fan of zucchini and peas, you can try out some other summer vegetables instead. Asparagus and spinach, or even brussels sprouts would be delicious! Adding in veggies to this dish makes it a little more healthy so you get your serving of veggies in!

Ingredient list

  • Pasta: Any kind you like! Pesto goes great with any kind of pasta. You can also keep it gluten-free or grain-free if needed.
  • Pesto: This recipe is made with my homemade walnut pesto. If needed you can always use store-bought, but I highly recommend homemade for the best results! If you prefer you can even try it with some Kale Pesto.
  • Zucchini: This pairs so well with pesto and will add in that extra serving of veggies. You can also feel free to add any other vegetables you love to this recipe.
  • Parmesan cheese: Optional, but highly recommended to top off the pasta!

How to make pesto pasta

Start by preparing the Walnut Pesto by mixing all the pesto ingredients together in a food processor. The recipe for the pesto will be linked in the recipe card below.

  • Basil walnuts, garlic and Parmesan cheese in a food processor
  • Walnut pesto in a food processor

Roast the zucchini in the oven and cook the pasta according to package directions. Then add the zucchini and 1/3 cup of the pesto to the pot of pasta.

  • Noodles, roasted zucchini and pesto in a white pot
  • Pesto pasta with zucchini in a white pot

Taste and adjust seasoning if needed with some salt and pepper, or add more pesto if you like! Then serve topped with parmesan cheese.

  • Noodles with pesto on them in a white pot
  • Pesto pasta in a bowl with a fork in it

Other veggies you can add

There are so many variations of veggies you can add in to this pasta. Feel free to play around and add in whatever you like!

  • Roasted broccoli
  • Roasted peppers
  • Peas
  • Grilled asparagus
  • Sautéed rapini
  • Sautéed mushrooms

Tips for making this recipe perfectly

  • Don’t forget to salt the pasta water! This is an important step to infuse flavour right into the noodles themselves and will make the dish taste extra flavourful. You should add about 2 tbsp per gallon of water.
  • Add as much pesto as you like for your personal taste. You can always add more pesto if you like your pasta saucier.
  • Want to make this into creamy pesto pasta? Add in a splash of cream when mixing everything together.

Storage tips

  • Store leftover pasta in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave. You can also store the noodles and the pesto separately, and add them together when you are ready to serve.
  • Store leftover pesto in a jar in the fridge for up to 7 days, or in the freezer. The best way to freeze the pesto is by adding the pesto to an icecube tray and topping each cube with olive oil to coat. (This will prevent the pesto from turning brown.) Let freeze completely them remove the cubes and store them in a ziplock bag in the freezer.
A bowl of veggie pesto pasta with a small bowl of Parmesan cheese on the side

More pasta recipes to try

If you tried this Veggie Pesto Pasta or any other recipe on the blog let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for even more deliciousness!

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Pesto pasta in a bowl with a fork in it

Veggie Pesto Pasta

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  • Author: Jessica Hoffman
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Cook
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Diet: Vegetarian
Print Recipe

Description

This Veggie Pesto Pasta is loaded with walnut and basil pesto and roasted zucchini for a delicious meal!

Ingredients

Units Scale

Walnut Pesto: 

  • 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
  • 1/3 cup walnuts
  • 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1/4–1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tbsp lemon juice

Pasta: 

  • 6 oz pasta of choice (approx 2 servings)
  • 1 zucchini
  • 1/2 tbsp olive oil
  • Parmesan cheese to top (optional)

Instructions

  1. Make the pesto: start by preparing the walnut pesto. Add all the pesto ingredients to a food processor and pulse until smooth and creamy. (scape down the sides of the food processor as needed to make sure everything gets blended.) 
  2. Roast the zucchini: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. cut the zucchini into half circles then toss with 1/2 tbsp of olive oil. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper then spread the zucchini onto the baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. 
  3. Prepare the pasta: cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain the pasta and add in the roasted zucchini and 1/3 cup pesto. Toss together on the stove-top on medium-low heat until combined and warmed through. Serve immediately topped with Parmesan cheese.

Equipment

Notes

  • For more detailed instructions and information on how to make the pesto, you can refer to my Easy Walnut Pesto recipe here.
  • Salt your pasta water to infuse the pasta with flavour.
  • You can add more or less pesto to the pasta depending on your personal taste. If you prefer a creamy pesto pasta, you can also add in a splash of cream.
  • Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary depending on how much pesto you add to the dish.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/2 recipe
  • Calories: 550
  • Fat: 30g
  • Carbohydrates: 52g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 5g

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