This classic basil pesto recipe is nutty and bright. We love it on pasta, pizza, and more! See the post above for my favorite pesto sauce variations.
Prep time: PT5M
Total time: PT5M
Rating
4.86 stars (656 reviews)
Keywords
Basil pesto, Pesto, Pesto recipe, Pesto sauce
Ingredients
½ cup toasted pine nuts
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 small garlic clove
¼ teaspoon sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 cups basil leaves
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil (plus more for a smoother pesto)
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Categories
condiment
Cuisine
Italian
Steps
In a food processor, combine the pine nuts, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper and pulse until well chopped.
Add the basil and pulse until combined.
With the food processor running, drizzle in the olive oil and pulse until combined. Add the Parmesan cheese, if using, and pulse to briefly combine. For a smoother pesto, add more olive oil.
Reviews
Robin on 2026-09-22 17:55:19 (5 stars): This pesto recipe is PERFECTION….thank you so much!
Chris on 2026-09-08 22:10:29 (5 stars): This is a great recipe, I love the hint of lemon. Easy to make and delicious!
Mere on 2026-09-04 13:54:15 (5 stars): Wow, I was unsure about the amount of lemon (not a fan of citrus) but this is the BEST pesto recipe I’ve ever made. Absolutely delicious, cannot recommend enough!!!
Kay on 2026-09-03 11:21:07 (5 stars): Great recipe and use of our basil plants.
Emma on 2026-08-24 09:53:30 (5 stars): I’ve tried making pesto lots of times and I usually don’t like it. I decided to try one more time and I’m glad I did! It’s delicious :)
I’m too cheap to buy pine nuts so I used toasted walnuts instead and it as great.
Becki McSwain on 2026-08-23 19:34:07 (5 stars): This pesto is light and fresh and delicious. Best pesto I’ve ever had.
Patty on 2026-08-23 14:46:56 (5 stars): I love the lemon touch, which keeps it from blackening so quickly. I triple the amount of garlic called for.
Laurie on 2026-08-23 08:36:20 (5 stars): I used this recipe last year to make a ton of pesto. I have a silicon cookie dough form tray for the freezer. It's the perfect size to just pop in to your recipes. It's almost time to make it again this year and I can't wait!
Greg on 2026-08-21 09:42:51 (5 stars): I think you probably didn't follow the directions. This pesto is very good and not bland at all.
andrea on 2026-08-20 15:57:41 (5 stars): Hi, I made this yesterday as written, and it turned out fantastic. Thank you very much for posting.
