Delicious condiments take any meal to the next level — and there’s just something so special about pesto that immediately brings spring and summer to mind.
No matter if you’re into classic pesto, oil-free pesto, or love to try different store-bought varieties, our list of the best vegan recipes with pesto show you fantastic uses for this green and flavorful goodness!
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Best Vegan Recipes with Pesto
High-Protein Vegan Pesto Pasta
This high-protein vegan pesto pasta is veggie-loaded, bursting with flavor and easy to make on a weekday!Â
Smothered in creamy, protein-rich pesto sauce, this 30-minute dinner will have your family licking their plates.
Veggie-Loaded Cauliflower Pizza
Have you tried swapping tomato sauce on your pizza for pesto? It makes for a delicious twist, especially if you use creamy legume-based pesto.
Our potato and cauliflower pizza crust is grain-free and loaded with veggies!
Wild Garlic Pesto & Pea Risotto
This delicious vegan risotto calls for wild garlic pesto that’s swirled through the dish to make it extra flavorful.
Harvest this seasonal ingredient yourself or swap it for spinach, parsley or arugula to prepare this pesto-laden risotto!
Vegan Pesto Grilled Cheese
If you’re up for a little twist on your vegan grilled cheese, try making your next one with some delicious pesto!
Additionally, this recipe features a balsamic drizzle, vegan mozzarella and marinated sun-dried tomatoes. Oh, my!
Vegetable Pesto Pasta Salad
This delicious pesto pasta salad with roasted vegetables comes together in just 30 minutes and tastes so delicious!Â
Simple to make and perfect for picnics or weeknight dinners, this recipe needs to find a way into your weekly rotation.
Pesto Stuffed Crust Pizza
Everyone will LOVE this vegan mozzarella and pesto-stuffed pizza crust! Topped with tangy marinara, onion, peppers, olives and fresh pesto, this pizza is so moreish.
Try it for a special occasion and serve to non-vegan guests!
Cheesy Vegan Stuffed Mushroom Burgers
Speaking of meat eater-approved vegan pesto recipes: this juicy and meaty portobello mushroom burger is stuffed with mozzarella shreds and fried to crispy, melty perfection.
Layer between soft and airy buns with red onion, tomato and leafy greens!
Cauliflower Gnocchi with Pesto
Try this easy 20-minute dinner idea if you love gnocchi!Â
You can choose store-bought cauliflower or potato gnocchi for the base and serve them alongside crispy roasted broccoli, baby spinach and flavorful vegan pesto.
Roasted Vegetable Pasta with Pesto
Roasted vegetables and pasta go together so well! Add pesto into the mix and you’re ready to create a super satisfying meal.
This oil-free recipe is packed with flavor, nutrients and takes no time to make.
Vegan Pesto Ricotta Pizza
Another match made in heaven is pesto and ricotta! This simple homemade pizza allows the two of them to shine.
Using store-bought or homemade pizza dough, marinara sauce, cherry tomatoes and the two aforementioned toppings, this recipe is easy and delicious!
Vegan Pesto Potato Salad
This creamy vegan pesto potato salad makes for the perfect spring recipe!
New potatoes are tossed in a homemade pesto and mayonnaise dressing to create a zesty, nutty and flavorful side dish.
Vegan Omelet with Avocado Pesto
This savory and protein-packed chickpea omelet is really flavorful, stuffed with veggies and topped with avocado pesto.
Try it for breakfast or brunch and customize it to your liking with a filling of your choice!
Vegan Pesto Pizza Bites
Ready for big, bold flavors packed into little bites? This pizza-style appetizer is loved by kids and adults alike and is perfect for any party or get-together.
Only 4 simple ingredients and 20 minutes total are needed to make this recipe!
Grilled Cauliflower Steaks
Cauliflower steaks are delicious enough as they are — but if you pair them with flavorful pesto, they are unbeatable!
Flavored with delicious herbs and spices, then grilled to perfection, they make for a great meatless side.
Easy Pinwheels Appetizer
This delightful appetizer requires only 3 ingredients to make and is ready in 30 minutes total!
Sun-dried tomatoes, pesto and crescent roll sheets team up for these crowd-pleasing party pinwheels that are especially great during the holiday season.
Vegan Tofu Scramble
Have you ever tried tofu scramble with pesto? This tasty protein-rich recipe pairs wonderfully with toast, fruit and roasted potatoes and is ready in under 30 minutes.
Try it for your next brunch or as a breakfast for dinner!
Vegan Poke Bowl
This colorful vegan poke bowl is rich in nutrients, easily customizable and perfect for meal prep!
You’ll love the combination of quinoa, cherry tomatoes, edamame, avocado, pesto, among other tasty ingredients.
Tomato Basil Pesto Pasta
Ready for the quickest dinner ever? This creamy vegan pesto pasta is ready to enjoy in only 10 minutes from start to finish — even though you’ll be making your own pesto!
So perfect for making during busy weeknights or for taking with you as a leftover lunch.
More Vegan Recipes
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15+ Delicious Vegan Recipes with Pesto
If you love creamy dishes and bold flavors, you need to try these hand-selected vegan recipes with pesto! These unique ideas include pasta, pizza, sandwiches, appetizers and more. The following appetizer takes only 15 minutes to make and is surprisingly delicious.
Ingredients
Zucchini Pesto Bites
- 3 zucchini
- Salt & pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup oil-free pesto
- Toothpicks
Instructions
- Using a sharp knife or a mandoline, slice the zucchini into ⅛ inch thick slices. Sprinkle each side with salt and pepper, then place your slices on a heated grill for 30-60 seconds.
- Once all the slices have been seared, transfer them to a plate.
- Make the bean-based pesto following our recipe mentioned above.
- Once all of the components are ready, place a spoonful of pesto on each zucchini slice, then roll it up into a little roll.
- Repeat with all of the others, then serve immediately!
Notes
- If your slices are a lot thicker or thinner than ⅛ inch, the zucchini won’t stand up or won’t be flexible enough to roll!
- If the zucchini rolls don’t keep together, use a toothpick.
- Find 15+ more vegan recipes with pesto in the article above!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: â…™ recipeAmount Per Serving: Calories: 65Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 118mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 3gSugar: 2gProtein: 4g
Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated automatically, their accuracy is not guaranteed. Just focus on whole plant-based foods and eat until satiety!
Alena Schowalter is a Certified Vegan Nutritionist who has been a vegetarian since childhood and vegan since 2012. Together with her husband, she founded nutriciously in 2015 and has been guiding thousands of people through different transition stages towards a healthy plant-based diet. She’s received training in the fields of nutrition, music therapy and social work. Alena enjoys discussions around vegan ethics, walks through nature and creating new recipes.
If you love creamy dishes and bold flavors, you need to try these hand-selected vegan recipes with pesto! Our unique ideas include pasta, pizza, sandwiches, appetizers and more.