17 dinners you can make with a jar of pesto

Turn a jar of pesto into quick weeknight dinners with hardly any effort. Try these 17 simple ideas to make tasty meals everyone can enjoy. Check out these speedy dishes for easy cooking and big flavor.

Air Fryer Parmesan Pesto Crusted Salmon Fillets

Three baked salmon fillets topped with melted cheese and herbs on a white plate, garnished with lemon wedges and chopped greens. — Air Fryer Parmesan Pesto Crusted Salmon Fillets. Photo credit: xoxobella.

Salmon fillets get crispy and flavorful with pesto and parmesan. Air Fryer Parmesan Pesto Crusted Salmon Fillets is ready in minutes and great for family meals. A jar helps keep prep simple.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Parmesan Pesto Crusted Salmon Fillets

Pesto Rice

Dinner comes together fast when adding a jar of pesto to cooked rice. With Pesto Rice, every meal feels easy and full of flavor. It’s perfect for busy evenings or quick side dishes.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Rice

Air Fryer Pesto Chicken Sandwich

Air fryer chicken pesto sandwich on a white plate. — Air Fryer Pesto Chicken Sandwich. Photo credit: Thriving In Parenting.

A jar of pesto adds bold flavor to easy weeknight sandwiches. Air Fryer Pesto Chicken Sandwich is ready fast and makes dinnertime simple. It works well for busy families or quick solo meals.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Pesto Chicken Sandwich

Quick & Easy Vegan Pesto

A plate of spaghetti with pesto sauce, roasted cherry tomatoes, and parsley. Fresh basil leaves and cherry tomatoes are placed on a checkered cloth beside the plate. — Quick & Easy Vegan Pesto. Photo credit: xoxobella.

Going meatless is simple when using a jar of vegan pesto for pasta. A quick dinner like Quick & Easy Vegan Pesto is good for fast meals or packed lunches. The flavor comes through without any fuss.
Get the Recipe: Quick & Easy Vegan Pesto

20-Minute Grilled Basil Pesto Chicken with Charred Tomatoes and Avocado

Plate of basil pesto chicken with grilled tomatoes and avocado slices. — 20-Minute Grilled Basil Pesto Chicken with Charred Tomatoes and Avocado. Photo credit: Renee Nicole's Kitchen.

Quick and tasty, a jar of basil pesto pairs well with grilled chicken for hearty dinners. 20-Minute Grilled Basil Pesto Chicken with Charred Tomatoes and Avocado is finished fast and full of simple flavors. It’s great when you need a satisfying meal in a hurry.
Get the Recipe: 20-Minute Grilled Basil Pesto Chicken with Charred Tomatoes and Avocado

Instant Pot Duo Crisp Pesto Smashed Potatoes

Baked potato topped with green pesto and shredded cheese, served on a white speckled plate with a fork beside it. — Instant Pot Duo Crisp Pesto Smashed Potatoes. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

Potatoes and pesto come together quickly with kitchen gadgets. Instant Pot Duo Crisp Pesto Smashed Potatoes makes dinner simple and adds a twist to usual sides. Great for fast family meals.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Duo Crisp Pesto Smashed Potatoes

Pesto Fettuccini with Bolognese Sauce

A plate of pasta with a mix of fettuccine and linguine topped with a savory tomato and meat sauce, garnished with fresh herbs. — Pesto Fettuccini with Bolognese Sauce. Photo credit: xoxobella.

Using a jar of pesto gives extra flavor to pasta and sauce. With Pesto Fettuccini with Bolognese Sauce, everything becomes quicker and more filling. It’s an easy way to upgrade dinner plans.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Fettuccini with Bolognese Sauce

Easy Garlic Scape Pesto Pizza

Overhead of garlic scape pesto pizza. — Easy Garlic Scape Pesto Pizza. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Making pizza is faster with pesto as the base spread. Easy Garlic Scape Pesto Pizza swaps classic sauce and builds a quick dinner everyone can enjoy. It’s simple to whip up in minutes.
Get the Recipe: Easy Garlic Scape Pesto Pizza

Quick and Easy Oregano Pesto Pasta

Close-up of a plate of spaghetti with creamy sauce, garnished with fresh basil and ground pepper. — Quick and Easy Oregano Pesto Pasta. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

Pasta gets a boost from a jar of oregano pesto for speedy meals. Quick and Easy Oregano Pesto Pasta is great for casual dinners or lunch at home. The prep is quick and cleanup is minimal.
Get the Recipe: Quick and Easy Oregano Pesto Pasta

Cavatelli with Arugula Pesto

A bowl of pasta with pesto, arugula, ricotta, pine nuts, and shaved cheese, surrounded by olive oil, extra pine nuts, cheese, and pesto on a green napkin. — Cavatelli with Arugula Pesto. Photo credit: xoxobella.

Using pesto with pasta is a go-to for quick meals after work. Cavatelli with Arugula Pesto brings a new taste to the plate and helps keep dinner fresh. It fits well with weeknight routines.
Get the Recipe: Cavatelli with Arugula Pesto

Avocado Pesto Pasta

Creamy and rich, a jar of pesto melts perfectly into pasta dishes. Avocado Pesto Pasta comes together quickly for dinner or leftovers. It’s ideal for busy nights when time is short.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Pesto Pasta

Pesto Tortellini Salad

A close up view of cooked tortellini pasta salad in a white bowl. — Pesto Tortellini Salad. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

A jar of pesto turns plain tortellini into Pesto Tortellini Salad that works for last-minute meals. It makes weeknight dinners a breeze and goes well with greens or bread. Great for sharing at the table.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Tortellini Salad

Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad

A glass bowl filled with tortellini pasta salad containing cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, mozzarella balls, red onion, spinach, and pesto. A small bowl of pesto and tomatoes are nearby. — Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad. Photo credit: xoxobella.

Toss pasta with a jar of pesto for a quick fix at dinnertime. Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad saves time and works well for lunch or dinner. The meal is easy to pack and serve.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad

Pesto Flatbread

An image of slices of flatbread on a serving plate. — Pesto Flatbread. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Spread pesto on flatbread to create a fast and tasty meal. Pesto Flatbread works well for weeknight dinners and is easy to customize. A jar makes everything easier and saves time.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Flatbread

Burrata with Tomatoes and Pesto

A platter of sliced heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, basil leaves, olives, pesto, and grilled bread on a wooden table. — Burrata with Tomatoes and Pesto. Photo credit: xoxobella.

A jar of pesto helps make cheese and tomatoes into a light dinner. Burrata with Tomatoes and Pesto feels special and only needs three main steps. It’s a good option for nights when you want something different.
Get the Recipe: Burrata with Tomatoes and Pesto

Trenette al Pesto

Pasta and pesto team up for a new meal that tastes great with little work. Trenette al Pesto is ready in no time and perfect for ending a busy day. It’s a classic choice for dinner with a jar of pesto.
Get the Recipe: Trenette al Pesto

Pesto Orzo Salad

A bowl of orzo salad with spinach, cherry tomatoes, and grated cheese on top. — Pesto Orzo Salad. Photo credit: Mama's on a Budget.

Toss orzo with a jar of pesto for a meal that’s quick to prepare and full of flavor. Pesto Orzo Salad is ideal for busy nights or as a fast side for any dinner. The dish is easy to mix and perfect for sharing.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Orzo Salad