Spinach Pesto

This spinach pesto recipe is perfect for pasta, pizzas, and sandwiches. It’s healthy, easy to make, and only takes 10 minutes. 

Pesto is one of my favorite sauces. It’s so bright and vibrant, and you can use it on so many different foods. This spinach pesto just might be the best pesto I’ve ever had. It’s jam-packed with fresh flavors, but it’s super healthy and easy to make.

This pesto still has a ton of basil, but it’s also loaded with spinach. That makes it healthier than traditional pesto and also gives it a slightly milder flavor, which I prefer. Sometimes pesto can be a little bit too intense, but this sauce is perfectly balanced and smooth. You’ve got to try it.

Why You’ll Love This Fresh Spinach Pesto

There are a lot of reasons to make this homemade pesto. Here are a few reasons why I know you’ll really love it. 

• Cheaper. Pesto is a simple sauce, but it can often be really expensive to make. But not this recipe! Pesto traditionally uses pine nuts, which are one of the most expensive ingredients in the grocery store. This recipe uses toasted walnuts instead, which I think makes the pesto taste just as good but for a fraction of the cost. Spinach is also quite a bit cheaper than basil, so this sauce is so much more affordable than most pestos.
• Healthy. Traditional pesto isn’t unhealthy, but it’s not nearly as healthy as this spinach pesto. Spinach is one of the healthiest ingredients that you can eat, so loading this sauce with it makes it a lot healthier. 
• Easy. This is such a simple recipe to make. All you have to do is throw the ingredients in a food processor, blitz them up, and you’re done! The entire recipe only takes 10 minutes, max. 

Ingredients Needed

Here’s everything you’ll need to make this zesty spinach and walnut pesto recipe. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page to see the exact amount for each of the ingredients.

• Spinach – Make sure to use fresh spinach for this recipe.
• Basil
• Garlic
• Walnuts – You’ll want to use toasted walnuts that are unsalted.
• Parmesan cheese
• Salt
• Pepper – Always use freshly ground black pepper.
• Olive oil

How to Make Spinach Pesto

Here’s how to make this amazing 10-minute sauce. 

• Add the dry ingredients. Put the spinach, basil, garlic, walnuts, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper in a food processor.
• Process. Run the food processor until the ingredients are finely chopped.

• Add the oil. While the food processor is running, slowly add the olive oil. Keep adding the oil until the pesto is your desired consistency.

• Store and serve. Transfer the pesto to an airtight container and it’s ready to be eaten! 

Tips and Tricks

Here are some tips that you can use when making this spinach walnut pesto to make sure it comes out perfectly every time. 

• Get a good toast on the walnuts. Toasting the walnuts is one of the keys to this recipe. If you have store-bought toasted walnuts, feel free to use those. But if not, the best way to toast walnuts is by placing them on a baking sheet in an oven at 350F and cooking for 8-10 minutes. Make sure to check every few minutes to see how the walnuts are doing. They should be very fragrant, but you don’t want them to smell at all burnt. 
• Use fresh cheese. There’s a pretty big difference between pre-shredded parmesan cheese and parmesan that you grate yourself. Your spinach pesto will be much better if you buy a block of parmesan and shred it when you make this recipe, instead of using the store-bought stuff that’s less fresh.
• Don’t over-process. When you’re chopping the dry ingredients in the food processor, make sure not to over-process. You want to process the ingredients until they’re finely chopped and then stop. If you keep running the food processor after that point, the ingredients will start to break down, and the pesto won’t have a good consistency. Only turn the food processor back on when you’re ready to add the oil.
• Adjust the seasoning at the end. Because this recipe has parmesan cheese, which is salty, I only add a small amount of salt. Once you’re done making the pesto, taste it and see if it needs more salt or pepper. 

How to Serve It 

I put this pesto in or on everything. It’s great as a pasta sauce or a pizza sauce, as a condiment on sandwiches or wraps, or just to dip vegetables in. Here are some of my favorite recipes that use pesto. Substitute some spinach pesto for the store-bought pesto in these recipes, and the dishes will be taken to the next level.

• Chicken Pesto Wraps
• Pesto Cavatappi
• Creamy Pesto Tortellini
• Chicken Pesto Pasta
• Pesto Chicken Burgers 

How to Store Leftover Spinach Pesto

This pesto will last in the fridge for up to a week, as long as you store it in an airtight container. The oil might separate from the other ingredients a little bit, in which case just give it a stir before using it.

Can You Freeze This Recipe?

Absolutely! Put this spinach pesto in an airtight container and you can store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before using.

More Easy and Healthy Sauces 

I’m a big fan of sauces. They can be the difference between a good meal and a great meal. Here are some more of my favorite sauces that you should try making.

• Homemade Enchilada Sauce
• Hot Fudge Sauce
• Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce
• Easy Raspberry Sauce
• Tzatziki Sauce
• Spicy Cajun Dipping Sauce
• Copycat Red Lobster Tartar Sauce

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