Easy Spinach Pesto Recipe (2024)

Home > Recipes > Easy Spinach Pesto Recipe

By Amy Roskelley

Published on June 27, 2012

48 Comments

Jump to Recipe

This flavorful spinach pesto is simple to make with budget-friendly ingredients, and it packs spinach into your kids’ meals in a picky-eater friendly way! Try this pesto on whole wheat pasta, chicken, or sandwiches.

Pesto is tasty and nutritious, and there are lots of variations to try beyond traditional basil pesto! Spinach makes a mild, delicious base for pesto that appeals to kids and is budget-friendly, too.

Why We Love Spinach Pesto

It’s super nutritious! Spinach is rich in iron and vitamins that kids need to grow and thrive.
It tastes mild. Spinach pesto is flavorful without being overpowering, so kids are more likely to say “yum!” when they try it.
It’s budget-friendly. This pesto uses spinach in place of basil, and walnuts in place of pine nuts, so it’s an affordable addition to your regular meal rotation.
It stays green. Spinach pesto doesn’t oxidize and turn brown as quickly as basil pesto, so you can enjoy bright, fresh-looking pesto for days.

How to Make Spinach Pesto

This delicious spread is simple to make in just minutes with your food processor. Just add all the ingredients to your processor and process until smooth!

If you like a coarsely-ground pesto, process the pesto for a shorter amount of time. If you prefer a finer consistency to your pesto, just keep pureeing until you get to the consistency you like.

We recommend waiting until your pesto is made before adding salt. Parmesan cheese is quite salty on its own, so you may not need much!

Ideas for Using Spinach Pesto

Use your pesto to add flavor to all kinds of dishes!

Make “Green Goblin Pasta” with a spoonful of pesto stirred in, and extra Parmesan cheese for sprinkling
Spread pesto on grilled chicken or pork for a pop of flavor.
Use pesto as a sandwich spread.
Add a spoonful of pesto to soups for added taste and vitamins.

More Fresh Spinach Recipes to Try

Sweet Spinach Muffins
Sweet Spinach Pancakes
Cheesy One Pot Chicken and Rice with Spinach

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

3.1 from 50 votes

Spinach Pesto

Fresh, flavorful pesto is delicious on pasta, chicken, and sandwiches!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time0 minutes mins

Total Time10 minutes mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: 6 servings

Equipment

food processor

Ingredients

3 cups fresh spinach packed
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 clove garlic chopped
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Place all ingredients except salt and pepper in a food processor a process until the pesto reaches your desired consistency.
Taste the pesto and add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately!

Keyword : pesto, quick and easy, spinach, vegetarian

www.superhealthykids.com

Natalie Monson

I'm a registered dietitian, mom of 4, avid lover of food and strong promoter of healthy habits. Here you will find lots of delicious recipes full of fruits and veggies, tips for getting your kids to eat better and become intuitive eaters and lots of resources for feeding your family.

Learn More about Natalie

Do you know if it matters whether I use regular spinach or baby spinach?

I’m also wondering if this would taste alright leaving the nuts out? Daycare is nut-free. thanks!

Either spinach is fine @Jamie-
@jenilee and @deborah- you could leave the nuts out, but then it wouldn’t really be pesto.

Also could what could you use to substitute the parm cheese? My daughter is allergic to dairy 🙁 She LOVES pesto (before the allergy) and I’m struggling to find an alternative!

Scratch that- someone on facebook just mentioned they use sunflower seeds in place of nuts! HOpe that helps #jenilee and @deborah

But from what i have read we should avoid diary ( cheese) when we want to have good absorption of iron. So isn’ t the parmesan counterbalancing the iron in spinach?

Georgia, while iron absorption is decreased when consuming spinach with cheese, it is also enhanced by the vitamin C of the spinach. However, healthy kids who eat a varied diet, the amount of iron inhibition is usually not of concern.

Also, many healthy foods contain iron absorption inhibitors.No need to cut these foods out of your child’s diet. Iron absorption in healthy individuals will still happen.

Thanks!

Can I use pistachio instead of walnuts?

Maybe you could use seeds instead?

To” hide” spinach, kale or any green vegetable, use beets, you don’t need to cook it or peel it. Just wash it good and add to your mix. I use a Vitamix which I very powerful. Cut only the size of the tip of your thumb. Your smoothie would turn red. Used spinach liquefied in a potato puré and you will get green mash potato.

And perhaps Pumpkin seeds as they are high in iron too?
Yummy looking recipe, I’m making this tonight!
🙂

I tried this for a quick lunch to energize my daughter before swim class…..I added grilled chicken breast and chopped up broccoli, and she loved it! THANKS

Wrong wrong wrong it suppose to be half a plate of vegetables !! The food group is vegetables and fruit. Give more vegetables fruit has sugar in it.
Know more before you post

Is the leftover pesto freezable?

Would this pack well for a school lunch or should it be kept chilled?

Have you tried freezing the pesto? I love freezer meals!!

We send it to school without an ice pack! My kids haven’t complained! 🙂 @Cassi

I understand you can freeze pesto @heather- but I haven’t tried it. We usually eat it all!

Can I use frozen spinach instead? And how,much of it?

Can i use frozen spinach instead of fresh? And how much would it be?

You can Maggie- It’s up to you how spinachy you want it, but you would need a lot less.

I used Nutritional Yeast instead of cheese and it was great

How many servings of pasta would I cook for this recipe?

I would use 4 ounces of pasta Sami!

My son is allergic to ealnuts & pecans. Could I use pine nuts instead?

I meant walnuts

Hi Katie- I haven’t tried it with walnuts. If you do, let me know. I imagine it would still be good!

Another momma asked but didn’t get an answer, we have a dairy allergy, what would be a good sub for the cheese? 🙂 ty

I read somewhere that spinach has less bioavailability when eaten raw…

OMG, this was delicious. My son could not get enough of it and kept saying this is the ‘best pesto ever’. Thanks again for this amazing blog. Love love your recipes

I thought I read somewhere that dairy from the cheese, and walnuts block iron absorption…

FAQs

Why is my spinach pesto bitter? ›

The most common reason for pesto tasting bitter is that the olive oil is past its best and has started to turn rancid.

Discover More ›

What cuts bitterness in pesto? ›

Anything sugary will work: granulated white sugar, honey, fruit juices, even sweet dessert wines. Acid in the form of vinegar or citrus juices can make a pesto taste less bitter and could even enhance the flavour of the sauce at the same time.

Keep Reading ›

What keeps pesto from turning brown? ›

Browning happens most readily at neutral pH, so making the pesto's pH more acidic can help slow down this process. We found that lemon juice, which contains both citric and ascorbic acid, preserved the pesto's green color without compromising its flavor, adding just a hint of pleasant acidity.

Find Out More ›

Why do I feel bad after eating pesto? ›

Pesto, a savory blend of basil, pine nuts, Parmesan, garlic, and olive oil, carries potential allergens. Individuals with nut allergies, especially to pine nuts, face serious risks as reactions may range from mild discomfort to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition.

Discover More Details ›

Why does my homemade pesto taste bad? ›

Bitterness in pesto comes from the nuts, not the basil. Nuts contain a bitter substance known as tannin, usually found in the skin surrounding nutmeats after they are shelled. To eliminate bitterness, make sure you remove as much of the skin surrounding the nuts. If you you use walnuts like I do, that can be a chore.

Learn More Now ›

How do you make pesto taste better? ›

Add a pinch of salt if the basil tastes too bitter or the pesto needs more zing. Add more Parmesan if you'd like a creamier/cheesier pesto. If desired, you can thin out the pesto with more olive oil.

See Details ›

Should you add sugar to pesto? ›

No, don ́t add sugar. Fresh basil, fresh garlic, good quality olive oil, salt, pepper and freshly grated parmesan, plus pinenuts if they ́re not too expensive, but almonds are cheaper and just as effective.

How do you make pesto taste sweeter? ›

Adding a small amount of acidity (lemon juice or vinegar) and balancing that with a little sweetness (sugar or honey) is the best way to take the edge off a pesto that tastes overwhelmingly of garlic. Almost every cuisine on earth makes use of garlic, and it's a vital component in pesto.

Are cashews or almonds better for pesto? ›

Cashew for their creamy texture, and almonds for their flavour. The pesto turned out great, taking on some different flavours from the nuts, but still providing the classic flavour thanks to an abundance of basil, parmesan, and a squeeze of lemon.

Discover More ›

What pasta is best for pesto? ›

Pesto Sauce

This fresh and fragrant pasta sauce is served uncooked, so choose a pasta shape that won't overwhelm it. Similar to oil-based sauces, pesto is served best with longer cuts of pasta, like the corkscrew shape of Fusilli. Pesto works best with Bucatini, Capellini, thinner Spaghettini, and Fettuccine.

Get More Info Here ›

Should I toast pine nuts for pesto? ›

Pine nuts are classically used in pesto and toasting them before you add them allows their flavor to shine. Looking for a great recipe? Try adding them to Food Network Kitchen's Basil Pesto recipe.

Know More ›

What makes pesto unhealthy? ›

Because it's made with olive oil, nuts, and cheese, classic pesto can contribute a fair amount of fat and calories to your diet. A 1/4-cup (63-gram) serving provides ( 1 ): Calories: 263. Protein: 6 grams.

Why can you not reheat pesto? ›

When you heat pesto, it's structure changes. The herbs become blackened and the oil changes. The sauce becomes almost bitter. So to answer your question, there is no recommended way because it is recommended that pesto not be heated.

Read On ›

Why add ice to pesto? ›

The ice will shock the herbs and prevent them from browning. You can do this with any type of pesto with other herbs and greens such as parsley, mint or arugula. The ice will rattle in the processor at first, but will melt and break down as you pulse the pesto.

Discover More ›

How do you make spinach sauce less bitter? ›

Citrus juice can efficiently cover the bitterness of the spinach and give a fresh flavour to it.

View Details ›

Is it normal for spinach to taste bitter? ›

Spinach can taste bitter to some people due to its natural compounds, such as oxalic acid and polyphenols, which can contribute to its slightly bitter taste.
Factors such as individual taste preferences, genetics, and cooking methods can also influence how bitter spinach tastes to a person.

Explore More ›

How do you fix bitter spinach soup? ›

Primarily, I want to say: If you find spinach and other greens too bitter, add some apple cider vinegar or other acid when cooking. This acid will help balance with the bitter. When I cook spinach, I sauté some diced tomato (another acid) in oil for a minute or two, and then put in the spinach. Hope this helps.

Keep Reading ›