Easy 10-Minute Spinach Pesto Recipe: Healthy, Affordable & Delicious

Prepare to elevate your meals with this incredibly versatile and utterly delicious spinach pesto! It’s the perfect vibrant sauce for everything from classic pasta dishes to gourmet pizzas and wholesome sandwiches. Not only is it remarkably healthy and effortless to make, but it also comes together in just 10 minutes, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights or impromptu gatherings. Say goodbye to store-bought varieties and hello to fresh, homemade goodness!

Close up of a jar of spinach pesto with fresh spinach and walnuts in the background, highlighting its natural ingredients. — A close-up of freshly made spinach pesto, ready to be enjoyed.

Pesto holds a special place in my culinary heart. Its bright, herbaceous flavor and stunning vibrant color make it an unparalleled sauce, capable of transforming a simple meal into something extraordinary. While traditional basil pesto is undeniably wonderful, this spinach pesto just might steal the show as the best I’ve ever tasted. It’s bursting with layers of fresh, invigorating flavors, yet it remains incredibly healthy and surprisingly easy to prepare. This recipe reimagines the classic, delivering all the deliciousness with added nutritional benefits and a touch of affordability.

What sets this particular pesto apart is its generous inclusion of fresh spinach, alongside a good amount of traditional basil. This clever addition not only boosts its nutritional profile, making it a much healthier option than many traditional pestos, but it also imparts a subtly milder, more balanced flavor. Sometimes, classic pesto can be a little too intense or overwhelmingly basil-forward. This spinach-infused version, however, achieves a perfect harmony, resulting in a smooth, well-rounded sauce that’s simply irresistible. Once you try it, you’ll understand why it’s become a staple in my kitchen!

Why You’ll Absolutely Love This Fresh Spinach Pesto

There are countless reasons to make this homemade spinach pesto your go-to sauce. Beyond its incredible taste, here are a few key benefits that I’m confident will make you fall in love with it:

Budget-Friendly. While pesto is a straightforward sauce to make, traditional versions can often become quite expensive, largely due to a single ingredient: pine nuts. Pine nuts are notoriously one of the priciest items in the grocery store. This recipe cleverly substitutes them with toasted walnuts, which offer a similarly rich, nutty flavor profile at a mere fraction of the cost. Furthermore, fresh spinach is significantly more affordable than basil, allowing you to create a generous batch of this vibrant sauce without breaking the bank. You get exceptional taste and quality without the premium price tag!
Incredibly Healthy. While traditional pesto isn’t necessarily unhealthy, this spinach pesto takes its nutritional value to a whole new level. Spinach is a true superfood, packed with essential vitamins (like K, A, and C), minerals (iron, magnesium), and powerful antioxidants. By making spinach a star ingredient, we infuse this sauce with an abundance of health-boosting nutrients. Coupled with the healthy monounsaturated fats from olive oil and the omega-3s found in walnuts, this pesto becomes a powerhouse of goodness that supports overall well-being. It’s a delicious way to sneak extra greens into your diet!
Effortlessly Easy & Fast. This truly is one of the simplest and quickest recipes you’ll ever make. The entire process requires minimal effort – essentially, all you need to do is toss all the ingredients into a food processor, give them a good blitz, and voilà! Your fresh, homemade pesto is ready in a flash. From start to finish, this recipe takes no more than 10 minutes, making it an absolute lifesaver for those busy days when you crave something fresh and flavorful but are short on time. It’s perfect for cooks of all skill levels, delivering gourmet results with incredible ease.

Overhead view of all the fresh ingredients needed for spinach pesto, including a vibrant bowl of spinach, aromatic basil, crunchy walnuts, peeled garlic cloves, a wedge of Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and seasonings. — Gathering the fresh, simple ingredients for a perfect spinach pesto.

Essential Ingredients for Your Spinach Pesto

Crafting this zesty spinach and walnut pesto requires just a handful of fresh, high-quality ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in building the vibrant flavor profile of this amazing sauce. Below is a list of what you’ll need; for the precise measurements, please refer to the detailed recipe card at the very bottom of this page.

Fresh Spinach – Opt for fresh, vibrant spinach leaves. Baby spinach works wonderfully for its tender texture and mild flavor, blending smoothly into the pesto.
Fresh Basil – Classic pesto’s star! Fresh basil brings that essential aromatic and slightly sweet, peppery note that defines pesto.
Garlic – A few cloves of fresh garlic are crucial for adding a pungent, savory depth that brightens the entire sauce.
Toasted Walnuts – Our affordable and equally delicious alternative to pine nuts. Toasting the walnuts beforehand is key, as it dramatically enhances their nutty flavor and aroma, adding a wonderful complexity. Ensure they are unsalted.
Parmesan Cheese – For the best flavor and texture, use a block of high-quality Parmesan (or Parmigiano Reggiano) and grate it yourself. This contributes a salty, umami richness.
Salt – A fundamental seasoning to bring out all the flavors. We’ll start with a little and adjust to taste.
Black Pepper – Freshly ground black pepper adds a subtle kick and aromatic warmth that complements the herbs beautifully.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil – The liquid gold that emulsifies the pesto, creating its smooth texture and rich mouthfeel. Choose a good quality olive oil for the best results, as its flavor will shine through.

How to Make This Amazing 10-Minute Spinach Pesto

You won’t believe how quickly and easily this incredibly flavorful sauce comes together. Follow these simple steps to create your fresh, homemade spinach pesto in just about 10 minutes:

Combine the Dry Ingredients. Begin by adding all your solid ingredients into the bowl of a food processor. This includes the fresh spinach, fragrant basil, peeled garlic cloves, toasted walnuts, grated parmesan cheese, a pinch of salt, and a dash of freshly ground black pepper. Ensure your food processor is securely sealed.
Process Until Finely Chopped. Pulse the food processor in short bursts. The goal here is to finely chop all the ingredients until they are well combined and have a uniform, slightly coarse texture. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is incorporated evenly. Avoid over-processing at this stage to prevent the ingredients from becoming a warm, oily paste rather than a vibrant, textured pesto.

An overhead view of a food processor bowl filled with fresh garlic, grated Parmesan cheese, vibrant spinach, and aromatic basil leaves, ready for blending. — Step 1: All dry ingredients loaded into the food processor.

Overhead view of spinach, basil, garlic, and parmesan cheese roughly chopped in a food processor, showing the initial blending stage before oil is added. — Step 1: All dry ingredients loaded into the food processor.

Stream in the Olive Oil. With the food processor running on a continuous setting, slowly and steadily pour in the olive oil through the feed tube. The oil will gradually emulsify with the chopped ingredients, transforming them into a smooth, luscious sauce. Continue adding the olive oil until your pesto reaches your desired consistency – whether you prefer it thicker and chunkier or smoother and more pourable.

A Pyrex measuring cup pouring a steady stream of olive oil into a food processor while the ingredients are blending, to create a smooth emulsion. — Step 3: Slowly adding olive oil to achieve the perfect consistency.

Overhead view of perfectly blended spinach pesto in a food processor bowl, showcasing its vibrant green color and smooth, rich texture. — Step 3: Slowly adding olive oil to achieve the perfect consistency.

Store and Serve. Once your pesto has reached the desired consistency, transfer it to an airtight container. It’s now ready to be enjoyed immediately! Whether you’re tossing it with pasta, spreading it on a sandwich, or using it as a vibrant dip, its fresh flavors will instantly enhance your meal.

Expert Tips for the Perfect Spinach Walnut Pesto Every Time

To ensure your homemade spinach walnut pesto turns out perfectly every single time, keep these essential tips and tricks in mind. They’ll help you maximize flavor, achieve ideal texture, and get the most out of your ingredients.

Achieve the Perfect Toast on Your Walnuts. Toasting the walnuts is not just an optional step; it’s one of the most critical elements for unlocking deep, complex flavors in this recipe. The heat brings out their natural oils, creating a richer, nuttier, and more aromatic taste that truly elevates the pesto. If you have pre-toasted, unsalted walnuts from the store, feel free to use those for convenience. Otherwise, the best method for toasting walnuts at home is to spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake them in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 8-10 minutes. It’s crucial to check them every few minutes, as nuts can go from perfectly toasted to burnt very quickly. They should smell wonderfully fragrant and have a slightly darker color, but never a burnt odor.
Always Use Freshly Grated Cheese. The difference between pre-shredded parmesan cheese and a block of fresh Parmesan (or Parmigiano Reggiano) that you grate yourself is substantial. Pre-shredded cheeses often contain anti-caking agents that can affect the texture and melt of your pesto, making it less smooth and sometimes even gritty. Freshly grated Parmesan, on the other hand, melts beautifully, integrates seamlessly into the sauce, and offers a far superior, richer, and more authentic flavor. Invest in a good quality block of cheese; it truly makes a noticeable impact on the final taste of your spinach pesto.
Avoid Over-Processing the Ingredients. When you’re initially chopping the dry ingredients (spinach, basil, garlic, walnuts, cheese, salt, pepper) in the food processor, be mindful not to over-process them. The goal is to achieve a finely chopped, textured consistency, not a completely smooth paste at this stage. If you continue to run the food processor for too long before adding the oil, the friction can generate heat, warming the ingredients and causing the nuts to release their oils too quickly, which can result in a bitter taste and an undesirable, greasy consistency. Process until the ingredients are well-minced but still have a bit of texture, then pause until you’re ready to stream in the olive oil.
Taste and Adjust Seasoning at the End. Given that this recipe includes Parmesan cheese, which is inherently salty, I always recommend starting with a conservative amount of added salt. Once your spinach pesto is fully blended and has reached its desired consistency, take a small taste. Palates vary, and the saltiness of different brands of Parmesan can also differ. At this point, you can add more salt or freshly ground black pepper as needed, stirring or pulsing briefly to incorporate. This ensures your pesto is perfectly seasoned to your personal preference.

Overhead view of a jar of fresh spinach pesto, surrounded by a small pile of walnuts and fresh spinach leaves, showcasing its wholesome ingredients. — Freshly made spinach pesto, a testament to simple, delicious cooking.

Creative Ways to Serve This Versatile Spinach Pesto

This spinach pesto is so incredibly versatile, it truly belongs in or on just about everything! Its bright, fresh flavor enhances a wide variety of dishes, making it a culinary chameleon. It’s fantastic as a vibrant sauce for pasta, a flavorful base for pizzas, a zesty condiment for sandwiches and wraps, or even as a simple, healthy dip for fresh vegetables. Here are some of my absolute favorite ways to incorporate pesto into meals. Feel free to substitute this homemade spinach pesto for store-bought versions in these recipes – it will undoubtedly take your dishes to the next level of flavor and freshness!

Chicken Pesto Wraps: A quick and easy lunch or light dinner.
Pesto Cavatappi: A comforting pasta dish, made extra special with homemade pesto.
Creamy Pesto Tortellini: Indulgent and rich, the spinach pesto adds a fresh balance.
Chicken Pesto Pasta: A classic combination that’s always a crowd-pleaser.
Pesto Chicken Burgers: A unique and flavorful twist on your burger night.
Beyond the obvious: Spread it on toast with a fried egg, dollop it onto grilled fish or chicken, stir a spoonful into scrambled eggs, or use it as a vibrant base for bruschetta. It even works wonders when mixed into mashed potatoes or swirled into a vegetable soup for an extra burst of flavor!

Storing Your Leftover Spinach Pesto for Maximum Freshness

Proper storage is key to keeping your homemade spinach pesto fresh and vibrant. When stored correctly in an airtight container, this pesto will maintain its quality in the refrigerator for up to a week. To further prevent oxidation and preserve its bright green color, you can pour a thin layer of olive oil over the surface of the pesto before sealing the container. This creates a barrier against air. It’s normal for the oil to separate slightly from the other ingredients over time; simply give it a good stir with a spoon before each use to re-emulsify and restore its creamy texture.

Can You Freeze This Spinach Pesto? Absolutely!

Yes, absolutely! Freezing is an excellent way to extend the shelf life of this delicious spinach pesto, allowing you to enjoy its fresh flavors for months to come. To freeze, transfer the pesto to an airtight, freezer-safe container, or for convenient individual portions, spoon it into ice cube trays. Once frozen solid, transfer the pesto cubes to a freezer-safe bag or container. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months without losing its quality. When you’re ready to use it, simply thaw your desired amount overnight in the refrigerator, or gently warm it directly from frozen if adding to a hot dish like pasta sauce.

A jar of fresh spinach pesto prominently displayed, with whole walnuts and green spinach leaves artistically arranged in the background. — The final product: a jar of homemade spinach pesto, ready to enhance any meal.

Discover More Easy and Healthy Homemade Sauces

I am a firm believer that a great sauce can be the defining element that transforms an ordinary meal into an extraordinary one. Sauces add depth, flavor, and excitement! If you loved making this spinach pesto, I encourage you to explore more of my favorite easy and healthy homemade sauces. They’re perfect for elevating your cooking and adding a touch of homemade goodness to any dish:

Homemade Enchilada Sauce: Rich and flavorful, far better than canned.
Hot Fudge Sauce: A decadent treat for any dessert.
Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce: Luxurious and aromatic, perfect for pasta or chicken.
Easy Raspberry Sauce: Sweet and tangy, ideal for desserts or breakfast.
Tzatziki Sauce: Refreshing and creamy, a staple for grilled meats.
Spicy Cajun Dipping Sauce: Kicks up the flavor on anything it touches.
Copycat Red Lobster Tartar Sauce: Better than the restaurant version, made at home.

A jar of pesto with spinach and walnuts in the background

5 from 2 votes

Spinach Pesto

By
Erin Sellin

This spinach pesto is a healthier and cheaper version of a classic sauce. It’s just as delicious, and only takes 10 minutes to make!

Prep:
10 minutes

Total:
10 minutes

Servings:
8

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Ingredients

▢ 3 cups fresh spinach
▢ 1 cup fresh basil
▢ 3 cloves garlic, peeled
▢ 1/4 cup walnuts, toasted
▢ 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
▢ salt and pepper to taste
▢ 2/3 cup olive oil, approximately

Instructions

In a food processor combine the spinach, basil, garlic, walnuts, cheese, salt, and pepper.
Process until finely chopped.
With the food processor running, slowly add the olive oil. Add enough oil to get to the desired consistency.
Store in an airtight container and serve on your favorite pasta, sandwiches, and pizzas.

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 1 week, or in the freezer for 3 months.
When you store spinach pesto, the oil might separate. Just stir it until everything is well mixed, then serve.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author:
Erin Sellin

Prep Time:
10 minutes

Total Time:
10 minutes

Course:
Side Dish Recipes

Cuisine:
Italian

Servings:
8

Calories:
213

Keyword:
healthy pesto recipe, spinach pesto, spinach pesto recipe, walnut pesto

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