Basil-Garlic Pesto Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Al dente pasta tossed in a vibrant homemade basil-garlic pesto, punctuated with chewy sun-dried tomatoes for a burst of flavor. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 20 minutes, blends spaghetti pasta, fresh basil leaves, garlic cloves into a versatile sauce that lifts everything from grain bowls and roasted vegetables to grilled proteins — a small-batch staple worth keeping in the fridge. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, so a small batch covers several meals across the week without taking over the fridge. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 10 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 480 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 12 oz spaghetti pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, combine 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves, 3 garlic cloves, 1/4 cup pine nuts, and 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese in a food processor; pulse until finely chopped.
  3. Step 3: With the processor running, slowly stream in 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil until the pesto is creamy but still has texture.
  4. Step 4: Transfer the drained pasta to a large bowl, add the pesto, 1/3 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper; toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce coats pasta smoothly.
  5. Step 5: Serve immediately with extra parmesan if desired.

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