Sun-Dried Tomato and Pesto Pasta

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 with a vibrant sun-dried tomato pesto and fresh basil for a bright, herbaceous meal. This French recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 30 minutes, pairs pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 680 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. 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: 15 min Cook: 15 min Serves 2 Italian cuisine 680 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

The food processor we’d make this in → Best Food Processors in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil, add 10 oz pasta, and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, combine sun-dried tomatoes, basil, garlic, pine nuts, and 2 tbsp olive oil in a food processor. Pulse until smooth, then add 1 tbsp olive oil to thin.
  3. Step 3: Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water. Return pasta to pot, add pesto sauce, and toss over low heat for 2 minutes.
  4. Step 4: Add 2 tbsp reserved pasta water if sauce is too thick, then stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy.
  5. Step 5: Serve immediately, garnished with extra basil and pine nuts.

Related recipes