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Walnut Pesto Pasta with Crunchy Garlic Breadcrumbs

June 17, 2024

Light and refreshing walnut pesto comes together with tender pasta and the perfect breadcrumb topping for the ultimate summer pasta recipe! My Walnut Pesto Pasta with Crunchy Garlic Croutons is simple, easy, no-fuss, and is sure to become a staple recipe in your household, this summer!

A bowl of pasta topped with vibrant green pesto sauce, garnished with fresh basil leaves and a sprinkle of breadcrumbs. The dish is served in a pink bowl with a fork on the side. There are additional pasta bowls and a cloth napkin in the background.

Friends, hear me out: when it comes to pasta, there’s something about a marinara sauce pasta that reminds me of wintertime, while pesto reminds me of the summer. Is it just me, or does that make sense to you, too? As the weather warms up, I love the fresh, herby taste of pesto alongside my favorite pasta for the perfect summertime dinner. Which is why I knew it was time to bring you a homemade pesto recipe!

This isn’t your traditional pesto – it swaps the traditional pine nuts for walnuts for a deeper flavor. Plus, it’s made with fresh parsley and basil for that refreshing, herby flavor, and fresh garlic and parmesan cheese for that classic pesto taste. It truly couldn’t get better… that is, until you pair it with my Crunchy Garlic Breadcrumbs. These toasted breadcrumbs come together in a matter of minutes, and add a delicious, crunchy topping to this pasta! If you are someone who loves a baked pasta recipe, then I know you are doing to love this.

A flat lay image of ingredients for making pesto. There is a food processor containing fresh basil and parsley, a bowl of grated cheese, garlic cloves and bulbs, a small jug of olive oil, a bowl of walnuts, ground pepper, salt, and a plate of basil leaves. — To make this pasta, you will need penne pasta, fresh parsley and basil, garlic, walnuts, parmesan cheese, kosher salt, ground black pepper, olive oil, and panko breadcrumbs.

A food processor is filled with fresh basil, parsley, garlic cloves, walnuts, and grated cheese, ready to make pesto. Surrounded by ingredients including garlic bulbs, grated cheese in a bowl, olive oil, salt, and a bunch of fresh basil on a wooden board. — To make this pasta, you will need penne pasta, fresh parsley and basil, garlic, walnuts, parmesan cheese, kosher salt, ground black pepper, olive oil, and panko breadcrumbs.

What You Need to Make This Comforting Dinnertime Recipe

🍝 Penne Pasta: Penne pasta works perfect in this recipe for soaking up all of that delicious, creamy pesto. However, any pasta shape works well – and you can also use gluten-free pasta, too!
Fresh Parsley & Basil: The combination of fresh parsley and basil tastes delicious in this pesto recipe!
🧄 Garlic: I always recommend using fresh garlic, whenever possible, and this recipe is no exception. Fresh garlic will be used in both the pesto and the breadcrumbs.
Walnuts: Instead of the traditional pine nuts, I love the way that walnuts taste in this pesto recipe.
🧀 Parmesan Cheese: I always recommend freshly grated parmesan cheese, whenever possible. It adds the best flavor to this dish!
Kosher Salt & Ground Black Pepper: A little kosher salt and ground black pepper adds a delicious flavor to this pasta dish.
🫒 Olive Oil: If there’s one ingredient that all good pasta dishes require, it’s a good-quality olive oil.
Panko Breadcrumbs: For the toasted breadcrumb topping, you’ll need panko breadcrumbs (or, a gluten-free alternative!)

A top-down view shows a food processor filled with green pesto. A hand is pouring olive oil from a glass bottle into the mixture. Fresh herbs, nuts, and a small bowl of salt are scattered around on a wooden surface. — Pulse the pesto ingredients together, on-and-off, until the mixture is crumbly. Then, slowly add in the olive oil and pulse for another 30 seconds to 1 minute, until the pesto comes together.

How to Make This Crunchy & Creamy Pesto Pasta

To make this pasta dish, start by preparing the breadcrumbs. Heat a pan, on the stove, over medium-high heat, and add in the olive oil. Mash the garlic. Once the pan is hot, add the garlic into the pan and stir for 1-2 minutes, watching it carefully so that it doesn’t burn. Once the edges of the garlic begin to brown, add in the panko breadcrumbs, sea salt, and ground black pepper. Stir to combine.

Allow the breadcrumbs to cook for another 4-5 minutes, until they’re toasted and browned. Then, remove them from the heat and allow them to cool. Next, prepare the pasta by heating a pot full of water, on the stove, until boiling. Follow the package instructions and cook the pasta until it’s al dente.
Once the pasta is done, drain the water from the pot, reserving approximately 1/4 cup of the pasta water for later.

A pot of penne pasta is coated in a green pesto sauce with a wooden spoon resting inside. Surrounding the pot are small bowls containing grated cheese, pesto, and other ingredients on a tiled surface. The scene is bright and inviting. — prepare the pasta by heating a pot full of water, on the stove, until boiling. Follow the package instructions and cook the pasta until it’s al dente. Then, toss the pasta in the pesto and some of the reserved pasta water, until the pesto turns into a creamy sauce.

Two plates of penne pasta covered in vibrant green pesto and garnished with fresh basil leaves and breadcrumbs. Each plate has a fork, and two glasses of ice water are placed nearby. A bowl of extra breadcrumbs and a pink napkin are also visible. — prepare the pasta by heating a pot full of water, on the stove, until boiling. Follow the package instructions and cook the pasta until it’s al dente. Then, toss the pasta in the pesto and some of the reserved pasta water, until the pesto turns into a creamy sauce.

Then, prepare the walnut pesto. In a food processor, add the parsley, basil, garlic, walnuts, grated parmesan cheese, sea salt and ground black pepper. Pulse the pesto ingredients together, on-and-off, until the mixture is crumbly. Then, slowly add in the olive oil and pulse for another 30 seconds to 1 minute, until the pesto comes together. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed.

Finally, toss the pasta in the pesto and some of the reserved pasta water, until the pesto turns into a creamy sauce. Garnish the pasta with the toasted breadcrumbs, then serve and enjoy!

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.

** Photography by Tanya Pilgrim

Refined Sugar Free