15 Vegan Pesto Recipes For Summer

Not only does pesto have gorgeous green color, but it is also packed with nutrients, full of flavors, and is so versatile. You can serve it with pasta, slather it on your toast, use it in sandwiches, serve it with roasted vegetables and proteins, or use it on pizza and salads. As you can see the options are endless, and it is delicious on just about anything! After trying out some of these recipes, you will want to keep pesto on hand to make this delicious sauce all summer long!

We also highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App  — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest meatless, vegan, plant-based, and allergy-friendly recipe resource to help you get healthy! And, don’t forget to check out our Pesto Archives!

1. Arugula Pesto and Zucchini on Rye Toast

Source: Arugula Pesto and Zucchini on Rye Toast

A delicious open-face sandwich layered with tangy lime/arugula pesto sauce, sliced avocado, and sautéed zucchini on rye toast. This healthy pesto sandwich by Marie Reginato sneaks in extra greens – perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

2. Zucchini Basil Pesto Lasagna

Source: Zucchini Basil Pesto Lasagna

Zucchini, cashew cheese, basil pesto, and tomatoes are all combined to create an explosion of flavor in this lasagna by Amanda Smith. Combining the fresh crunch of the zucchini and tomatoes, with the creaminess of the cashew cheese and the pesto creates a hearty filling meal for everyone.

3. Eggplant Roll Ups with Hemp Basil Pesto

Source: Eggplant Roll Ups with Hemp Basil Pesto

These Eggplant Roll-ups with Hemp Basil Pesto and Balsamic Shiitake Mushrooms by Amy Height are an excellent way to use any leftover pesto! They are so yummy!

4. Avocado Pesto Pasta

Source: Avocado Pesto Pasta

The avocado pesto pasta by Lenny Wu is the perfect delicious meal for lazy or busy days. Avocado and pesto are such beautiful flavors that come together to make this creamy pasta dish!

5. Summer Pesto Pizza

Source: Summer Pesto Pizza

Thin slices of zucchini stand in for mozzarella, while onions, kalamata olives, pine nuts, pesto, and fresh basil give this Summer Pesto Pizza by Myra Goodman more than ample flavor and variety.

6. Roasted Italian Brussels with Arugula Pistachio Pesto

Source: Roasted Italian Brussels with Arugula Pistachio Pesto

If you love all things Brussels, you’re going to love this modern vegan Roasted Italian Brussels with arugula pistachio pesto! What’s fab about this recipe by Gabrielle St. Claire, is everything. It’s a quick and easy veggie-packed sauce, features staple ingredients, texture, healthy fats, and gorgeous color, the dish can easily be made in bulk, and is perf for any season!

7. Pesto White Bean Bruschetta

Source: Pesto White Bean Bruschetta

Pesto and bruschetta collide in this white bean bruschetta dish to make the perfect appetizer or snack! This recipe by What the Health: Kip Andersen & Keegan Kuhn with Eunice Wong is very simple and quick to make, and is sure to satisfy your cravings!

8. Braided Pesto Bread

Source: Braided Pesto Bread

This braided pesto bread by Sirke Reivo has a crispy crust that is a bit chewy allowing the inside to be soft and tender filled with oh-so-amazing basil pesto! This bread is excellent with a salad or accompanying a tasty soup.

9. Grilled Zucchini Sandwiches with Spinach Pesto

Source: Grilled Zucchini Sandwiches with Spinach Pesto

These grilled zucchini sandwiches with spinach pesto by Robin Browne are smoky, zesty, and loaded with garden-fresh veggies. The vegan spinach pesto is a must.

10. Spinach Pesto Pasta With Almond Parmesan

Source: Spinach Pesto Pasta With Almond Parmesan

Packed with spinach, basil, toasted almonds, and garlic, get ready to bless your pasta with a whole heap of flavor! A convenient bonus is that this whole spinach pesto pasta dish by Harriet Porterfield can be prepared in less than 20 minutes, perfect for a speedy evening meal.

11. Kale Walnut Pesto Pasta (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

Source: Kale Walnut Pesto Pasta (Vegan, Gluten-Free

If you’re trying to up your meal prep game, making your dips and sauces can be a game-changer! This pesto is packed with nutrients, full of flavors, and so versatile. You can serve it with pasta, slather it on your toast, use it in sandwiches, serve it with roasted vegetables and proteins, use it in pizza, salads, etc. As you can see the options are endless! This kale walnut pesto pasta by Mitra Shirmohammadi is a must-try!

12. Easy Pesto

Source: Easy Pesto

This easy pesto by Jesse Lane Lee is a perfect pairing with pasta, roasted veggies, sandwiches, you name it – it goes well with everything! Make this vibrant and delicious sauce to add some extra flavor to any dish.

13. Broccoli Chicken Kale Pesto Cauliflower Crust Pizza

Source: Broccoli Chicken Kale Pesto Cauliflower Crust Pizza

In this broccoli, chicken, kale, pesto and cauliflower pizza by Paris Marash, the crust gets delightfully crispy in the oven first and holds together after you top it with a million ingredients!

14. Pesto Feta Swirl Buns

Source: Pesto Feta Swirl Buns

Herby pesto swirl buns with vegan feta cheese! These swirl rolls by Anna Sue are kind of addictive. They seem to disappear before they touch the table. Imagine… a light and fluffy dough swirled with homemade pesto and melty feta cheese. So soft, springy, and ultra fluffy. And it’s super simple to make, but it’s a great base for the buns.

15. Stuffed Pasilla Peppers With Habanero Pesto

Source: Stuffed Pasilla Peppers With Habanero Pesto

These stuffed pasilla peppers by Ashley Hankins have pretty much everything out could ask for inside of them. They are filled with zesty vegan chorizo, tender quinoa, plenty of vegan cheese, and then topped off with a fiery habanero pesto. This recipe is going to be one of your favorites the moment you taste it.

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home!

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental well-being, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, and prostate cancer, and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

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