This Easy Vegan Nut Free Pesto Pasta is the ultimate quick and easy healthy dinner recipe. The nut-free pesto recipe only uses 5 simple ingredients, and it makes such a delicious sauce.
I love how versatile Sunbutter is. It's great for making delicious dessert recipes like my Gluten-Free Vegan Cookie Cake or my Vegan Chocolate Sunflower Ice Cream, and it's also great for making recipes like my Nut-Free Vegan Mac And Cheese or Sunflower Seed Risotto.
Recently, I've had a surplus of basil from my garden, and I love making homemade pesto. However, pine nuts are quite expensive. I immediately knew what I could use instead, and the idea for this Sunbutter pesto pasta was born!
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Nut-Free Pesto Pasta Ingredients:
This is such a great recipe because it uses five super simple ingredients that you can pick up at your local grocery store, or in your backyard!
- Fresh Basil Leaves - No pesto is complete without basil. You will need quite a lot of basil for this recipe, and it must be big fresh leaves. I grow an abundance of basil in my garden; however, sometimes I will grab the bags (not the plastic containers of fresh herbs) of basil you can find at the grocery store.
- Garlic - I strongly recommend using fresh garlic cloves over the pre-minced garlic. The flavor is stronger, and it will give this nut-free pesto the perfect kick.
- Nutritional Yeast - One of my favorite things to add to vegan pesto is nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast is an inactive yeast that has a super cheesy flavor. It's a great replacement for Parmesan cheese, which is found in most pesto recipes.
- Sunbutter No Sugar Added Sunflower Seed Butter - Sunbutter is the ultimate nut replacement. I love the no-sugar added variety because it is just ground sunflower seeds and salt. It's great for this pest recipe because it adds the perfect nutty flavor found in traditional basil pesto, just without the nuts!
- Lemon Juice - I love adding lemon juice to pesto to give it that perfect tangy flavor and help balance out the garlic. You can also add a little lemon zest for even more flavor.
- Gluten-Free Pasta - You can use any pasta of your choice. I love using rigatoni because it gets coated in the pesto really well.
- Cherry Tomatoes - Basil and fresh tomatoes are a match made in heaven. I also love making this recipe with sun-dried tomatoes. You can use any tomato variety!
See the recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Nut-Free Pesto Pasta:
If you're looking for the perfect quick and easy recipe, this nut-free pesto pasta is it. It only takes 5 minutes to make the nut-free basil pesto, and 15 minutes to boil the pasta.
1. Begin by boiling water and preparing the pasta according to package instructions.
2. Combine the nutritional yeast, basil, garlic cloves, Sunbutter, and lemon juice together in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth with chunks. You don't want to blend it for too long; there should still be pieces of basil and it should have a bumpy texture.
3. Slice the tomatoes in half. Add the cooked and strained pasta to a large bowl and coat with the pesto. Toss in the cherry tomatoes and serve!
Hint: You may need to add 1-2 tablespoons of water to get the pesto blending.
Substitutions:
There are a handful of substitutions that can be made to this nut free pesto recipe if needed. Here are some common ones.
- Lime Juice - You can use lime juice instead of lemon juice for acidity. This isn't my favorite substitution, but it can work.
- Seeds - You can add additional, or replace the Sunbutter with hemp seeds or pumpkin seeds. Honestly, I don't think either of these works as well because they're not as creamy as sunflower seeds.
- Vegan Parmesan - You can replace the nutritional yeast with vegan parmesan for a cheesier flavor. Plus, you'll be able to make my Arugula Pasta Salad as well!
Delicious Homemade Pesto Variations:
Here are some of my favorite ways to mix up this vegan pesto recipe.
- Super Greens - Add a teaspoon (or to taste) of your favorite greens powder. This is a great way to increase the nutritional profile of this recipe and help to achieve the perfect bright green sauce. I love using the Liver Vitality Greens from Anima Mundi - use code: "NATURALVEGAN" for a discount!
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil - If you are not oil-free, you can add a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil to make this fresh basil pesto a little more traditional and thicker. I'd recommend doing this if you plan to store the pesto for a long time.
- Fresh Herbs - Add a variety of fresh herbs for added flavor. I will often times add whatever herbs I have extra of growing in the garden for added flavor.
- Plant-Based Protein - You can add your favorite plant-based protein or my personal favorite vegan sausage for added flavor, protein, and volume.
Equipment:
This nut-free pesto pasta recipe requires very little equipment to make and does not make a big mess. Here's what I recommend using:
- Blender or Food Processor - Both a food processor and a blender will work to make this basil pesto recipe. If you use a blender, I strongly recommend using a small blender like a Nutribullet rather than a big Vitamix, because it will blend much more easily.
- Large Pot - You will need a large pot to boil and cook the pasta in.
Storage:
I would not recommend storing the pasta in this recipe; however, I would recommend storing the basil pesto.
The easiest way to store homemade pesto is to pour it into ice cube trays and freeze it for a couple of hours. Once frozen, you can store the frozen pesto cubes in a freezer bag or an airtight container for up to 3 months. The frozen cubes may get a little brown, but that's totally normal. Whenever you are ready to eat again, just defrost it in a bowl and mix it with hot pasta.
Top Tip:
Add more basil than you think you would need. It's almost impossible to add too much basil, but it's very easy not to add enough!
Frequently Asked Questions:
A common misconception is that eating gluten-free is healthier than eating wheat. Eating gluten-free is only necessary if you have celiac disease or are gluten intolerant. Even if something is labeled gluten-free, that does not make it healthy. However, gluten-free can be healthier if made with the right ingredients. All of my gluten-free recipes are made with carefully chosen healthy gluten-free ingredients.
Please do not use dried herbs to make this pesto recipe. Although dried herbs are great, they are not great for fresh basil pesto recipes like this. They do not achieve the same texture, and they are not as full of flavor.
Related Sunbutter Recipes:
Looking for other recipes that use Sunbutter like this Nut Free Pesto Pasta? Try these:
If you try this Easy Vegan Nut-Free Pesto Pasta recipe, I'd really love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. I'd also really appreciate a recipe card rating! Thank you for supporting The All Natural Vegan!
Easy Vegan Nut Free Pesto Pasta
Ingredients
Nut Free Basil Pesto:
- 3 cups fresh basil loosely packed
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 ⅕ tablespoon Sunbutter No Sugar Added Sunflower Seed Butter
- 2 lemons juiced
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
Pasta:
- 1 box rigitoni gluten-free if needed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
Instructions
- Begin by boiling water and preparing the pasta according to package instructions.
- Combine the nutritional yeast, basil, garlic cloves, Sunbutter, and lemon juice together in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth with chunks. You don't want to blend it for too long, there should still be pieces of basil and it should have a bumpy texture.
- Slice the tomatoes in halves. Add the cooked and strained pasta to a large bowl and coat with the pesto. Toss in the cherry tomatoes and serve!
Notes
More Vegan Pasta Recipes:
Looking for more delicious vegan pasta recipes? Try some of the other recipes on my website:
Irena says
Tasty, easy pasta sauce, wouldn't tell if it's nut-free, tasted just as creamy and nutty. Love that pasta, too!
Seema Sriram says
This is by far the prettiest pasta. Loved it looking so beautiful and tasting equally so good.
Jess says
So delicious and perfect for summer
Poitras Catherine says
Amazing recipe, so simple and yet filled with flavor!!
Kat says
This was so light and refreshing! I had all of the ingredients already to make. Thank you!
Covita says
This is delicious pasta- My family loved it! The Pesto is exceptional
Covita says
I love meals I can make in under 30 minutes- and this one is packed with flavor. Love this site
Jess says
So delicious for pasta night!
Claudia Cristina Ciorteanu says
Absolutely loving this easy vegan nut-free pesto pasta! 😍🌱 The flavors are on point, and it's a perfect option for those with allergies. Can't wait to try it out! #VeganDelights #NutFreePesto #YummyPasta