Creamy Avocado Pesto Pasta

Avocado Pesto Pasta is creamy and fresh and full of rich flavor, so you'll be surprised to find it's a healthy dish too! Packed with healthy fats, seeds, and greens, and made in just 20 minutes, this recipe is the full package!

Creamy Avocado Pesto Pasta

Creamy avocado pesto pasta features warm noodles in a creamy avocado-based sauce, featuring the nuttiness of pumpkin seeds (or pepitas), freshness of the basil, richness of the parmesan, and zest of the fresh garlic.

There's so much flavor in this avocado pasta, your mind will be blown that it's actually healthy too, packed with healthy fats, seeds, and greens! It's quick to make in just 20 minutes, making it a perfect healthy weeknight meal.

What Kind of Pasta Should I Use?

You can use any noodle for this recipe. I prefer to use rotini or cavatappi, as they're fun and the swirls pick up the pesto really well. I also like to use chickpea noodles to up the protein for a full meal.

Feel free to use your favorite noodles, including farfalle, small shells, penne, gnocchi or even spaghetti!

For a low carb version, you can also serve it with spiralized vegetable "noodles" such as zucchini, summer squash, or even sweet potato.

Variations on Avocado Pesto Pasta

• Protein: Add any protein that you'd like to your pasta such as chicken, shrimp, ground beef, ground turkey, or even beans!
• Blistered Cherry Tomatoes: I love adding tomatoes to this pasta because the pesto is rich and the bright, fresh tomatoes cut the richness just enough. To blister some cherry tomatoes, heat up about a tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet. Add the tomatoes and cook until they're soft.
• Pepitas: Instead of pepitas, you can also use pine nuts like a traditional pesto, or use shelled sunflower seeds or even walnuts.
• Spice: Add a little spice to your pasta with crushed red pepper flakes to taste.
• Greens: I love basil in this pesto best, but you can also substitute or add other greens such as parsley, baby spinach, baby kale, or arugula. 

How to Make Vegan Avocado Pesto

This avocado pesto can be made vegan if you omit the Parmesan cheese. You can either leave it out or add some nutritional yeast to replicate the cheesy flavor.

How to Serve Avocado Pesto

The recipe calls for pasta to be tossed with the prepared avocado pesto. It is delicious served both warm or cold with a sprinkle of freshly grated parmesan on top.

I love to serve mine with a fresh green salad and a piece of warm crusty bread.

Ideas for Leftover Avocado Pesto

This recipe makes quite a bit of avocado pesto, so if you have leftovers that you're freezing or that you're trying to use up quickly here are some more ideas to use it up in the most yummy ways possible.

• Spread on crackers or chips
• Added to a sandwich or wrap as a spread (grilled cheese with avocado pesto, provolone, and a tomato slice is 💣)
• Stirred into quinoa, rice, or beans
• Tossed with cubed or baby potatoes before roasting
• Dip for cooked or raw veggies
• A pretty addition to a charcuterie board
• Added to homemade pizza or flatbreads (or even to dip some frozen pizza in. No judging!
• In a quesadilla or as a quesadilla sauce
• As the dressing in a pasta salad with lots of added fresh vegetables like broccoli and zucchini and red peppers.

Storage and Freezing

How Do You Keep Avocado Pesto from Turning Brown?

The best way to prevent browning is to serve right away.

To prevent leftover pesto or pasta from browning, press a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the avocado pesto and refrigerate for up to 5 days in an airtight container.

Freezing Avocado Pesto

It's easiest to separate the pesto into smaller portions, such as in an ice cube tray. Freeze the tray then transfer to a freezer bag to freeze for up to 3 to 6 months. To thaw, simply pop a few cubes (or however many you think you need) into an appropriate sized pot and thaw and stir over medium heat until thawed and warmed through.

More Avocado Recipes You'll Love

• Avocado Deviled Eggs - these deviled eggs have a healthy-fat twist using avocado instead of mayo.
• Authentic Guacamole - this creamy guacamole is packed with fresh, ripe avocados and plenty of flavor from tomato, onion, jalapeno, and lime.
• Avocado Cilantro White Bean - a sort of healthy southwest-inspired hummus featuring white beans and avocado with the zesty bright flavors or cilantro, lime, and garlic.
• Creamy Avocado Zoodles - zucchini noodles in a rich and creamy sauce with an avocado base.
• Black Bean Avocado Dip - creamy black bean dip with avocado and cilantro that's both healthy and delicious.

Creamy Avocado Pesto Pasta Video

UPDATE INFO: This recipe was originally published in March 2017. It has been updated with new pictures, video, and tips and republished in July 2023.